The best DJ the UK has produced.

[Fiftyboiledeggs]

Has to be Colin Curtis; never got stuck, always moving.

[Hooker1951]

Jimmy Saville Clunk Click suck my? Only joking.

ML

What does best DJ mean , ?who discovered best records , Who could fill a dance floor and keep them there?  Who was user friendly to the punters without thinking they were peas above sticks,  there,s plenty of them . ? Who has 10,000 records and only 60 minutes to play them?   Who is the most consistent? Etc etc, Etc, There are far to many faces to Northern Soul to make a judgement as profound as that, the Soulie who likes to dance or did and sweat of his trolley will have a completely different view to a Soulie who is a collector and who is only interested. In a DJ who finds rare soul only , although the two can cross over sometimes it’s rare,  I salute the DJ who has discovered new and undiscovered sounds  to our ears played them , but that does not make a complete 1 hour set and playing them in a manner that keeps the crowds interest for the full hour,, so for me it’s an unanswerable question, Give credit where it’s due  that’s all you can do.

ML

[Our Kid]

Totally agree with the above post. Each DJ brings something different to the table. We have been blessed with the efforts of all concerned and we all have been able to live richer lives. Thanks to everyone who has kept me on that floor 50 years and still going, keep dropping that stylus and I'll keep giving it 'some rice'.

Paul

[Mark4767]

what a bad topic.

they are all great and all give there time for little money and most at a loss.if it wasnt for the djs we wouldnt have the scene no mater who is the best,ktf

 

[Amsterdam Russ]

45 minutes ago, Mark4767 said:

what a bad topic.

Agreed

[Fiftyboiledeggs]

I'm not sure it is a bad topic  It might lead other members to dig deeper into a DJ they had never heard of. Now if I had said the worst DJ, maybe then;) That would have been negative.

 

Great way he opens his set here with Gil Scot Heron  and Frankie Beverly

 

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Fiftyboiledeggs

[Mickey Finn]

I think there are better ways to pay tribute to particular djs without making them number one or better than the rest. There are examples of this kind of discussion elsewhere on the forum, where people simply say why so-and-so does it for them (or not). Mick's points above explain very well why any nomination for The Best (or even the worst) is going to be ultimately impossible to settle.

"Give credit where it's due that's all you can do."

A more detailed appreciation of Colin's contribution would be a good place to start.

[Chris Turnbull]

Out of interest anyone know what is the track Colin plays at 51 mins to the end?

[MikeHinNewJersey]

 

[Joxer66]

1 hour ago, Chris Turnbull said:

Out of interest anyone know what is the track Colin plays at 51 mins to the end?

sounds like Nicola Conte Dossier Omega - dont kow what the spoken words are over the top though

[Steviehay]

GOT TO BE RUSS SURELY LOL

[Jim Elliott]

Terry Wogan.

[Fiftyboiledeggs]

The worst DJ is an easy one to settle- he just got led by money, I might have done the same.

[Chris Turnbull]

8 hours ago, MikeHinNewJersey said:

 

Many thanks

[Soulie52]

Sadly I think the top 500 that made the scene also imprisoned the scene too. Too many DJ's dare not leave the walls and have to play them in order to guarantee a full floor. Without Wigan and the Mecca breaking a record is nigh on impossible these days no matter how good it is. So what makes a good DJ? It is a fine balancing act, being able to take a risk and not care in search of that record that you truly believe in, emptying the floor until it kicks off and is accepted. I know he is a divisive character with as many supporters as people that dislike him but for me I have to give it to Levine.  

[Rhino]

Personal think that people like John Anderson has to be mentioned as there ain't many djs haven't got a record that came through soul bowl. Without John and the likes of Tim Brown and John manship the scene wouldn't be what it is today in my honest opinion. Need to be taken into account as well as the djs taste and balls to play new records records. Personal know a few djs that still cover up records and agree with micks comment to many variables to just name one dj. Richard searling in his day has to be up there with the rest . 

[Keamus]

Absolutely agree. If you read Richard Searling’s excellent book nearly every record mentioned is referenced with a big thanks and acknowledgement to in most instances John Anderson.

 

[Kev John]

Can i just say  no one has mentioned any DJ's in the 21st century 

Mentionig the legendary DJ's dosen't wash with me !

As most on here don't attend venues to hear the diversity of thier wares 

Playlists are king not hearing records at a venue

[Jez Jones]

1 hour ago, Kev John said:

Can i just say  no one has mentioned any DJ's in the 21st century 

Mentionig the legendary DJ's dosen't wash with me !

As most on here don't attend venues to hear the diversity of thier wares 

Playlists are king not hearing records at a venue

Yeah good point made their Kev....Currently there are some great dj's out there playing my type of 'sounds'

Yes my type of sounds is different to when the 'legends' were being feted..in that 2 out of 3 at least were trad northern.....i didnt know then that i liked summat different ...ring a bell anyone ??

So I'm quite happy hearing .my type of sounds' in 2023.....totally different ball game to 1973......coz ..well basically I'm in charge of what i hear so can pick and choose where i go to hear it......its great

Ive purposely mentioned no names.....coz we are in the era where music is king and not who plays it

Kev mentioned playlists.....I went to a great event on saturday night and it sounded much better than reading the playlist !!

So to summarise there are enough dj's out there to satisfy my needs  so for me they are the best DJ out there         

and am not sure any hierarchy is of any use nowadays apart from a conversation starter.....but i would soon leave after saying my point of view

Try this George Best is the greatest footballer UK has produced......see what i mean...it'll go nowhere

 .........we've all got different tastes nowadays so only current DJ's playing my type of sounds are relevant to me

Edited March 21, 2023 by Jez Jones

[Jnixon]

Might be easier to say who’s your favourite and why. 
 

Soul Sam. Can play any style incredibly well and when playing to a very open minded crowd he’s exceptional. 

[Soulie52]

7 hours ago, Kev John said:

Can i just say  no one has mentioned any DJ's in the 21st century 

Mentionig the legendary DJ's dosen't wash with me !

As most on here don't attend venues to hear the diversity of thier wares 

Playlists are king not hearing records at a venue

I honestly do not care one little bit about playlists or indeed about music on a laptop, memory stick or whatever, O.K, I go to the Soul Do's abroad and accept that the DJ's can't take their precious Vinyl on a plane for a week. I'll put up with that. I'm lucky enough to DJ now and again and I play my original Vinyl on Turnatables watch people  dancing on a Wooden Dance Floor, among friends we have known for years, that's what Soul is about. Always was and always will be. I'll even enjoy Soul on CD machines in a Modern Room because that is what it came out on, it wasn't on vinyl but it has to be in a venue, among friends and having a bloody good dance. Those people that read the floor, change their selections to what people seem to want that night are DJ's in my book. 

[Agentsmith]

Any dj worth his/her salt, plays to the crowd, not theirselves, that the first rule.

I cant fathom the age group of who has contributed so far but, if youve served your time on the scene, as the djs have, then you'll probably know them and how they work.

 

Without doubt, Colin is full on with the scene, as he has been from day 1, and he's always maintained this forward progression at a staggering pace. His spectrum of black music is ever broadening...he really is one of the hardest working guys i know, or anyone else for that matter, he's certainly been at the helm of Northern Soul in its formative years, and ' broke ' many tunes, whether incumbent of c/up status or not.

He's played the venues that matter and probably everywhere else in the soul pyramid.

 

I haven't said he's the best, but there's no doubt his reputation precedes him, he's one of our greatest. 

Perhaps its better we're all just grateful the way our icons have graced the scene and served us

[Soulmark]

Like as already been said with out the likes of John Anderson the scene would not be were it is today

[Frankie Crocker]

On 19/03/2023 at 20:01, Fiftyboiledeggs said:

Has to be Colin Curtis; never got stuck, always moving.

Now you’ve gone and hurt Ian Levine’s feelings...

Maybe a thread of your top 10 Allnighter DJ’s might throw up a few less obvious names BUT I’m still enjoying what’s been posted...

[Agentsmith]

Aside from the djs, i think there's still universal respect for John Anderson...and he's been done getting on for 3 years now...his contribution was integral...thats not to say others wouldnt have turned up the stuff that he did, but he trawled the States, when others simply didnt have the time or the knowledge where to look...he was out there before Levine, but whereas Ian scored hits, John was in it for the long haul, he made a business out of it...so many djs playlists benefitted from his inclusions.

I have massive respect for the likes of Tim Brown, Henry Atkinson, Martin Koppel and Mick Smith....these guys have made massive contributions to the market place and in many regards, have broken tunes too, and it goes without saying: they would voice their praise of John too.

[Julianb]

Last time I saw Colin DJ was at Teddington with Ian Levine. Ian was choosing the records and handing them to Colin to play!!!

No axe to grind here. I've known Colin from the Torch days and first met Ian at the Twisted Wheel.

[Mal C]

Very subjective topic, it's whoever you have grown up with isn’t it...? 

My first hero's Tony Reynolds (Outrigger, later 'The Ship Ashore'), Pep, Harpo, Max, Ted Massey and the crew at the Old Vic, Martin Red (Martin Redmond) for what he did at the Hummingbird and early shellys, if we travelled for house, it was always the Flying Dj's, Brandon Block, et al, and we always turned up anywhere Justin Robinson played. 

in the 9ts, it was everything 100 club, so all those guys, Ady, Mick, Butch, and of course Dave Flynn, Shifty, Irish Greg, Alan Hanscombe, all the Capitol soul folks...

as I said, very subjective..

 

[Chalky]

To be the best you have to be able to offer something others cannot.  Many that are paraded as the best offer the same as each other, same big ticket records, same backward looking outlook to the scene or scenes.

But at the end of the day it is a very subjective topic and really many don't look at what a Dj has to offer or what they have contributed to the scene.   By that I mean moving things forward, keeping it fresh.  I know that has got more and more difficult over recent years.

Colin, the first mentioned, a great DJ and one of the most innovative, his contribution cannot be questioned across the many facets of the UK Soul scene.  Richard Searling is right up there, not just for his contribution at Wigan etc but for his 80s and 90s soul.  If I was to look at the Northern scene post Wigan then it has to be Butch, Andy Dyson too in the last couple of decades or so, not just for what he has played but what he has supplied others. although there have been others in spells too who have all contributed, Guy Hennigan, Keb, Dave Thorley, Ady Croasdell etc etc.

We are of course looking at this from a very insular perspective.  There are other underground scenes where they too would have a very insular opinion.  

It is impossible really to suggest the best Dj without prejudice?  

Yes we have our favourites but that is a different discussion altogether.

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Chalky

[Geeselad]

16 hours ago, Agentsmith said:

Any dj worth his/her salt, plays to the crowd, not theirselves, that the first rule.

I cant fathom the age group of who has contributed so far but, if youve served your time on the scene, as the djs have, then you'll probably know them and how they work.

 

Without doubt, Colin is full on with the scene, as he has been from day 1, and he's always maintained this forward progression at a staggering pace. His spectrum of black music is ever broadening...he really is one of the hardest working guys i know, or anyone else for that matter, he's certainly been at the helm of Northern Soul in its formative years, and ' broke ' many tunes, whether incumbent of c/up status or not.

He's played the venues that matter and probably everywhere else in the soul pyramid.

 

I haven't said he's the best, but there's no doubt his reputation precedes him, he's one of our greatest. 

Perhaps its better we're all just grateful the way our icons have graced the scene and served us

Colin's contribution goes way beyond the soul spectrum along with Greg Wilson the part they played, in terms of dance music, is equal to that of Larry levan and Frankie Knuckles.  

[Geeselad]

On 21/03/2023 at 10:24, Rhino said:

Personal think that people like John Anderson has to be mentioned as there ain't many djs haven't got a record that came through soul bowl. Without John and the likes of Tim Brown and John manship the scene wouldn't be what it is today in my honest opinion. Need to be taken into account as well as the djs taste and balls to play new records records. Personal know a few djs that still cover up records and agree with micks comment to many variables to just name one dj. Richard searling in his day has to be up there with the rest . 

 

23 hours ago, Jez Jones said:

Yeah good point made their Kev....Currently there are some great dj's out there playing my type of 'sounds'

Yes my type of sounds is different to when the 'legends' were being feted..in that 2 out of 3 at least were trad northern.....i didnt know then that i liked summat different ...ring a bell anyone ??

So I'm quite happy hearing .my type of sounds' in 2023.....totally different ball game to 1973......coz ..well basically I'm in charge of what i hear so can pick and choose where i go to hear it......its great

Ive purposely mentioned no names.....coz we are in the era where music is king and not who plays it

Kev mentioned playlists.....I went to a great event on saturday night and it sounded much better than reading the playlist !!

So to summarise there are enough dj's out there to satisfy my needs  so for me they are the best DJ out there         

and am not sure any hierarchy is of any use nowadays apart from a conversation starter.....but i would soon leave after saying my point of view

Try this George Best is the greatest footballer UK has produced......see what i mean...it'll go nowhere

 .........we've all got different tastes nowadays so only current DJ's playing my type of sounds are relevant to me

Obviously Gary liniker is the best football player the UK has produced, and he just doesn't get the credit.

[Kev John]

On 21/03/2023 at 19:58, Soulie52 said:

I honestly do not care one little bit about playlists or indeed about music on a laptop, memory stick or whatever, O.K, I go to the Soul Do's abroad and accept that the DJ's can't take their precious Vinyl on a plane for a week. I'll put up with that. I'm lucky enough to DJ now and again and I play my original Vinyl on Turnatables watch people  dancing on a Wooden Dance Floor, among friends we have known for years, that's what Soul is about. Always was and always will be. I'll even enjoy Soul on CD machines in a Modern Room because that is what it came out on, it wasn't on vinyl but it has to be in a venue, among friends and having a bloody good dance. Those people that read the floor, change their selections to what people seem to want that night are DJ's in my book. 

Just a response to what happens on a dance floor ,cd's,laptops & vinyl

I have taken original vinyl abroad bit of a pain always in hand luggage 

The original poster asked  for the best DJ that the UK as produced 

We have the top 500 book  where the legends of the soul scene are all listed for the 20th century 

Nothing for the 21st century & we are 23years in  

For me Best UK DJ is @Pat Bleasdale

There are many more proggresive Djs on the nighters scene who bring something new to the table

Atb Kev

 

 

[Hooker1951]

Some good answers above but some above I rest my case me me me , brigade cut out the snobbery and elitism we are just human beings playing someone Elsie’s music some better than others some a lot better than others it’s as simple as that

KR

Mick

[Gillian123]

The best dj argument or discussion  in my opinion will all depend on what venue or genre of music , for example Blackpool mecca, Roosters at Nantwich I would go for Colin Curtis and  John Grant because of the jazz funk . Moving on then to Stafford Dave Thorley the simple reason being is that in regards to the nighter scene Dave dared to be different  if you liked the oldies scene I.e Wigan ,the torch  the list is endless. Peterborough The fleet Kev Draper top dj Hinkley that goes to Chris King . 

All in all its the little venues who's djs many who have an  excellent record collection do it for the love .

[Geeselad]

3 hours ago, Kev John said:

Just a response to what happens on a dance floor ,cd's,laptops & vinyl

I have taken original vinyl abroad bit of a pain always in hand luggage 

The original poster asked  for the best DJ that the UK as produced 

We have the top 500 book  where the legends of the soul scene are all listed for the 20th century 

Nothing for the 21st century & we are 23years in  

For me Best UK DJ is @Pat Bleasdale

There are many more proggresive Djs on the nighters scene who bring something new to the table

Atb Kev

 

Good point kev, 20th century dj's been done to death, mind you some, like Butch, are just as relevant as ever. Best I've heard this century, I'd add Tom McGrath, Sean Haydon, Dean Read and Johnny Weston after that set last weekend 

Just now, Geeselad said:

3 hours ago, Kev John said:

Just a response to what happens on a dance floor ,cd's,laptops & vinyl

I have taken original vinyl abroad bit of a pain always in hand luggage 

The original poster asked  for the best DJ that the UK as produced 

We have the top 500 book  where the legends of the soul scene are all listed for the 20th century 

Nothing for the 21st century & we are 23years in  

For me Best UK DJ is @Pat Bleasdale

There are many more proggresive Djs on the nighters scene who bring something new to the table

Atb Kev

 

Good point kev, 20th century dj's been done to death, mind you some, like Butch, are just as relevant as ever. Best I've heard this century, I'd add Tom McGrath, Sean Haydon, Dean Read and Johnny Weston after that set last weekend 

 

Good point kev, 20th century dj's been done to death, mind you some, like Butch, are just as relevant as ever. Best I've heard this century, I'd add Tom McGrath, Sean Haydon, Dean Read and Johnny Weston after that set last weekend 

 

 

[Jez Jones]

1 hour ago, Gillian123 said:

The best dj argument or discussion  in my opinion will all depend on what venue or genre of music , for example Blackpool mecca, Roosters at Nantwich I would go for Colin Curtis and  John Grant because of the jazz funk . Moving on then to Stafford Dave Thorley the simple reason being is that in regards to the nighter scene Dave dared to be different  if you liked the oldies scene I.e Wigan ,the torch  the list is endless. Peterborough The fleet Kev Draper top dj Hinkley that goes to Chris King . 

All in all its the little venues who's djs many who have an  excellent record collection do it for the love .

Roosters of Nantwich.....well there ya go !!!!...you'll be getting to Ugli Ray Teret at Cheshire Cat soon

[Jez Jones]

1 hour ago, Geeselad said:

 

Good point kev, 20th century dj's been done to death, mind you some, like Butch, are just as relevant as ever. Best I've heard this century, I'd add Tom McGrath, Sean Haydon, Dean Read and Johnny Weston after that set last weekend 

 

 

JW is certainly on fire at the mo mate...That 'set' you mention really was one of those 'you had to have been there moments'

*Big up for it crowd ......with no preconceived perceptions
*Top notch soundsytem
*Overall building vibe creating the environment for an atmos

as a side note
Dont forget now in the 21st century it isn't enough to play one expensive record after another...many of the punters have gone way past the concept of 'willy waving'
 
There is very little left that you can do to impress  them......A lot have been the Torch, Wigan , Stafford etc etc....so what you do now in 2023 will tend to be a little underwhelming to the predominately 50 plus somethings that have paid to come in......so the other option is to interest them

Plus don't forget you're not playing to an audience of DJ's ( or you may be,,,in which case no matter what you did ..you were crap lol  )

External factors/influences play a bigger part on a dJ's 'performance'   ....than the goodies in his/her box

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Jez Jones

[Westender]

As far as radio is concerned I rated Peter Young highly.

Championed Soul music, knowledgeable, open minded, enthusiastic with a great manner at the mic. He was also a really funny bloke.

[Soulie52]

I have recently started DJ'ing in a local do's  Modern Room and it is far more difficult to get people up on the floor. The Northern Room floor is packed with Dancers  mostly dancing to the normal records and that crowd come to specifically to dance, so it is easier. Modern rooms can be tricky, you literally can do an hour and not see one person get up to great records. They seem to enjoy chatting more than dancing.  

[Gillian123]

4 hours ago, Jez Jones said:

Roosters of Nantwich.....well there ya go !!!!...you'll be getting to Ugli Ray Teret at Cheshire Cat soon

The Cheshire cat ha ha I won the limbo dancing  competition  one Christmas there mind you I was only 16 at the time .

[Jez Jones]

40 minutes ago, Gillian123 said:

The Cheshire cat ha ha I won the limbo dancing  competition  one Christmas there mind you I was only 16 at the time .

Oh was that you

[Mickey Finn]

19 hours ago, Westender said:

As far as radio is concerned I rated Peter Young highly.

Championed Soul music, knowledgeable, open minded, enthusiastic with a great manner at the mic. He was also a really funny bloke.

Indeed he was and seemed to be made for broadcasting. No idea if he ever played out - would be interesting to know if anyone here ever heard him at an event. He was a bit over-protective of the "soul cellar" tag which he didn't have to be as he was one of a kind, and lost it a bit with other presenters who used the same show concept. This took some of the shine off for me as it was completely unnecessary and even childish. But still a good nomination in the radio category.

The compilation he put together for Expansion is going for peanuts right now which is ridiculous as it's a great selection of the kind of tunes he championed over the decades:

[Fiftyboiledeggs]

Learning lots of new names here, who I am going to look out for,

"Tom McGrath, Sean Haydon, Dean Read and Johnny Weston"

[Dobie5]

This is clearly a very subjective and personal opinion for each and everyone of us as it will either bring back memories of times gone by or what we may be currently into in the style of soul we like, it's like the question 'name your top five soul records ', I must have at least fifty in mine , but the following three ( four ) guys will always be top of my list ......
Richard Searling - massive sounds he broke and played at Wigan.
John Vincent - Samantha's ( Sheffield ) , I still love the sounds he played there in the Seventies.
Rob Smith - The Palais, Brit etc. Nottingham's finest and a truly great guy.
Finally a special mention to the late,` great Nev Wherry, the legacy of the sounds he played will always be with us.

[Geoff]

On 24/03/2023 at 09:44, Mickey Finn said:

Indeed he was and seemed to be made for broadcasting. No idea if he ever played out - would be interesting to know if anyone here ever heard him at an event. He was a bit over-protective of the "soul cellar" tag which he didn't have to be as he was one of a kind, and lost it a bit with other presenters who used the same show concept. This took some of the shine off for me as it was completely unnecessary and even childish. But still a good nomination in the radio category.

The compilation he put together for Expansion is going for peanuts right now which is ridiculous as it's a great selection of the kind of tunes he championed over the decades:

I saw Peter Young DJ two or three times at a club in Ascot, can't remember the name or the date, probably around 2003/2004. A very skilled radio DJ and he was good on stage too. He played a mixed set, some Northern but other styles too. I remember one called Hard Times, not sure who by.

[Godzilla]

2 hours ago, Geoff said:

I remember one called Hard Times, not sure who by.

Probably Baby Huey. Or the Gene Chandler version, which is called In My Body’s House. 
 

Both excellent tunes. 

[Jez Jones]

1 hour ago, Godzilla said:

Probably Baby Huey. Or the Gene Chandler version, which is called In My Body’s House. 
 

Both excellent tunes. 

the three were good
 

 

 

[Joesoap]

On 22/03/2023 at 12:54, Geeselad said:

Colin's contribution goes way beyond the soul spectrum along with Greg Wilson the part they played, in terms of dance music, is equal to that of Larry levan and Frankie Knuckles.  

Totally get where you're coming from but 'part they played equal to Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles'? Lol -no way!

Edited March 26, 2023 by Joesoap

[Geeselad]

11 hours ago, Joesoap said:

Totally get where you're coming from but 'part they played equal to Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles'? Lol -no way!

In terms of promoting an underground dance scene, mixing records ect. Obviously they didn't get into production in the same way but non the less both the British dj's along with George power, froggy ect were doing very similar things to new York and Chicago, at that time, musically without the fanfare. 

[Geeselad]

1 minute ago, Geeselad said:

In terms of promoting an underground dance scene, mixing records ect. Obviously they didn't get into production in the same way but non the less both the British dj's along with George power, froggy ect were doing very similar things to new York and Chicago, at that time, musically without the fanfare. 

When actually, your right, important but not in the same league really, at least, not collin.

[Fiftyboiledeggs]

Froggy for sure is unheralded.