Wigan Casino-'live acts'?

[Guest Spain pete]

Mike the mod where are you ? Time for a poll methinks ? Which was the best venue for live acts Wigan or the California ballroom ?  NORTH V SOUTH 🎶🎶🎶

[Frankie Crocker]

On 15/04/2018 at 20:46, Winsford Soul said:

David & the Giants. 

Linda & the funky boys. 

Junior Walker & the all stars 

Betty Wright

Edwin Starr 

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas 

Jackie Wilson. ? 

I remember seeing the Exciters but can't remember if it was at the Casino 

Steve 

Yes, I saw the Exciters at The Casino. Didn’t keep a diary back then so no idea of the date. If I had to guess, it could be an anniversary, possibly the first.

[Frankie Crocker]

On 15/04/2018 at 20:28, Joey said:

Wasn't Gloria Jones the first ever live act there? 74, possibly first anniversary. Or maybe early 75?

Not the First Anniversary as I’ve never seen her perform live.

[Frankie Crocker]

4 hours ago, Sigmasteve said:

To add to the list of the previously mentioned .....Archie Bell and the Drells,  Barbara Pennington, Evelyn King,  - Not sure about James Wells , and How's about Nosmo King !

Detroit Emeralds ( Promoting their Album ) and wait for it ... Yes James Brown  who came to The Casino ( because he had heard so much about it )  his road crew set up the full rig only for him to pull out at the last minute 

 

Did L. J. Johnson feature with Barbara Pennington and Evelyn King? I vaguely recall Ian Levine’s three-act show at The Casino and then again at The Ritz next day (or shortly after)?

[Mickey Finn]

7 hours ago, KesalocaSoul said:

I think Steve must be referring to Freddie Mack "Mr Superbad" who was promoting a K-Tel album, Superbad.   He had quite an interesting story (see link) before passing away in Scotland. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mack

I used to listen to his Radio Clyde shows - he would rap all over the records, which could be both amusing and annoying, but it was his shtick. The local newspaper recorded an interview with him not long before he died, which is still available on Youtube - the first part here:

 

[Guest]

9 hours ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Not the First Anniversary as I’ve never seen her perform live.

If not the anniversary then it had to be prior to November 26th, as that was the day I joined the Navy, and was the last Niter I attended until the Christmas one, three or four weeks later. Absolutely positive she was on, as I remember standing right at the back of the dance floor. Poor musical accompaniment, and crappy sound all around, saw me head up to Ms after twenty minutes. Again, all this is from what is left of my memory. Back then, I was fairly well known for usually being on some kind of inter-planetary journey, and only semi-coherent at the best of times, so I'm not saying all this is gospel, ok? :-)

[Steve S 60]

On 16/04/2018 at 07:05, Mickey Finn said:

He writes about that in his autobiography "Poptastic". Tells of how no matter how much he insisted he was actually TB, someone was absolutely chuffed to get the autograph of Lenny Gamble.

Nobody on here by any chance?

[Kenb]

On 15/04/2018 at 20:46, Winsford Soul said:

David & the Giants. 

Linda & the funky boys. 

Junior Walker & the all stars 

Betty Wright

Edwin Starr 

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas 

Jackie Wilson. ? 

I remember seeing the Exciters but can't remember if it was at the Casino 

Steve 

Jackie Wilson-May 10th.

[Mickey Finn]

Fantastic, Steve!

Sensational even!!

[Steve S 60]

1 minute ago, Mickey Finn said:

Fantastic, Steve!

Sensational even!!

Poptastic!

[Guest]

12 hours ago, KesalocaSoul said:

I think Steve must be referring to Freddie Mack "Mr Superbad" who was promoting a K-Tel album, Superbad.   He had quite an interesting story (see link) before passing away in Scotland. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mack

That`s the bloke. How I remembered what was a quite un-rememberable performance, somewhere in the ravaged brain-basket upstairs an impression was laid down

Does anyone else remember him?

Edited April 17, 2018 by Guest

[Guest MBarrett]

38 minutes ago, Steve Lane said:

That`s the bloke. How I remembered what was a quite un-rememberable performance, somewhere in the ravaged brain-basket upstairs an impression was laid down

Does anyone else remember him?

Not from Wigan Steve but here is a personal recollection of Freddie Mack.

I first started seeing live bands in 1965 when I was 13 years old. ( honest! ). One Saturday night around 1966 I saw a band which I think at the time was called the Freddie Mack Road Show. They had a similar line up to a lot of the great British soul bands of the time but I am sure they had at least 2 female backing singers which was quite unusual and added to the experience.

Freddie was a big built guy (ex-boxer I believe) and I have never seen anyone sweat so profusely in my life. Like somebody had turned on a tap! LOL!

All in all I remember them as a great group. But I think he was quite new into music at the time and probably full of enthusiasm.

A year or two ago I saw that somebody had released one of the early live shows on CD. I had every intention of buying a copy but never got round to it. As soon as I hit the Submit button I might see if there are still copies available.

Mark

[Maxwell]

17 hours ago, Kenb said:

I wasn't there myself...but i think the Detroit Emeralds were in Mid 70's?

October 74 I think

[Shsdave]

17 hours ago, Sigmasteve said:

To add to the list of the previously mentioned .....Archie Bell and the Drells,  Barbara Pennington, Evelyn King,  - Not sure about James Wells , and How's about Nosmo King !

Detroit Emeralds ( Promoting their Album ) and wait for it ... Yes James Brown  who came to The Casino ( because he had heard so much about it )  his road crew set up the full rig only for him to pull out at the last minute 

 

Such a long time ago & my memory isn't at it's best but wasn't this on a Sunday with very little promotion (possibly put on at the last minute) & he refused to go on because there weren't many people there ?

[Guest]

42 minutes ago, Maxwell said:

October 74 I think

Partial recording of that show here: https://www.facebook.com/146169279003/videos/10153614286799004/

Edited April 17, 2018 by Guest

[Guest MBarrett]

19 hours ago, Kenb said:

I wasn't there myself...but i think the Detroit Emeralds were in Mid 70's?

According to Russ Winstanley's book the Detroit Emeralds appeared "not at an all-nighter but, unusually, at a Sunday all-dayer," and "they stunned the audience with an entire show of songs with a 60s stomping feel."

If anyone disagrees don't shoot me - I'm only the messenger!

[Algsoul]

11 hours ago, Joey said:

If not the anniversary then it had to be prior to November 26th, as that was the day I joined the Navy, and was the last Niter I attended until the Christmas one, three or four weeks later. Absolutely positive she was on, as I remember standing right at the back of the dance floor. Poor musical accompaniment, and crappy sound all around, saw me head up to Ms after twenty minutes. Again, all this is from what is left of my memory. Back then, I was fairly well known for usually being on some kind of inter-planetary journey, and only semi-coherent at the best of times, so I'm not saying all this is gospel, ok? :-)

Gloria Jones was defo on    thought it was 76/77   she let me go on stage and signed my membership card all my love Gloria 

Edited April 17, 2018 by algsoul

[Algsoul]

R Dean Taylor July 20th 1974,    early night do     7.30--1.00    £1.00 before ten 80p after       got the info from a blown up flyer that I have on the wall at work 

[Guest]

Then that would explain why I knew nothing about it. The usual Saturday night sessions for the "normal" people, prior to the 2am niter starts, usually ended at 1am. Originally midnight if I remember correctly? There were several live acts on, or so I was told,  mostly pop acts of the day, doing/miming their current hit.

I'm positive I saw Gloria Jones there in 74. I probably only did three or four nights in 76 before saying goodbye to the place for good. The only other act I can remember in that period was Tommy Hunt. Wasnt he the 2nd anniversary? I never saw him, as I spent all night in Ms. 

[Guest Soulatthedale]

Seem to remember an advert for Chairman Of The Board appearing there, or just imagining it?

[Algsoul]

3 hours ago, Joey said:

Then that would explain why I knew nothing about it. The usual Saturday night sessions for the "normal" people, prior to the 2am niter starts, usually ended at 1am. Originally midnight if I remember correctly? There were several live acts on, or so I was told,  mostly pop acts of the day, doing/miming their current hit.

I'm positive I saw Gloria Jones there in 74. I probably only did three or four nights in 76 before saying goodbye to the place for good. The only other act I can remember in that period was Tommy Hunt. Wasnt he the 2nd anniversary? I never saw him, as I spent all night in Ms. 

with Gloria jones maybe 74     thought my first nighter at wigan was in 75    memory playing up ????

[Zed1]

9 hours ago, Joey said:

 The usual Saturday night sessions for the "normal" people, prior to the 2am niter starts, usually ended at 1am. Originally midnight if I remember correctly? There were several live acts on, or so I was told,  mostly pop acts of the day, doing/miming their current hit.

I

Remember getting Held outside for an extra hour or so one night when Sad Cafe were on.  

[Guest]

6 hours ago, algsoul said:

with Gloria jones maybe 74     thought my first nighter at wigan was in 75    memory playing up ????

Same here. A very long time ago now, and quite frankly, given the quality, strength and sheer volume of gear being taken, its a wonder I even remember going to Wigan at all. I'm sure that someone, somewhere, will have a definitive list to hand, so once its published into the public domain, we can all read it, and laugh at our pathetic attempts at remembering!

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Zed1 said:

Remember getting Held outside for an extra hour or so one night when Sad Cafe were on.  

In the very early days of the Casino, before the crowds began arriving in earnest, the "normal normans" used to come out at the end of "their" night, pissed up and looking for a bit of aggravation. They outnumbered the soulies for the first few weeks, but within a month or two more and more people were attending the 'Niter, and their antics were swiftly put to bed. We tend to forget that there were many on the scene back then who were, shall we say, a tad tasty when it came to the dark arts of street fighting etc. A handful of local hard cases with bellies full of Watneys Red Barrel were no match for some of the lunatics arriving from other parts of the country.

In late 75, I had a girlfriend from Ashton in Makerfield, near Wigan, and she recalled to me just how many live acts performed in the town. Mostly pop acts, but also several well established soul artists. The majority of these, although at the Casino, were there well before the place opened as a 'Niter in 73. Mick Lyons is the guy to really know all about this particular subject. I'm sure he's on this forum. 

[maslar]

The last live act was Tommy Hunt on October 2 1981 (Fri/Sat).   He was the only live act I saw there and obviously he went down very well. That was the supposed last night and some of us went without a ticket and a group of about thirty or forty were kept outside for an unnecessarily long time. It's also the only time I've ever taken photos on a night out altough they're pretty poor quality. While he was performing a number of people (inc one of my mates) got up on the stage to  dance behind him. It all added to the excitement. I remember I was standing next to a guy who kept shouting "Never love a robin" over and over. I think it was a song request. Tommy didn't do it iirc.

[Mach]

18 hours ago, MBarrett said:

According to Russ Winstanley's book the Detroit Emeralds appeared "not at an all-nighter but, unusually, at a Sunday all-dayer," and "they stunned the audience with an entire show of songs with a 60s stomping feel."

If anyone disagrees don't shoot me - I'm only the messenger!

I was there that night when they appeared in the main room, remember it vividly it was 78/79..will someone else who was also there that night back me up on this...i saw loads of live acts at the Casino..and im 100% certain about this, and no i wasnt blocked at the time.

[Colnago]

4 minutes ago, Mach said:

I was there that night when they appeared in the main room, remember it vividly it was 78/79..will someone else who was also there that night back me up on this...i saw loads of live acts at the Casino..and im 100% certain about this, and no i wasnt blocked at the time.

I know Edwin Starr was 5th May 79 , I’ve  a photo or two with the date written on , bloody hated having to look after the camera , never took a camera again, alas !

[Kenb]

14 minutes ago, Mach said:

I was there that night when they appeared in the main room, remember it vividly it was 78/79..will someone else who was also there that night back me up on this...i saw loads of live acts at the Casino..and im 100% certain about this, and no i wasnt blocked at the time.

 

[Chatty]

I Think the  Detroit Emeralds appeared more than once, seem to remember them playing late 70's, the above poster has the allnighter starting at 2.am with only 3 regular (one being Kev who left in 75?) Djs named, putting it towards the beginning.

[Mr Fred]

Yes I saw L J Johnson, Barbara Pennington and Evelyn Thomas there but can't remember the date as I was well Bl--ked at the time. I think to be accurate with the dates is a tall order as it was such a long time ago unless you wrote the dates down, but hey who would do that. It is however possible that the live acts would have been featured in Blues & Soul magazine at the time. You just have to find someone on here who has the time and inclination to go through copies of B& S.

regards Fred. 

[Frankie Crocker]

4 minutes ago, Mr Fred said:

Yes I saw L J Johnson, Barbara Pennington and Evelyn Thomas there but can't remember the date as I was well Bl--ked at the time. I think to be accurate with the dates is a tall order as it was such a long time ago unless you wrote the dates down, but hey who would do that. It is however possible that the live acts would have been featured in Blues & Soul magazine at the time. You just have to find someone on here who has the time and inclination to go through copies of B& S.

regards Fred. 

Maybe Russ or Richard have a record of the dates. Maybe some of the other DJ’s such as Kev or Pat have a note of the dates or photographs of the events. Is Russ on here? If he isn’t, he should be and someone could perhaps talk to him.

[Chalky]

Just cataloguing some Echoes came across full page ad for Tommy Hunt live on December 26th (Sunday) allayer, 12 till 12

Also same ad Christmas Eve The Releases Thing and New Years Eve Sweet Sensation.  Both nights 7.30 till 2am.

Edited April 23, 2018 by chalky

[Guest Soulman51]

I do remember marvalettes singing do you think I'm sexy (rod Stewart track) they were rubbish

[Theothertosspot]

On 15/04/2018 at 20:32, Zed1 said:

Martha Reeves. Early 78 ...ish (again)

January 78, remember going with Chris King (after his stint at Coalville Tiffany’s). 

[Twoshoes]

scan casino right view.pdf

Edited October 18, 2018 by Twoshoes
Sorry , thought scan would show, it's a letter from the Casino written in reply to my mate concerning live acts.,

[The Tempest]

What was Jackie Wilson like ? 

[Diddy Morgan]

1 hour ago, Soulman51 said:

I do remember marvalettes singing do you think I'm sexy (rod Stewart track) they were rubbish

Was there also they were bobbins

[Stuart Hutchinson]

On ‎16‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 19:37, Kenb said:

I wasn't there myself...but i think the Detroit Emeralds were in Mid 70's?

They weren't very good lol

 

 

Edited April 21, 2019 by Stuart Hutchinson

[Timbob]

Remember tamiko jones coming on and doing spellbound,dont know if i dreamt this but did she marry the casino manager or somebody to do with the casino seem to remember her announcing it on stage

[Billywhizz]

On 17/04/2018 at 00:31, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Not the First Anniversary as I’ve never seen her perform live.

2nd anniv 

[Jimmy Mack]

4 hours ago, timbob said:

Remember tamiko jones coming on and doing spellbound,dont know if i dreamt this but did she marry the casino manager or somebody to do with the casino seem to remember her announcing it on stage

she was at the 4th anniversary dont remember if she sang though 

[Soul Shrews]

5 hours ago, timbob said:

Remember tamiko jones coming on and doing spellbound,dont know if i dreamt this but did she marry the casino manager or somebody to do with the casino seem to remember her announcing it on stage

She married John Abbey. Blues & Soul magazine owner/editor 

Cheers Paul 

[Timbob]

cheers matey weird how you convince yourself of thing as you get older

[Frankie Crocker]

22 hours ago, billywhizz said:

2nd anniv 

Cheers Billy. Long time no see. I was hopitalised and due to head off to university in 1975 so missed the second anniversary. Will always be a major regret as I was at the first, third and fourth. Off to college down south in 1978 so this meant the fifth anniversary was scuppered. Just got back from Texas with 100+ records so the flame’s still burning as strong as ever.

[The Tempest]

On 18/10/2018 at 19:17, The Tempest said:

What was Jackie Wilson like ? 

Anybody ! 

[Winsford Soul]

57 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Cheers Billy. Long time no see. I was hopitalised and due to head off to university in 1975 so missed the second anniversary. Will always be a major regret as I was at the first, third and fourth. Off to college down south in 1978 so this meant the fifth anniversary was scuppered. Just got back from Texas with 100+ records so the flame’s still burning as strong as ever.

Going to university.  Didn't know anyone in Widnes that went university until Keele started nighters. I started going the Casino in 75 so was lucky enough to get to the 2nd anniversary.  But managed all the others, including the oldies and the last ever one in December 81. Best years of my life.  Still as passionate now like you Frankie 

Steve 

 

[Frankie Crocker]

26 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Going to university.  Didn't know anyone in Widnes that went university until Keele started nighters. I started going the Casino in 75 so was lucky enough to get to the 2nd anniversary.  But managed all the others, including the oldies and the last ever one in December 81. Best years of my life.  Still as passionate now like you Frankie 

Steve 

 

Almost went to Liverpool uni but decided on Manchester in the end. Best choice really as 1975-1978 were great years at the Casino and Wigan was part of Greater Manchester. The last train from Victoria to Wigan Wallgate was a real buzz and amped up the mood nicely for the night ahead.

[Eddie Hubbard]

1 hour ago, The Tempest said:

Anybody ! 

Not very good ,from memory 

[Eddie Hubbard]

Remember Junior Walker being great ,as was Edwin Starr and Archie Bell and The Drells .Also saw Gloria Jones ,think it was an anniversary as Marc Bolan was supposed to be there .I know I met Dave Godin again and he introduced me to Sharon Jones from Blues and Soul .Also saw Martha Reeves ,The Exciters ,Jackie Wilson ( we took a coach up from Banbury ,he wasn’t very good ) ,Tommy Hunt several times .The trouble was ,most of the acts used these uncomplimentary backing bands , which didn’t exactly enhance the singers , it wasn’t until Snake Davis came along in the Stafford era that things got better .

[Petedillon]

I recall Jackie Wilson being great but a combination of Black n whites and green n clears may have helped?