How northern helps us as we get older😕

[Greedy Mick]

I'm probably a youngster on the site,  not 60 till May.. 

Been diagnosed with a fatal illness got 50 percent chance of another 5 years

( Do not want sympathy as it is what life decides)

Can't participate in niter aids again and trust me with my nickname that is the most difficult thing. 

Only have an occasional pint of real ale or glass of barossa shiraz. 

But what I find helps me above anything is listening to the sounds that we love and grew up with.. sometimes they bring a tear to my eyes but they are happy tears of years gone by.. 

I am so glad that I discovered this scene as a 12 year old and Can't believe that after 48 years It means so so much ️ 

So to the Northern soul scene of 81 onwards up until today the biggest thank you  

Greedy 

[Happy Feet]

19 minutes ago, Greedy Mick said:

I'm probably a youngster on the site,  not 60 till May.. 

Been diagnosed with a fatal illness got 50 percent chance of another 5 years

( Do not want sympathy as it is what life decides)

Can't participate in niter aids again and trust me with my nickname that is the most difficult thing. 

Only have an occasional pint of real ale or glass of barossa shiraz. 

But what I find helps me above anything is listening to the sounds that we love and grew up with.. sometimes they bring a tear to my eyes but they are happy tears of years gone by.. 

I am so glad that I discovered this scene as a 12 year old and Can't believe that after 48 years It means so so much ️ 

So to the Northern soul scene of 81 onwards up until today the biggest thank you  

Greedy 

Hi Mick , I'm now 67 & like most people of this age I to suffer from 2 life changing diseases , medication helps , but no cure , not an immediate sentence to death as surgery if required is available plus a very painful problem with my spine , annual nerve pain blocker , & lots of daily meds , Diazapam, Pregabilin, Amitriptyline. Just got to get on with daily life & now work part time in the building trade .

I was lucky found Northern Soul via youth clubs , then onto Alnighters, VaVa's , Wigan , Sheffield, Yate etc etc the list is endless, stopping in 93 to concentrate on bringing up a family , & work commitments very busy with work & living a normal family life style .

Dipped my toe back into the scene Albrighton, Kettering, Warwick back in the early 20s but never really committed, lots of other hobbies by now .

Nowadays still collecting vinyl and CDs & the love of the music has never wained , 1 or 2 nights a week in the man cave a few beers & the music, wether a 60s classic or a brand new release and the memories come flooding back .

During Lockdown The Bury Virtual Alnighters served as an essential means of contact , not just for people still on the scene but also those people, older , poorly , carers , anybody who loves Northern Soul , That I believe is a way forward for the older population, who can't get out & about , a fortnightly or monthly soul night via the internet with the means to communicate, djs or guests picking the sets , but for some reason there seems to be an over whelming disapproval for this kind of event to be aired , as it may reduce numbers attending live venues . Which I think is a complete load of nonsense, & just because we're old an in a lot of cases too poorly to get out & about we should not be allowed to carry on listening to Northern Soul , communicating with old & new friends & mates ,in the comfort of your own home , yes mixcloud & the odd radio shows during the week , buts it's the comaradery we need , I've just had an upgrade on a new set of hearing aids , and the music has never sounded better.

 

[Roburt]

Soul music found me in 1965 (mainly via pirate radio of the ship based type) and by 1966 I was attending soul clubs. Got a Lambretta that same year & Niters followed in 1966 / 67. My biggest year for travelling to niters was 1967; Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester & more. The music always stayed with me but after a while it was B&S that shaped my musical taste rather than what was getting niter spins in the 70's. Came back to the NS scene (though it hadn't yet been termed NS back in 66/67/68) in the 70's via folk like Snowy & Paul Temple -- they both plundered my collection but then Paul got me attending (rare) soul nights again at places such as the Yorkshire NS nights at a power stn social club (Drax or Eggboro can't recall which). Moved jobs & house in 79 and was now ideally placed to start going to Rotherham Clifton Hall niters in the early 80's. Trips to other niter venues soon followed -- Leicester, Loughboro, Hinksey (for live shows), Stafford. Got hooked on listening to Richard Searling on Radio Hallam and soon became a regular visitor to the studio in Sheffield. Then it was onwards & upwards to Weekenders. Initially at Morecambe & Southport. Then Cleggy Weekender was started up & that was my annual fix sorted for the next 20 years. Organised a US soul trip back in 1998, to Vegas. Was asked to join the Prestatyn Weekender team and enjoyed undertaking my duties there.

So now I'm the wrong side of 75 and my health ain't what it used to be -- BUT I've still got my SOUL MUSIC. The kids moved out years ago, so I've had a record room for around 30 years. Get in real trouble in recent years when the postie turns up with vinyl or CD's (as they've taken over the house) but can't resist buying both new modern music (though much less has appealed in the last 5 years) or 'new to me' tracks. Palled up with a few artists (mainly US but some Brits), ran a UK tour for one of them. Even appeared in a documentary about a soul singer, as we had become mates down the years. I now spend much hours  penning articles about soul acts / music ... BUT that's good, as I find spending time as a keyboard warrior comes to me much easier than more physical pursuits. 

ALL IN ALL, my life would have been much the poorer without soul music.     

The acts who turned up to the soul nite I helped organise on our trip to Vegas ...

[Greedy Mick]

18 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Soul music found me in 1965 (mainly via pirate radio of the ship based type) and by 1966 I was attending soul clubs. Got a Lambretta that same year & Niters followed in 1966 / 67. My biggest year for travelling to niters was 1967; Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester & more. The music always stayed with me but after a while it was B&S that shaped my musical taste rather than what was getting niter spins in the 70's. Came back to the NS scene (though it hadn't yet been termed NS back in 66/67/68) in the 70's via folk like Snowy & Paul Temple -- they both plundered my collection but then Paul got me attending (rare) soul nights again at places such as the Yorkshire NS nights at a power stn social club (Drax or Eggboro can't recall which). Moved jobs & house in 79 and was now ideally placed to start going to Rotherham Clifton Hall niters in the early 80's. Trips to other niter venues soon followed -- Leicester, Loughboro, Hinksey (for live shows), Stafford. Got hooked on listening to Richard Searling on Radio Hallam and soon became a regular visitor to the studio in Sheffield. Then it was onwards & upwards to Weekenders. Initially at Morecambe & Southport. Then Cleggy Weekender was started up & that was my annual fix sorted for the next 20 years. Organised a US soul trip back in 1998, to Vegas. Was asked to join the Prestatyn Weekender team and enjoyed undertaking my duties there.

So now I'm the wrong side of 75 and my health ain't what it used to be -- BUT I've still got my SOUL MUSIC. The kids moved out years ago, so I've had a record room for around 30 years. Get in real trouble in recent years when the postie turns up with vinyl or CD's (as they've taken over the house) but can't resist buying both new modern music (though much less has appealed in the last 5 years) or 'new to me' tracks. Palled up with a few artists (mainly US but some Brits), ran a UK tour for one of them. Even appeared in a documentary about a soul singer, as we had become mates down the years. I now spend much hours  penning articles about soul acts / music ... BUT that's good, as I find spending time as a keyboard warrior comes to me much easier than more physical pursuits. 

ALL IN ALL, my life would have been much the poorer without soul music.     

The acts who turned up to the soul nite I helped organise on our trip to Vegas ...

Wow,  thank you .. my sister used to go to the night owl  nighters in Leicester in the 1960s.   I grew up listening to soul and motown from her room etc.. and post wigan as a Leicester lad the oddfellows, hinckley and Loughborough were my local niters.  Thank you for sharing. 

It is amazing how much this music means to us.  It's probably something that you can't explain to people who have never experienced it...  

Edited 8 hours ago by Greedy Mick

[Dobber]

4 hours ago, Greedy Mick said:

I'm probably a youngster on the site,  not 60 till May.. 

Been diagnosed with a fatal illness got 50 percent chance of another 5 years

( Do not want sympathy as it is what life decides)

Can't participate in niter aids again and trust me with my nickname that is the most difficult thing. 

Only have an occasional pint of real ale or glass of barossa shiraz. 

But what I find helps me above anything is listening to the sounds that we love and grew up with.. sometimes they bring a tear to my eyes but they are happy tears of years gone by.. 

I am so glad that I discovered this scene as a 12 year old and Can't believe that after 48 years It means so so much ️ 

So to the Northern soul scene of 81 onwards up until today the biggest thank you  

Greedy 

We all wont live forever mick,but northern soul will! 
 

 

[Happy Feet]

43 minutes ago, Dobber said:

We all wont live forever mick,but northern soul will! 
 

 

A bit harsh , but very true  

[Dobber]

9 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

A bit harsh , but very true  

I realise how the words look,but meant in the best heartfelt sentiment…..im not to clever with text messages either

[Happy Feet]

22 minutes ago, Dobber said:

I realise how the words look,but meant in the best heartfelt sentiment…..im not to clever with text messages either

I'm teasing , humour is a great pain reliever , unless you're suffering with a couple of broken ribs , ouch  

[Roburt]

Lifted from a documentary about the scene ... VERY TRUE TOO ... 

[Alan T]

7 hours ago, Greedy Mick said:

 

But what I find helps me above anything is listening to the sounds that we love and grew up with.. sometimes they bring a tear to my eyes but they are happy tears of years gone by..

Hello Mick, Your quote above made me think of this clip on Youtube.

The English guy talking on here is Dr Oliver Sacks, a Neuroligist and Author, I've read his book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain.

Watch the wonder of Henry coming alive when listening to his favourite music. When the headphones are taken off Henry talks passionately about Cab Calloway and starts singing. His whole mood transformed from nearly mute to expressing what it means to him "It Gives Me The Feeling Of Love", he can't stop talking. All this just through a few songs, it's incredible what music can do for you.
Mick, I wish you all the best with your health my friend. Music is medicine, to be taken everyday.

 

[Greedy Mick]

3 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

I'm teasing , humour is a great pain reliever , unless you're suffering with a couple of broken ribs , ouch  

Ha,,,,  not long since I broke 3 ribs yes were severely painful lol.