Northern Nights In The Home Counties

[Soulsmith]

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.

link

Rant?........Sorry if you saw it that way. Sorry if you didn't like what you read.

I saw it as an entertaining exchange of views. Although, its fair to say that not everybody did. It was also a good opportunity (the first time ever in print as far as I'm aware) to get a northern soul perspective on Reading.

You mentioned "the chance of hearing Jazz Funk, northern and Modern" Every 3 months or so I'm involved with a nite up in Chalfont St Peter that does exactly that. I play some northern, Bomber plays Jazz-Funk & Stuart does a bit of both. And do you know what?........we all have a good laugh, no arguments!

I also have fond memories of Frenchies......but please don't tell any one

Yes OBJs was Hammersmith, absolutely storming nites.

Ever do Sunday lunch times at the Belvedere near Ascot?

We've obviously bumped into each other in the past.....may do so in the future?

Best regards

Col

ps my brother & mates are just back from Caister - they enjoyed it!

[Soulsmith]

TOTP

[Guest]

Rant?........Sorry if you saw it that way. Sorry if you didn't like what you read.

I saw it as an entertaining exchange of views. Although, its fair to say that not everybody did. It was also a good opportunity (the first time ever in print as far as I'm aware) to get a northern soul perspective on Reading.

You mentioned "the chance of hearing Jazz Funk, northern and Modern" Every 3 months or so I'm involved with a nite up in Chalfont St Peter that does exactly that. I play some northern, Bomber plays Jazz-Funk & Stuart does a bit of both. And do you know what?........we all have a good laugh, no arguments!

I also have fond memories of Frenchies......but please don't tell any one

Yes OBJs was Hammersmith, absolutely storming nites.

Ever do Sunday lunch times at the Belvedere near Ascot?

We've obviously bumped into each other in the past.....may do so in the future?

Best regards

Col

ps my brother & mates are just back from Caister - they enjoyed it!

link

Sorry SS, but the "ranting bit", was not aimed at you in particular, it was more a generalisation of the madness surrounding this "Jazz/funk V Northern" issue. Most of which, you can see the undertones of, not only on this thread, but across the scene in general.

I know Stuart well, I not been able to get down that club yet, but hope to soon, any club that mixes up the music like that deserves support.

As for the Belvedere..........now your talking, what a way to spend a Sunday afternoon. That said, Pantials was another, not only the music but stacks of crumpet

JC

[Soulsmith]

Cheers for reply JC, will add a bit more next week.

Just found pic of prime suspect from Reading all-dayer fracas

in gallery section on s/s

Col

[Guest]

not only the music but stacks of  crumpet

JC

link

[Steve G]

D'Arcy told me that the St ALbans all nighter was at the Pioneer Club which is still there. So that's another piece of the jigsaw found

[Guest]

I did comment on the Reading All Dayers on another thread, not sure but think this one was on the same day that Charlton beat Chelsea 4-1 & the Chelsea boys ran riot & tried to burn the stand down, was never sure whether The Valley or Reading would of been more fun !! Probably safer at Reading

Egham ? Yes Steve late March or early April sounds about right, my ex was pregnant with my daughter & very large ;-), bizarre memory, Ian Clarke gave her a whistle just in case she was about to drop !! Think we all got back to Clapham Junction early morning for breakfast before heading off in various directions. Few weeks later I found a Frank Dell you broke my heart etc. + Billy Butler Right Track LP in Lavender Hill for pennies.

The Bournemouth all nighter was 28/11/1981 & we went together on the train, bloody long walk as I remember at the other end. Only reason I can be so accurate is I’ve got half a tape with the date on.

Big club & fairly empty from memory but yes a palm tree kind of affair. Tape is mainly of Ian Clarke & a few of possibly Ady Pountain, little atmosphere think only clapping was on Rufus Lumley Stronger than me. Great set from Clarky, woulda been great today let alone 23/4 years ago. Where are ya Ian?

Best wishes if you read this.

BOURNEMOUTH NITER 28/11/81 Not all tracks complete, some I can’t identify

ADY POUNTAIN???? (I think)

CHRISTY ALLEN WALK TALL

VELVET HAMMER HAPPY

7TH AVENUE AVIATERS YOU SHOULDA HELD ON

4 TRACKS LIKE MY LOVE FOR YOU

HOKIS POKIS Can’t remember title

BROTHERS ARE YOU READY FOR THIS

SWEETHEARTS BEAUTY IS JUST SKIN DEEP

MAURICE WILLIAMS BEING WITHOUT YOU

IDLE FEW PEOPLE THATS WHY

L.ALLEN CAN’T WE TALK IT OVER

BOBBY KLINE SAY SOMETHING NICE

ERIC MERCURY TAKE ME GIRL I’M READY

MAJESTICS I LOVE HER SO MUCH

IAN CLARKE

JOANNE COURCEY I GOT THE POWER

FRANKIE BEVERLEY BECAUSE OF MY HEART

PROFESSIONALS THATS WHY I LOVE YOU

JOHHNY GUITAR WATSON AIN’T GONNA MOVE

RUFUS LUMLEY STRONGER THAN ME

IMAGINATIONS STRANGE NEIGHBORHOOD

SWEET BROKEN HEART ATTACK

ROY DAWSON OVER THE TOP

SHAMETTES DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME

ASCOTS ANOTHER DAY

7TH AVENUE AVIATERS YOU SHOULDA HELD ON

HESITATIONS I’M NOT BUILT THAT WAY

COBBLESTONE TRICK ME TREAT ME

MORRIS CHESTNUT TOO DARN SOULFUL

JUST BROTHERS CARLENA

ADAMS APPLES DON’T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD

EVER AGAIN Not sure which version

WILLIAMS & WATSON QUITTER NEVER WINS

BOB BRADY MORE MORE MORE OF YOUR LOVE

VALENTINOS SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE

BOBBY KLINE SAY SOMETHING NICE

LARRY HOUSTON LETS SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER

END OF IAN

Unknown DJ

COLORED MAN

I’M COMING HOME IN THE MORNING INSTR.

Long walk back to Station, quite a few from London Randy & Ralph Dove amongst others who came by car. Ian certainly on train probably Tony Ellisas well, can’t remember who else!

OBJs was 1974, run by Terry Davis back of a pub in Hammersmith, The Kings Head I think, 50p in & certainly for me a collection of sounds that really opened my eyes /ears. Slowies, Mid Tempo, Northern, absolutely fantastic nights &

the forerunner of 6ts really. Lasted less than a year I think? But certainly a who’s who of the London Scene, Randy, Ady, Clarky, Tony Rounce, Tony Ellis, Barry Quinnell to name a few. Tiny sweaty room, finished all too soon at 11pm !! Great days tho’ !!

Wimbledon was Nelsons on a Thursday (I think) & definately on a Sunday, run by Mike Ritson & ??? possibly Tony Ellis ?

If I remember correctly not 100% soul, the odd pop hit thing slipping in, don’t think it lasted too long. Funnily enough was talking about Nelsons to Mike @ Stafford reunion.

Only got to Weybridge the once & that was to pick up the coach to Yate, can’t remember anything about the evening do, but do remember going to the pub down the road so possibly no beer @ the Northern do & having a “friendly discussion” with the locals who seemed to take exception to the fact

that we were from London (Kent actually but never mind!!) & beat ‘em at pool ;-)

Is Ian still with Jasmine? Remember they drove up & took us to Yate once & the next morning about 6 car loads went on to Weston Super Mare for the day, I couldnt work out why nobody was tired but me LOL Yes I was naive in them days!!!!!

[Soulsmith]

Great post Dave, will add to it later....

Dave G, Steve G - separated at birth, soon to re-united.....?

Col

[Steve G]

The Bournemouth all nighter was 28/11/1981 & we went together on the train, bloody long walk as I remember at the other end.

link

And so you did - completely forgotten that

I do remember a tortuous train journey back via Sailsbury and Andover because of "engineering works" and wondering will we ever get back to London town.....

[Steve G]

Great post Dave, will add to it later....

Dave G, Steve G - separated at birth, soon to re-united.....?

Col

link

You wait til we get onto our trip to "Clifton Hall" in Randy's van - now that was an adventure....

[Guest]

Great post Dave, will add to it later....

Dave G, Steve G - separated at birth, soon to re-united.....?

Col

link

Cheers Col

soon to be re-united.....? Come 5pm on Sunday I hope we're seperated again

Have you got your ticket Steve ?

[Steve G]

Cheers Col

soon to be re-united.....?  Come 5pm on Sunday I hope we're seperated again   

Have you got your ticket Steve ?

link

Dave I couldn't bear to watch "Clowntown Pathetic" holding us to a drab 0-0 draw and then celebrating our relegation. The footie season ended as far as I am concerned with Southampton's injury time equaliser last Saturday. I went home resigned to the fact that next year it would be Wolves, Leicester, Leeds, Sheff Utd, Scumwall

[Guest]

Dave I couldn't bear to watch "Clowntown Pathetic"  holding us to a drab 0-0 draw and then celebrating our relegation. The footie season ended as far as I am concerned with Southampton's injury time equaliser last Saturday. I went home resigned to the fact that next year it would be Wolves, Leicester, Leeds, Sheff Utd, Scumwall 

link

Actually mate I'm sure the sainsbury sparrows will turn us over. Our season finished in feb/march when premiership footie was guaranteed for another year.

Will AJ have his diving gear with him

[veggie]

anyone remember the dive bar in the red heart or red lion [cant remember].back in 72/73.my first encounter with northern soul, dj line up of dave kilworth billy mac, and a young mick smith.playing the likes landslide and lynn randell.

[Steve G]

Cheers Col

soon to be re-united.....?  Come 5pm on Sunday I hope we're seperated again   

Have you got your ticket Steve ?

link

[Guest toby]

Hi Veggie Paul.. the venue you are on about in Hitchin town center,was a pub called the Crown & Lion on the main road,it had a beer cellar downstairs called the dive bar,now the pub is no longer there it is a Laura Ashley shop(shame).The DJ s were Mick Smith , Dave Killworth.sometimes Billy Mac plus a few odd people doing a spot or 2..This is where i 1st met Northern Soul,after we moved from London to the sticks etc.When that ended at night we used to go to the outlook club (now a Hip Hop place)to listen to Bob Callen from radio 1.a long time ago and some good memories,and still keep friends with Taffy Mick Smith etc.If i remember you were a little lad then,it was your sister Anne who was the real soulie in your road.Keep on Keeping on Paul.

[Guest]

D'Arcy told me that the St ALbans all nighter was at the Pioneer Club which is still there. So that's another piece of the jigsaw found 

link

But did he tell you about the Norfolk Village reunion?

[jonbuck]

Hi Veggie Paul.. the venue you are on about in Hitchin town center,was a pub called the Crown & Lion.....

Talking of which....What Happened to YAN..........

Jon Buck

[Guest]

Is that the pub Bills son owns?

[Guest toby]

Is that the pub Bills son owns?

link

Hi Janine no its not the pub Billy Macs son runs ,his is called the Sunrunner Bar,but ive never been in it.

[Steve G]

But did he tell you about the Norfolk Village reunion?

link

Oh yes - email from him thanks.....

[Soulsmith]

Sorry SS, but the "ranting bit", was not aimed at you in particular, it was more a generalisation of the madness surrounding this "Jazz/funk V Northern" issue. Most of which, you can see the undertones of, not only on this thread, but across the scene in general.

I know Stuart well, I not been able to get down that club yet, but hope to soon, any club that mixes up the music like that deserves support.

As for the Belvedere..........now your talking, what a way to spend a Sunday afternoon. That said, Pantials was another, not only the music but stacks of  crumpet

JC

link

Sorry for delay with reply. Belvedere was one of a kind. Actually jam packed on a sunday lunch time - 250/300 people?. Chris Brown was resident DJ and almost totally Jazz Funk. What the hell was I doing there! Having a good time!!.....I loved it.

Due to its location between Ascot & Sunningdale it became a victim of of its own success. The locals, some of the wealthiest & most well connected, couldn't understand it and objected to it on that basis - IMO. The writing was on the wall when the police set up road blocks - stop & search etc. Met a guy at Prestatyn this year who went straight from the Goldmine & parked up in the car park at the Belvedere, waiting for it to open.

Didn't do Pantiles, but did do Frenchies - both in Camberley. Pantiles seemed for an older set, Frenchies was Chris Brown.

Col.

[Guest Andy Kempster]

Hi Janine no its not the pub Billy Macs son runs ,his is called the Sunrunner Bar,but ive never been in it.

link

don't forget billy mac is playing at the next soul@hitchinfc on june 3rd and will hopefully be resident from now on

andy kempster

[Guest]

Hope to make it up for that one too, it's my son's birthday that day but we are celebrating it a week early so should be ok

[Guest Andy Kempster]

Hope to make it up for that one too, it's my son's birthday that day but we are celebrating it a week early so should be ok

link

look forward to seeing you there

[Ady Potts]

Hope to make it up for that one too, it's my son's birthday that day but we are celebrating it a week early so should be ok

link

Why don't you bring him with you Janine? How old is he?

[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 ?????

That was the Burlesque, they had a regular monthly night up to about 75. Good night although the venue was a bit small.

Another good venue was Bisley Pavilion, run by Kojak for a while, then by another crowd. Think it stopped some time in 77.

Steve Jeffries, good lad although he wasn't really into the northern scene as such. Still, he'll be missed on the scooter scene.

Gary Jeffries would probably like to have been told he was the best dancer in the south, unfortunately for him, he wasn't. If I remember correctly, SB died with him on the way back from Wigan. Regulars at Yate will remember this character as one of the main purveyors of strange substances at the venue.

It was a trebble tragedy I guess if you count his brother getting banged up for pushing drugs at about the same time.

[Guest Baz]

Blimey old thread

I'll move this into All our yesterday might give it a bit of exposure, if you fancy carrying on the topic

[Soulsmith]

That was the Burlesque, they had a regular monthly night up to about 75. Good night although the venue was a bit small.

Another good venue was Bisley Pavilion, run by Kojak for a while, then by another crowd. Think it stopped some time in 77.

Steve Jeffries, good lad although he wasn't really into the northern scene as such. Still, he'll be missed on the scooter scene.

Gary Jeffries would probably like to have been told he was the best dancer in the south, unfortunately for him, he wasn't. If I remember correctly, SB died with him on the way back from Wigan. Regulars at Yate will remember this character as one of the main purveyors of strange substances at the venue.

It was a trebble tragedy I guess if you count his brother getting banged up for pushing drugs at about the same time.

Steve Jeffries was well into the northern scene when I knew him.

I have no idea if Gary Jeffries was the best dancer in the south, but he was a brilliant dancer.

[Eamesy]

Steve Jeffries was well into the northern scene when I knew him.

I have no idea if Gary Jeffries was the best dancer in the south, but he was a brilliant dancer.

Agreed Col, Steve well into the scene, late 70s, after Gary died really. Gary got killed in a car, driven by his other brother Mark, after Whitchurch all dayer, in the same car as Boco from Aldershot - RIP mate. Well remember a sad but soulful weekend, 2 funerals packed with soulies.

Al

Edited January 5, 2007 by eamesy

[Guest Billy Anorak]

Went to a do at The Old School(?) in Woking once in the late eighties.........it was crap!

[Paulmc]

Hi

I just started work in Camberley anybody advise me where the northern/modern/crossover nights are?

I'm from Barrow-in-Furness cumbria

Cheers Paul

[Eamesy]

Hi

I just started work in Camberley anybody advise me where the northern/modern/crossover nights are?

I'm from Barrow-in-Furness cumbria

Cheers Paul

Paul,

Soul night tonight at THE BLUES BAR, ALDERSHOT. Right in town centre, if interested & need directions pm me or phone 07789 352454. Music across the board, should be a few Soul Sourcers there.

Cheers, Alan

[Guest]

Not exactly a northern night but did anyone ever attend the CALIFORNIA BALLROOMS at Dunstable, I hail from West London, did all the normal Slough soul nights, pantiles, belvadere ascot, up west clubbing, but occassionly would go to the CALI .

Often when the live acts were on.

Theres also been a book released on the venue which has many photos mainly of the acts that preformed there.

Its called THE CALI ALBUM.....some great photos not a lot to read though.

Its claims to be Britains best live Soul venue of the 60,S AND 70,s , having a tremendous amount of live acts playing from the States.

The book documents the lot its VERY impressive, and certainly would give The Wheel, The Mecca, The Torch, The Casino a run for its money on live acts.

Heres a sample of what was on offer.

stevie wonder

juniour walker

Sly and the family stone

julie driscoll

edwin starr

ben e king

jimmy ruffin

johnny johnstone

chicken shack

desmond dekker

clem curtiss

jimmy james and vagabonds

the equals

tammi lynn

the tams

william bell

mac and katie kissoon

al green

eddie floyd

doris troy

drifters

chairman of the board

martha reeves and vandellas

detroit emarlds

3 degrees

kc sunshine band

4 tops

stylistics

WAR

temptations

commadoors

fatback

ohio players

the list goes on and one....... discuss

[Ady Potts]

Thing I remember about the Cali was those bloody mirrors, they were everywhere. Looked like a massive shed on the outside, but inside it was real flash for it's time. Had some good times there. Nearly totalled my morris 1000 pick up on a frozen winters night on that hill.

I drove past there some years back & it was gone, built on the plot. Shame

[Guest sigher the gutter snype]

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.

not too sure about in the 70's but when i was breaking and being a hip hop man in the early 1980's this was called

THE PIONEER CLUB as was situated at the back of fire station

had a stage at the end and a balcony at the other?...very nice tuck shop too !!!...well i was still in my early teens

[frankc]

The Cali was an excellent venue, one night that springs to mind was the Three Deg, Billy Paul and Chairman of the Board (I think) .......the greatest venue down south for live soul music excellent.......plus i'm sure The Drifters were actually living there at one stage, they were on every other week, they must have been!!

[Guest]

The Cali was an excellent venue, one night that springs to mind was the Three Deg, Billy Paul and Chairman of the Board (I think) .......the greatest venue down south for live soul music excellent.......plus i'm sure The Drifters were actually living there at one stage, they were on every other week, they must have been!!

We used to get coaches from Slough to the Cali, mainly if there was a funk act on or Christmas time.

I know I got to see THE OHIO PLAYERS there, FATBACK BAND and K.C. and The BLACKBYRDS.

Around 74 -76 ish.

Theres some brilliant photos in the book on the interior, did you know they even had a swimming pool out the back.....

The place looks like something right outta 60,s america.

I also driven through Dunstable tracing the place, and your right its flattened to the ground.

I recall one time we went there was a big punch up with the Luton boys....oh they were the days.

Fantastic venue.......I may have some old tickets somewhere I,ll dig em out and post em up.

Oh and very under estimated in SOUL FOLKLAW.

THE CALI WE SALUTE YOU.

[Ady Potts]

Theres some brilliant photos in the book on the interior, did you know they even had a swimming pool out the back.....

Yeh, we thought we'd go for a late night skinny dip in there once only to find it had been emptied & made into a skateboard park ! Good job we didn't just dive in.

[Guest vinylvixen]

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.

Jerry, I was tagging along behind Clarkie and the supermarket trolley - just incase it wobbled out of control and I had to rescue the records It was a brilliant night and SOMEWHERE I have photos When I learn how to use a scanner, I will post them....Jo

[Guest vinylvixen]

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?

Bleedin' hell, Steve....St Easthwythes Hall. Now that was a long time ago...I don't think I've got photos for the church hall or the School of Dancing (great venue) but I've certainly got snaps of all the other places. I ran a couple of do's at Roots Hotel, Ramsgate (as one offs) - Jon Buck dj'd there. I was also running Dukes in Margate. That was the L shaped bar that we did every week for quite a while (I think)...the memory fails me now. While all this was going on, I was djing every week up in Strood at Bogarts with Keith Rylatt. The Broadstairs Pavillion do was good We had people turn up from Scunthorpe, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Dover, Brighton, Oxford, Norwich...and then the MARGATE SCOUT HUT...ahhh - happy days Always packed - I used to do my karate lessons there straight after the dog training sessions -

Do you remember a do in Southend that Cockney Mike ran with a guy who moved to Ireland? And then Gary Todds do's in Southampton - Soul Shoes - still running today, I believe (where I dislocated my knee on the dancefloor - grrrr - I hate talc ) And the Thatched Cottage in Guildford. I dj'd there once and it kicked off....grabbed record box and legged it And I also went to one of young Bicknell's nights in Reading. Must go and find the photos Jo

[Guest vinylvixen]

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!

Good grief....Idris and Roy...I was working in K-Twos in Chatham selling all the jazz funk stuff on import and then legging it up to Wigan whenever I could. So, I was lucky enough to enjoy both genre of music. My main 'jazz' venues were The Central in Gillingham and The Tudor House in Maidstone - saw Robbie Vincent there and on the same night, a couple of girls turned up dressed in bin liners. I remember someone playing Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene but beyond that, it's all a bit vague. But the place to go was the 'Goodies'...aka the Good Companions club in Rocheser. Malc and Jack Panting used to submit their playlist to Blues and Soul for every edition and then they'd dj at the club. We'd stock their selections down the shop and hey presto - it was a great way to meet fellow Jazzers. Jo

Edited February 14, 2007 by vinylvixen

[Guest vinylvixen]

Flicks in Dartford

Blimey...I used to supply the dj with his soul tunes He was a tall bloke who looked like Borat...but it was a very good night if I remember. I was djing at the Avenue in Gillingham with Paul French round about the same time. The fashions were very shoulder pads and pineapple hairdos...and the scrunched ankle boots for girls. The sounds were Jenny Burton, SOS Band, Whatnauts, Tramaine etc...Jo

[Jerry Hipkiss]

Jerry, I was tagging along behind Clarkie and the supermarket trolley - just incase it wobbled out of control and I had to rescue the records It was a brilliant night and SOMEWHERE I have photos When I learn how to use a scanner, I will post them....Jo

Wow, I'd love to see them Jo!

[Guest vinylvixen]

St Albans Fire Station. 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.

I seem to remember going somewhere that had breeze block walls (I've got pics of Steve G and the Tonbridge posse posing against said walls) - maybe this could be the venue...and we had to catch the train from either Euston or Kings X...all a long time ago

And Kim Styles and his bloody sales box you should've clubbed together and got him a set of wheels

Jo

[Dave Rimmer]

I seem to remember going somewhere that had breeze block walls (I've got pics of Steve G and the Tonbridge posse posing against said walls) - maybe this could be the venue...and we had to catch the train from either Euston or Kings X...all a long time ago

And Kim Styles and his bloody sales box you should've clubbed together and got him a set of wheels

Jo

Got to say, as a 'norvernner' I found this thread both interesting and funny, especially as I now know quite a lot of the people who have posted.

[Guest vinylvixen]

Got to say, as a 'norvernner' I found this thread both interesting and funny, especially as I now know quite a lot of the people who have posted.

Dave, it's certainly made the old grey matter work....I've also remembered a night in Portsmouth at the Lido run by John and Becky. It was a brilliant venue - can anyone put a surname to John - he used to do up scooters and was 'well handy'

Alan H mentioned the King's Hall in Herne Bay and he remembers djing down there around '84-'85. And there was also the Charing Country Club near Canterbury circa '81-'82 - I've still got my playlist from then. I'll dig it out. Jo

[Simon M]

I went to a lot of Kev and Kims doo's ..However I never released it was so long ago ..Where are they now ?

[Guest vinylvixen]

I went to a lot of Kev and Kims doo's ..However I never released it was so long ago ..Where are they now ?

Kim's still in Tonbridge and goes to Bisley and Cleethorpes...not sure about Kev. Another night that I used to run was in the function room at the back of the Eagle in Ramsgate. Kim dj'd there as well....

Re: the Cali Ballroom - did anyone see Brass Construction there? I think they came over in the same 'batch' as Heatwave/ Ohio Players/ Harold Melvin & Bluenotes/ Billy Paul. I used to go and see the soul groups at Chatham Central Hall - not a bad little venue. I saw General Johnson at the Pembroke Club in Chatham as well - lovely man. If my memory lurches any further back, I'll post Jo

[Simon M]

Does Kim , still wear braces ,and do high kicks