Northern Nights In The Home Counties

[Steve G]

Looking back to clubs and nights in the South east of England (outside of London) in the late 70's. Here are a few I can recall, but would appreciate more details on some of them from people with better memories than I....I thought I better write some of it down though before I forget even more.....

We start off with Reading's Top Rank Suite - opposite the station. Home to several well attended all dayers in 1977-8 (they may have run some earlier ones as well). At least 600 soulheads attended these, and quite possibly a lot more. It was an easy location for the Kent crowd to get to, and these all dayers normally took place on bank holidays. They may from memory have been started earlier by the Inter City Soul Club. DJ's included Iain Stewart, Tony Dellar, Ian Clark, Tony Ellis I think and also Brian Rae etc.

Format main room - Northern - upstairs smaller room Jazz Funk. At one of them (Aug 77 I think) Chris Hill turned up with coach loads of Goldmine punters who rammed the upstairs room (this part has been well chronicalised, but often not too accurately). At the same time attendance was down in the main room - so Chris being Chris decided it was time to reunite the northern and Jazz funk scenes and got the upstairs room to come down and 'join' with their northern brothers and sisters. He took over the decs and played "Magic Fly" by Space :graynone: as his "unifying" record, while the Jazz Funk folks danced in a conga round the northern crowd on the floor. Obviously it didn't work, and very nearly ended in tears. After that the rooms were reversed and "northern" was sent upstairs while the JF crowd got the main room, and that was the last time we went, as the atmosphere wasn't the same upstairs. Billy Arnell was a big sound at the last one we went to. From there (as far as the Jazz funk scene was concerned) were born the Purley alldayers etc etc.

Egham - 1st April 1979 (?) allnighter - we went on the train, Kev Griffin was DJing along with Ian Clark. Good crowd and I vaguely recall discussing the merits or otherwise of a European copy of Lynne Randell "Caio baby" with one Col Smith. Also remember a long wait on the platform for a train in the morning.....Col can you fill in some gaps here. Seem to remember it was in a gym / basketball type set up, and there were several of them?

St Albans Fire Station. Not sure when this all nighter was held but it would have been late 70's, but it was a well attended "one room event". DJ's included Steve Jeffries (the Aldershot one), and it was about the time the dreadful "Love Hustle", and Ral Donner were popular. Don't know why they never did another one, but believe Mick from Past & Present Records in Watford was involved in it somehow. Notable for me because Kim Styles took a 600 single sales box which we had to take turns in lugging along the not insubstantial walk from St Albans station to the fire station, and back.

Further north - The Nite Spot Bedford. Run by Ken Cox of EASC fame - there were several all nighters here. The place was demolished years ago, but again this venue was well attended. Notable for several things: Got my copy of Ronnie McNeir "My class" for £10 here . Sam did a modern spot which got me back up to Wigan pretty pronto with cover ups such as "The Love Committee" etc. Most notable though we went to one of these nights with a 'first timer' from Southborough, but it was cancelled so about a dozen of us spent the night getting back from Bedford on a ghost train - what a let down that was, and don't think the first timer was much interested after that.

Then of course we ran a number of events in West Kent ourselves- starting off with St Easthwythes Hall in Tonbridge which Kim Styles started in 1977. It was just a Friday night 7.30 - 11 pm do (no booze, dusty dance floor church hall) where we could listen to and dance to sounds. At the end of the night our "Spencers bags" looked like they'd been through an asbestos mill - covered in dust - just right for Wigan on Saturday then....Got my first ever DJ spot here helping Kim, and these were once a month. Usually only about 20-30 of us in there, but we always turned up....

From there we ran a number of events - an all dayer at the DeLaRue School in Tonbridge - which Kev Griffin led the charge on. Can't remember much about it, except it wasn't well attended, and we kept waiting for more people to turn up.....a couple of do's in the Lyons Club in Lyons Crescent, and our most successful "northern" event at the Dancing School in Tonbridge High St (near the Crown). Again Kev and I ran this and guests included Cockney Mick Webb (who we could not get off of the decks "Just a few more mate - I've only been on for two hours"), Graham Constantine, Kim and a young Joanna Wallace (Jo also came to st Easthwyves). We did 3 or 4 there, and even made a £1.50 profit on one of the nights which for us was a real "first". We split the profits 50/50, Kev taking £1 and me 50p Big sound here for Kev was The Constellations which at the time was a £1.50 relatively "expensive" tune. After that we just became punters at places like 6T's which had by now become a regular haunt for us which didn't involve excessive travelling up north, lugging decks around etc.

At the end of the 70's we also had the mod revival and Kim and I guested at several do's run by Jo Wallace in Thanet - one on Broadstairs by the pier which was "rammed", and a couple in pubs in Ramsgate (I cannot remember names etc) - these were more mod / 60s soul events, but were both very well attended and I still have nightmares to this day about being driven around to one of these do's in the back of Jon Buck's car at breakneck speed.

So what else was around "northern wise" in the Home Counties in the late 70's?

[Steve G]

Jon Buck just pm'd me to remind me of one very important omission from my Reading memory - notably Mick Webb going up on stage & taking off "Magic Fly" & telling Chris Hill to "f*** off back upstairs" - thanks Jon - I had forgotten that bit. Good for Mick too.

[Soulsmith]

Jon Buck just pm'd me to remind me of one very important omission from my Reading memory - notably Mick Webb going up on stage & taking off "Magic Fly" & telling Chris Hill to "f*** off back upstairs" - thanks Jon - I had forgotten that bit. Good for Mick too.

link

Thats the bit thats never mentioned, when the story is told & retold by Jazz Funkers.

They have committed to print many times their factually incorrect version of what happened on that day. Rose tinted specs & big egos!

It did get very nasty & almost kicked off big style, but I'm glad it didn't

..........cos now with the benefit of time it can be viewed in its true perspective

...................a storm in a tea cup!

Young Bicknell has good memories of this fateful day.

He co-promoted some Reading all-dayers, but not this one, I think.

Will have a think about Egham.

Col.

ps I think Mick smashed the record!

Mick is still on the scene & was at Bisley on Saturday

[Steve G]

ps I think Mick smashed the record!

Mick is still on the scene & was at Bisley on Saturday

link

Excellent, and now that you mention it I do recall the "record breaking". Although a number of us did wind him up a bit Mick is generally a "good egg" and his heart is in the right place- say Hi to him from me please next time you see him!

[jonbuck]

CockneyMick W.O.F.T.A.M....

First met Mick Webb @ Shades of Green in Camberley, in about 1974-ish, The thing I remember most about first meeting him was his MK1 Cortina Estate- with a sunvisor that read W.O.F.T.A.M which I shall remember for as long as I live as Mick told me is was his banger racing team & stood for Waste Of F**cking Time & Money....& for a short while he was known as "Woftam" Mick. I don't know where the "COCKNEY" bit comes from because Mick comes from Windsor....I would like to know who first called him that ! I bet it was some Northener....

Keep @ It....

Jon Buck

Edited April 19, 2005 by jonbuck

[Jerry Hipkiss]

Egham - 1st April 1979 (?) allnighter - we went on the train, Kev Griffin was DJing along with Ian Clark.

I know I dj'd at one of them with Ian etc. - a youth club wasn't it? Took my big box into work on the Friday morning, straight onto the train from Cheltenham to Egham via Reading, into the pub...as I remember, it was a very good night - back to Ian Stewarts and his girl Jasmin's place in Weybridge the next morning, then to his record stall at Woking. Several hours watching Saturday morning telly in someone's caravan (Steve Jeffries possibly?) then back down the M4 for Stroud all-dayer, and from there on to Yate. Wandered back home mid-morning Sunday, and I was probably out again on Sunday night.

Frazzled? Moi?

Hippo.

Edited April 19, 2005 by Jerry Hipkiss

[Jerry Hipkiss]

Further north - The Nite Spot Bedford. Run by Ken Cox of EASC fame - there were several all nighters here.

link

Steve - was this the place which was a converted cinema or something? Went to several niters here, probably 1980-1981-ish, once going via London on the train, meeting up with Clarkie and co. at St. Pancras - I have a memory of Ian commandeering a supermarket trolley to get his record box from the station to the venue!

Hippo.

[Guest]

I remember a night in Farnborough, Hants ,at the Recreation Centre(?) not a clue which year as the event was back in my Vodka days

When Russ Winstanley came down from the North to play a set. Haven't a clue who else was spinning tunes.

I do remember that the 'speakers' weren't loud enough and all you could hear was the sound of shoes on the dance floor until some kind people went and bought back some 'louder' speakers.

I'm sure there were also a couple of nights at the same venue with 'live' acts, Junior Walker , K C and The Sunshine Band ?????

[Steve G]

Steve - was this the place which was a converted cinema or something? Went to several niters here, probably 1980-1981-ish, once going via London on the train, meeting up with Clarkie and co. at St. Pancras - I have a memory of Ian commandeering a supermarket trolley to get his record box from the station to the venue!

Hippo.

link

Yes it was, and there were loads of tables and chairs on a sloping vista and a bar at the back - it was just by the river and a fair walk through the town.....Ian Clark's antics with the supermarket trolley sound hilarious - wish we'd thought of that one at St Albans with Kim's 600 sales box

[Steve G]

Mentioning Clarky - also went to a Niter in Bournemouth, but this would probably be a bit later in 1980 or even 1981. It was in a club in Boscombe with palm trees etc - possibly a Mecca? Fairly full as well - think this was a South of England Soul Club do run by Nick?

Dave Thorley was Djing and it was round the time that Marva Hicks "Looking over my shoulder" was big for him, that's the only song I can remember from the night. I do remember travelling back on the train with Clarky etc. (but no supermarket trolleys this time) would have been when he lived in "Top Flat" in Wandsworth Road.... Another great big blank memory wise I am afraid.

[Jerry Hipkiss]

... would have been when he lived in "Top Flat" in Wandsworth Road.... Another great big blank memory wise I am afraid.

link

Ah, home of wonderful handwritten record lists in the days when even Amstrad was an unknown word!

Was Ian the only person ever to slip a Jam Polydor demo onto his list?

Jerry.

[Soulsmith]

"Egham - 1st April 1979 (?) allnighter - we went on the train, Kev Griffin was DJing along with Ian Clark. Good crowd and I vaguely recall discussing the merits or otherwise of a European copy of Lynne Randell "Caio baby" with one Col Smith. Also remember a long wait on the platform for a train in the morning.....Col can you fill in some gaps here. Seem to remember it was in a gym / basketball type set up, and there were several of them?"

I was partly responsible for the above. We actually made a load of money on the nite & blew it all the next week on records. Still have 2 of them - "Looking For You" & "I Go To Pieces"

The other parties involved in organising it were Paul Ellis - sadly no longer with us & Roland Payne - who had an attack of nerves on the nite & never showed up!

Ian Clarke was paid to do 2 spots. In my youthful exhuberance I paid him after his first spot and guess what........he cleared off home! Other matters of note were Pete Myles and I having a blazing row. I won't tell you what the row was about, but will tell you with the benefit of hindsight, he was right and I was wrong! Also, Jasmine moaning the lights were too bright & in an attempt to disconnect them, cutting off all power to the decks.

Great times

Col

[Soulsmith]

"CockneyMick W.O.F.T.A.M...."

We used to call him 'WAFFLING WOFTAM'.

No particular reason for this I think we were just immature.

No change there then

Col.

[Soulsmith]

"Several hours watching Saturday morning telly in someone's caravan (Steve Jeffries possibly?)"

Almost def. Steve Jeffries! Amazing character.

Regret to advise Steve died fairly recently after a long illness.

The illness was blood poisoning brought about from a dirty tattoo needle.

Tragedy had already struck in the familly when younger brother Gary died lates 70s on the way back from an all-niter.

Gary is remembered (by me) as the best dancer down south.

Col.

[Guest]

I have just read the start of this thread after a phone call from Chris Hill, who stumbled across this, and I feel I should put the record straight. The actual record Chris Hill was playing when he led everyone downstairs at at the Reading All-Dayer was not as suggested "Magic Fly" which Chris did not play, it was in fact "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" by Idris Muhammad. After the record was smashed I picked up all the pieces as a souvenir, later I mounted them in a frame like a (broken) gold disc along with a little plaque. I then gave the "award" to Chris which hung on his wall at his record shop in the Ilford High Road until the shop closed. It was quite a talking point and led to many sales of Could Heaven Ever be Like This. I had such funny memories of the incident that the track is the very first track on Caister Classics Volume 1 CD and is often used as the music-on-hold on the Caister HQ telephone system. It still gets played at caister from time to time and always reminds me of that fateful day at Reading. I hope that I have set the record straight once and for all.

Brian, Caister Weekenders

Edited April 24, 2005 by Caister HQ

[Guest]

Sorry to rain on your parade,lads but the disc that Chris Hill played at Reading was "Could heaven ever be like this?"-Idris Muhammad,which was snatched off the turntable and broken.The pieces were collected by a certain Brian Rix,who placed them in a frame and labelled it "REMIXED by a Northern DJ".He claims to still have it,and may one day put it on ebay. LOL

The punters weren't from the Goldmine,but the Lacy Lady.

I doubt if Hilly would have even had a copy of Space, but i guess anyone who hadn't ever heard Mr.Muhammad at the time may have found it a little alien .

[Soulsmith]

I have just read the start of this thread after a phone call from Chris Hill, who stumbled across this, and I feel I should put the record straight. The actual record Chris Hill was playing when he led everyone downstairs at at the Reading All-Dayer was not as suggested "Magic Fly" which Chris did not play, it was in fact "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" by Idris Muhammad.  After the record was smashed I picked up all the pieces as a souvenir, later I mounted them in a frame like a (broken) gold disc along with a little plaque.  I then gave the "award" to Chris which hung on his wall at his record shop in the Ilford High Road until the shop closed. It was quite a talking point and led to many sales of Could Heaven Ever be Like This. I had such funny memories of the incident that the track is the very first track on Caister Classics Volume 1 CD and is often used as the music-on-hold on the Caister HQ telephone system. It still gets played at caister from time to time and always reminds me of that fateful day at Reading.  I hope that I have set the record straight once and for all. 

Brian, Caister Weekenders

link

Brian, could you speak up a bit - try capital letters next time

Col

[Soulsmith]

I'm confused.........

But looking at it logically if "Could heaven ever be like this?" was being played upstairs, when he led the boys down, then he couldn't have played it downstairs when he arrived at the decks! It would have been on the decks upstairs.

With the passing of time and in a gerneral state of reconcilliation I am quite happy to concede now that "Could heaven ever be like this?" is in fact a top tune!

Col.

[Guest]

Soulsmith,No wonder you're confused,I think you have misunderstood Brians comments, nobody said it was played upstairs......it was the 12" that was played and smashed downstairs in the main room.....it exists in all its glory,still preserved in its broken state[on Kudu Import] somewhere in darkest Kent.(I don't think Magic Fly was released on 12",anyway. )and on ebay one day.

Its good to find that after 28 years you now consider "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" to be a good tune,pity you didn't think so when it first came out,the gig in Reading might have turned out a bit differently.Still it was 1977,and nobody on the northern scene at that time would have heard anything like it before.It was still 1966 in the North

The same story is told on https://web.ukonline.co.uk/soulies/jazz_fusion.htm

But yet again the record in question is wrong,this time quoted as Roy Ayers-"Running Away"....which probably would have been Hilly's next tune anyway!!

Perhaps the gentleman who smashed the record in the first place even has a copy now!

[Guest Johnny One Trout]

So you southern boyzzzzzzzzzzz never heard of Blackpool Mecca or the Ritz then? Apparently some of that thur Jazz Funk were played up thur as well like

really some people

[Guest]

Colin,maybe,just maybe,but Ian wouldn't have given a Kudu house room.He was too busy with his new york disco ducks. he he he he he .

[Guest Johnny One Trout]

Colin,maybe,just maybe,but Ian wouldn't have given a Kudu house room.He was too busy with his new york disco ducks. he he he he he .

link

Seriously are you trying to tell me that Idris Muhammad wasn't played as a pre-release at the Mecca? I know you southern softies like your foam but to let it turn your head to mush is just careless

[Steve G]

I have just read the start of this thread after a phone call from Chris Hill, who stumbled across this, and I feel I should put the record straight. The actual record Chris Hill was playing when he led everyone downstairs at at the Reading All-Dayer was not as suggested "Magic Fly" which Chris did not play, it was in fact "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" by Idris Muhammad.  Brian, Caister Weekenders

link

Brian I had that as a new release, and sorry but do not remember it being something that good that Chris played! Perhaps Tony Dellar followed it with Space then , but "Magic fly" def. featured somewhere in the melee.

[Guest]

Then why did Mick Webb grab it from the turntable and smash it screaming "we don't want this funky crap played here" ? in 1977? in Reading? And didn't know the difference between Idris Muhammed and some french disco rubbish?

I shall ask Levine later today,but i,d lay money that only Curtis would have had the hutzpah to spin it at Blackpool.

The important issue has been lost here,wasn't Hilly right to try and unite the two factions with a common love of soul music?

The gulf between the two was not so great(ignoring the pop rubbish played at Wigan) as proved when Curtis,Levine,Searling,Dewhirst and others moved with the times.

In October 1977,in Blues and Soul no.236,the late Dave Godin declared Northern Soul dead!(a little harsh,and perhaps a little premature-but Dave was often prone to excess) after his visit to the Lacy Lady,and stated that the Lacy was the nearest thing to a real soul club in Detroit or Brooklyn. The love was for AmericanBlackMusic,as Dave used to describe it. That music was constantly evolving,and here in the U.K. we kept evolving along with it.Thats what makes us unique.

As a final irony,Chris Hill sometimes plays a 60's soul session (he would not call it northern) at Caister these days,I wonder if Mick Webb, who smashed the 12" plays Idris Muhammed these days at Bisley?

[Guest]

That should have read Music of BlackAmerica.

[Soulsmith]

Jazzbo, you've made a number of good points and I'm in general agreement with a lot of them & don't want to argue just for the sake of it.

But, have to diasagree with the following - "The important issue has been lost here,wasn't Hilly right to try and unite the two factions with a common love of soul music?"

Although I don't remember the full details of the record I did spend some time upstairs in the Jazz Funk area immediately prior to the incident. Chris was on the mike & I do recall some of his rhetoric. He was pretty angrey that you guys were cramped in such a small environment, compared to downstairs where the northern was being played. I really don't think that he had any thoughts whatsoever about unifying the scene. It was a show of strength and a really stupid thing to do in such a charged environment.

Having said that we've all grown up now & I'm looking fwd to Caister.

Col

[Guest]

The threat of violence came from the downstairs punters[and djs].The " jazz funkers" responded with wit and humour,and returned to their smaller room with the addition of lots of downstairs punters who expressed their horror at the way the northern mob had behaved.The net result was from 500 the room exploded to 4000 at the next all dayer.Those of us were there have always considered it the turning point in U.K. soul scene.

Right,I'll get me coat.

bye bye all

[Guest glyn-w]

Steve - was this the place which was a converted cinema or something? Went to several niters here, probably 1980-1981-ish, once going via London on the train, meeting up with Clarkie and co. at St. Pancras - I have a memory of Ian commandeering a supermarket trolley to get his record box from the station to the venue!

Hippo.

link

Hi Mate. as far as i can remember the cinema in BEDFORD was the Plaza which was converted into a nightclub in the late 70s. But well before we had other venues for the soul ..there used to be All Nighters at the Addison centre, dont think there wasnt meny there though cos we had a run in whith some unsoulies, that involved the cops, and it shut for all nighters after that..Allso we had all nighters at a BLESOE farm, i think Glenn Bellemy helped run it, not the best venue in the world, unless you wanted to walz whith a pig..The other places in BEDFORD was was the Pilgrims pub, the rowing club, the Liberal club,. Im`e shure somebody will add some more.. not to far away we had the UNICORN at Leighton Be-buggerd, and Toney Dellers doo in Camebridge, and i think there was one in Stevanage. All whithin 30mins drive...All in all we had a big following for the soul in Bedford..

Glyn

[Steve G]

1) Then why did Mick Webb grab it from the turntable and smash it screaming "we don't want this funky crap played here"  ? in 1977? in Reading?  And didn't know the difference between Idris Muhammed and some french disco rubbish?

2) The gulf between the two was not so great(ignoring the pop rubbish played at Wigan) as proved when Curtis,Levine,Searling,Dewhirst and others moved with the times.

3) In October 1977,in Blues and Soul no.236,the late Dave Godin declared Northern Soul dead!(a little harsh,and perhaps a little premature-but Dave was often prone to excess) after his visit to the Lacy Lady,and stated that the Lacy was the nearest thing to a real soul club in Detroit or Brooklyn. The love was for AmericanBlackMusic,as Dave used to describe it. That music was constantly evolving,and here in the U.K. we kept evolving along with it.Thats what makes us  unique.

4) As a final irony,Chris Hill sometimes  plays a  60's soul session (he would not call it northern) at Caister these days,I wonder if Mick Webb, who smashed the 12" plays Idris Muhammed these days at  Bisley?     

link

If you are still around looking for your coat -

1) I didn't know Mick Webb from Adam at the time until this incident, but at that time he was firmly in the 60's northern mould, so probably would not be able to distinguish between the two. By the early 80's though he had expanded his horizons to include more modern things and quite likely did end up buying Idris Muhammed - ironic as that might sound 28 years later.

2) I think by Aug 77 the scenes had polarised somewhat - certainly there was a gulf between the Idris Muhammed quoted on here, some of the worst disco dross (Space - which was big at the time and cannot be airbrushed out now because it's a crap record) and some of the bad northern, which you've already eluded to. I think the scene in the north crossed over more, but in the south there was a much wider chasm by this point - not just in music, but fashion etc.

3) I remember that article, and still have it somewhere. Godin was gushing in his praise for the Lady and his desire not to have rasberry's blown at him from the crowd, but this article came shortly after Reading and referenced it, blaming the "northern" crowd, so I was somewhat sceptical of it at the time. I am one of the minority out there that didn't automatically hang on DG's every word, despite liking his column.

4) I know that, and have always held Chris and his contribution in the highest regard.

[jocko]

The love was for AmericanBlackMusic,as Dave used to describe it. That music was constantly evolving,and here in the U.K. we kept evolving along with it.Thats what makes us  unique.

     

link

Is that the same scene that embraced 50s swing music and has now evolved into playing the same 20 records (including Idris Muhammed) at every gig for the last 20 years, yes bits of that scene, including Chris Hill, was amazing at times but some of your claims are a little bit inflated no? Part of the Caister group by chance??

Everyone knows the Scottish jazz funk scene was the only unique scene or so my much older cousin tells me!!

Yours doubtingly

Jock!

[Guest]

Is that the same scene that embraced 50s swing music and has now evolved into playing the same 20 records (including Idris Muhammed) at every gig for the last 20 years, yes bits of that scene, including Chris Hill, was amazing at times but some of your claims are a little bit inflated no? Part of the Caister group by chance??

Everyone knows the Scottish jazz funk scene was the only unique scene  or so my much older cousin tells me!!

Yours doubtingly

Jock! 

link

[Guest]

Well,Jocko,its good to see the tradition of discovering Scottish comedians is still alive and well.We must inform the LITTLE BRITAIN crew of your existance,and your cousin.I can see them creating a whole new character around you.It could incorporate all those other scottish traits of drunken,mean,wife beating,fried mars bar eating,unemployed,skirt wearing,sectarian,bigoted,fighting, losers who crave independance but are incapable of cooking their own breakfast! and the character could look like Charles Kennedy and go round declaring "I'M THE ONLY JAZZ FUNKER IN THE VILLAGE", "I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE LACY LADY (YEAH, I KNOW), BUT I KNOW ITS SHITE","SCOTLAND IS THE EPICENTRE OF THE MUSIC WORLD" "WHATEVER, THE MUSIC OF THE 50s HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JAZZ"

Hey,Boy were on to something here,be ready for a call from the BBC,your future is assured,only trouble is you'll have to move down to London .Is that a problem,or are you there already?

[Soulsmith]

The threat of violence came from the downstairs punters[and djs].The " jazz funkers" responded with wit and humour,and returned to their smaller room with the addition of lots of downstairs punters who expressed their horror at the way the northern mob had behaved.The net result was from 500 the room exploded to 4000 at the next all dayer.Those of us were there have always considered it the turning point in U.K. soul scene.

Right,I'll get me coat.

bye bye all

link

Your coat is over there - next to your rose tinted specs

It probably was the turning point for your scene.

I also thought it was the turning point for mine.

How wrong was I?

Col.

[Soulsmith]

Jazzbo's quotes above got me thinking about how much better the northern scene is now that it has evolved. Today, depending which venue you choose of course northern embraces beat ballads, 6Ts, rare soul, crossover & modern. We've also ditched poppy northern & almost all instumentals.

Somehow I doubt if northern will ever except Jazz Funk though - 'cos it aint soulful......and it sucks.

I wonder how much the Jazz Funk scene has really moved on.

The anthem "One Nation Under a Groove" might now be "One Scene Stuck In A Groove"

I'm planning a little trip to Caister. A couple of my girl-friends have said that I won't like it as its a seedy pick-up joint frequented by lads who can't handle their drink. But I'm sure that can't be true........

Col.

[Mike]

a interesting thread which seems to be going down the old old road of my scene is better than your scene

someone out there rescue it....

[Soulsmith]

Personally i thought it was all good fun & one of the more interesting debates on soul-source.

I didn't agree with Jazzbos comments, but he made some good comments & as he appeared to enjoy a bit of a winding up, I thought I'd engage.

But, if you aren't happy with it, we'll move on............

Col.

[Steve G]

a interesting thread which seems to be going down the old old  road of my scene is better than your scene

someone out there rescue it....

link

Yep lets have some more memories of the late 70's - surely no one's memory can be as bad as mine?

[Soulsmith]

Doesn't really count as Home Counties, but had some brilliant nites at Centre City in Southampton.

It may have been named after the Fat Larrys record or maybe 'cos the club was round! Remember one nite the whole club singing along with Willie Tee - Walking Up A

One Way Street. My best mate at the time is now a total alcoholic. Funny how life turns out.

I'm only a practising drunk.

Also had some excellent nites at Shades Of Green in Camberley. A squalid little club that got its name 'cos the walls were .....err painted in shades of green. This was certainly one of the most influential clubs in the south. Regular 'members' now read like a whos who of soul in the south.

Hope that wasn't too controversial Mike.

Col

ps Anyone go to either dos at Wimbledon (Plough Lane - think) or OBJs in Hammersmith?

Also haven't mentioned any of Iain Stewarts dos in Weybridge.

[Mike]

Hope that wasn't too controversial Mike.

link

Hey controversial wasn't the issue

As said I thought that this thread was going down road of slagging off scenes

Yeah sure bit of a windup/crack is good laugh, but can almost guarantee that some old northern/caister head on reading this thread would feel obliged to join in with similar posts. Then before know it, end up with a couple of pages of slagging down.

Thats why comments posted

If got any issues about moderation on here, works better if pm site rather than do it online

[Soulsmith]

Fair comments.

I have no problem with moderation.

Col.

[jocko]

Well,Jocko,its good to see the tradition of discovering Scottish comedians is still alive and well.We must inform the LITTLE BRITAIN crew of your existance,and your cousin.I can see them creating a whole new character around you.It could incorporate all those other scottish traits of drunken,mean,wife beating,fried mars bar eating,unemployed,skirt wearing,sectarian,bigoted,fighting, losers who crave independance but are incapable of  cooking their own breakfast!  and the character could look like Charles Kennedy and go round declaring "I'M THE ONLY JAZZ FUNKER IN THE VILLAGE", "I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE LACY LADY (YEAH, I KNOW), BUT I KNOW ITS SHITE","SCOTLAND IS THE EPICENTRE OF THE MUSIC WORLD"  "WHATEVER, THE MUSIC OF THE 50s HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JAZZ"

Hey,Boy were on to something here,be ready for a call from the BBC,your future is assured,only trouble is you'll have to move down to London .Is that a problem,or are you there already?

link

Actually it was a jokey statement wrapped around 2 real questions that you seem to have ignored, was never a big fan of Scottish jazz funk scene, did more travelling myself including the Goldmine a couple of times, but was always more into the soul side than the jazz funk scene.

Hmm assume above was straight out of Micheal Howards campaign leaflet, too old to move to London now, all I ever see when I make one of my regular trips there are drunken Scotsman begging, right puts me off the place.

Cheers

Jock

[Eamesy]

Doesn't really count as Home Counties, but had some brilliant nites at Centre City in Southampton.

It may have been named after the Fat Larrys record or maybe 'cos the club was round! Remember one nite the whole club singing along with Willie Tee - Walking Up A

One Way Street. My best mate at the time is now a total alcoholic. Funny how life turns out.

I'm only a practising drunk.

Also had some excellent nites at Shades Of Green in Camberley. A squalid little club that got its name 'cos the walls were .....err painted in shades of green. This was certainly one of the most influential clubs in the south. Regular 'members' now read like a whos who of soul in the south.

Hope that wasn't too controversial Mike.

Col 

ps Anyone go to either dos at Wimbledon (Plough Lane - think) or OBJs in Hammersmith?

Also haven't mentioned any of Iain Stewarts dos in Weybridge.

link

[Eamesy]

link

Only just found this site - first item i read is all about that day at Reading top rank. Had almost forgotten about that incident- cockney mick-what a character-i well remember going from Shades one Friday night to Bisley in 70s. Mick seemed to be everywhere you went then & hes still about a fair bit now.

Some great nights mentioned before - The Center in Southampton, Plough Lane at Wimbledon etc. There were always good nights in Newbury area aswell - The Henwick on Sundays after Wigan, plus Jackos dos at Chieveley - Happy Days!!

[Guest remus]

I used to attend the top rank!, remember Mick Webb (cockney Mick) smashing Chris Hill's copy of Atomsphere 'dancing in outer space' in the JF room ' coz it wornt proper norvern mate!

[Guest remus]

Excellent, and now that you mention it I do recall the "record breaking". Although a number of us did wind him up a bit Mick is generally a "good egg" and his heart is in the right place- say Hi to him from me please next time you see him! 

link

Mick sold up about two years, got Infinity for £5, Timeless Legend for £15, Charles Johnson for £100,....He did smash that 12, I was there, he can smash all em for these prices, p.s. my girlfriend says grow up and come to bed!

[jonbuck]

Also haven't mentioned any of Iain Stewarts dos in Weybridge.

link

[Soulsmith]

I suppose Iain Stewart was the closest we had to a local impresario.

The Weybridge dos were generally small but well attended from what I can remember. Iain would sometimes organise a do at Weybridge with coach afterwards to Yate often stopping at places like Newbury en route.

Iain also often organised coaches to Wigan from Surrey. Unfortunately he often managed to pick a coach without a heater in the depths of winter. I can recall ice forming on the inside of the window one night.

Weybridge was followed by dos at The Old School House in Woking, which ran for quite a few years. Another bunch of lads also started doing northern nites around the same time at The Old School House, but ran them under the Soul Spin banner. I did a bit of DJing for the Soul Spin lads but got sacked after refusing to read out the results of the raffle during my spot.

Col

[Guest]

Jazzbo's quotes above got me thinking about how much better the northern scene is now that it has evolved. Today, depending which venue you choose of course northern embraces beat ballads, 6Ts, rare soul, crossover & modern. We've also ditched poppy northern & almost all instumentals.

Somehow I doubt if northern will ever except Jazz Funk though - 'cos it aint soulful......and it sucks.

I wonder how much the Jazz Funk scene has really moved on.

The anthem "One Nation Under a Groove" might  now be "One Scene Stuck In A Groove"

I'm planning a little trip to Caister. A couple of my girl-friends have said that I won't like it as its a seedy pick-up joint frequented by lads who can't handle their drink. But I'm sure that can't be true........

Col.

link

Well Col was it?

[Soulsmith]

Well of course I never went

Col.

[Guest]

Doesn't really count as Home Counties, but had some brilliant nites at Centre City in Southampton.

It may have been named after the Fat Larrys record or maybe 'cos the club was round! Remember one nite the whole club singing along with Willie Tee - Walking Up A

One Way Street. My best mate at the time is now a total alcoholic. Funny how life turns out.

I'm only a practising drunk.

Also had some excellent nites at Shades Of Green in Camberley. A squalid little club that got its name 'cos the walls were .....err painted in shades of green. This was certainly one of the most influential clubs in the south. Regular 'members' now read like a whos who of soul in the south.

Hope that wasn't too controversial Mike.

Col 

ps Anyone go to either dos at Wimbledon (Plough Lane - think) or OBJs in Hammersmith?

Also haven't mentioned any of Iain Stewarts dos in Weybridge.

link

What I do find quite amazing are some of the comments on here having a go at the other. For me, the chance of hearing Jazz Funk, northern and Modern in the same room would be excellent and a step forward

I come from inner London, and the late seventies were the time when we started finding the clubs/music etc. We never went into the "sticks" because we could never get home, the furthest was Cheeky Pete's in Richmond. Mainly, it was the West End, Clubs like the Sundown, Crackers, Beat Route, Whisky Go Go and a few other clubs, whose names escape me at the moment. Jazz Funk/Disco was the staple music for these clubs, and they were great.

But this continual "rant" between northern and Jazz funk is unreal, both scenes were, and still are great, but like wine, they had different flavours of sophistication. To the uninitiated on this thread, great Jazz Funk is still being produced, just have a listen to Incognito's latest LP, not sure about sixties Northern, but saying that, I do like the Lord Large single on Acid Jazz at the moment, as near as sixties I have heard for about 30 years !!

Anyway, OBJ's - that rings a bell, where in Hammersmith was it ? Wimbledon Plough Lane, dam good night that, didn't it used to be called Nelsons ?

After getting a car at the start of 1980, we went into deepest suburbia, Frenchies in Camberley, and another one in the precinct there, Flicks in Dartford, Slough all-nighters etc, those were the days.