DJ Words - London NYE Allnighter Profiles
a few dj profiles lifted ....
From the events section, a few dj profiles lifted from the NYE London Allnighter Event Guide Comments
David Flynn — Hey! Mr DJ
Flynny has been based in Tokyo, Japan for the last decade, but was one of the resident DJ’s (alongside Irish Greg, Alan. H and Carl Fortnum) at the much lamented Capitol Soul Club. He runs AnoraksCorner.com for full-on Rare Soul collectors and even breaks down how to identify where and when, and indeed by whom, your 1960’s US Soul 45’s were manufactured, set alongside the tasty record sales pages, all regularly updated!
01. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?
So, there I was, a 9 year old kid attending the local youth club back in the latter half of the 70’s when in amongst the chart hits of the day there was a portion of the evening handed over to the “big kids” with their own choice of records, and the DJ instructing us youngsters to clear the dance-floor to allow them to do their fancy dancing! Hop forward a few months to the night of the school leaver’s disco (wave goodbye to Junior school!) and the legendary “England This England” TV documentary on Wigan Casino was shown. I can still remember watching it and yelling to my Mum to come and see as this was the music I liked and was now dancing around to! That was it, pretty much Northern Soul from the start!
02. Where was your first DJ slot?
That would be back in the early 80’s at the Wheelwrights Club in Gloucester at the age of 16, I was already a veteran (!) having attended Wigan Casino and the Yate nighters from the age of 14 and had already put together a fair collection of original US 45’s, thankfully pocket-money would cover original vinyl back then! I would do the warm-up set and can still recall a feeling of pride as I noted that I had original US copies of some of the bootlegs/pressings the older guys would then be spinning later the same evening — the spirit of OVO was with me from the get-go!
03. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
Can’t pin-point down to just one, but the Capitol Soul Club nights were always special…looking out across the crowded dance-floor there was inspiring. Those were special times in London, the CSC, Scenesville, These Old Shoes and the 100 Club were all riding high! I also must mention the Uptight all-nighters in Frankfurt — they were special to DJ at too as many friends frequenting them from all over Europe.
04. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
No complete disasters to report, thus far, but it was kind of heart stopping last NYE when I played the Mello Souls out in the UK for the first time (for me) and it jumped on the intro due to the springy floor by the decks!
05. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
Initially, I really enjoyed the sets from Dave Evison (Casino) and Jerry “Hippo” Hipkiss’ (Yate), as they mixed up popular and forgotten tunes — always with enthusiasm! Richard Searling of course, for his tail-end of the Casino classics, of which many have stood the test of time for both quality and rarity, and he always delivered them in a professional manner. Onto the mid-80’s with Guy Hennigan and Keb Darge pushing the scene forward in charismatic style, these guys were untouchable in their prime! The late 80’s early 90’s saw Butch solidifying his rightful place on the Soul-throne with a stream of top notch unknowns and Ady Croasdell took the Kent label to new lofty heights with the unissued material — again both presenting their sets in an addictive way that made one travel for hours to experience. I also must give nods of respect to Andy Dyson, Kitch, Dean, Kenny Burrell, Tony Smith and the omnipresent Arthur Fenn and Soul Sam, every one mentioned being consummate DJ’s and amongst my faves.
06. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
I don’t have a specific “sound”, though it’s fair to say I am pretty much 95% 60’s only weaving classic Oldies, Stafford period anthems, 100 Club-esque big beat ballads and even a splash of Latin Boogaloo. Of late I am also conscious of playing possibly too many uptempo 100 mph sounds in a row, when I should be giving the dancers a breather between them, maybe!
07. What was your best ever find/discovery?
There is one acetate I have been sat on for a while though — it is a powerful version of a track called, “Go On Home”, also recorded/released by Ray Charles — albeit with a totally different backing track and pace. The backing vocals are reminiscent of those on John Leach’s, “Put That Woman Down”, the harmonica stabs are “Of Hopes, Dreams & Tombstones” and the lead male vocalist is strong and earthy, whoever he may be, but I’ll call him “Jimmy Frasier” for now! Finding the first copies of many Northern Soul classics on Japanese presses has also been satisfying — Lada Edmund Jr and Joey Heatherton on Japanese Decca instantly spring to mind — totally unknown to exist until I turned them up!
08. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favorite artist(s)?
Musical directions — I would put forward Guy Hennigan and Ady Croasdell’s DJ sets as having majorly influenced my own development. I must also mention Joop Visser, who was a director at Charly Records during my tenure at that label/distributor — his passion for Jazz, Blues and vintage Soul was infectious. In fact my 20 years working within the UK music industry gave me access to so much music, so I honestly appreciate all kinds of musical genre — I also have to admit to having a rather large collection of vintage Japanese pressed Jazz and Latin albums! As for a favourite artist, for quantity and quality across a variety of styles I’ll go with Chuck Jackson, whose “Any Day Now” is one of my Desert Island discs for sure!
09. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
Nowadays my passion is for collecting and archiving vintage 60’s Japanese pressed 60’s US Soul, in fact I’ve been researching and writing a book on the very subject! There were no label listings, price guides or fanzines for me to refer to, so it has taken me years of collecting and reading through old record company catalogues in various archives, to actually piece together what came out, even for Motown! I am proud to say that I am now at the point where even the Japanese reissue labels come to me for information, pictures and source!
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
In the UK, only over the festive period nowadays — in Japan, the occasional collector’s night in Tokyo, and at least once per year down in Kobe at the Nude Restaurant, total respect to these guys who have held the only real-deal Northern Soul nighters in Japan regularly for longer than most UK clubs! Who knows, one day I may even pop up at a continental European doo once again!
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
Brief answer, I wouldn’t say no to the original acetate of “Suspicion”.
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourites and a current top 5 spins?
Top 10 Tracks of All Time:
I certainly don’t mind the following to be on repeat — never get bored of them:
Larry Clinton — She’s Wanted — Dynamo
Soul Incorporated — My Proposal — Coconut Grove
Mello Souls — We Can Make It — Mello
Eddie Parker — I’m Gone — Awake
Detroit Soul — All Of My Life — Music Town
Jimmy Raye — Philly Dog Around The World — KKC
Nomads — Somethin’s Bad — MoGroov
Yvonne Baker — You Didn’t Say A Word — Parkway
Edwin Starr — My Kind Of Woman — RicTic
Major Lance — You Don’t Want Me No More — Okeh
Current Top 5 Tracks:
I will go with these from the shelves:
Mello Souls — We Can Make It — Mello
Prophets — If I Had (One Gold Piece) — Shrine
Counts — Peaches Baby — Shrine
Jimmy Frasier — Go On Home — Acetate
Joey Heatherton — When You Call Me Baby (alt. version) — Japanese Decca
Web Links:
Yann Vatiste — Hey! Mr DJ
01. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?
I got into music in my teens when I became a Mod. I was mostly listening to Black Soul music. My eclectic taste was ranging from R&B, Soul, Funk, Latin to Acid Jazz. However the discovery of the Kent LPs was for me the true beginning of a long and endless passion for rare soul 45rpm.
02. Where was your first DJ slot?
In the late 80’s, I started my first DJ experience in my hometown Lyon — France.
From then, I played in various clubs and venues such as The Millionaire Soul Club in Lyon, 60s dos across France. In the mid 90s, I moved to London where the real thing began for me with the discovery of the 100 Club, Scenesville and Capitol Soul Club.
03. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
Without a doubt, it has to be my first dj spot at the 100 Club in London. For a young Frenchie, it was a real honour to DJ in such a legendary venue.
I always remembered going down those stairs carrying my humble DJ box and getting so nervous.
When I got onto the stage, I got a tap on the shoulder from Butch who said to me with a big smile: “Don’t worry son”. I was petrified and could not really recall how I managed to cue up my first record. It was for me pure magic looking at the dance floor filling up.
04. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
Thinking back, there was no bad experience maybe with the exception of a DJ spot played to a very unappreciative and unknowledgeable crowd in Essex.
05. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
Butch is for me the number one rare Soul DJ of all time. Thanks to his hard work and researches, he is constantly spoiling us with amazing c/u and unissued tracks.
Through the 100 Club and Cleethorpes Soul weekender, Ady Croasdell is a fantastic asset to the Northern Soul scene. We are so thankful to Ady for keeping the scene going for so long.
Dave Flynn is my mentor; I truly appreciate his amazing musical knowledge and impeccable DJ style.
I greatly admire Andy Rix for his passion for Shrine label and also for his discoveries of many incredible unissued tracks. I do hope to see him again behind the decks one day.
Soul Sam is the champion of the Northern, Modern Soul and Funk scenes for several decades.
A big thumbs up to the Lifeline residents, Mick H & Andy Dyson for their top quality rare sounds.
Not to forget the amazing Arthur Fenn and Kitch for being excellent representatives of the scene.
Amongst our European friends, I have to give a special mention to Marc Forrest and Eduardo Doninguez for their remarkable taste and contribution to the Northern Soul scene in Europe.
06. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
I am certainly influenced by the 100 Club sound. Being a regular punter for almost 20 years now, the 100 Club has been a great and constant learning curve. It is the place to discover new and different tracks every month, especially thanks to the mighty Butch.
07. What was your best ever find/discovery?
I don’t have the preference for any best discovery but as a DJ I like to play lesser known tracks but with great quality sound.
08. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?
As mentioned in question six, the 100 Club has certainly shaped my DJ sound. My favourite artist is the TSU tornadoes because they were prolific artists and produced great music.
09. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
I am a Shrine label collector and obsessed by it but unless I win at the lottery I doubt I will ever have the complete collection! I am very keen on instrumentals, Texas and North Carolina sound but do also appreciate great Oldies.
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
At VaVaVoom Soul Club (VVVM) and Master Of Soul (MOS)
VVVM: Founded over a decade ago by Ady Lupton and myself, VaVaVoom is now well established Soul Club on the London scene.
Joel Maslin joined VVVM at a later stage and is a truly valuable member.
Our current venue is the stunning Bel Air House in Dulwich where we have been successfully putting up all dayers during this current year and hopefully with many more to come.
MOS: For the last three years, I am also running Masters of Soul with Leona Murphy & Naoko Omassa.
After a short break, MOS will be back with a bang at the original venue, the Winlock & Essex on Essex Road (Angel) with a new improved sound system.
Our next comeback night, not to be missed, is on Thursday 27th of November (7:30pm-1am) with the legendary Soul Sam & the fabulous Ian Wright!
For futher information, please check our Facebook page.
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
It has to be Sandy Golden: Your love is everything (Masterpiece) It is also my wife’s all time favourite record. Hopefully, one day I will own one!
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourites and a current top 5 spins?
Top 10 Tracks of All Time:
1. The Springers — Nothing’s Too Good For My Baby — Way Out
2. The Tomangoe’s — I Really Love You — Washpan
3. J D Bryant — I Won’t Be Coming Back — Shrine
4. Sandy Golden — Your love is everything — Masterpiece
5. The Prophets — If I Had One Gold Piece- Shrine
6. Patrinell Staten — Little Love Affair — Sepia
7. Clay Brown — Everybody’s talkin’ — Aljon
8. Eddie Billups — Ask My Heart — Peachtree
9. George Lemons — Fascinating Girl — Gold Soul
10 Deon Jackson — Some Day The Sun Will Shine — Unissued
Current Top 5 Tracks:
In no particular order
1. Pee Wee Shuck & Hue — Beside Myself — FLagg
2. Camaro’s — We’re Not Too Young — Dar-Cha
3. Betty Wilson — I”m Yours — Dayco
4. Buddy Smith — When You Lose The One You Love — Brute
5. Eddie Day E & The 4 Bars — Guess Who Loves You — Shrine
Web Links:
http://yvatiste.wix.com/vavavoom-soul-club
facebook.com/yann.vatiste
Arthur Fenn
Reference: DJ Collector
Headquarters: Selby Yorkshire
Social Networks:
https://www.facebook.com/arthur.fenn?fref=ts
Next Club Spots:
Saturday 22nd NOVEMBER 2014
BOOMERANG @ The Canal Tavern
South Parade & Orchard Street, Thorne (Doncaster) DN8 5DZ
1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?
HI Guys, i was 16 & working at our local golf club, i'd always liked soul stuf but on a visit to the local youth club i heard things like The Fuller Bros, Bob Relf & i was blown away.
2. Where was your first DJ slot?
About a year later i was buying bits like the Montlairs "Hung Up" & Eddie Foster "never knew" off Bob Cattaneo from Daly City @ 75cents each i soon had enough records for a "hot box" and started playing records at Leeds Central with a mate before the residents Frank & Twink arrived, i remember so well dropping the first real known copy of The Four Perfections ( a $5 buy from Bob ) as Frank came down the stairs, his face was a picture . I now had a taste for this dj ing lark & shortly after ( 1978 ) got a break through John Manship to join the team at Cleethorpes Winter Gardens. By the end of the year i was guesting arround the country
3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
.My most memorable spot! Wow that’s a tuf one, my one & only main room hour at the Casino makes me smile but closely followed by my first gig in Europe which was in Frankfurt, that was so exciting and i still feel the same every time i play outside the U.K ( & of course the few i do here
4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
worst? getting the sack from the east Anglian soul club for playing too many 60's newies at St Ives circa 79 .
5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
Sam for his never ending enthusiasm in the search for new records & his delivery of them, Butch, pretty obvious really, Colin Curtis, his influence in my early years was so important to me
6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
The Highland room 74/75
7. What was your best ever find/discovery?
Early visits to the states had me finding the first Greater Experience , Wiliam Powell & such but finding the 3rd known copy of The Inspirations on Breakthrough in St Louis for $1 was a thrill
8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favorite artist(s)?
my Mum & fav artist's would be Len Jewel, Willie Tee, Maxine Brown
9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
Not really, could never afford to do that properly but as i've got older i adore group harmony.
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
Residency's have never been my strong point but of course Maria runs Boomerang 4 times a year & i keep turning up . I'd love the Little Ceaser c/up that Steve G & Butch play
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
I'd love the Little Ceaser c/up that Steve G & Butch play
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourites and a current top 5 spins?
all time 10 mind blowers?
Ok here goes, John & Wierdest, Mel Britt, Sam Williams, Willie Hutch ( love runs out ) Len Jewel, Larry Houston ( lets spend some time ) Melvin Moore, Maxine Brown ( million ) Carstairs ( hurts me girl ) Charles Mintz ( lucky guy ).
Current Top 5 Spins:
Ron Shy- Don't You Know (Little Star 7")
Bernard Drake - I've Been Untrue
Alan Harris- Love is the Only Answer
Clarence Reid- You Knock Me Out
Love Warmth & Affection- Talkin Bout Love
Cheers Arthur!
Here's our final Dj interview: Dj's & Record Dealer Mr Eduardo Domingo !
Enjoy!
1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?
As a young skinhead, i started collecting reggae, rocksteady and ska, and the progression to soul via covers was easy. I used to buy tapes (and records) from a
skinhead in Cardiff way back in the early 90's, that's where i started my rare soul education. Before that, i was attending basically to scooterist parties and the
music there was not especially inspiring....
2. Where was your first DJ slot?
Tiny bar in the Guinardó neighbourhood in Barcelona, a skinhead party. This was the first time i remember to play soul...after that, Soweto Club allnighters and
my first "big" spot at Floorshakers Weekender, can't remember if 1994 or 1995
3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
Not for me to say, really...but i've always enjoyed a lot playing records one on one with David de Santiago from Greenvillage Soulclub. I have really good
memories of one of the afternoon sessions we did in Bamberg some years ago
4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
Been playing in regular clubs for years, so there's always been interesting moments...One i remember is playing northern soul at 4 a.m to a empty dancefloor in
suburban Barcelona...well, not totally empty: three hippie punks with skates were doing their thing there. I think they had their dogs with them, too. Not inspiring.
5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
* SOUL SAM: Well, too many reasons to mention, right? Legendary status, enthusiasm, mix of styles...
* STEVEN CLANCY: Spotless selections and impeccable way of putting those selections together
* LEONA MURPHY: Because playing quality, not tried-and-tested and being a party DJ can go together
6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
I've always believed that a set should be a logical progression of styles and moods, the old "tell a story" concept. In my mod years, i think Rob Messer was a big
influence as he was able to do exactly that: mix some latin, jazzy sounds, some R&B, some killer northern soul and end in style with one or two midtempos. In
that sense, i think he shaped the way mods and soulies were djing in Spain in the late 90's, definitely a big influence way back then.
7. What was your best ever find/discovery?
Can't say i've "discovered" anything (a concept i find sort of debatable). I've never tried the C/U game either...i'd be terribly embarrassed if somebody came up
there and said: "Look, here's your C/U". I'm happy to play other people's "discoveries", no problem about that.
8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favorite artist(s)?
Two above any others: Sam Dees and The Impressions.
9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
I do collect all kinds of black american and jamaican music, both in 45 and in LP format...if i have to be honest, i prefer collecting Lp's rather than 45's. I don't
collect any specific label and/or artist though, i only keep what i really like. As a record dealer that i am, i don't know no other way to be able to make some
money! Keeping everything i mildly like is not an option.
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
Movin' on Club in Barcelona, first saturday of February, April, June, October and the weekender on the first weekend of December. I also play here and there, but
Movin' On is my main thing.
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
If i have to short it to one, Fred Williams "Tell her". Definitely.
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourites and a current top 5 spins?
Top 10 Tracks of All Time:
* FRED WILLIAMS - Tell her
* ADMIRATIONS - I want to be free
* ANTELLECTS - Love slave
* J.D. BRYANT - I won't be coming back
* WILLIE WRIGHT- Right on for the darkness
* HERBY BROWN - One more broken heart
* EDDIE BILLUPS - Ask my heart
* TOMMY RIDGLEY- My love's getting stronger
* PAT LEWIS No one to love
* GEORGE PEPP- Feeling is real
Current Top 5 Spins:
* DOC PEABODY - Here without you
* FELONY THEFT - When you have love
* DONNELL BROWN- Too late to cry
* LEONARD ADAIR - The smile upon your face
* JOSEPH WEBSTER - My love is so strong
Web Links: https://www.facebook.com/MovinOnBarcelona?fref=ts
Full event details and links to more Djs profiles can be found via the event guide thread - link below
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