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(new) Northern Soul Top 500 Book Launch Event


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Rubbish, criticism and ridicule is for art, this is pure and simply a sale pitch in paperback. Oh my goodness "educate people who weren't fortunate to been around at the time" what time was that?? its still going on, and has been for the last five or so decades. As for a reference book, a reference to what?..what is available to purchase from Goldsoul perhaps!.. Wakeup man.

Have you read the previous two? I absolutely love this book and it's the best Northern book that's been published bar none, I couldn't have done a better job myself and I doubt if any of you lot could either. You all read too much into the fact that someone decided there was a top 500 of Northern sounds and instead of enjoying whats written about the records and the scene, you can't bear it because it doesn't have your choices in there, which would probably be records known to about 20 collectors. If you didn't get into the scene until the 90's then it actually does educate people about sounds. I never went to the Wheel, Torch or Catacombs, I had to find out or be told what records were played there.

The book has got f*ck all to do with whats available from Goldsoul. The criticism of it's author is maybe warranted but the criticism of the book is completely unjustified. And no doubt most of the people slagging it off have never even read it.

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Rubbish, criticism and ridicule is for art, this is pure and simply a sale pitch in paperback. Oh my goodness "educate people who weren't fortunate to been around at the time" what time was that?? its still going on, and has been for the last five or so decades. As for a reference book, a reference to what?..what is available to purchase from Goldsoul perhaps!.. Wakeup man.

Great reply. I'll add a little bit.The play was merely my perspective on an period in my life! No hidden agenda, top this, top that!! It was re -staged due to popular demand and then I decided it was enough.

Various sides were trying to hi-jack it and wanted merchandise, dvd's, musicals etc. I could be a lot better off than i am now, if i had gone with some of that crap! Bolton ARE doing a musical of it!

You see, I did it as a tribute not a business move. I didn't want it to become a parody of itself.....like a lot of the 'Northern Soul' scene sadly is today! Seeing it become a shite musical actually breaks my heart, same as hearing a tune i once liked, hammered week in and week out, until i cant stand hearing it!

People like KR, Winstanley etc, who want to 'educate' us, are the there to perpetuate and often fabricate, the popular 'Heyday' myth. I was there and aswell as great stuff, a lot of shite was played, same as today!

F--k educate, you've either got a soul or you haven't! I've met plenty of younger people on the scene who have far more 'soul' than the miserable bast--ds i have to listen to at a lot of nights, harpng on about the old days! These whining throwbacks weren't listening then and they dont listen now.

Im convinced a lot of them dont even like 'music'.

If i had the same business exploitation attitude as KR towards the scene, the play would never have stopped touring. I knew it was time to stop when people in the audience (having seen it a few times), started saying the lines with the actors! They weren't listening to them anymore. Get the analogy yet? :D

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Great reply. I'll add a little bit.The play was merely my perspective on an period in my life! No hidden agenda, top this, top that!! It was re -staged due to popular demand and then I decided it was enough.

Various sides were trying to hi-jack it and wanted merchandise, dvd's, musicals etc. I could be a lot better off than i am now, if i had gone with some of that crap! Bolton ARE doing a musical of it!

I'd pay £50 for a dvd of it, I never saw it!

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And no doubt most of the people slagging it off have never even read it.

I own the first one :D ....THAT WAS ENOUGH! thanks.

If you listen to records, cd's, go out and about, etc, you can get your own education.....its ALL out there. :D The book gives you KEVS 'education' and believe me, he's not the most articulate 'soul' i've ever met!

When I read the first book, it doesn't have most of the stuff i liked and danced to then in it. BECAUSE? I had a mind and soul of my own, then and now. For f--ks sake are we 'soul sheep' baaaaaa!

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And no doubt most of the people slagging it off have never even read it.

I own the first one :D ....THAT WAS ENOUGH! thanks.

If you listen to records, cd's, go out and about, etc, you can get your own education.....its ALL out there. :D The book gives you KEVS 'education' and believe me, he's not the most articulate 'soul' i've ever met!

When I read the first book, it doesn't have most of the stuff i liked and danced to then in it. BECAUSE? I had a mind and soul of my own, then and now. For f--ks sake are we 'soul sheep' baaaaaa!

nobody is going to tell me that Rose Batiste, Willie Tee, Landslide, Billy Prophet, I'm Your Pimp and so on are not great records just because they are in Kev Roberts book! Doesn't matter how many times you hear them - they are just great records and I could read about them and listen to them for ever basically...well I have been!

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Paul,

How did you research your play? Did Wigan Casino re-open for you?

UH? I went for 5 years.

ALSO, i didnt call it 'WIGAN CASINO HOW IT WAS'. If you read the programme, it says, it was just my memories and everyone has different ones. It also says that the tunes chosen as the sountrack are my personal memories, not necessarily the so called 'top tunes' of the time!

It even says that I included 'Toni and the Showmen' because it should have been played then! It was in the same spirit'

SO maybe KR should call his book ' 500 tunes Kev remembers being played...AT HIS NIGHTS' Because thats what it is......... :D

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nobody is going to tell me that Rose Batiste, Willie Tee, Landslide, Billy Prophet, I'm Your Pimp and so on are not great records just because they are in Kev Roberts book! Doesn't matter how many times you hear them - they are just great records and I could read about them and listen to them for ever basically...well I have been!

Pete we agree, now steady don't want you thinking that I'm going to give up on modern soul :D

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nobody is going to tell me that Rose Batiste, Willie Tee, Landslide, Billy Prophet, I'm Your Pimp and so on are not great records just because they are in Kev Roberts book! Doesn't matter how many times you hear them - they are just great records and I could read about them and listen to them for ever basically...well I have been!

Guess some people remain the same Pete and others....well they .....grow...opening their hearts and souls to lifes many experiences and lots of great music...I didn't say they were bad tunes (im your pimp is sh-te though! :D ). I, myself, dont want to hear them every week, every year, forever more. I didn't do that back then , so why now!

Familiarity breeds...? .......'the top 500'

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Guess some people remain the same Pete and others....well they .....grow...opening their hearts and souls to lifes many experiences and lots of great music...I didn't say they were bad tunes (im your pimp is sh-te though! :D ). I, myself, dont want to hear them every week, every year, forever more. I didn't do that back then , so why now!

Familiarity breeds...? .......'the top 500'

No sorry, disagree. The reason I can hear them time after time is because they are great records. Same as I must have heard I Saw The Light by Todd Rundgren every day for as many years as I can remember. It never gets tiresome. Now, if I were hearing the same records every week at an event, thats different, I'd want to hear fresher records, but I'm not talking about that. If you ask me to list my favourite 100 records, half of them would be post Wigan maybe even post Stafford so it's not a case of staying put with the same old records, I just bought that Voices Inc for example. I do love my favourites though.

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Personally I think if you put almost any of the records in Kev's top 500 book on at a soul night, you'd have people up and dancing. To me that means they are the most popular, so consequently worthy of a place in the top 500. Kev's personality/business acumen shouldn't really come into it as he was in a good position to judge, bearing in mind the Casino held weekly nighters for eight years, and back in the day the dance floor was king. Take into account how long Kings Hall has been running and the fact that it always has a full house,.... I'd say his credentials are in good order.

With the fairly recent advent of multiple venues on every week, the scene has fragmented, so in different areas different records have become popular. That's a personal taste thing, and of course "newer" DJ's want to push their latest acquisitions and create their own niche and reputation, but it doesn't mean that their choices would necessarily get rave reviews all over the country. The top 500 are by and large loved by all and mostly criticised because they've been played so often, not because of their quality, which leads me to think the adverse reaction is all to do with who the author is. Most people appear to have at least one copy of it, even the people criticising it, which I find a little strange. If it's not needed, doesn't interest you, has nothing interesting in it, why buy it in the first place?

Winnie:-)

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Guest Trevski

A/I also think that people like Ian D, Butch, Soul Sam and Richard S need to be careful. When you put a certain amount of time into starting venues, or reach a certain amount of time as a DJ on the scene, or God forbid in our capitalist democracy, make money by providing a service, it seems you become a pariah and an outcast.

B/The current ones are Kev Roberts, Ian Levine and Russ Winstanley. No I must be wrong there, because Chris Waterman (Hi Chris, long time no see) got some stick a couple of years ago, because he was fairly new on the promoting side, and was accused of making money out of the scene.

A/ Why be careful? they are not blood-sucking leaches trying to wring every last penny they can from the scene with books, dvd's badges, bootlegs, cd's, t-shirts, nostalgia venues, etc, etc. They are Dj's providing entertainement, usualy at a loss, given the cost of 45's AND providing new discoveries, especialy in the case of Butch and Sam!

B/ The very blood-sucking leaches as described above! (Chris is not in any way to be connected with the 'Triumverate of tat' ) My problem is not with the tunes included in the book per s but with the money grabbing ethos behind it. The only reason Mr Roberts is laughing as he rolls in mounds crisp tenners is because idiots keep putting money in his pocket for his exploitative wares! Some people have more integrity than to sell that which they profess love for 30 pieces of silver!

Furthermore, Butch, Sam etc give a lot to the scene, for little reward. KR gives nothing, and takes everything he f***ing can! Does anyone actually believe all the books, venues etc are provided by KR for the love of the scene, and its devotees, and not for the love of KR and money? If its the former, then you are really gulible saddo's. If its the latter, then spend your dosh elswhere!

Edited by Trevski
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Guest clanger v2

What is wrong with making money out of something you love?

There were a lot of black american artists who loved singing, and their dream was to make money out of it, so they tried their damndest to get a record deal....

Are they blood-sucking leeches as well?

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No matter what Kev did or does, right or wrong, folk on here will still have a dig and slag him off!!

Plenty of others who have attempted and still attempt to make money out of the scene. I for one would love to make a living out of the scene and I dare say so would many of those slagging Kev off.

Edited by chalky
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Guest Trevski

No matter what Kev did or does, right or wrong, folk on here will still have a dig and slag him off!!

Plenty of others who have attempted and still attempt to make money out of the scene. I for one would love to make a living out of the scene and I dare say so would many of those slagging Kev off.

True, so would I, perhaps as a successful record dealer like JM or TB. I would not, however do it by milking it for all I can get and selling 'nostalgic' tat. You can't honestly say you condone his methodology?

Edited by Trevski
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Nothing like a good Kev Roberts or Ian Levine thread to get the old juices flowing, is there?

For what it's worth, my opinion is the same as Kev Robert's book - it's just an opinion.

He says they are the top 500 (or is it top 1,000 by now), but so what.

I am not an apologist for KR but I have thoroughly enjoyed the second book, which I thumb through on a regular basis - it's in my bog - but I don't sit there and think "Well he's wrong about that" or "That's not right, surely the version by XYZ is better", because it does not merit that kind of review.

It's a list book, written by somebody who is entitled to do so, and for those who don't like the man ( and I can understand where they're coming from) and don't want to contribute to his retirement fund, then give it a wide berth.

Me, it's on my Santa wish list, together with plenty of Kent CD's and a Cristiano Ronaldo matching duvet and pillow case set.

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True, so would I, perhaps as a successful record dealer like JM or TB. I would not, however do it by milking it for all I can get and selling 'nostalgic' tat. You can't honestly say you condone his buisness?

He's seen an opportunity and gone for it, some on the scene actually like and want "nostalgic tat", there must be a demand or he wouldn't sell the stuff. Whether I agree with it or not is immaterial but that sort of stuff not for me but I don't go around slagging him off, I just don't buy it. What he sells doesn't affect me and in reality it's not having a detrimental effect on the scene.

He's does put something into the scene as well, whether you agree or not. He promotes the biggest all-nighter on the scene and also various other events that all seem popular to some. Again some of them not my cup of tea so I vote with my feet and go elsewhere to the events that are my cup of tea. No point in slating him for promoting the events as they are pretty popular with plenty of people and who am I to tell them they shouldn't attend these events as Kev is only promoting them in the opinion of some, to milk the scene. Whether I agree with what he does is again irrelevant. Publicly slagging him off on a forum won't make the slightest bit of difference, I just get on with my own thing and leave what Kev does to him and those who enjoy what he does.

Radio shows, promoting books whatever he or anyone else does to make some money out of the scene still require some fiancial outlay.

At the end of the day the books must be selling sufficient quantities to warrant an update. Again doesn't interest me the follow ups so I haven't bought a copy, infact I don't even have the first, I read it at an ex's one weekend so didn't bother to buy one.

Right back to doing my own thing, sorting some records for Skeggy!!!!

Edited by chalky
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Guest Trevski

He's seen an opportunity and gone for it, some on the scene actually like and want nostalgic tat, there must be a demand or he wouldn't sell the stuff. Whether I agree with it or not is immaterial but that sort of stuff not for me but I don't go around slagging him off, I just don't buy it.

He's does put something into the scene as well, whether you agree or not. He promotes the biggest all-nighter on the scene and also various other events that all seem popular to some. Again some of them not my cup of tea so I vote with my feet and go elsewhere to the events that are my cup of tea. No point in slating him for promoting the events as they are pretty popular with plenty of people and who am I to tell them they shouldn't attend these events as Kev is only promoting them in the opinion of some, to milk the scene. Whether I agree with what he does is again irrelevant. Publicly slagging him off on a forum won't make the slightest bit of difference, I just get on with my own thing and leave what Kev does to him and those who enjoy what he does.

Radio shows, promoting books whatever he or anyone else does to make some money out of the scene still require some fiancial outlay.

At the end of the day the books must be selling sufficient quantities to warrant an update. Again doesn't interest me the follow ups so I haven't bought a copy, infact I don't even have the first, I read it at an ex's one weekend so didn't bother to buy one.

Right back to doing my own thing, sorting some records for Skeggy!!!!

Fair enough Chalks, but I take the view that, as as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing'. Criticising him may not do any good, (then again it might open the eyes of some) but to say nothing is to silently condone him, IMVHO!

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Guest gordon russell

if fools buy his book and attend his venues knowing all that has been said ...then they have what they deserve......is he now doing NORMAN SOUL fitted kitchens with each door having a differant label from his book on. you might be able to get the DETROIT kitchen or the PHILLY kitchen or you might prefere a WEST COAST one ....orders are now being taken :thumbsup:

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Guest soulmaguk

nobody is going to tell me that Rose Batiste, Willie Tee, Landslide, Billy Prophet, I'm Your Pimp and so on are not great records just because they are in Kev Roberts book! Doesn't matter how many times you hear them - they are just great records and I could read about them and listen to them for ever basically...well I have been!

I would not dare say any of the records in any of the top 500 are not great records, apart from DJ Genisis that is! (only joking). I'm almost sure the poll was taken when a lot of people were just getting back into the scene after long periods away from it, through no fault of there own, children etc.. and still are just hitting the scene today. I was around watching the poll being taken from different media sources and inputted by the voters, then being complied by Kev himself, but certainly sounds as though he's added a few in there just for himself. Anyway, it seems many people that have never left the scene for long periods now have to watch the rest catch-up. This is todays new devide, the 'new' Oldies or Modern fans, and it's a real shame. I remember going to the most famous venue ever, and the scene wasn't waiting around 'then', so why should it now? I remember only knowing one record all night..R.Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House, I loved and danced to every record from then on since, whether I knew, it sounded familiar or never heard it before. I'm just saying that i want this music scene to move on quicker I guess, and now to catch-up. I'm probably speaking for a lot of Soul fans tonight, lets have it back to where it is, before it gets too far behind itself.

Jock.

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Fair enough Chalks, but I take the view that, as as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing'. Criticising him may not do any good, (then again it might open the eyes of some) but to say nothing is to silently condone him, IMVHO!

So you would sooner the good people of soul source rise up and bring him down :thumbsup:

He's hardly doing anything bad or evil is he. In fact he's providing entertainment that is popular with 100's of soulies.

Like I said not for me so I go somehwere that is in line with my thinking and leave what Kev does to those that enjoy it.

Tell you summat I bet you every other all-nighter promoter wishes they could get the numbers throught the door Kings Hall does and have an atmosphere like there is there too :no:

They also say there's no such thing as bad publicity, Kev must be loving all this :ohmy: I bet a fair few will be buying a copy to see what all the fuss is about :thumbsup:

Edited by chalky
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I'm just saying that i want this music scene to move on quicker I guess, and now to catch-up. I'm probably speaking for a lot of Soul fans tonight, lets have it back to where it is, before it gets too far behind itself.

Jock.

It's bloody hard work trying to get the scene to progress, Lifeline is IMHO the best progressive all-nighter with the countries top soul DJ's and guests but struggle to compete with the likes of Kings Hall Stoke!!! 100 Club, Wilton and Burnley the same. The more forward looking crowd is not that great in numbers but the records do in time filter down to the more retro events. Even Kings Hall now has the likes of Butch and Mick H djing there so inroads are being made but you can't do it over night. It takes time, effort and perseverence. Maybe in time more of the oldies only crowd will progress if they hear enough "unfamiliar" sounds that they like at places like Kings Hall.

Maybe I should do a book of the top 500 "newies" :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Edited by chalky
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if fools buy his book and attend his venues knowing all that has been said ...then they have what they deserve......is he now doing NORMAN SOUL fitted kitchens with each door having a differant label from his book on. you might be able to get the DETROIT kitchen or the PHILLY kitchen or you might prefere a WEST COAST one ....orders are now being taken :thumbsup:

Has it ever crossed your mind that some people might like that sort of kitchen ?

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Guest soul99 easylay

Fair enough Chalks, but I take the view that, as as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing'. Criticising him may not do any good, (then again it might open the eyes of some) but to say nothing is to silently condone him, IMVHO!

Fookin hell - I never thought I'd see the day when Kev Roberts was even more vilified than Ian Levine :no:

It's only a Top 500 book guys, it's not like it's "The Satanic Verses" is it? :thumbsup: .......ooh sh*te maybe it is! :ohmy:

A fatwah on Kev Roberts :g::thumbsup:

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Soul source is an amazing site, thats gives everyone a fair crack at the whip on the internet regardless of status and knowledge, and we all get hooked on reading threads!

The Top 500 hundred has been out of print for over 15 months! Waterstones the book retailers have been contantly requesting issues plus other world book organisations including our website. As a company Goldsoul have reacted and reissued an updated version of it, due to extensive nostaligic research from events and broadcasting activities.

There are so many "pockets" regarding the words "northern Soul" it is difficault to please everyone, and therefore we take the nostalgia of "the scene" and embrace it rather than critisise what it stood for in the first place.

The book is in no way doing any harm to what ever the scene stands for, its a take it or leave it issue, and as a company we are fully behind its content and the hard work and effort that has gone into it.

May I take this oppertunity to thank Andy Bellwood for his support and avid interest.

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Guest Trevski

Wondered when a KR "spokesperson' would show up.....

Soul source is an amazing site, thats gives everyone a fair crack at the whip on the internet regardless of status and knowledge, and we all get hooked on reading threads!

There are so many "pockets" regarding the words "northern Soul" it is difficault to please everyone, and therefore we take the nostalgia of "the scene" and embrace it rather than critisise what it stood for in the first place.

I prefer the word 'exploit' but each to his own!

The book is in no way doing any harm to what ever the scene stands for, its a take it or leave it issue, and as a company we are fully behind its content and the hard work and effort that has gone into it.

May I take this oppertunity to thank Andy Bellwood for his support and avid interest.

Edited by Trevski
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Expoliting?

Goldsoul is an independant company that works 24 -7 on Northern soul. Many artsits have benifitted form our advise and have appeared in the UK due to our involvement. We pay vat on all sales to our events, unlike many other promoters. We put in far more than we take back. We also donate large amounts to the NSPCC every month.

I remember in the 80's when there were very few events, somebody had an idea to put all the unaffordables on CD (fully licensed), then do a wigan revivial night (which was a lock out).

Hummmnnn I wonder who?

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=============

Does it really matter? I would think Samm might be his wife Sam as it happens :thumbsup:

Also thought she (if it is indeed Sam) made sense, basically if you don't want to buy it don't.

Winnie:-)

NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOK THIS TIME JUST WAS WONDERING WHY NO PROFILE DETAILS WHATS TO HIDE??????

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im afraid i think the majority of soulies go to local oldies nites, buy books,badges ,cds etc... not rare or unknown sounds,or go to niters..they seem more numerous on here these days 2 ......... :thumbsup: so i will keep doin my thin g regardless, ez F??K THE £$ , I WILL HAVE THE MUSIC AND THE FRIENDS!!!!!!!! :wicked: RICHES INDEED!!!!!!!!!!

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Guest Trevski

Expoliting?

Goldsoul is an independant company that works 24 -7 on Northern soul. Many artsits have benifitted form our advise and have appeared in the UK due to our involvement. We pay vat on all sales to our events, unlike many other promoters. We put in far more than we take back. We also donate large amounts to the NSPCC every month.

I remember in the 80's when there were very few events, somebody had an idea to put all the unaffordables on CD (fully licensed), then do a wigan revivial night (which was a lock out).

Hummmnnn I wonder who?

Yeah, right. So you are a non-profit making, running-at-a-loss enterprise then?

Edited by Trevski
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WHO IS SAMM LOOKED IN THE PROFILE NOTHING SAME WITH ARDVARCK ONLY COME ON HERE TO DO A PR JOB, WAS WAITING FOR A REPLY AS IT WAS SHOWING A IMINENT POST NOTHING !

To be honest, theres not a lot more in your profile. Nor mine for that matter. And in the majority of the members on here I would suspect. One of the mods will be on here soon asking Samm to post an intro. Which she/he they should do. If it is Kev, he should post as himself though, I agree there.

I've had a couple of run ins on here with Kev, but about his attitude to criticism, not because he earns some of his living from the soul scene. Don't buy the third book, I won't ( got the ist two though) but this is just a witch hunt imo. And as for the "what does he know" and "inarticulate :thumbsup: " jibes, they are ridiculous imo. Ignore him if you don't like what he does ffs.

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Expoliting?

Goldsoul is an independant company that works 24 -7 on Northern soul. Many artsits have benifitted form our advise and have appeared in the UK due to our involvement. We pay vat on all sales to our events, unlike many other promoters. We put in far more than we take back. We also donate large amounts to the NSPCC every month.

I remember in the 80's when there were very few events, somebody had an idea to put all the unaffordables on CD (fully licensed), then do a wigan revivial night (which was a lock out).

Really? I remember being out at Nighters and Soul Nights every weekend in the 80s, most times Friday and Saturday. :thumbsup:

I did like that Mr Hollywood Bootleg LP KR did early 80s, very funny (but not sure it was meant to be :wicked: )

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Guest Trevski

Have you looked on anybody elses site ? glad to see you only look at ours and make presumptions that we are the distributers! Can you do me a favour and post on here your evidence!

You don't have to be the distributors as such. Someone selling counterfeit Lacoste, Addidas etc on a market stall is still guilty of selling illegal counterfeits, even tho' they didn't produce them!

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