Ian Levine, Motorcity, Centre City, Blackpool Mecca, And Swons

[Paul-s]

It's a real shame that this thread, one of the most interesting in ages, has been ruined by people just trying to show Ian Levine up - for what? Making records in the 80's with synthesised drumbeats? Being a fan of Doctor Who? Leaving the Northern scene in the lurch?

Many of us where finding this topic really interesting but James, for goodness sake, if you've got a problem with Levine, which you obviously have, why don't you two thrash it out by PM because I'm pretty sure the rest of us don't want to read it.

If you don't like him then fine but stop ruining the topic, same for everyone else who have taken it way off topic.

Can we get back to talking about the music?

Pete, Leveine came on here slagging people off, including one off the most honest and soulful people on this scene (because she had nailed the film for what it is!) So forgive me if I decide to give the clown some of his own medicine....'Souled Out' have odviously engaged him to make a comeback on their behalf. They obviously thought he was a part of the scene. BUT he is not...hes a relic, crumbling and in need of repair! Sorry, but thats how it is. This thread is a pile of self promoting, backward, halcion day, trite, conceited drivel! Lets move on and lets move on without this dead weight dragging our soulful feet through his muddy past. He hasnt discovered F--k all that I listen too, so hearing him bang on about the good old days is just toooooooo boring. As I said earlier, the discovery of a record doesnt justify a mans existence on the scene! Its their contribution to the week in week out effort of going out and socialising, dancing, adding to the atmosphere of the events, without which dj's wouldn't exist, that marks their humanity and 'soul'. This self congratulating fool only seems to suck the atmosphere from the scene and certainly shows no visible signs of humanity or soul. If you dont see the connection between a person and the music and the need to comment on both, when faced with such outrageous self promotion, then you should at least allow the ones that do, to comment. I certainly see the connection.

[Pete S]

Pete, Leveine came on here slagging people off, including one off the most honest and soulful people on this scene (because she had nailed the film for what it is!) So forgive me if I decide to give the clown some of his own medicine....'Souled Out' have odviously engaged him to make a comeback on their behalf. They obviously thought he was a part of the scene. BUT he is not...hes a relic, crumbling and in need of repair! Sorry, but thats how it is. This thread is a pile of self promoting, backward, halcion day, trite, conceited drivel! Lets move on and lets move on without this dead weight dragging our soulful feet through his muddy past. He hasnt discovered F--k all that I listen too, so hearing him bang on about the good old days is just toooooooo boring. As I said earlier, the discovery of a record doesnt justify a mans existence on the scene! Its their contribution to the week in week out effort of going out and socialising, dancing, adding to the atmosphere of the events, without which dj's wouldn't exist, that marks their humanity and 'soul'. This self congratulating fool only seems to suck the atmosphere from the scene and certainly shows no visible signs of humanity or soul. If you dont see the connection between a person and the music and the need to comment on both, when faced with such outrageous self promotion, then you should at least allow the ones that do, to comment. I certainly see the connection.

OK. But I think you are 100% wrong about any connection to Souled Out.

[Prophonics 2029]

So to have an opinion on this thread you must have had to have discover at least 20 classic northern tunes and at least cover up 6 of them in the last 40 years.

I see

[leev]

Bit of a strange quote when I have consistently raved about the new series publicly, so that makes no sense to me at all. I even run a forum.

yes you should remember that ian, don't neglect it bud, you seem to have got a tad side tracked this last few days imho.

ans. is a good forum and a faithful bunch. plus you get the chance to boot off who you don't like lol.

[Guest]

Pete, Leveine came on here slagging people off, including one off the most honest and soulful people on this scene (because she had nailed the film for what it is!) So forgive me if I decide to give the clown some of his own medicine....'Souled Out' have odviously engaged him to make a comeback on their behalf. They obviously thought he was a part of the scene. BUT he is not...hes a relic, crumbling and in need of repair! Sorry, but thats how it is. This thread is a pile of self promoting, backward, halcion day, trite, conceited drivel! Lets move on and lets move on without this dead weight dragging our soulful feet through his muddy past. He hasnt discovered F--k all that I listen too, so hearing him bang on about the good old days is just toooooooo boring. As I said earlier, the discovery of a record doesnt justify a mans existence on the scene! Its their contribution to the week in week out effort of going out and socialising, dancing, adding to the atmosphere of the events, without which dj's wouldn't exist, that marks their humanity and 'soul'. This self congratulating fool only seems to suck the atmosphere from the scene and certainly shows no visible signs of humanity or soul. If you dont see the connection between a person and the music and the need to comment on both, when faced with such outrageous self promotion, then you should at least allow the ones that do, to comment. I certainly see the connection.

Paul

Feel free to furnish us with a list of your musical discoveries if you wish. The statement that you don't listen to ANY music from the Mecca period seems rather dubious.

Derek

[Ian Dewhirst]

So to have an opinion on this thread you must have had to have discover at least 20 classic northern tunes and at least cover up 6 of them in the last 40 years.

I see

No, but it helps!

Ian D

[Sunnysoul]

IAN,

WOULD BE EXTREMELY INTERESTED TO HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER THAT EVER LIVED :

DAVID RUFFIN.

ESPECIALLY THE TIME YOU SPENT RECORDING HIM.

Edited August 27, 2008 by sunnysoul

[Prophonics 2029]

Paul

Feel free to furnish us with a list of your musical discoveries if you wish. The statement that you don't listen to ANY music from the Mecca period seems rather dubious.

Derek

Discoveries you are saying like it's some Indiana Jones trilogy, for fujic sake when all this was kicking of the records had only been made 3 or 4 years earlier they were about as lost as an oyster card on a bendie bus. We are now 40 years on and a 12 year old with a laptop can find out about more Northern in 20 minuets than he can about porn unless he has changed the parental settings.

The story as I see it is some old ladies put the records in the bid cause the charity shop was full.

Edited August 27, 2008 by Prophonics 2029

[Prophonics 2029]

No, but it helps!

Ian D

That's quiet amusing cause all the people who have are not hear posting for some reason.

[Guest]

Discoveries you are saying like it's some Indiana Jones trilogy, for fujic sake when all this was kicking of the records had only been made 3 or 4 years earlier there were about as lost as an oyster card on a bendie bus. We are now 40 years on and a 12 year old with a laptop can find out about more Northern in 20 minuets than he can about porn unless he has changed the parental settings.

Yeah it's easy to find out about known Northern

The story as I see it is some old ladies put the records in the bid cause the charity shop was full.

what????

Derek

[Ian Dewhirst]

Discoveries you are saying like it's some Indiana Jones trilogy, for fujic sake when all this was kicking of the records had only been made 3 or 4 years earlier there were about as lost as an oyster card on a bendie bus.

Huh? You're talking about some of the rarest records known to man. The same records are commanding sky-high prices still because they're incredibly RARE. They were rare 35 years ago and they're rare now. Surely you know that dontcha?

Ian D

[Prophonics 2029]

Huh? You're talking about some of the rarest records known to man. The same records are commanding sky-high prices still because they're incredibly RARE. They were rare 35 years ago and they're rare now. Surely you know that dontcha?

Ian D

Some yes! I do know that, but just because James's mother is a Darlek and his father is a Cyberman, (he gets his anger off his mother but the height physical strength of his dad) runs one of the top allnighter down sarf surely gives him the credentials to air his views.

[Ian Dewhirst]

Some yes! I do know that, but just because James's mother is a Darlek and his father is a Cyberman, (he gets his anger off his mother but the height physical strength of his dad) runs one of the top allnighter down sarf surely gives him the credentials to air his views.

Hey, I LIKE seeing James's views generally, but as I said, I think he's over-egging this particular campaign to the point of some kind of psychological obsession which doesn't look too healthy for one so young.

The two of 'em could keep a shrink in business for the next 10 years if you ask me LOL.......

Just part of the rich tapestry of this scene............

Ian D

[Davetay]

Now be Frank with me Ian? We never really left mate, Trust Mr Levine to create such a stir, Probably not seen you since 78? I believe with Paul down The central in Leeds. Or there abouts. But prior to that I still remember selling Twink, Lou Courtney "Trying to find my Woman" In the Railway pub one Sunday after the Mecca in 1973, Remember we used to meet there? Dave Rivers Laughed at my Sandy Nelson LP with "Itching in my heart" on same day, If I remember. It was on Red Vinyl or similar, But I sold it down at Wigan for a tenner, Came off Bostocks in the Bradford market for 20p! Lot's of big stuff came off there as you will recall. Talking of The Mecca I virtually lived there from 71 through to 76 as you know, Ah the halcyon days of youth! Remember the Infamous Simon visit in the Highland room? I think you'd have Given Mike Tyson a run for his money that evening! Good times indeed, Still see a few faces from the days gone, Ironicallly in Aussie which I visit quite often. I'll post a personal picture from the Mecca 74 on my profile, His greatness is behind me on the decks, Just opening his Maizy Doats 45 test press! Take care bud, Andy A.K.A The Pittance!

Hi Andy, welcome to Soul Source.

Do you remember a girl called Maureen from Bradford?

The reason i,m asking i went to a family do (wife side) in Bradford about 10 years ago and a girl (Maureen) came up to me and asked if i went to the Mecca, i told her yes and said she went and she mensioned you.

Dave

PS I got The Velvets off you at the Mecca

Edited August 27, 2008 by davetay

[Prophonics 2029]

Hey, I LIKE seeing James's views generally, but as I said, I think he's over-egging this particular campaign to the point of some kind of psychological obsession which doesn't look too healthy for one so young.

The two of 'em could keep a shrink in business for the next 10 years if you ask me LOL.......

Just part of the rich tapestry of this scene............

Ian D

[Guest]

The new series is nothing like Dr Who though Ian, it has more in common with Buffy or sommat imho.

Oh what rubbish.

My new music is Northern Soul, and David Tennant is Doctor Who.

END OF.

[Guest]

Must admit the phrase 'Bigger than ever' scares me when being used to describe NS, i don't personally want it to be big, ever!

That scares me.

Because it means you want it to die out with eighty year olds dancing in zimmer frames.

The music deserves to carry on after we're all gone, much like, in their own way, Mozart and Beethoven did.

[Epic]

Ian

Can remember you sat behind the decks in The Highland Room (yes Messrs Levine & Curtis DJ'd on a stool) in 1976 playing Vicki Sue Robinson "Turn The Beat Around" when Bob Blackwood came on stage & said that the music was not as good as in the Northern days.

Your reply was "No it's not - it's measurably better!!"

Priceless

[Guest]

Those albums aren't relevant to the scene though are they? Surely you are not claiming they are Ian ?

Yes I bloody well AM.

For every purist venue, there's another playing Sidney Barnes and Chuck Jackson and The Four Vandals and The Satintones and Gerod Harris. I watched last year in Derby when 500 ran on the floor to "Standing On Solid Ground".

There is a much bigger Northern Soul world out there than a few reactionary closed minded purist Soul Police.

And THANK GOD there is.

[Guest]

One other thing, didn't you originally come on here because of our attitudes to the Souled Out production ? Because that thread has died a death following this one starting. Was that the intention ?

NOTHING was the intention.

Shit just happens.

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

I see he's reading the thread.

Hello Tony.

Remember your early visits to the Mecca in 1971 ??

Remember me staying at your house as far back as 1969 ???

Good afternoon, Ian....

We certainly do go back a long way don't we? And we're still here, and we're still friends, I'm happy to say. I was reminiscing fondly about our long association, on the radio, only the other day.

But the Just Brothers was nothing to do with me, although there were plenty of 1971 Mecca floorfillers that were, and you've always been happy to credit me for facilitating their first play...

...Good man yourself!

TONY

[Guest]

Colin also paid about the same for the Magnetics - lady in green off Bob Foster.

He never once played that in The Highland Room unless I was in the loo at the time.

[Guest]

Can you shed any light on: Quasar one - Clevelend Eaton Whas this an accetete only recording ?

Yes it was.

Paul David Wilson both wrote and produced it, in Chicago, on Cleveland Eaton, in 1975.

Never released. I cut just two acetates as I recall, at Pye Studios. One for me, one for Colin. Paul gave me a tape to cut them with, so I could play them and see if there was any interest in them.

[Guest]

Can you shed any light on: Quasar one - Clevelend Eaton Whas this an accetete only recording ?

There were also two others at the same time.

PAUL DAVID WILSON AND THE VEHICLE OF VISION - GETTING UP OFF THE GROUND

THE KEN CHANEY EXPERIENCE - COME ON EXPERIENCE

[Guest]

Levine is bulletproof in terms in terms of insults and concerted campaigns against him because he's had 40 years of experience in deflecting 'em LOL.

Damn right.

Forty years of it.

Bit wearing innit ???

[Guest]

The funniest thing is in all my years on the scene, is that the only person who matches Ian Levine's level of self-righteousness and arrogance is YOU James!

Peas from the same pod? Do you wear white-socks? How do you find your recent fascination with 'Dr Who'?

I think we should be told.

Ian D

Utterly utterly the best post so far.

Ian Dewhirst I shall buy you dinner.

YOU DESERVE IT.

[Guest]

'Souled Out' have odviously engaged him to make a comeback on their behalf.

DO NOT POST LIES AND FALSEHOODS.

I have nothing to do with this film, nothing whatsoever, in any way shape or form. Nothing.

[Guest]

yes you should remember that ian, don't neglect it bud, you seem to have got a tad side tracked this last few days imho.

ans. is a good forum and a faithful bunch. plus you get the chance to boot off who you don't like lol.

I was referring to my Doctor Who forum actually Lee, if you go back and re-read my post.

[Guest]

IAN,

WOULD BE EXTREMELY INTERESTED TO HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER THAT EVER LIVED :

DAVID RUFFIN.

ESPECIALLY THE TIME YOU SPENT RECORDING HIM.

I only cut one song on him, his last ever, and that was originally cut by Ronnie McNeir.

To tell the whole true story would only harm his memory so it's better not to rake up the mud. He tried a trick on with Mattie at United Sound that verged on criminal.

But later on, I was with him 11 days before he died.

And of course I have known Jimmy for forty years.

[Guest]

Ian

Can remember you sat behind the decks in The Highland Room (yes Messrs Levine & Curtis DJ'd on a stool) in 1976 playing Vicki Sue Robinson "Turn The Beat Around" when Bob Blackwood came on stage & said that the music was not as good as in the Northern days.

Your reply was "No it's not - it's measurably better!!"

Priceless

Vaguely. In hindsight I'm not sure I agree. If I now met the 1977 Ian Levine, I don't think I'd like him very much.

[Guest]

Good afternoon, Ian....

We certainly do go back a long way don't we? And we're still here, and we're still friends, I'm happy to say. I was reminiscing fondly about our long association, on the radio, only the other day.

But the Just Brothers was nothing to do with me, although there were plenty of 1971 Mecca floorfillers that were, and you've always been happy to credit me for facilitating their first play...

...Good man yourself!

TONY

Yes it was Tony.

You brought me two records in the same week. Fread Payne "Band Of Gold" and The Just Brothers "Sliced Tomatoes".

You MUST remember. Early 1971, probably February or March.

I met you in 1968 in Soul City or was in Blues And Soul ??

You and Dave someone or other ran a Motown photocopied fanzine. We became great friends as kids.

I stayed with you in 1969 and 1970.

I remember your grandparents. They lived in Walthamstow and your Grandad had lots of tattoos.

For those who don't know, apart from Roy Hamilton, Tony Rounce discovered ALL those RCA classics. He must have brought us twenty of them, from Lorraine Chandler to Ray Paige. He was the first to ever find them, a full thirty seven years ago now.

[Guest]

But the Just Brothers was nothing to do with me, although there were plenty of 1971 Mecca floorfillers that were, and you've always been happy to credit me for facilitating their first play...

TONY

And especially to remind you....

">

[Nige Brown]

Hello Ian

Did you ever decide if Paul Esmond Hazel - Back to Basics B/W Ebony Allene Mr Magic Man would be released as a 7" at some point,,, i asked ya some time back

Nige b

[Pete S]

And especially to remind you....

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[moodysoul1]

Must admit the phrase 'Bigger than ever' scares me when being used to describe NS, i don't personally want it to be big, ever!

I would say keep it underground but it's sadly too late for that.

Siimon

[moodysoul1]

northern soul is no longer underground its ALLREADY been invaded by THE HAND BAG BASHERS.

[Steve G]

I only cut one song on him, his last ever, and that was originally cut by Ronnie McNeir.

To tell the whole true story would only harm his memory so it's better not to rake up the mud.

...Well except there have always been strong rumours circulating about him beating up on Tammi Terrell repeatedly before the night she collapsed with her brain tumour......I know it doesn't sound nice, but soul music ain't all about nice people always - and various artists I've spoken to have all said that David was a bad guy - even though he had a great voice.

[Steve G]

The new series is nothing like Dr Who though Ian, it has more in common with Buffy or sommat imho.

Give me the 'Horror of Fang Rock' anyday, that's propper Dr Who!

Simon

I am going to "out Levine" Levine now but this post is PURE B*LLOCKS Simon. All of the recent series have made GREAT TV.

[Guest James Trouble]

I think Fryer's post and his attitude has actually come closer to understanding Levine's dark workings than he intended.

The King's Go Forth record, how could that have possibly been discovered? It was made a few months ago, recorded in a garage straight onto an Apple Mac computer and distributed around the world via a social networking site. And of course, Fryer is right to point this out, whether he and a few others playing in their bedrooms off a Myspace page is worth much in the grand scheme of things is debatable though. But that's not the point.

The soul scene in this country, often rightly so, places so much importance on the DJ who plays the records that they forget the truth is these records were actually made by a band.

And this is the secret to Levine's drive. As can be seen in his desire to be part of actually making Dr Who episodes, and in his very recent posts on this thread as well.

Like his early confused lust with The Prefect and the feeling of satisfaction it gave him to have things The Prefect wanted, I believe he has realised that to only truely achieve the satisfaction his megalomaniac ego craves is not jsut to have something that those he lusts after want from him, but to actually become the thing they want and are obsessed about.

Because, like the Kings Go Forth, the only people who truely deserve full recognition are the band themselves.

I'm starting to worry that those making this Souled Out film have consulted Levine and are concidering putting his crap that he is producing into the film, which is why Levine has surfaced now. It's his final attempt to achieve immortality by actually becoming 'northern soul' in a film that will last forever...

This is scary, because Levine's production are about as far removed today from the northern soul scene as is possibly imaginable.

The retro rare soul scene is moving on, northern soul is constantly changing, and he can't understand it. The Kings Go Forth, Sharon Jones, Timmion, they are all achieving what Levine wants but can't get. And he's jealous, and he's desperate to get in this film with that crap he has been posting up on this thread.

In much the same way he has tried to become part of Doctor Who.

And that, I'm afraid, is about the truth of it.

[Guest in town Mikey]

That scares me.

Because it means you want it to die out with eighty year olds dancing in zimmer frames.

The music deserves to carry on after we're all gone, much like, in their own way, Mozart and Beethoven did.

It scares me Ian that you either totally misunderstand Simon's point, or you would deliberately pretend to misunderstand.

But as I said on another thread, your position is poles apart from mine (and possibly Mr B's).

Neither is right, as the best place to be is probably somewhere in the middle.

I will never ever understand, or try to understand why anyone would want Northern Soul to be a mainstream music. Well two reasons, to make money or to inflate ones personal perception of their own importance.

Neither sit happily to my way of thinking.

The music will carry on. People will always have the desire to seek out different stuff, not in the mainstream (of all musical genres). Bringing Linda Jones into the bedrooms of prepubescent school kids, and their parents is IMO the surest way to give it its 5 minutes of fame, before meltdown.

[Steve G]

northern soul is no longer underground its ALLREADY been invaded by THE HAND BAG BASHERS.

Whenever it's been in the media focus though it's always had the Hand Baggers. Back at Wigan - loads of passing trade that jumped on the bandwagon.

Thing is now northern soul means many different things to different people and the whole thing has become very fragmented.- upfront 60s / 70s newies, oldies, R&B / R&R, Top 500, some of the funkier things, and Ian says his productions are northern soul too....So much so that I now think the term Northern soul is largely meaningless as too many different types of music have been hitched to it's name. So I wonder whether we should just ditch the tag completely.

Ian I saw you slagging off SAm for clearing the floor at the Ritz earlier in this thread. I see nothing wrong with Sam clearing the floor, as long as he is able to get it back afterwards. I have long maintained that as a DJ unless you clear the floor at least once or twice you're being too twee with your selections....I also remember Searling clearing the Casino floor (virtually unheard of and quite unnerving at the time) when he played Judy Freeman "Hold On". Now you wouldn't deny that as being a great piece of northern deserving of plays would you? And it cleared the floor when he played it. My question is why single out Sam for this criticism?

Edited August 27, 2008 by Steve G

[Hitsville Chalky]

Has that drummer actually ever seen a drumkit before

Looks like AJ Sparks , Met him a few times In Detroit

[SteveM]

And it cleared the floor when he played it. My question is why single out Sam for this criticism?

Its Sams own fault Steve. He should've played "Standing On Solid Ground"

[Guest KEN-SOUL]

[quote...I also remember Searling clearing the Casino floor (virtually unheard of and quite unnerving at the time) when he played Judy Freeman "Hold On". Now you wouldn't deny that as being a great piece of northern deserving of plays would you? And it cleared the floor when he played it. My question is why single out Sam for this criticism?

[Guest]

Hi Andy, welcome to Soul Source.

Do you remember a girl called Maureen from Bradford?

The reason i,m asking i went to a family do (wife side) in Bradford about 10 years ago and a girl (Maureen) came up to me and asked if i went to the Mecca, i told her yes and said she went and she mensioned you.

Dave

PS I got The Velvets off you at the Mecca

Hi Dave, I'm not sure? I know a Maureen from Skipton, Which is near, If you could put a surname to her? Anyhow I'm sure the Vel-Vets was a reasonable price, From memory it was an issue, I had demo and issue, Demo off Bradford market, Issue I believe a swap, What part of the country are you in?

Cheers Andy.

[Ian Dewhirst]

Whenever it's been in the media focus though it's always had the Hand Baggers. Back at Wigan - loads of passing trade that jumped on the bandwagon.

Thing is now northern soul means many different things to different people and the whole thing has become very fragmented.- upfront 60s / 70s newies, oldies, R&B / R&R, Top 500, some of the funkier things, and Ian says his productions are northern soul too....So much so that I now think the term Northern soul is largely meaningless as too many different types of music have been hitched to it's name. So I wonder whether we should just ditch the tag completely.

Ian I saw you slagging off SAm for clearing the floor at the Ritz earlier in this thread. I see nothing wrong with Sam clearing the floor, as long as he is able to get it back afterwards. I have long maintained that as a DJ unless you clear the floor at least once or twice you're being too twee with your selections....I also remember Searling clearing the Casino floor (virtually unheard of and quite unnerving at the time) when he played Judy Freeman "Hold On". Now you wouldn't deny that as being a great piece of northern deserving of plays would you? And it cleared the floor when he played it. My question is why single out Sam for this criticism?

Agreed Steve. I've seen Ian clear the floor a few times too - "Soul Improvisations" at Wigan I seem to remember, even though it's the greatest instrumental ever. If you're breaking 'never heard before records' you have to take risks otherwise you'd become mundane and safe. Most new Northern records clear the floor a few times until they get heard and Ian knows that.

I don't think him and Sam get on though LOL........

Ian D

[moodysoul1]

Whenever it's been in the media focus though it's always had the Hand Baggers. Back at Wigan - loads of passing trade

Cant remember that many in 1973,but it was a long long time ago.There again i cant remember northern soul being used to promote cereals .Sacralige

[Guest KEN-SOUL]

Agreed Steve. I've seen Ian clear the floor a few times too - "Soul Improvisations" at Wigan I seem to remember, even though it's the greatest instrumental ever. If you're breaking 'never heard before records' you have to take risks otherwise you'd become mundane and safe. Most new Northern records clear the floor a few times until they get heard and Ian knows that.

I don't think him and Sam get on though LOL........

Ian D

what does LOL mean?

[Pete S]

what does LOL mean?

Laughing Out Loud

[Missing Link]

what does LOL mean?

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