Billboard - Best....

[Steve G]

Not that Billboard best disco in the world nonsense again? FFS. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by Steve G

[Roburt]

On 26/08/2023 at 18:44, Steve G said:

Not that Billboard best disco in the world nonsense again? FFS. 

The MYTH is better than the TRUTH I guess ... (for the BBC at least).

[Steve G]

51 minutes ago, Roburt said:

The MYTH is better than the TRUTH I guess ... (for the BBC at least).

It's the old maxim. If you say it often enough, it becomes "the truth". 

[Mike]

1 minute ago, Steve G said:

It's the old maxim. If you say it often enough, it becomes "the truth". 

I can recall in the 1970s reading somewhere an explanation of how this award was given to Wigan Casino

From what read/recall it was said that the award was given due to the amount of members it had rather than any count of any votes etc

That I can recall reading such, does say to me  that at the very least the award was being talked about and so somewhere there may be some text record of that discussion, mags/fanzine perhaps which may be lead to further info on it all

Looking  back at billboard back copies online there was a billboard organised event called Disco Forum, (looks like the had 3 or maybe more, they were titled I,II,III) which was run annually, where 'disco' related' awards were given, the categories of the later ones appear very extensive though as some copies of the first one or two appear to be missing there is no sign of a 'best' disco/club award but perhaps deeper searching may uncover more info

So as far as my memory recalls the award was reported and was being talked about and an explanation how it come about was given by someone somewhere

All of which doesn't prove anything either way of course, but say worth a mention... perhaps

 

 

 

[Steve G]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

I can recall in the 1970s reading somewhere an explanation of how this award was given to Wigan Casino

From what read/recall it was said that the award was given due to the amount of members it had rather than any count of any votes etc

That I can recall reading such, does say to me  that at the very least the award was being talked about and so somewhere there may be some text record of that discussion, mags/fanzine perhaps which may be lead to further info on it all

Looking  back at billboard back copies online there was a billboard organised event called Disco Forum, (looks like the had 3 or maybe more, they were titled I,II,III) which was run annually, where 'disco' related' awards were given, the categories of the later ones appear very extensive though as some copies of the first one or two appear to be missing there is no sign of a 'best' disco/club award but perhaps deeper searching may uncover more info

So as far as my memory recalls the award was reported and was being talked about and an explanation how it come about was given by someone somewhere

All of which doesn't prove anything either way of course, but say worth a mention... perhaps

 

 

 

Hello Mike,

I went through every single issue of Billboard in 1977-1978 on another project, but kept an eye out as well for the disco award because when I heard about it I thought it was rather odd. I couldn't find a single mention of WC in the context of any award although there was a feature on Barry Kingston and RK Records and their Wigan links and an advert for "old masters" to be sent to "Wigan casino Records" (casino Classics). 

[Mike]

2 hours ago, Steve G said:

Hello Mike,

I went through every single issue of Billboard in 1977-1978 on another project, but kept an eye out as well for the disco award because when I heard about it I thought it was rather odd. I couldn't find a single mention of WC in the context of any award although there was a feature on Barry Kingston and RK Records and their Wigan links and an advert for "old masters" to be sent to "Wigan casino Records" (casino Classics). 

Steve

Earlier stuff does shows up via billboard google books search online now on wigan round about...

<rest of post edited as just seen the bit about 1978 being the year award announced which sort of makes my point pointless...>

 

 

 

[Chalky]

3 hours ago, Steve G said:

Hello Mike,

I went through every single issue of Billboard in 1977-1978 on another project, but kept an eye out as well for the disco award because when I heard about it I thought it was rather odd. I couldn't find a single mention of WC in the context of any award although there was a feature on Barry Kingston and RK Records and their Wigan links and an advert for "old masters" to be sent to "Wigan casino Records" (casino Classics). 

I did the same and found nothing

[Merve]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

Steve

Earlier stuff does shows up via billboard google books search online now on wigan round about...

<rest of post edited as just seen the bit about 1978 being the year award announced which sort of makes my point pointless...>

 

 

 

Hi Mike,

As I remember it, (and it was a few years back !), in 1978 Wigan was at a low point in every respect. Musically the scene had drifted first to Cleggy then St Ives, then Yate & R.S. was the only one left flying the flag at Wigan while others were playing the likes of Joe 90 & rubbish british pop like stuff. There was also the barb epidemic.......

Numbers were dwindling apart from the monthly oldies nights & the management made this Billboard top disco up as one of many publicity stunts to try & get the numbers back up.

I remember a conversation around that time in the dressing room to the back left of the stage as you look at it involving several several people (heavily involved with The Casino management) who were openly laughing about it being a ruse. I'm not going to name names - as I say it was a long time ago & only one person persists in perpetuating the story.

That's the reason I have never believed this story. If anyone can produce evidence to the contrary I'm happy to eat humble pie & say that the conversation I heard was the ruse, but I think I'll be having a long wait.

Edited August 28, 2023 by Merve
added management after Casino.

[Hooker1951]

There were far better Soul clubs before the Casino and there have been far many better after it shut, For the first couple of years 73 to 75 it served a purpose for youth graduating from youth clubs to adults in a night club environment  , for them it was a great experience , but for the old heads who were already on the scene ,ie, Twisted Wheel veterans it was a step backwards, when the young ones caught up maturing and still loving the music it made for a much better scene, Stronger Music, more choice, and still young enough and fit to enjoy it, New discoveries of  forgotten greats, and a chance for the proper NS fans to ditch the Joe 90,s of this scene, they have in real terms not really been relevant for the last 42 years unless they are stuck in your head, As regard NS at the proms the singers and orchestra did a fine job at trying to replicate the tunes , but the original always will and be better , how can you compare the atmosphere of a dingy dark club sweat dripping of the ceiling, whizzing of your head listening to those original tunes blasting and not having a care in the world?

God Bless

Mick L