The rise of the 'NEW' soulie and the soul revolution.

[Guest]

9 hours ago, gogs said:

Just been listening to a few tracks on you-tube, had Joe Simon "step by step" in my collection for years but never realised how good it still is.

Step by Step must be one of the finest tunes heard in the regular nightclubs of the early seventies. Not "northern" by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't know one single soulie who didnt like, or even love, that tune. It captures perfectly that period of late 73 to early 74. Funnily enough, I was recently putting together a Spotify playlist for my little sister. Just stuff from her early teenage years at various youth clubs and Tiffanies type ballrooms. Step by Step was the first tune I thought of.

Joe Simon himself? What a singer. A great voice, and over the years a truly prodigious output, most, or all of which, is excellent stuff. Especially his 60's recordings. His version of No Sad Songs is, in my humble opinion, head and shoulders above anyone elses. Knocks lumps out of Oscar Toney Jr's version. 

He has never really had the recognition he deserved. His talent stacks up against all of his contemporaries, including the acknowledged greats of soul music. A truly great artist. 

[Stevesilktulip]

Here here to Joe Simon. Or is it hear hear? I don't know! Nobody knows!

Georgia Blue is one of many great tracks. Surely one of the most under-rated Soul Singers of all, and while Step by Step was out, he was more or less a household name.

I bought two CDS on Monday, one yesterday and I'm disappointed nothing has turned up today. For a lot of the last fifteen years I've bought one or more every day. My Amazon basket has six hundred items (the maximum - not a lot of people know that) backed up with written lists all over the place.

But at least we actually now have a reason why they're evil; because somebody makes money from them, cos nobody makes money selling vinyls, cos the dealers don't have tens and hundreds of thousands of them they're ready to just chuck out.

I thought the reason people don't like pressings is because the artist doesn't make any money (cos they do when they're originals?) but the best chance they have is still CDs.

Collecting vinyls should be seen as a hobby, and not something to do with music.  

[Mark S]

2 hours ago, Joey said:

Step by Step must be one of the finest tunes heard in the regular nightclubs of the early seventies. Not "northern" by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't know one single soulie who didnt like, or even love, that tune. It captures perfectly that period of late 73 to early 74. Funnily enough, I was recently putting together a Spotify playlist for my little sister. Just stuff from her early teenage years at various youth clubs and Tiffanies type ballrooms. Step by Step was the first tune I thought of.

Joe Simon himself? What a singer. A great voice, and over the years a truly prodigious output, most, or all of which, is excellent stuff. Especially his 60's recordings. His version of No Sad Songs is, in my humble opinion, head and shoulders above anyone elses. Knocks lumps out of Oscar Toney Jr's version. 

He has never really had the recognition he deserved. His talent stacks up against all of his contemporaries, including the acknowledged greats of soul music. A truly great artist. 

2 hours ago, Joey said:

Step by Step must be one of the finest tunes heard in the regular nightclubs of the early seventies. Not "northern" by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't know one single soulie who didnt like, or even love, that tune. It captures perfectly that period of late 73 to early 74. Funnily enough, I was recently putting together a Spotify playlist for my little sister. Just stuff from her early teenage years at various youth clubs and Tiffanies type ballrooms. Step by Step was the first tune I thought of.

Joe Simon himself? What a singer. A great voice, and over the years a truly prodigious output, most, or all of which, is excellent stuff. Especially his 60's recordings. His version of No Sad Songs is, in my humble opinion, head and shoulders above anyone elses. Knocks lumps out of Oscar Toney Jr's version. 

He has never really had the recognition he deserved. His talent stacks up against all of his contemporaries, including the acknowledged greats of soul music. A truly great artist. 

Cracking tune another from that era got plays all over Manchester was Johnny Williams Slow motion just mentioned it as it was in the same vein not northern as such there must be thousands of brilliamt tunes from then that are forgotten.

Oops another just came to mind Damon Shawn feel the need just that bit different from the DE version

 

Edited May 9, 2018 by Mark S

[Stevesilktulip]

Loads and loads and some of us are trying to bring them back.

[Guest Spain pete]

Mel and Tim   , backfield in motion,   not  half bad ..  THE RISE OF THE OLD NEW new old  etc etc ect soulies

[Guest]

56 minutes ago, Mark S said:

Cracking tune another from that era got plays all over Manchester was Johnny Williams Slow motion just mentioned it as it was in the same vein not northern as such there must be thousands of brilliamt tunes from then that are forgotten.

Oops another just came to mind Damon Shawn feel the need just that bit different from the DE version

 

Damon Shawn? Not heard that version, nor the DE's Feel the need, in many a year. Must hit YouTube later on!

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Spain pete said:

Mel and Tim   , backfield in motion,   not  half bad ..  THE RISE OF THE OLD NEW new old  etc etc ect soulies

Now THAT one takes me back to Rowntrees Sounds Disco in Manchester, circa 72. Along with Jean Knights Mr. Big Stuff, it was played to death about then. Love it!  

[Guest Spain pete]

Breaking down the walls of heartache , Johnnie Johnson and the band wagon ,  youth club fav in my neck of the woods. FANTASTIC  

[Mark S]

22 minutes ago, Joey said:

Now THAT one takes me back to Rowntrees Sounds Disco in Manchester, circa 72. Along with Jean Knights Mr. Big Stuff, it was played to death about then. Love it!  

The place to be for many a cool urbanite hipster . Spring gardens and as I recall there was one near the Corn exchange as well 

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Mark S said:

The place to be for many a cool urbanite hipster . Spring gardens and as I recall there was one near the Corn exchange as well 

Yep, midweek in either Sounds or Spring Gardens, and then a year or two later we used them as a meeting point prior to getting the last train to Wigan. Happy days indeed!

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, Spain pete said:

Breaking down the walls of heartache , Johnnie Johnson and the band wagon ,  youth club fav in my neck of the woods. FANTASTIC  

Actually played a few times "on the scene" believe it or not. "HoneyBee" was quite popular around 72-ish. Played at the Torch and other places.

[Hxtfc1]

Young Brothers - Whats Your Game = 100 MPH Stomper

Brought to the Wheel by Ian Levine circa 1974 !

Getting off the train at Manchester Victoria from Halifax in Blue Suede Cubans , tight jeans and a Prince of Wales Mac - Priceless !!!

[Mark S]

23 minutes ago, Joey said:

Yep, midweek in either Sounds or Spring Gardens, and then a year or two later we used them as a meeting point prior to getting the last train to Wigan. Happy days indeed!

Last train to Wigan we went in the Manchester arms near the station propper ropey dump plastic pint pots and very dodgy strippers on a saturday night at seventeen a real eye opener .

Recall spring gardens had a female dj very progresive at the time . Happy days indeed

 

Edited May 9, 2018 by Mark S

[manus]

We often used to go to Rowntrees circa 1974 before catching the last train on to Wigan.

Lot's of "characters" in there

Edited May 9, 2018 by manus

[Steve S 60]

5 minutes ago, manus said:

We often used to got Rowntrees circa 1974 before catching the last train on to Wigan.

Lot's of "characters" in there

Circa 1974 the only Rowntrees I got was Fruit Pastilles.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Mark S said:

Last train to Wigan we went in the Manchester arms near the station propper ropey dump plastic pint pots and very dodgy strippers on a saturday night at seventeen a real eye opener .

Recall spring gardens had a female dj very progresive at the time . Happy days indeed

 

Lol. Manchester Arms was a real dive. Visited a couple of times, then avoided the place like the plague! Strippers were as attractive as a fungal infection or a bad case of genital warts.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, manus said:

We often used to got Rowntrees circa 1974 before catching the last train on to Wigan.

Lot's of "characters" in there

"Characters" indeed. Take a look at my photo album. One of the pics was taken in 'Trees in 73. Barry Robinson quite easily recognisable!

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, Steve S 60 said:

Circa 1974 the only Rowntrees I got was Fruit Pastilles.

Not as bad a deal as you may think. Many who went to Rowntrees back then, and weren't known to the regulars, only got stitches!!!!!

[Tattoodave]

3 hours ago, stevesilktulip said:

Here here to Joe Simon. Or is it hear hear? I don't know! Nobody knows!

 

I think you'll find it's "hear, hear", it has to be used with a comma, so in fact at least one person knows, and he failed "O" level English

[Mark S]

Very dangerous days it was a case of fit in or fcuk off propper rights of passage stuff . 

Allways thought we were the vanguard , of some thing much bigger . We wer,nt but it felt that way . 

The new people on the scene will not have had that experience all a vital part of the whole thing for me and colours my thoughts nowadays . We all have differing points of referrence but I would,nt swap the threatening atmosphere of some of the places just to hear some mùsic for the world 

[Guest Spain pete]

3 hours ago, Steve S 60 said:

Circa 1974 the only Rowntrees I got was Fruit Pastilles.

You were lucky ,     a cooking apple for me  on a Friday some weeks , if l was lucky .

[Stevesilktulip]

According to Wikipedia, some use here and some hear, but I have no idea, and I have an English degree. But my degree was during a time when comprehension was the thing, and any notion of 'right' or 'wrong' were scorned.  

[Tattoodave]

17 hours ago, stevesilktulip said:

According to Wikipedia, some use here and some hear, but I have no idea, and I have an English degree. But my degree was during a time when comprehension was the thing, and any notion of 'right' or 'wrong' were scorned.  

It comes from "let it be heard" surely, like the olde worlde town crier Hearye as in this needs to be heard, why would anyone say here, here, doesn't make sense to me like most of the stuff on Wikipedo

[Winsford Soul]

23 hours ago, Mark S said:

Very dangerous days it was a case of fit in or fcuk off propper rights of passage stuff . 

Allways thought we were the vanguard , of some thing much bigger . We wer,nt but it felt that way . 

The new people on the scene will not have had that experience all a vital part of the whole thing for me and colours my thoughts nowadays . We all have differing points of referrence but I would,nt swap the threatening atmosphere of some of the places just to hear some mùsic for the world 

Quite often you where asked the time. To determine what accent you had. Or where you from ?  . To which I replied Widnes why  ? That really confused the Neanderthals. 

Steve 

[Stevesilktulip]

Hear, hear. Don't think either particularly make sense nowadays, but both could ie us people here agree.

[Martin L]

5 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Quite often you where asked the time. To determine what accent you had. Or where you from ?  . To which I replied Widnes why  ? That really confused the Neanderthals. 

Steve 

what a bizzare moment in time steve ,when two worlds collide bud  made some venues a tricky do at times 

Martin L 

      

[Jez Jones]

6 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Quite often you where asked the time. To determine what accent you had. Or where you from ?  . To which I replied Widnes why  ? That really confused the Neanderthals. 

Steve 

Yep ....ruuning alongside the football terrace culture of the late 60's early 70's..........bit difficult trying to put on a cockney accent down at the 'Bridge lol :-)

 

[Stevesilktulip]

La La Peace Song. Either version.

[Mark S]

On 10/05/2018 at 13:54, Winsford Soul said:

Quite often you where asked the time. To determine what accent you had. Or where you from ?  . To which I replied Widnes why  ? That really confused the Neanderthals. 

Steve 

I lived in Stockport in the late sixties early seventies the town was very territorial , being in close proximity to Manchester the sounds were filtering down from the Wheel so at15/16 it was quite a challenge getting around the towns various youth clubs to get my fix . Non of my normal mates were interested so I bit the bullet and went on my own used to leave just before the end so I didnt get the promised kicking made for an interesting youth .

Once I started getting around to propper venues the lads that were so scary became accquaintances some just nodding terms and others as freinds . Exciting times 

[Patto]

Yeah thats one thing that is a lot different now.The venues that i went to in the 80s and 90s had a tangible edge to them.The atmosphere could sometimes be very intimidating.This made the whole experience exciting and a real buzz.Nowadays things are a lot more welcoming and sociable which dont get me wrong is a good thing but just different.

Every venue had a scary corner crowd full of scary people.For some reason some of the wierdest always sempt to attach themselves to me,but became great mates and top people.Some of them however just remained pure Scary.

AT the end of the day every generation of soulie will have their own tales and folklore.I love to hear the old School mens stories.Pre internet,social media and mobile phones the scene was a raw and underground fuelled by word of mouth and reputations.Its a completely different scene for todays newcomers but the most important thing is that they have discovered it nothing else comes close.

[Guest Spain pete]

The gear had a lot to do with it,   back in the day some of the events that l went to it seemed to be Paramount, a lot of them bad dudes are long gone , MUSIC RULES .

50 minutes ago, Patto said:

Yeah thats one thing that is a lot different now.The venues that i went to in the 80s and 90s had a tangible edge to them.The atmosphere could sometimes be very intimidating.This made the whole experience exciting and a real buzz.Nowadays things are a lot more welcoming and sociable which dont get me wrong is a good thing but just different.

Every venue had a scary corner crowd full of scary people.For some reason some of the wierdest always sempt to attach themselves to me,but became great mates and top people.Some of them however just remained pure Scary.

AT the end of the day every generation of soulie will have their own tales and folklore.I love to hear the old School mens stories.Pre internet,social media and mobile phones the scene was a raw and underground fuelled by word of mouth and reputations.Its a completely different scene for todays newcomers but the most important thing is that they have discovered it nothing else comes close.

 

[Zed1]

40 years ago it would be travelling late at night to Wigan on Public Transport then getting off the train to run the gauntlet of the Towns pi55-heads to get to the Casino....

Interesting irony that these same pi55-heads now make up much of the scene. 

[Leicester Boy]

8 hours ago, Zed1 said:

40 years ago it would be travelling late at night to Wigan on Public Transport then getting off the train to run the gauntlet of the Towns pi55-heads to get to the Casino....

Interesting irony that these same pi55-heads now make up much of the scene. 

Yes plenty of drinking at every event I attend but surely better for someone to wake up with a sore head than not at all because of some dodgy pills or powder. No air of menace dispute plenty of drinking and most people are with their partners so none of the usual crap that can occur with plenty of drunken singles .I think we have progressed

[Peter99]

Mm. I’m not sure things have progressed now beer is everyone’s poison. I don’t see how that can in any way be better than what drove the scene in the old days. 

[Leicester Boy]

16 minutes ago, Peter99 said:

Mm. I’m not sure things have progressed now beer is everyone’s poison. I don’t see how that can in any way be better than what drove the scene in the old days. 

You're opinion I've no intention of going into the taboo area of drugs and the effect it had on people so we will just have to disagree. But have a great day. 

[Chalky]

To say beer was never a factor is wrong.  I know it wasn’t sold at the niter bit many got oiled up on the way or at a soul night prior to moving on to the niter.

[Guest Spain pete]

39 minutes ago, Peter99 said:

Mm. I’m not sure things have progressed now beer is everyone’s poison. I don’t see how that can in any way be better than what drove the scene in the old days. 

Is that a larger or a bitter in your hand .?

[Steve G]

On 10/05/2018 at 20:10, jez jones said:

Yep ....ruuning alongside the football terrace culture of the late 60's early 70's..........bit difficult trying to put on a cockney accent down at the 'Bridge lol

 

Or trying to put on a Manc accent on the train up to Wigan when the carriage is full of Man U chanting "We hate cockney bastards".  

[Ian Stacey]

40 minutes ago, Spain pete said:

Is that a larger or a bitter in your hand .?

no mate thats a pint of red bull  proper dancing fuel 

[Peter99]

1 hour ago, Spain pete said:

Is that a larger or a bitter in your hand .?

I suspect it was coke Pete. Now, look into my eyes, look into my eyes.

[Peter99]

2 hours ago, chalky said:

To say beer was never a factor is wrong.  I know it wasn’t sold at the niter bit many got oiled up on the way or at a soul night prior to moving on to the niter.

I never said it wasn’t a factor. But 95% of the attendees were not dancing all night on beer. 

[Frankie Crocker]

12 hours ago, Zed1 said:

40 years ago it would be travelling late at night to Wigan on Public Transport then getting off the train to run the gauntlet of the Towns pi55-heads to get to the Casino....

Interesting irony that these same pi55-heads now make up much of the scene. 

Don’t give the few drunken wallies who used to stagger around any credit for their presence. Getting off the last train from Manchester was an uplifting experience as every carriage was packed with soulies - there were hundreds of people filing up the road to the Casino so there was never any feeling of being intimidated. Same with the last train from Bank Quay, especially with a crowd of mates - never saw any aggro from the locals. I think it was the early-birds in the pubs that got the beady eye and maybe got chased off, but that was the 70’s for you anywhere. I never saw any real trouble inside or outside the Casino despite the place being packed with plenty of ‘likely lads’ from all over the country.

[Zed1]

51 minutes ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Don’t give the few drunken wallies who used to stagger around any credit for their presence. Getting off the last train from Manchester was an uplifting experience as every carriage was packed with soulies - there were hundreds of people filing up the road to the Casino so there was never any feeling of being intimidated. Same with the last train from Bank Quay, especially with a crowd of mates - never saw any aggro from the locals. I think it was the early-birds in the pubs that got the beady eye and maybe got chased off, but that was the 70’s for you anywhere. I never saw any real trouble inside or outside the Casino despite the place being packed with plenty of ‘likely lads’ from all over the country.

Likewise, seen very little trouble in or around the Casino in my 3 years, but our last train from Warrington Bank Quay used to get us into Wigan just after 11 so we'd be walking through at kicking out time and did have a few 'incidents' with the locals. 

[Back Street Blue]

54 minutes ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Don’t give the few drunken wallies who used to stagger around any credit for their presence. Getting off the last train from Manchester was an uplifting experience as every carriage was packed with soulies - there were hundreds of people filing up the road to the Casino so there was never any feeling of being intimidated. Same with the last train from Bank Quay, especially with a crowd of mates - never saw any aggro from the locals. I think it was the early-birds in the pubs that got the beady eye and maybe got chased off, but that was the 70’s for you anywhere. I never saw any real trouble inside or outside the Casino despite the place being packed with plenty of ‘likely lads’ from all over the country.

We had brawls with locals hanging about after the pubs emptied when we were walking up from the station a couple of times on the first couple of Oldies Friday nights which weren't particularly well attended, so there weren't many on the train.

Also remember seeing the odd scraps over gear both in and outside the Casino not to mention lads getting rolled in the bogs.

Never drank before or at a niter, but would have a few at an all dayer.

 

 

 

[Hornet]

2 hours ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Don’t give the few drunken wallies who used to stagger around any credit for their presence. Getting off the last train from Manchester was an uplifting experience as every carriage was packed with soulies - there were hundreds of people filing up the road to the Casino so there was never any feeling of being intimidated. Same with the last train from Bank Quay, especially with a crowd of mates - never saw any aggro from the locals. I think it was the early-birds in the pubs that got the beady eye and maybe got chased off, but that was the 70’s for you anywhere. I never saw any real trouble inside or outside the Casino despite the place being packed with plenty of ‘likely lads’ from all over the country.

The last train from Crewe landed U in Wigan just as the punk rock club were kicking out & trouble was compulsory ! 

[Frankie Crocker]

Just now, hornet said:

The last train from Crewe landed U in Wigan just as the punk rock club were kicking out & trouble was compulsory ! 

 I can remember one night in August 1977 when the punks were chased up the alley alongside the Casino as a rumour was going around that a punk rocker had taken a pop at a soulie. The only argie-bargie I saw in the Casino involved two blokes from the same place squabbling over a girl - when the bouncer stepped in at the front right of the stage, someone said they knew there’d be trouble if so-and-so came - evidently an incident barely worth mentioning.

[Frankie Crocker]

2 hours ago, back street blue said:

We had brawls with locals hanging about after the pubs emptied when we were walking up from the station a couple of times on the first couple of Oldies Friday nights which weren't particularly well attended, so there weren't many on the train.

Also remember seeing the odd scraps over gear both in and outside the Casino not to mention lads getting rolled in the bogs.

Never drank before or at a niter, but would have a few at an all dayer.

 

 

 

Getting rolled in the bogs wouldn’t have been very pleasant with the floor three inches deep in piss and beer...

[Hornet]

10 minutes ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Getting rolled in the bogs wouldn’t have been very pleasant with the floor three inches deep in piss and beer...

Mr Ms loos were the problem 

[Woodbutcher]

5 hours ago, chalky said:

To say beer was never a factor is wrong.  I know it wasn’t sold at the niter bit many got oiled up on the way or at a soul night prior to moving on to the niter.

Seen plenty of lads in the 'old days'  necking their gear before going into my favourite basement nighter and then hitting the bar  hard for the short time it was still serving beer ... and then complaining bitterly after the rapid intake of 4 or five pints that their gear was rubbish ... they never did learn bless them ... 

Edited May 12, 2018 by WoodButcher

[Guest Spain pete]

3 hours ago, Peter99 said:

I suspect it was coke Pete. Now, look into my eyes, look into my eyes.

Surely not the real thing ?