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...IS THIS A RED LIGHT DISTRICT?!x...I hope not....!x


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Evening!x It's been a while since I visited...covid...trips to Ukraine...blah blah...but...in between all that malarkey...I've DJ'd at several venues over the past 2 years....and i'm gobsmacked that the number 1 tune...in demand...TOP NORTHERN TRACK.....has been...Red Light Spells Danger.........???!!!!! WTF. 60+ year old women scream as it spins on the deck....like the Beatles are walking in. I didn't have it....but got a copy a few weeks back. I ain't spun it yet...not even at the Jubilee doo in Hull where I played lots of Northern........didn't even spin it when I had the decks for 5 hours live over the net to a group of music moguls gathering in London! But I played some Northern. Has the Northern Soul as I knew it....finished? I've never known that tune to be a Northern track....never got spun at my Youth Clubs....or even Keele in the 90's??? Anyway...I blamed John from Cambridge when DJing at the Sandcastle in Skeggy....said that he'd borrowed my copy for his gigs end and he hadn't returned it!! That got me off a lynching!!x So the ladies still loved me and we went into the night moaning about the other DJs....as you do!x Am I being rash? Disco is disco...init?x Funk for me from that era...for dancing x Is this....an anti Red Light district.......?...........you're my last hope!x Of Course i'll play it....at a slippers soul doo...like the Snake...and Out on the Floor....but.....you know......sigh.

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4 hours ago, Ian Parker said:

seen it fetch crazy money...   £30 is par for the course. .     good record,  regardless of its' chart history.  

   (not at a Northern soul event tho, please) 

Send the wanters to me ive 4 copies from my disco days !!!

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I'm that serious that I lost my cool on several "across the board" nights and started pontificating....and was threatened with several banning orders.

No complaints. Learned my lesson. Im not the judge and jury.

just listening to bobby guitar woods....and thinking its mighty nice to know...quality:)

ed

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10 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

I'm that serious that I lost my cool on several "across the board" nights and started pontificating....and was threatened with several banning orders.

No complaints. Learned my lesson. Im not the judge and jury.

just listening to bobby guitar woods....and thinking its mighty nice to know...quality:)

ed

I would want my money back if I heard this or Wooly Bully

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THANK YOU ALL....for your reassuring comments.....and to the silent majority...all 1000 views...!x Chalky is hard core as usual and yes Mate i'm sure i've been on the hand bag end of the scene of late due to me being too busy for anything of my choice!! If I ain't at venues then i don't expect to be asked to DJ. I never put a DJ on at any venue I promoted unless they'd been to the venue. Didn't want'creamers'! I ain't one either....so....handbag doo's it is and the occasional Scooter doo!!x I don't get 'free' weekends these days! But when you're invited to DJ....and I get my rocks off with like minded folk....then i'm there. If its a Northern doo'....then I play Northern....but I do have to admit to playing Woolly Bully at the 100 Club Xmas Party 1994..........place went laaary!!!!x BUT....I....can carry it off! I played Dance Dance Dance by the Casualeers too....in a normal month.....most hard core would have give it a Snake/Do I Love you attitude who were in the room that night.....yet the 'kids'....who have now been on the scene for 30 years themselves......LOVED IT...came rushing to the decks wondering wtf that was.....just like I did when hearingt it at youth club 20 years earlier....!!! So there's a time and a place for every tune...as time goes by....and it seems Red Light....is on the Disco pile......and i'm glad my judgement of wot Norvern is hasn't wained even if my attendance at functions has!x Blame the Russians!x Thanx again for all your comments....its good to be amongst ure own...nice one X

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....arghhhh.....and I can't help but spin Nellie the Elephant at BIG gigs I do these days......which is anuver reason why I don't get invited to dJ at decent gigs on the scene I figured hahaha...!!!x THEEEE elephant in the room...although i've lost 2 stone since this....thankfully......tadaaa!x

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...'ere Chalky...X My co presenter Princess Ruby here asks if you could have handled 17 versions of the 'Frozen' song....in all keys except the right one....at this charitable handbag doo...?!!x Dan and his crew insist I play Susan Cadogans Hurt So Good and Sham 69's If The Kids are United again when we meet and have confirmed after a 'gathering' that I will be stabbed if their Mrs's can't wiggle to Red Light at the next 'handbag' doo we meet......! Marvellous pressure there.....EASY LIFE YOU LOT HAVE....SIGH. Chopsy (Paul Gordon 3rd pic) loves your show.....he sends me tracks asking if i'd heard them.........stuff I was spinning in the 90's or heard at youth clubs in the 70's!!! Innocence...luv it...!x

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I'm so out of touch with todays scene...its incredible.

I thought I'd heard the lowest point at LV 2018 when December 63 got spun, but obviously not.

Shock jocks rule ok.

I assume the threat of being stabbed if a record is not played is an exaggeration? 

If not, I'd give up dj ing as a bad job.

Ed

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I suppose it all depends on the crowd you are entertaining and their expectations. I did a set on Saturday in S London for a long term mate who was celebrating his 60th. This meant some lovers mixed with soul. Now if I played Beres Hammond or the Mighty Diamonds at a northern soul night I’d not be allowed back to Boston(see another thread).

And no I wouldn’t play RLSD at a northern gig but I do remember it being played in Nottingham at The Palais in the 70s. These were soul nights . It wouldn’t have been played at The Brittania.

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35 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

"I assume the threat of being stabbed if a record is not played is an exaggeration? "

Of course Ed....literary license!x These folk were part of a Scooter Rally event I DJd at and have done for 5 years.....we had a RAVE....and they LUV me!x I like rallys as I get to play stuff just on the edge of Northern....'mod' tunes I suppose...like this which I kick off with........ain't got time to waste init!!!x

Red Light was in demand at the main event where I was DJing....I know it was the most popular tune at theee designated Northern venue up the road too...and saw it RAM the floors....3 times in a night!!! Last time I saw that happen was when Keith Minshull spun Too Many People' by Bobby Goldsboro for a 3rd time...at Keele Xmas party 1992....I danced to it all 3 times WOOOHOOOOO WOT A NIGHT!!!x So...as the Duke of Burgundy has said....several times!...it depends on the crowd and nature of the event...as to wether its 'acceptable' or not! Sometimes its a 'I woz there' moment!x

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Live and let live.

There's been many records loved by others and despised by me over the years, like everybody.

The Joker went Wild, When we get there, Wait a minute, nine times out of ten, and my hearts symphony to name just a handful.

All got their place in History, and at the end of the day, the dj has to entertain the crowd in place.

Ed

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3 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

Live and let live.

There's been many records loved by others and despised by me over the years, like everybody.

The Joker went Wild, When we get there, Wait a minute, nine times out of ten, and my hearts symphony to name just a handful.

All got their place in History, and at the end of the day, the dj has to entertain the crowd in place.

Ed

Surely if the dj has any kind of discerning soul awareness and credibility, he/she wouldn't actually own any of those records, let alone have them in the box to play ?!?

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2 hours ago, Hill868 said:

Surely if the dj has any kind of discerning soul awareness and credibility, he/she wouldn't actually own any of those records, let alone have them in the box to play ?!?

I think we are talking about 'anything goes, across the board, let's have a party ' scene here.

Unlikely Searling and Co would be on stage at these kind of events anyway.

Personally I would not attend an event like this, because I'd get agitated when records like rlsd or 9xof10 hit the decks.

On the other hand, I can imagine a fair few punters walking out of a more puritanical event when these tunes don't get played.

Ed

 

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Definitely a 'scooterist soul' record.

Nothing wrong with that -and it's favourite of mine along with the normal culprits like 'love really hurts etc.

We had some new faces at west wilts Saturday night, and requests came in, which all of the residents had lurking in our 2nd or 3rd boxes at home, but which we never get any call for and so we didn't have.

predictably: the snake, footsie, red light. I actually offered to play Greg Perry/Jeff Perry, but that wasn't good enough.

Apparently we were all only playing 'underplayed & mega rare' stuff no-one knows!

Apart from the 60+ people on the dance floor for 5 hours that is!

Frankly 99% I hear the phrase 'underplayed' as some sort of critique it's always from someone that never goes anywhere -it ain't underplayed mate -it's underheard -by you!

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4 hours ago, Hill868 said:

Surely if the dj has any kind of discerning soul awareness and credibility, he/she wouldn't actually own any of those records, let alone have them in the box to play ?!?

All depends what kind of DJ you are talking about Hill868!!x I also think 'soul awareness' and 'credibility' are loose words too. As a limo firm i've married over 300 brides in the past 25 years. I offer a complete wedding service...organise the whole lot and DJ at the reception. In over 100 receptions I have took with me The Snake...Frank Wilson...The Champion....Wayne Gibsons Under My Thumb and Tobi Legends legendary tune Time Will Pass you by. Never have I had to play more than 2 of those tunes to satisfy the 'Northern Soul' element in the room. Uncle Ted normally jumps on the floor to the Snake and is puffing for wind by the 2nd minute. That's it. Motown is covered by The Supremes obvious tunes and a couple of The Four Tops and Isley Bros. As A DJ...i'm 'Soul Aware'....thanx to my Mams collection during the 60's. Conway Twitty....Jimmy Jones....James Dean...and Wayne Fontana (RIP x) was in there as her name is Pamela...so Pamela Pamela was on one side and Something Keeps Calling me back on t'other. I danced to all of it in my bedroom aged 6/7/8 before the term Northern Soul was invented. It certainly gave me a wide understanding of 'singers'...songs...and listened to any new tune I heard and it wasn't until I was 13/14in '74 when I discovered Northern Soul tunes at my youth club which like James Deans Big Bad John...and Jimmy Jones's I'll Try...made my hairs raise on my arm. Hooked. 

My first B side I liked...and Wayne Fontanas Skcmb B side...encouraged me to play both sides of a record....aged 6/7 in the late 60's....

However....I have to say this....what made me a good Northern DJ was having an understanding of different music....and knowing their place. It enables me at a party to go from Soul to Rock n Roll...Reggae...Merseybeat...Motown  and pop...and hold the floor. Not many 'DJs' can do that.  Most Northern DJ's i've shared the stage with know around 30-50,000 tunes...I know intimately 100's of 1000's. I've collected 3,000 of the best from the past 70 years of music production....covering all genres. Only 600 of them are Northern....yet I have followed Butch often at the 100 Club and many other TOP DJ's....and held my own. I remember spinning Emporer of My Babys Heart in 1994 at the 100 Club. Folk whom had 'cred' and I was wanting to respect said it was rock n roll/Doo wop!!! So whose 'soul awareness' are we going by.......and as for 'credibility'...mines based on leaving dance floors in a pool of sweat wherever I go. The floor tells me how i've done not any collector/mogul lurking in a corner!!! I just added this to my NORTHERN collection....yet it would have sat cosy in my Mams collection with Jimmy Dean and Jimmy Jones...I reckon!x

So....I do have tunes that others won't have in their box at a doo..because ' people' demand them. I ain't there to impoose my choice of tunes except at an All Nighter or if DJing at the 100 club.....no....I'm there to 'entertain'. Otherwise I wouldn have half the Northern in my box as I have as most are overplayed and certainly don't get me up as they used too. At a Soul/scooter Night....if asked...and it was right then yes i'd play RLSD....as well as the Snake...despite the fact neither do it for me. Thats what DJs do...entertain the people. Collector DJs however...educate us. I love them all and can't wait for summink new to dance too. Richard Serling said it to me himself....it takes both kinds to provide a full scene for all....and i'm proud to wave a flag for DJs....and respect my fellow 'hard core' Collectors X

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Weddings....are fantastic Chalky...keeps your DJ skills on the ball i'd say!x I use them occasions to PROMOTE our scene. Yes I take the obvious tunes but I slip in several tunes in my quiz....Richard Berry Have Love will travel...Rubin -You've been away....and current tunes featuring on adverts....drip feeding the vibe. How do folk who don't know about the scene get into it if they don't hear the music? I've always been looking for opportunity to include and share the joy we all have. That's a wedding to me. 'Div' venues.......who are the'us'that uses such vernacular for fellow Soulies??? I don't use that as it sounds condescending as in my book that covers most Soul Nights in the UK today....part timers possibly come back on the scene in the last 20-25 years?? Sad to hear they are of no interest to you or others like you. Equally If I DJ at a so called 'div' night then again I put tracks in there among the obvious to enlighten...surprise...educate and make happy. You're sounding like the scene was back in the 90's grumpy old soulies looking to keep it to yourselves spinning labels to each other. These so called 'DJ's' you reckon are out there need to come out of their shells then Chalky as i ain't seen many that can...on the Northern scene. Blinkered one trick ponys is my experience...of many. I surrounded myself with similar folk to me...and that is what the punters wanted...entertainers. JOB DONE. The 'Div' reference sadly sounds like divisionilism...instead of divine followers. They are going to a function to be entertained...sad if the so called echelons' of the scene don't consider them teachable....or keen to learn....and sadly inferior for some reason. I find they are keen to progress. I've got 11,000 kids to entertain next week at Lincolnshire Showground. I bet I get 15-20 Northern tracks away during the week. 9-16 year olds. I was in Borstal at 16....many were bunking off to Wigan. Why do you think the kids of these days wouldn't be inspired....by our music...with the right DJ sharing it? Just like 'divs'. I am optimistic and  look to generate new followers. If we followed your suggestions then the scene will be dead in about 15-20 years time as all the 'original' Wigan/Torch hard core old school folk will be gone. It's not your 'secret' for  you and ure buddies to take to the grave mate....I suggest!X It's the longest running underground Dance scene in THE WORLD. I'm proud of that....and don't consider anyone a 'div' for liking the music and supporting the scene in any capacity. But that's why i'm loved...by the majority....I reckon!x Those few haters....have never ever ever dared come out of their dark corners to say it to my face....can't...and won't....so I carry on!!x I will have this as the theme tune for the 11,000 kids....and you see what happens after 5 days of them learning it...a spin I had to kick off with at venues Nationwide through the 90's...the punters insisted. I'll get the kids to clap to it as we do....and make them learn the lyrics....i'm motivated....THANK YOU X

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48 minutes ago, Sooty said:

Weddings....are fantastic Chalky...keeps your DJ skills on the ball i'd say!x I use them occasions to PROMOTE our scene. Yes I take the obvious tunes but I slip in several tunes in my quiz....Richard Berry Have Love will travel...Rubin -You've been away....and current tunes featuring on adverts....drip feeding the vibe. How do folk who don't know about the scene get into it if they don't hear the music? I've always been looking for opportunity to include and share the joy we all have. That's a wedding to me. 'Div' venues.......who are the'us'that uses such vernacular for fellow Soulies??? I don't use that as it sounds condescending as in my book that covers most Soul Nights in the UK today....part timers possibly come back on the scene in the last 20-25 years?? Sad to hear they are of no interest to you or others like you. Equally If I DJ at a so called 'div' night then again I put tracks in there among the obvious to enlighten...surprise...educate and make happy. You're sounding like the scene was back in the 90's grumpy old soulies looking to keep it to yourselves spinning labels to each other. These so called 'DJ's' you reckon are out there need to come out of their shells then Chalky as i ain't seen many that can...on the Northern scene. Blinkered one trick ponys is my experience...of many. I surrounded myself with similar folk to me...and that is what the punters wanted...entertainers. JOB DONE. The 'Div' reference sadly sounds like divisionilism...instead of divine followers. They are going to a function to be entertained...sad if the so called echelons' of the scene don't consider them teachable....or keen to learn....and sadly inferior for some reason. I find they are keen to progress. I've got 11,000 kids to entertain next week at Lincolnshire Showground. I bet I get 15-20 Northern tracks away during the week. 9-16 year olds. I was in Borstal at 16....many were bunking off to Wigan. Why do you think the kids of these days wouldn't be inspired....by our music...with the right DJ sharing it? Just like 'divs'. I am optimistic and  look to generate new followers. If we followed your suggestions then the scene will be dead in about 15-20 years time as all the 'original' Wigan/Torch hard core old school folk will be gone. It's not your 'secret' for  you and ure buddies to take to the grave mate....I suggest!X It's the longest running underground Dance scene in THE WORLD. I'm proud of that....and don't consider anyone a 'div' for liking the music and supporting the scene in any capacity. But that's why i'm loved...by the majority....I reckon!x Those few haters....have never ever ever dared come out of their dark corners to say it to my face....can't...and won't....so I carry on!!x I will have this as the theme tune for the 11,000 kids....and you see what happens after 5 days of them learning it...a spin I had to kick off with at venues Nationwide through the 90's...the punters insisted. I'll get the kids to clap to it as we do....and make them learn the lyrics....i'm motivated....THANK YOU X

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Sooty,It seems the surrealism of your posts into the topic “Is this really the state of our scene” has jumped (shape shifted) to this thread too.

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1 hour ago, Kenb said:

Sooty,It seems the surrealism of your posts into the topic “Is this really the state of our scene” has jumped (shape shifted) to this thread too.

....no worries Kenb.....'the people' will find my comments and read both threads....the 'buzz' has gone round the FB groups 'Sooty's on Soul Source'......and i have no problem in repeating myself and I.....X X 

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....AND NO........ I ain't back on Soul Source or any other Northern platform.....i'll stick to the real world and dancing and spinning of tunes taaa.....and see you all there at the next one!x However...i started....so i'll finish or answer comments on my thread I started....accountability....X The real world beckons and I can't wait to tell Bear Grylls next week he's a div.....he loves my tunes!!! Knows nowt but what i tell him......but he takes the pi** outta what I don't know that he knows all the time......PAYBACK!!!x Bear Div....Div Grylls. Yeah....needs thinking on for best impact!X OOOOOMG...just realised who else is a div...my mate Paul Abbott!!!! He sez he went to Wigan once and loves Northern Soul....he asked me to take him to a gig and I will....but he'll be a Div i'm sure! He must be anyway. For anyone to able to write the scripts for Shameless....about divs....must be a div!! Sorry Chalky.....im getting it now....it takes a div to write about a div........I got there in the end!x

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Am I alone in thinking it really funny that the two main protagonists on this and the "State of the scene today" thread are called "Sooty" and "Chalky" - with one supporting and encouraging the ongoing integration of "Northern Soul" into the mainstream and the other continuing to fiercely argue for its segregation from that mainstream, and that anyone not inside "the club" (my words) and obeying its rules is a "div"? 

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