Fifty Box Is A Good Box

[Mark Bicknell]

The few gigs I do now I tend to take the main 100 count box and a small fifty box (in my case here the back up small box holds approx 68 records lol) made up of back up tunes, new bits and bobs and odd ball stuff I would like to play if the venue permits, been thinking about this today and the smaller second box can and often is more interesting than DJ box one, currently box two includes the following which confirms that you don't have to carry 500 tunes to be able to do the business at the venues, good challenge to DJ's everywhere to maybe try taking just fifty or sixty tunes to a venue and try to blow the roof off, takes a good ear and a little skill to pull it off but I'm pretty sure it would be exciting to do, it might restrict DJ's from playing their staple bread and butter big tunes and is a good way to explore depth and quality of collection pretty sure this little lot which was the back up second box I took with me to The 100 Club last week would sit well at any venue in the land, this is not a look at what I've got thread either before anyone say's anything just an example of being able to take less records out and keeps the whole thing tight and in perspective, sod all to do with hot boxes etc. even if this little lot is pretty warm

from front to back in no order -

THE FOUR VOICES - WE LIVE IN THE GHETTO - VOICE

THE DRAMATICS - ALL BECAUSE OF YOU - SPORT

MARGIE JOSEPH - ONE MORE CHANCE - VOLT DJ

THE IKETTES - WHAT'CHA GONNA DO - PHI-DAN

MARVA JOSIE - DON'T - UNITED ARTISTS DJ

DRAKE AND THE EN-SOLIDS - PLEASE LEAVE ME - ALTEEN

STERLING MAGEE - I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU ABC

BESSIE JONES - NO MORE TEARS - A-BET

DEVOTIONS SAME OLD SWEET LOVIN - TRI-SOUND

VONTASTICS - I'LL NEVER SAY GOODBYE - SATELLITE DJ

JACKEY BEAVERS - BRING ME ALL OF YOUR HEARTACHES - GRAND LAND

LITTLE JOHN - HEART BREAKIN' TIME - MARTAY

TIMOTHY WILSON - LOVING YOU - BUDDAH

RAY AND DAVE - WRONG, WRONG, WRONG - MICA

THE ROYAL JOKERS - LOVE GAME (FROM A TO Z) - WINGATE DJ

DETROIT EMERALDS - HOLDING ON - WESTBOUND

JIMMY NORMAN - I'M LEAVING (THIS OLD TOWN) - MERCURY DJ

LORETTA WILLIAMS - BABY CAKES - JOTIS

PERCY MILEM - CALL ON ME - GOLDWAX DJ

THE ENTERTAINERS - LOVE IN MY HEART - SYMBOL DJ

JO ANN GARRETT - A WHOLE NEW PLAN - CHESS

BOBBY REED - YOU ARE - CLAYTOWN DJ

BOBBY GUITAR WOOD - IT'S MIGHTY NICE TO KNOW - COLT

THE HUNS REVIEW - DON'T MAKE ME LOVE YOU - SORRO

LITTLE RICHIE - ONE-BO DILLION YEARS - SOUND STAGE SEVEN DJ

THE T.S.U. TORONADOES - WHAT GOOD AM I? - ATLANTIC

THE RUBAIYATS - OMAR KHAYYAM - SANSU DJ

JOHN BOWIE - YOU'RE GONNA MISS A GOOD THING BABY - MERBEN

BARBARA CARR - MY MAMMA TOLD ME - CHESS DJ

THE ROYAL FIVE - SAY IT IT TO MY FACE - TYLER

TINA BRITT - YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT/LOOK - EASTERN DJ

ALBERT JONES - FIFTEEN CENT LOVE - KAPP SAMPLE

SAM DEES - LONELY FOR YOU BABY - SSS INTERNATIONAL

GAIL ANDERSON - BE PROUD (YOU'RE IN LOVE - SALVADOR

THE HESITATIONS - WAIT A MINUTE - KAPP DJ

DOROTHY BEERY (BERRY) - DON'T GIVE ME LOVE - BIG THREE

SHIRLEY LAWSON - ONE MORE CHANCE - BACKBEAT DJ

THE FOUR ARTS - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE - SHEE DJ

THE FABULOUS PEPS - MY LOVE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU/SPEAK YOUR PEACE - D-TOWN

DON GARDNER - IS THIS REALLY LOVE - CEDRIC

THE FESTIVALS - HEY GIRL/CHECKIN OUT - BLUE ROCK DJ

THE CREATIONS - JUST REMEMBER ME - GLOBE

EDWIN STARR - MY KIND OF WOMEN/YOU'RE MY MELLOW - RIC-TIC

TOBI LARK - CHALLENGE MY LOVE/SWEP IT OUT IN THE SHED - TOPPER

BILLY HAMBRIC - I FOUND TRUE LOVE/SHE SAID GOODBYE - DRUM

JOHNNIE MAE MATTHEWS - LONELY YOU'LL BE - JAM

MARY MOULTRIE - THEY'RE TRYING TO TEAR US APART - KING

BOBBY WELLS - BE'S THAT WAY SOMETIMES - ROMUR

BERNARD WILLIAMS - IT'S NEEDLESS TO SAY/FOCUSED ON YOU - HARTHON

RICKY ALLEN - IT'S A MESS I TELL YOU - BRIGHT STAR DJ

THE SHEPPARDS - STUBBORN HEART - MIRWOOD DJ

THE INCREDIBLES - I CAN'T GET OVER LOSING YOU/CRYING HEART - AUDIO ARTS DJ

THE VENTURAS - BABY BE MINE - DANIELS

JACK MONTGOMERY - BABY, BABY TAKE A CHANCE ON ME - REVUE DJ

GEORGE WYDELL - FROM OUT OF NOWHERE/I'M GONNA CUT YOU LOOSE - TANGERINE DJ

HERMON HITSON - YES YOU DID - MINIT DJ

SUGAR AND SPICES - HAVE FAITH IN ME - SWAN DJ

THE HARRISON BROTHERS - RUN FOR MY LIFE - BOBALOU

THE SERVICEMEN - I NEED A HELPING HAND - PATHEWAY

OZZ AND HIS SPERLINGS - CAN YOU QUALIFY - GOLDENWAY

SONNY DAYE - LONG LONG ROAD TO HAPPINESS - POWER

CLIFF NOBLES - MY LOVE IS GETTING STRONGER - ATLANTIC DJ

THE HEARTBREAKERS - I'VE GOT TO FACE IT - DERBY CITY

LEE SHOT WILLIAMS - LOVE NOW PAY LATER - GAMMA

LITTLE JEWEL - I WANT TO - TAYSTER

THRESA LINDSEY - IT'S LOVE - CORREC-TONE

THE FOUR LARKS - I STILL LOVE YOU/GROOVIN' AT THE GO-GO - TOWER DJ

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Edited April 5, 2009 by Mark Bicknell

[Supercorsa]

from front to back in no order -

If they're front to back, then they are obviously in that order.

Some tunes there, I can only dream about what's in the 100 box,

Edited April 4, 2009 by Supercorsa

[viphitman]

Yep. the less the better. Keep it tight. Great tunes by the way!!! Also, it's quite fun to say to your mates while playing a set ...say stop...while you go up and down the box with your finger pointing at records..(a bit like furtune wheel in order to choose the next track) Its great fun!! Since then.....I made sure I select only tracks I feel 100% good with instead of carrying stuff around as dead weight. I know, every night and crowd can be different but a bit of fun keeps one sharp!!!

[Mark Bicknell]

If they're front to back, then they are obviously in that order.

Some tunes there, I can only dream about what's in the 100 box,

Good one regarding front to back comment, what I should have said is I don't carry my records in any particular order basically how they get selected and boxed to go out lol pretty random basically and the 100 box is pretty basic lol well maybe not.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Guest Matt Male]

Interesting thread Mark. the last three times i've DJed i've alternated between a 100 box and two track 250 box. In the 250 box I tend to place my current plays and favourites in the left side and oldies and potential requests on the right (unless potential requests are current plays). I do enjoy using a 100 box though since it makes you think about what you take with you and makes your choices tight and stops you just slapping anything on in panic I don't think i'd ever take anything than a 250 as it would have too much variation in an hour long spot.

I think you're maybe right about small is beautiful and i'm leaning more towards the 100 box because it should be able to cover every eventuality in an hour spot, although isn't it always the same that you find yourself standing behind the decks wishing you'd packed this or that no matter how many records you've got with you?

[Guest dundeedavie]

I take more records with me for my resident spots than i do for a guest spot (though of course i don't do guest spots, but when i did ) .

I've always wondered how little records i could get away with , having taken 75 for a 1.5 hour spot at the first Roots of Rhythm and 120 for 7 half hour spots at Lavarone safe in the knowledge no one would play the same tunes

[Jumpinjoan]

Some great tunes there without doubt.

Thing is, you hear 50 records in two one hour spots and you could potentially hear all of those tunes at practically any venue in the land.

What would you do if that happened?

[Mark Bicknell]

Some great tunes there without doubt.

Thing is, you hear 50 records in two one hour spots and you could potentially hear all of those tunes at practically any venue in the land.

What would you do if that happened?

I thought about that dilema when I was writing the thread, firstly the 68 records listed was an example and the second box I took to the 100 club last weekend as I'm sure many of us can the permitations and selections for the one small box method are endless, in answer to the question Joan I remember many years ago again at the 100 club I went on after Ian Clark and Dick Coombes between them they pretty much played all my potential current and big spins, as you say approx 50 records in two one hour spots in situations like this you have to dig deep get on with it and think and play the spot without duplications no matter how rare or good the records are, you have a valid point that it would be pretty difficult to get out of trouble if 50 records of the 68 in this case had already been played, more the case then Joan of up shit creek without a paddle lol so perhaps this thread is now dead in the water? or could it be done? perhaps if the selections and permitations of records were right then we could in some cases use the 50 box method or certainly provide back up to the main bigger boxes as your point can also apply to the bigger box method as this I'm sure happens all the time when a large chunk of tunes we carry get played prior to our spots this is more down to what time your spot is early spot gives you access to more records to play as the night goes on there is a chance several or more potential spins can be played by other DJ's and maybe one of the reasons we get duplications of records at venues?

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Jumpinjoan]

Mark, I think majority of the time tunes get duplicated through the night because DJ's simply don't listen to other DJ's spots or they aren't physically there to listen.

Pretty rude either way imo.

Anyway, seeings as you have given us a list of some of the records you took down to London last week, can I ask which of the records on that list you actually played in your spot?

[Premium Stuff]

Wouldn't mind one of those!! ...

THE FABULOUS PEPS - WITH THESE EYES - D-TOWN

Edited April 5, 2009 by Premium Stuff

[Mark Bicknell]

Mark, I think majority of the time tunes get duplicated through the night because DJ's simply don't listen to other DJ's spots or they aren't physically there to listen.

Pretty rude either way imo.

Anyway, seeings as you have given us a list of some of the records you took down to London last week, can I ask which of the records on that list you actually played in your spot?

Good points as ever Joan regarding duplication of records, like to think some of us do actually listen to records being played and try to make the effort to be at a venue from the start, got me there Joan for the second time on this thread lol played Bernard Williams out of that box lol I'll get my coat, perhaps I'll stick to the one box, on a more serious note I think we all have every good intentions of spot variation by taking a good second box but often tend to select from the main box it just happens that way well that's my excuse anyway, of course spot variation can be done with regular main box rotation so different spots can be played.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Mark Bicknell]

Wouldn't mind one of those!! ...

THE FABULOUS PEPS - WITH THESE EYES - D-TOWN

[/quote

Should have been MY LOVE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU/SPEAK YOUR PEACE my mistake.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Simon T]

[Simon T]

[Mace]

Some great tunes there without doubt.

Thing is, you hear 50 records in two one hour spots and you could potentially hear all of those tunes at practically any venue in the land.

What would you do if that happened?

Either pack the 50 box with doublesiders or be very adventurous with the flips

[Mark Bicknell]

Either pack the 50 box with doublesiders or be very adventurous with the flips

There are a fair few double headers in the 68 box example, thought about that one as well Mace me old mate.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Guest in town Mikey]

That Jackie Beavers - Bring Me All Your Heartaches seems to be getting a bit of a second wind. Judging by the price. Its on one major dealers list at £150, but I cant shift mine for a £100 though.

Any ideas on who is reactivating it?

[Dave Moore]

That Jackie Beavers - Bring Me All Your Heartaches seems to be getting a bit of a second wind. Judging by the price. Its on one major dealers list at £150, but I cant shift mine for a £100 though.

Any ideas on who is reactivating it?

Hi Mikey,

Anyone with a decent set of lugs and a crowd that are fed up of Frankie Beverley et al. It's been played at every Hitsville gig for the past 3 years.

[Guest in town Mikey]

So its all the South Coasts fault is it?

Wonderful piece of soul, that kinda slipped under the radar with the amount of quality played in the mid 80s.

[pikeys dog]

I was just about to comment, then i realised the thread title was Fifty Box and not Filthy Box....

[Mark Bicknell]

I was just about to comment, then i realised the thread title was Fifty Box and not Filthy Box....

Fifty box can also be a filthy box with the right tunes, good idea for a new thread 'The Filthy Fifty' lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[paultp]

What might be interesting, was if some DJs posted up the 50 titles they would have in their box with the 50 title limit. Scenario; an 8 hour (12-8 am ) niter and a randomised play order of the 8 DJs..

That's a really good idea, a 50 box night!

It would have a few DJ's sweating - nothing to fall back on!

[Dave Abbott]

I DJ'd in Southampton a while ago and took a 50 box - not one of these new Euro 68 count ones LOL, but a 50 with a bit less than 50 in. All went ok...

[Jumpinjoan]

That's a really good idea, a 50 box night!

It would have a few DJ's sweating - nothing to fall back on!

But don't you think that's a bit like planning your set in advance?

Every night is different and as such cannot be pre determined.

To take so few records, imo, would be like pre judging what the night was going to be like.

The more records you take the more chance you have of surviving even the most 'trying' of nights

And anyway, isn't it supposed to be about the event as a whole and not about the DJ?

[Guest Brett F]

Can remember years back at Ponds Forge when a guest dj turned up with a huge suitcase filled with vinyl, and when i say suitcase i mean suitcase, just like the ones that Tommy Trinder took on his holidays to Blackpool back in the late 1950's............

[Mormar44]

Can remember years back at Ponds Forge when a guest dj turned up with a huge suitcase filled with vinyl, and when i say suitcase i mean suitcase, just like the ones that Tommy Trinder took on his holidays to Blackpool back in the late 1950's............

When I am sorting which 200 records to put in the box for a guest spot Liz always comes out with her bit of helpful advice " Why can't you just turn up with a 25 count box like Butch did at Willington"

I've tried to explain that the chances of someone playing the same tunes as Butch has in his 25 count box are fairly slim but she always comes out with the same line !!

Mark

[KevH]

Can remember years back at Ponds Forge when a guest dj turned up with a huge suitcase filled with vinyl, and when i say suitcase i mean suitcase, just like the ones that Tommy Trinder took on his holidays to Blackpool back in the late 1950's............

Haaaa...........happy days.

[Mark Bicknell]

Too many 'Oldies' for my liking!!!

dogstoat

Alway's get one smartarse.......lol, the list was just the example of the second box I took with me to the 100 Club, go on then give us 50 that you actually own then so I can have a pop at you lol the whole point of this thread was to perhaps ask the question of could a spot be done with a small box? oldies or not the 68 selection I listed could and would stand up at a venue but agian was just an example as the selections and permitations are endless even from an average size collection

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Mark Bicknell

[Mark Bicknell]

Mark

I assure you I was taking the p*ss out of myself. I hardly know any of your 50....it's like a Rugby Soul Club All-Nighter on paper (my fault, not Rugby's!)

No offence intended Sir. (I'm assuming your lol's mean I don't have to apologise too hard.....I am starting to like some newer stuff by the way!!!)

Best

Dinosaur Dogstoat

My reply was in total jest as I'm sure your comments were,I was not taking the piss out of you hence the lol's all taken in humour and no malice mate.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.