Northern Soul Snob's

[Steve G]

I love this guy!... what a great outlook.. one cool dude(J.B that is... )

Yes very cool, I remember thinking that when I first saw the interview.

We should also remember that for every ten decent guys/gals who made a record there are a few 'nasties' out there in soulville. Hustlers who want x$ for having a photo taken with them, who are just on the milk and honey treadmill. Think some soul fans are incredible naive and wear the rose tinted glasses when it comes to the 'ins and outs' of the music biz. It certainly wasn't the case that all singers are poor and were ripped off, far from it. Many were paid for the session, and forsake any future rights to royalties etc. Here's $50 for two hours and four tracks, thanks and goodbye.

One of the great things about the scene though is finding a genuine guy - like the late Cal Thomas of the TSU Toronadoes. Genuinly appreciated that people liked his groups music, but wasn't phased about it, didn't want paying for an interview, happy to donate a copy of one of his records "Please heart don't break" for a competition - a cool guy.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Steve G

[Guest]

God is this still running

[Steve G]

God is this still running

Yeah but we've rolled the debate on from 'chavs' v 'snobs' now.....

[Guest familytree]

Yes very cool, I remember thinking that when I first saw the interview.

We should also remember that for every ten decent guys/gals who made a record there are a few 'nasties' out there in soulville. Hustlers who want x$ for having a photo taken with them, who are just on the milk and honey treadmill. Think some soul fans are incredible naive and wear the rose tinted glasses when it comes to the 'ins and outs' of the music biz. It certainly wasn't the case that all singers are poor and were ripped off, far from it. Many were paid for the session, and forsake any future rights to royalties etc. Here's $50 for two hours and four tracks, thanks and goodbye.

One of the great things about the scene though is finding a genuine guy - like the late Cal Thomas of the TSU Toronadoes. Genuinly appreciated that people liked his groups music, but wasn't phased about it, didn't want paying for an interview, happy to donate a copy of one of his records "Please heart don't break" for a competition - a cool guy.

these guys are 'soul singers' in the purest sense... its not all about the song or the singer but the attitude your right... bit like 'soul fans' you either have it or you dont!

[barney]

why is it that when reading the posts on events lookbacks and there are two rooms a classic/ oldies main room and a rare/modern room

a lot of people will praise the event with an aside that they didnt care for the main room usually the classic /oldies room and spent most of their time in the other room?

is it no longer cool to do the main room?

[Guest familytree]

why is it that when reading the posts on events lookbacks and there are two rooms a classic/ oldies main room and a rare/modern room

a lot of people will praise the event with an aside that they didnt care for the main room usually the classic /oldies room and spent most of their time in the other room?

is it no longer cool to do the main room?

its cool to me... i hate some of these modern rooms.. all singalong tunes and swaying side to side... the beat fitting the pace of the average age i guess but a stormin oldies room for me any day!... and before the anslaught i did say i hate SOME of these modern rooms x (the ones were they sway side to side or shuffle dance on a carpet, each to their own eh)

[Guest Byrney]

why is it that when reading the posts on events lookbacks and there are two rooms a classic/ oldies main room and a rare/modern room

a lot of people will praise the event with an aside that they didnt care for the main room usually the classic /oldies room and spent most of their time in the other room?

is it no longer cool to do the main room?

Don't think it's a matter of 'cool' or not. Its some punters preference, I guess those who've been around a few years or are nighter regulars want more from a night then the same 100 or so records week in week out. Isn't that what most oldies rooms (note - not all) offer?

[barney]

well why the aside about didnt do the main room bit from a number of peeps in events lookback

snobbery or wot ?

[Russ Vickers]

well why the aside about didnt do the main room bit from a number of peeps in events lookback

snobbery or wot ?

Does the same go for the the punters who didnt go in the better. oops sorry 'other' room & stayed in the main room ( ).

Horses for courses.

Russ

[TOAD]

THE OLDIES ROOM

I RARELY(pun) HEAR ANYTHING PLAYED FROM WHEN I STARTED GOING TO NIGHTERS IN A MAIN ROOM, MOST RECORDS ARE JUST THE "CLASSICS" SO AVOID OLDIES NIGHTS, BESIDES THERES SO MUCH BRILLIANT MUSIC OUT THERE TO HEAR

[Guest Byrney]

well why the aside about didnt do the main room bit from a number of peeps in events lookback

snobbery or wot ?

Why would it be snobbery if they say they didn't do the main room - its a choice and an opinion. If I went to a do and the main room was the nostalgia top 100 and the other, as they say was rare soul (IMO Northern Soul) I'd do the same. I've done a few nighters over the years and don't want to hear the same old tunes for the rest of my life. Probebly makes me a snob - I'll suppose I'll have to forge ahead with life, oh the stigma

[Steve G]

Why would it be snobbery if they say they didn't do the main room - its a choice and an opinion. If I went to a do and the main room was the nostalgia top 100 and the other, as they say was rare soul (IMO Northern Soul) I'd do the same. I've done a few nighters over the years and don't want to hear the same old tunes for the rest of my life. Probebly makes me a snob - I'll suppose I'll have to forge ahead with life, oh the stigma

You are not getting it Bryney

SNOB = Same Northern Oldies B*ll*cks. Petrhaps we're not the snobs after all

[Guest SteveJohnston]

You are not getting it Bryney

SNOB = Same Northern Oldies B*ll*cks. Petrhaps we're not the snobs after all

.................And there was me thinking it was Some Northern Old Boy

[barney]

dont matter to me as to which room people choose to spend their time ,my point is why do some people have to say they didnt do the main room .

I go to many events and very rarely go in the modern/rare /underplayed room but if I post a comment on here about a venue ,it wouldnt enter my head to say I didnt go in the alternative room ; this may seem like nitpicking ,each to their own is what I believe, as have said on here before,but it seems its no longer cool to do the main room IMHO and those that do are the great unwashed

[spirit]

dont matter to me as to which room people choose to spend their time ,my point is why do some people have to say they didnt do the main room .

I go to many events and very rarely go in the modern/rare /underplayed room but if I post a comment on here about a venue ,it wouldnt enter my head to say I didnt go in the alternative room ;  

You've just said you don't! 

People might note their absence from one room or the other for any of a number of reasons, eg.

• To appear cool to people who's opinion they worry about. Insecurity.
  
• To imply disapproval of the room they didn't visit or didn't stay in long, without being too critical. Diplomacy.
  
• 
  
• To make it clear that their lookback/review isn't comprehensive because of a notable omission, or musical bias, so should be taken with caution by anybody who might be influenced. Good manners.
  

So, apart from being cynical, your claim that this is behaviour only associated with people who aren't keen on oldies rooms is just plain wrong - I've read plenty of lookback posts implying modern/r&b/underplayed rooms are not to be ventured into for being unlistenable/undanceable/unpopular/pretentious/etc.

Snobbery (ie. judgemental blinkeredness) works both ways.

Edited April 9, 2009 by spirit

[Guest baronsofsoul]

these guys are 'soul singers' in the purest sense... its not all about the song or the singer but the attitude your right... bit like 'soul fans' you either have it or you dont!

just read the whole thread am 42 and became single couple of years ago tried the town center scene for one weekend picked up flyer in some pub that was playing motown.went to my first soul venue the next weekend not missed one since.i would just like to say to every single one of you thankyou 10 pages speaks volumes your passion and sure grit and determination over the years has enabled me to find somewhere i call home i live for the weekend.there is a crisp sweet vocal that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end there is a lyric that makes the heart skip a beat and a rhythem that when i'm dancing makes me actually feel like i'm floating an inch off the floor i'm sure that everyone of you feels the same because if you didn't then i wouldn't be sitting here writing this because there would be no scene i've not met a snob once yet just like minded people some with a bigger capacity to do than others i have to applaud the ovo though to me they are the ones that have made all this possible role on friday talc at the ready your all such a great crowd thanks

[barney]

just read the whole thread am 42 and became single couple of years ago tried the town center scene for one weekend picked up flyer in some pub that was playing motown.went to my first soul venue the next weekend not missed one since.i would just like to say to every single one of you thankyou 10 pages speaks volumes your passion and sure grit and determination over the years has enabled me to find somewhere i call home i live for the weekend.there is a crisp sweet vocal that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end there is a lyric that makes the heart skip a beat and a rhythem that when i'm dancing makes me actually feel like i'm floating an inch off the floor i'm sure that everyone of you feels the same because if you didn't then i wouldn't be sitting here writing this because there would be no scene i've not met a snob once yet just like minded people some with a bigger capacity to do than others i have to applaud the ovo though to me they are the ones that have made all this possible role on friday talc at the ready your all such a great crowd thanks

agree with you 110% mate but sometimes it helps to have a little moan on here coz although its a great scene people have differing opinions on a number of points (nitpickin)

[Mark S]

I have watched this thread for a while and seen it develop into a Northern soul snobfest brilliant

A northern soul snob is one who looks down on those who enjoy the nostalgia events .

A northern soul snob is one who refuses to aknowledge anything modern or post 79 .

Which ever side of the fence your on if you are into Northern you are a snob I,m afraid it goes with the teritory .

[Stephen Houghton]

I have never heard this said anywhere anytime. I think it could be how people use the like, like, like, like etc etc etc term  

[Jayne Houghton]

Its LIKE when you mention  to someone where your going , LIKE Blackpool tower or Like any big venues Like , they say oh no we dont go there its full of handbaggers , Me personally COULDN'T  careless what people wear or where they choose to go, or how they dance , long as they have an amazing time, life is short, lets all carry on making memories, , KTF  AND We all love the music , 

Edited March 10, 2019 by Jayne Houghton

[Guest MrF]

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

It’s time to set the record straight. Forget the OVO debate; vinyl is for amateurs. True soul fans play acetates only. And I don’t mean any second generation metal work or some such, I’m talking first generation cuts, from which that metal work was cast. Obviously, these artefacts are few and far between, so collecting them is a lifetime quest. They also suffer badly from wear when played, so as a scene we tend to only promote one event per year, normally at a very exclusive venue. And I can tell you, tickets are like gold dust. Obviously, we are a members only club, and somewhat like the Masons, joining us requires a nod and a wink; and like Fight Club, the first rule of Arse is that no none talks about Arse. Like MI6, we heavily vet potential new recruits, and only those deemed to be the genuine soul elite are invited to join us. In a quest to extend are membership and ensure the future of our elite club, we are now recruiting. Are you enough of an Arse to join us?

As we, the Acertate revolutionary soul elite, like to say: “If it’s not Arse, then it’s a farce”.

[Mike]

34 minutes ago, MrF said:

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

 

welcome to the site Mr F

thats an interesting post to get things under way

can you post an intro up here so we know whos jokes we are reading and who we are talking with...

 

thanks 

mike

[Philb]

13 minutes ago, MrF said:

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

It’s time to set the record straight. Forget the OVO debate; vinyl is for amateurs. True soul fans play acetates only. And I don’t mean any second generation metal work or some such, I’m talking first generation cuts, from which that metal work was cast. Obviously, these artefacts are few and far between, so collecting them is a lifetime quest. They also suffer badly from wear when played, so as a scene we tend to only promote one event per year, normally at a very exclusive venue. And I can tell you, tickets are like gold dust. Obviously, we are a members only club, and somewhat like the Masons, joining us requires a nod and a wink; and like Fight Club, the first rule of Arse is that no none talks about Arse. Like MI6, we heavily vet potential new recruits, and only those deemed to be the genuine soul elite are invited to join us. In a quest to extend are membership and ensure the future of our elite club, we are now recruiting. Are you enough of an Arse to join us?

As we, the Acertate revolutionary soul elite, like to say: “If it’s not Arse, then it’s a farce”.

Or the Aylesbury Rare Soul Experience back in the 80's 

[Local]

1 hour ago, MrF said:

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

It’s time to set the record straight. Forget the OVO debate; vinyl is for amateurs. True soul fans play acetates only. And I don’t mean any second generation metal work or some such, I’m talking first generation cuts, from which that metal work was cast. Obviously, these artefacts are few and far between, so collecting them is a lifetime quest. They also suffer badly from wear when played, so as a scene we tend to only promote one event per year, normally at a very exclusive venue. And I can tell you, tickets are like gold dust. Obviously, we are a members only club, and somewhat like the Masons, joining us requires a nod and a wink; and like Fight Club, the first rule of Arse is that no none talks about Arse. Like MI6, we heavily vet potential new recruits, and only those deemed to be the genuine soul elite are invited to join us. In a quest to extend are membership and ensure the future of our elite club, we are now recruiting. Are you enough of an Arse to join us?

As we, the Acertate revolutionary soul elite, like to say: “If it’s not Arse, then it’s a farce”.

Brilliant Mr F ...…………...About time we had some humour back on this site 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, MrF said:

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

It’s time to set the record straight. Forget the OVO debate; vinyl is for amateurs. True soul fans play acetates only. And I don’t mean any second generation metal work or some such, I’m talking first generation cuts, from which that metal work was cast. Obviously, these artefacts are few and far between, so collecting them is a lifetime quest. They also suffer badly from wear when played, so as a scene we tend to only promote one event per year, normally at a very exclusive venue. And I can tell you, tickets are like gold dust. Obviously, we are a members only club, and somewhat like the Masons, joining us requires a nod and a wink; and like Fight Club, the first rule of Arse is that no none talks about Arse. Like MI6, we heavily vet potential new recruits, and only those deemed to be the genuine soul elite are invited to join us. In a quest to extend are membership and ensure the future of our elite club, we are now recruiting. Are you enough of an Arse to join us?

As we, the Acertate revolutionary soul elite, like to say: “If it’s not Arse, then it’s a farce”.

Double LOL   

[Stevegods]

And I’ll third that emotion ! 

I have a large Arse so wondered if that would get me in for free ? 

 

[Tivoli]

Fed up of Soul Police deriding "Rare & Underplayed" -- I want to be an A.R.S.E member, How do I sign up, is it on a Roll call???  

 

[Guest Spain pete]

3 hours ago, MrF said:

Acertate revolutionary soul elite

It’s time to set the record straight. Forget the OVO debate; vinyl is for amateurs. True soul fans play acetates only. And I don’t mean any second generation metal work or some such, I’m talking first generation cuts, from which that metal work was cast. Obviously, these artefacts are few and far between, so collecting them is a lifetime quest. They also suffer badly from wear when played, so as a scene we tend to only promote one event per year, normally at a very exclusive venue. And I can tell you, tickets are like gold dust. Obviously, we are a members only club, and somewhat like the Masons, joining us requires a nod and a wink; and like Fight Club, the first rule of Arse is that no none talks about Arse. Like MI6, we heavily vet potential new recruits, and only those deemed to be the genuine soul elite are invited to join us. In a quest to extend are membership and ensure the future of our elite club, we are now recruiting. Are you enough of an Arse to join us?

As we, the Acertate revolutionary soul elite, like to say: “If it’s not Arse, then it’s a farce”.

Is this the event that takes place in the barn on the farm in the middle of nowhere?

[Local]

We need more stuff like this, if you agree please click the arrow on Mr F's original post and UP his A.R.S.E

[Guest Shufflin]

On 13/03/2009 at 18:01, jumpinjoan said:

 

 

If you are playing records at home it doesn't matter what you play.

 

If you are playing records at a venue then you play originals. End of.

 

And if people like you say that makes me a soul snob - then so be it. It shows you know nothing about the soul scene.

I agree with this, I think that is still true now, so hating on the OVO standard waters it down

the recent anti OVO stance is really sad imo, then again I can fall back on my records

[barney]

I used to be able to fall back on a lot of records , but now I find I cant get back up

[Roburt]

At home, I only play 60's rekkids on a 60's system … I've posted an ad that shows my system below …

HOWEVER, my mate 'Snakehips' Temple tells me I should only play original US CBS 45's on this … when I fetch a Date home, I want to be able to play Epic stuff, not just Reffa, Spellbinders, Shirley Ellis, Rhetta Hughes, Mongo Santamaria, Gigi & the Charmaines, Dee Clark, George Carrow & Chambers Bros stuff. I'm not even sure if it's OKeh to play CBS Special Products releases … I think I need help !!

Edited March 29, 2019 by Roburt

[Winsford Soul]

19 hours ago, Spain pete said:

Is this the event that takes place in the barn on the farm in the middle of nowhere?

Definitely not.  Any riff raff gets invited.  Me included.  Must admit that it's a better class of riff raff though 

[Guest MrF]

Anyone who read my last post will probably have realised I was having a playful dig at the world of OVO, but given that once again the same old arguments and insults are being tossed about, I’ll offer some more serious observations, and maybe everyone could just put this tedious debate to bed once and for all, having agreed to accept that we are never all going to agree on everything, but there’s room for different approaches in life.

 

1/ Supporters of OVO often bemoan that others deride them. I would suggest that that is simply an understandable reaction to non-OVO folk being accused of “watering down the scene”; having “no place behind the decks”; having “not paid there dues”, etc, etc. If you insult someone, they will insult you back.

 

2/ There is a constant conflation of “boots/carvers” with “licensed reissues”. That needs to stop. They are not the same at all. Most people don’t like bootlegs. I don’t want a fake 45 anymore than I want a fake Rolex. Bootlegging is a parasitic industry. Moreover, licensing means that artists might actually get some money for their work. (Let’s not get into the “they’re mostly dead anyway”, debate. It’s a principle thing)

Licensed reissues also provide a great opportunity for lots of people to get their hands on some brilliant music at affordable prices; to a degree, they also undermine bootleggers, because every licensed reissue that becomes available is one less record it’s worth bootlegging.

 

3/ There’s an often propagated myth that the scene is full of Del-boys with fists full of boots putting on Northern nights for personal gain. Highly unlikely! Anyone who has been involved in promoting old soul nights will no that there is no gravy train; it involves hell of a lot of time and effort to do it well; that the pay-off is a room full of happy smiling dancers, not a suitcase full of cash. If I work out the hourly rate I make for organising soul nights, it is, without doubt, the worst paid job I’ve ever had by a really really big margin. No one does this unless they genuinely love the music.

 

4/ There is nothing wrong with being an OVO enthusiast. It’s partly that collecting thing that drives thousands of other hobbyists. Even as someone who buys a few licensed reissues, I’d always rather find an original record, and that’s the fun of crate digging. It still gives me a thrill after many years to find something unexpected in a box in a junk shop. Doens’t happen often, mind! There’s also room for OVO events because for some on the scene, that is important, both for DJs and dancers. All power to you, I say… as long as it stops short of slagging off anyone who isn’t bothered about OVO. After years of doing a variety of events, albeit mainly soul, I would argue that the  most important job, as a DJ, is to fill the floor with happy dancers. On a good night, if you get it right, you can mix it up with well-known fare and some lesser-known gems, and the floor just keeps moving. As a DJ who plays originals and reissues, I get to drop Frank Wilson every now and then. So “no one cool listens to Frank Wilson”, I hear some of you chant. Tell that to the packed dance floor and see what they make of you. Believe it or not, back in the real world, that tune continues to go down a storm. Any real DJ will tell you, most people still only dance to what they know, and the real skill is to get them dancing to what they don’t know.

 

5/ My final observation is that all the soul nights I’ve been involved in share one characteristic: the tangible atmosphere of love and joy that permeates the venue as some of the greatest music ever committed to vinyl, both original and reissued, blasts across the floor. It’s all about love my friends, and if you can’t understand that, you don’t understand soul music. And when it comes to promoting nights and DJing, as long as it does what is says on the tin, no one has any business bitching and complaining.

[Chalky]

Why is it ok to play a bootleg at home? You are simply giving crooks your hard earned and more often than not depriving someone of royalties.  There is no difference where you play them IMO, home or away, still the same. If at home just play the cd or download. 

Edited March 27, 2019 by chalky

[Zoomsoulblue]

Wow - hey just to throw another spanner thought process in there - definition of Original is the first one made and not a copy - so with that in mind all the stuff on grapevine, Kent etc etc are not originals ? Or if they are what's the difference of a boot or pressing ? Is it just legal as neither by definition are not original. 

[Mike]

13 minutes ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

Wow - hey just to throw another spanner thought process in there - definition of Original is the first one made and not a copy - so with that in mind all the stuff on grapevine, Kent etc etc are not originals ? Or if they are what's the difference of a boot or pressing ? Is it just legal as neither by definition are not original. 

 

ain't this why the whole ovo argument is flawed - the actual wording 'original vinyl only' is just too ambiguous

maybe people would have had more joy if they had just stated/used something along lines of 'a no bootlegs policy' rather than ovo

certainly imo it be easier to understand and the bonus of less arguments! 

 

[Chalky]

21 minutes ago, mike said:

 

ain't this why the whole ovo argument is flawed - the actual wording 'original vinyl only' is just too ambiguous

maybe people would have had more joy if they had just stated/used something along lines of 'a no bootlegs policy' rather than ovo

certainly imo it be easier to understand and the bonus of less arguments! 

 

Spot on Mike.  We managed for decades without the stupid term.  It just seems people are making things up as they go along, people who don’t appear to have much of a clue either, just to give them some sort of credibility. 

Can you not ban the term on here 

Edited March 27, 2019 by chalky

[Soulsides]

41 minutes ago, chalky said:

Can you not ban the term on here 

+1

well said, Chalky.

Honestly,hasn't this already been done to death on this forum?

The whole OVO subject has become so tedious now and just causes bad feeling amongst members.

I mean it's not so long ago that this same subject caused major unrest and ended with a much liked and respected site moderator(Simon, Aka BabyBoy )leaving the forum altogether.

The  OVO thing really needs giving the boot once and for all (if you'll pardon the pun) in my opinion.  

Edited March 27, 2019 by Soulsides

[Winsford Soul]

1 hour ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

Wow - hey just to throw another spanner thought process in there - definition of Original is the first one made and not a copy - so with that in mind all the stuff on grapevine, Kent etc etc are not originals ? Or if they are what's the difference of a boot or pressing ? Is it just legal as neither by definition are not original. 

Betty Boo.  Say it isn't so. Grapevine.  Original 7 " release. If I'm not mistaken 

Steve 

[Speedlimit]

Let's put it like this all grapevine and Kent products are official releases  royalties are paid  bootlegs rip off everyone concerned with the track including the punter who purchases it  end off

[Chalky]

2 hours ago, ZoomSoulBlue said:

Wow - hey just to throw another spanner thought process in there - definition of Original is the first one made and not a copy - so with that in mind all the stuff on grapevine, Kent etc etc are not originals ? Or if they are what's the difference of a boot or pressing ? Is it just legal as neither by definition are not original. 

Me thinks you know full well what an original is in the world of record collecting, what is good to play and what isn’t. 

[Philt]

Every ounce of my being says don't but ...

To whom it may concern,

Re: This OVO thing people keep going on about 

This OVO (or whatever you want to refer to it as) thing is a bit of a red herring and an absolute road to nowhere in all honesty. At the heart of it all is the simple matter of integrity, i.e. not pretending to be something you're not and seeing the bigger picture. You and me, we're nobody, absolute nonentities in the greater scheme.  

Personally, I'm only interested in collecting original records and would only expect to pay to hear someone play original records. (That's my own daft fault and why I've never had any money for thirty years or so but hey ho. I'd advise against it tbh, just turn up and dance to whatever you're into). It's of absolutely no interest whatsoever to me what you want to do at home, down your local or wherever; it's none of my bloody business frankly. I choose where I go to and one determinant of that is who else is gonna be going and who is playing what: I expect that you'll do the same. So far so good then. 

The only thing is. sometimes some people are wont to extend their brass neck in order to shout the odds; invariably these are people who know not very much at all about not very much. They also tend to be really quite self absorbed in my experience.  (I recall some of them turning up on the scooter scene and a quite dramatic transformation took place: I'd never seen a fat 'mod' until that point). 

I try to frequent events where people are trying hard to do things 'properly' - by that I mean not rolling out the same thoughtless pap you see advertised every Friday and Saturday every single week; you know, people with a bit of the aforementioned integrity who realise it's not about them. By and large it's a uplifting, heartwarming experience. I rarely feel suicidal as a direct result of attending, even now, so give it a whirl if you haven't already.

Be warned though, from time to time you may encounter small cliques who find solace in grizzling and whining, faces fixed like smashed crabs, because someone has the audacity NOT to play FW or something else that's been entirely done to death and forms part of the great pantheon of around a hundred or so records around which their soul world is oriented.

Worse still,  if over the fullness of time you find yourself in the unenviable position of playing records to them then suicidal ideation is a very real possibility I'm afraid. You see, these same good people usually frequent venues where they can ask for absolutely anything - from Don Gardner to Ramsey Lewis or even that old favourite "true love, you know, TRUE LOVE!" Moreover, they fully expect you to play what they ask for - immediately, regardless of what else you're playing, have played or are intent on playing because they didn't / won't know them anyway: "it's all that rare shit and they're rare for a reason..."  - this is usually a reference to something by JJ Barnes, Derek Martin or similar. Be aware that playing what they ask for, immediately, is entirely non negotiable!

This particular challenge is underpinned by the fact that the 'djs' (aka relatives, mates etc) at their 'favourite' venues usually arrive with three cases holding 300 45s each - worth a grand total of about fifty quid. They've got everything those fellas and are of the same ilk. Moreover, it is those very same people who are so fond of the 'willy waving' and 'soul snob' lines. (These cut me to the very quick, as you might expect, but the fact that the irony doesn't resonate with them does offer some consolation in those darker moments when it's all too much). 

One of the other problems seems to me to be the fact that the vast majority of those same people were, in the main, nowhere to be seen between 1982 and 2000. Nonetheless, they have now decided that 'it's a way of life' and take every opportunity to 'show and tell' (which we did at primary school as I recall) anyone who'll listen just how all consuming it is to be 'a soulie': "it's a way of life ... it's what's in the grooves that counts ... you play the records not the labels". 

At the end of the day, don't worry too much about OVO or any of that other nonsense; as long as you're having a good time and not bothering me it's all good. 

ps. Oh aye, in the unlikely event that you do encounter any of these folk on your travels I wouldn't worry unduly as they'll get bored with it again quite soon or pack it in because they aren't getting enough attention. I'll still be at it though if you want to talk about soul records, OVO or any of that other nonsense. 

 

 

 

 

[Speedlimit]

[Chalky]

16 hours ago, PhilT said:

Every ounce of my being says don't but ...

To whom it may concern,

Re: This OVO thing people keep going on about 

This OVO (or whatever you want to refer to it as) thing is a bit of a red herring and an absolute road to nowhere in all honesty. At the heart of it all is the simple matter of integrity, i.e. not pretending to be something you're not and seeing the bigger picture. You and me, we're nobody, absolute nonentities in the greater scheme.  

Personally, I'm only interested in collecting original records and would only expect to pay to hear someone play original records. (That's my own daft fault and why I've never had any money for thirty years or so but hey ho. I'd advise against it tbh, just turn up and dance to whatever you're into). It's of absolutely no interest whatsoever to me what you want to do at home, down your local or wherever; it's none of my bloody business frankly. I choose where I go to and one determinant of that is who else is gonna be going and who is playing what: I expect that you'll do the same. So far so good then. 

The only thing is. sometimes some people are wont to extend their brass neck in order to shout the odds; invariably these are people who know not very much at all about not very much. They also tend to be really quite self absorbed in my experience.  (I recall some of them turning up on the scooter scene and a quite dramatic transformation took place: I'd never seen a fat 'mod' until that point). 

I try to frequent events where people are trying hard to do things 'properly' - by that I mean not rolling out the same thoughtless pap you see advertised every Friday and Saturday every single week; you know, people with a bit of the aforementioned integrity who realise it's not about them. By and large it's a uplifting, heartwarming experience. I rarely feel suicidal as a direct result of attending, even now, so give it a whirl if you haven't already.

Be warned though, from time to time you may encounter small cliques who find solace in grizzling and whining, faces fixed like smashed crabs, because someone has the audacity NOT to play FW or something else that's been entirely done to death and forms part of the great pantheon of around a hundred or so records around which their soul world is oriented.

Worse still,  if over the fullness of time you find yourself in the unenviable position of playing records to them then suicidal ideation is a very real possibility I'm afraid. You see, these same good people usually frequent venues where they can ask for absolutely anything - from Don Gardner to Ramsey Lewis or even that old favourite "true love, you know, TRUE LOVE!" Moreover, they fully expect you to play what they ask for - immediately, regardless of what else you're playing, have played or are intent on playing because they didn't / won't know them anyway: "it's all that rare shit and they're rare for a reason..."  - this is usually a reference to something by JJ Barnes, Derek Martin or similar. Be aware that playing what they ask for, immediately, is entirely non negotiable!

This particular challenge is underpinned by the fact that the 'djs' (aka relatives, mates etc) at their 'favourite' venues usually arrive with three cases holding 300 45s each - worth a grand total of about fifty quid. They've got everything those fellas and are of the same ilk. Moreover, it is those very same people who are so fond of the 'willy waving' and 'soul snob' lines. (These cut me to the very quick, as you might expect, but the fact that the irony doesn't resonate with them does offer some consolation in those darker moments when it's all too much). 

One of the other problems seems to me to be the fact that the vast majority of those same people were, in the main, nowhere to be seen between 1982 and 2000. Nonetheless, they have now decided that 'it's a way of life' and take every opportunity to 'show and tell' (which we did at primary school as I recall) anyone who'll listen just how all consuming it is to be 'a soulie': "it's a way of life ... it's what's in the grooves that counts ... you play the records not the labels". 

At the end of the day, don't worry too much about OVO or any of that other nonsense; as long as you're having a good time and not bothering me it's all good. 

ps. Oh aye, in the unlikely event that you do encounter any of these folk on your travels I wouldn't worry unduly as they'll get bored with it again quite soon or pack it in because they aren't getting enough attention. I'll still be at it though if you want to talk about soul records, OVO or any of that other nonsense. 

 

 

 

 

“A way of life”

I have a mate, old work mate, he always liked the music but never at the forefront, his brother was an old soulie who left the scene with Wigan. Last few years though he does the soul nights locally, Skegness Butlins, BISF etc, has a scooter with way of life on the side yet never he went anywhere, not even the local nights years ago, he was never been part of the scene.

[Len]

16 hours ago, PhilT said:

Every ounce of my being says don't but ...

...Ya did! 

I even read it all - Well done that man.

Now late for work - Thanks.

Len 

[Len]

16 hours ago, PhilT said:

and a quite dramatic transformation took place: I'd never seen a fat 'mod' until that point). 

Classic! 

Len 

[Eddiefoster]

17 hours ago, PhilT said:

Every ounce of my being says don't but ...

To whom it may concern,

Re: This OVO thing people keep going on about 

This OVO (or whatever you want to refer to it as) thing is a bit of a red herring and an absolute road to nowhere in all honesty. At the heart of it all is the simple matter of integrity, i.e. not pretending to be something you're not and seeing the bigger picture. You and me, we're nobody, absolute nonentities in the greater scheme.  

Personally, I'm only interested in collecting original records and would only expect to pay to hear someone play original records. (That's my own daft fault and why I've never had any money for thirty years or so but hey ho. I'd advise against it tbh, just turn up and dance to whatever you're into). It's of absolutely no interest whatsoever to me what you want to do at home, down your local or wherever; it's none of my bloody business frankly. I choose where I go to and one determinant of that is who else is gonna be going and who is playing what: I expect that you'll do the same. So far so good then. 

The only thing is. sometimes some people are wont to extend their brass neck in order to shout the odds; invariably these are people who know not very much at all about not very much. They also tend to be really quite self absorbed in my experience.  (I recall some of them turning up on the scooter scene and a quite dramatic transformation took place: I'd never seen a fat 'mod' until that point). 

I try to frequent events where people are trying hard to do things 'properly' - by that I mean not rolling out the same thoughtless pap you see advertised every Friday and Saturday every single week; you know, people with a bit of the aforementioned integrity who realise it's not about them. By and large it's a uplifting, heartwarming experience. I rarely feel suicidal as a direct result of attending, even now, so give it a whirl if you haven't already.

Be warned though, from time to time you may encounter small cliques who find solace in grizzling and whining, faces fixed like smashed crabs, because someone has the audacity NOT to play FW or something else that's been entirely done to death and forms part of the great pantheon of around a hundred or so records around which their soul world is oriented.

Worse still,  if over the fullness of time you find yourself in the unenviable position of playing records to them then suicidal ideation is a very real possibility I'm afraid. You see, these same good people usually frequent venues where they can ask for absolutely anything - from Don Gardner to Ramsey Lewis or even that old favourite "true love, you know, TRUE LOVE!" Moreover, they fully expect you to play what they ask for - immediately, regardless of what else you're playing, have played or are intent on playing because they didn't / won't know them anyway: "it's all that rare shit and they're rare for a reason..."  - this is usually a reference to something by JJ Barnes, Derek Martin or similar. Be aware that playing what they ask for, immediately, is entirely non negotiable!

This particular challenge is underpinned by the fact that the 'djs' (aka relatives, mates etc) at their 'favourite' venues usually arrive with three cases holding 300 45s each - worth a grand total of about fifty quid. They've got everything those fellas and are of the same ilk. Moreover, it is those very same people who are so fond of the 'willy waving' and 'soul snob' lines. (These cut me to the very quick, as you might expect, but the fact that the irony doesn't resonate with them does offer some consolation in those darker moments when it's all too much). 

One of the other problems seems to me to be the fact that the vast majority of those same people were, in the main, nowhere to be seen between 1982 and 2000. Nonetheless, they have now decided that 'it's a way of life' and take every opportunity to 'show and tell' (which we did at primary school as I recall) anyone who'll listen just how all consuming it is to be 'a soulie': "it's a way of life ... it's what's in the grooves that counts ... you play the records not the labels". 

At the end of the day, don't worry too much about OVO or any of that other nonsense; as long as you're having a good time and not bothering me it's all good. 

ps. Oh aye, in the unlikely event that you do encounter any of these folk on your travels I wouldn't worry unduly as they'll get bored with it again quite soon or pack it in because they aren't getting enough attention. I'll still be at it though if you want to talk about soul records, OVO or any of that other nonsense. 

 

 

 

 

Every ounce of my being says don't too - but I'm glad you did it saved me a job

[Winsford Soul]

11 minutes ago, eddiefoster said:

Every ounce of my being says don't too - but I'm glad you did it saved me a job

Don't know about you mate but I needed a  lie  down after just reading it never mind writing it.

[Guest MrF]

Oh what a fool I’ve been!

All those times I’ve turned up to DJ with my 600 reasonably well-known and popular tunes (with maybe a smattering of more obscure numbers), to allow myself to be able to react to the dance floor by gauging what the folks are into and tailoring my set accordingly. Oh, the times someone has asked if I have a particular record, only to say “Yes” and slip it into my set. 

What a numbskull I’ve been. It’s not about the folks who’ve paid to come in at all - it’s all about me and what I want to play. 

Thank you all for putting me straight on this one. Thank the Lord I joined Soul Source.

From now on I will arrive at the venue with just 100 records (all obscure or rare) and I will stick to my playlist even if no one dances and everyone looks bored and disappointed. And if some amateur who has no business going out dancing on a Saturday night should dare to ask if I have a particular record, I’ll stick two fingers up at them and tell’ed to F off.

 

I will report back in six months on my meteoric rise in the world of Soul DJing, now I have the magic formula. What was I thinking?! Years wasted. Maybe there’s still time!