Paul R

In 1971 I was 13 and a friend told me about a local youth club. St Marie's in Southport. I went along and mainly it was a disco on Friday and Saturday nights. They played the hits of the day, but also club soul of the time. The Snake, Cool Jerk, Breakout, Backstreet, Barefootin', Scratchy etc. A great intro to the sounds, although my older sister did have some great records. My real intro to "northern" was a move from Southport to Burscough early 73 and to the Tuesday night football club discos with the "Soul Spinners 4" Paul

Nobody has mention the first Leeds Soul Festival. April 74. Awful venue, awful Sound system, duff gear. Even Major Lance, JJ Barnes, the Exciters and Mel And Tim didn't make it much better.

Just looking through this again and another 2 that spring to mind that we're early Casino plays(maybe before). Barbara Lynn I Don't Want A Playboy. And Brown Bombers and Soul Partners Wait For Me. Paul

Wasn't it about the time he was "Swinging On Star"?

Soul Sister Brown Sugar always reminds me of Pleasureland, Southport. Paul

I used to get his lists in the early 70s when he was A J Lewis. I don't remember much rare stuff at the time, but some mid range that I then sold on at a small profit at the Casino. Paul

Possibly Harlem Shuffle in 69. Paul

That's one that certainly passed me by at the time. Listening to the other tracks it must be very late 74, but more like mid 75. Paul

Very sad news. He was a good mate back in the early Casino days. I was looking forward to having a chat next year at the reunion. RIP mate. See you on the other side. Paul

No question!

Pretty sure it was Band Of Gold Dave. Paul

The lad with 2 badges on his trouser immediately behind the dancer looks like a mate from Ormskirk. He wasn't an allnighter goer at the time. He had attended once that I remember, but certainly regular at the Friday night sessions. Paul

Definitely a Wednesday or Friday normal night. Chart soul early on then Northern later.

Benny Curtis Dirty Hearts.

I'm on fire instrumental was definitely played briefly until it hit the charts. Paul

I don't remember it being played, although I did hear that the Glitter Band, Makes You Blind, got spins at some venues. Anyone confirm this? Paul

Somehow one of my sisters photos cropped up on it. She used to knock about with Vaughan and the Welsh crowd, and one of the photos with Pat Blasebury(now known as Trish Pointer) was hers. She is also in the left background of the picture outside. Still no photos of me though. Perhaps I was never there! Paul

About 15 years ago I had to go to Zante to survey some boats. I walked past a bar that had a poster in the window "Tuesday Night Is Soul Night With Darren". I thought that it could be interesting. I went in and the bar was owned by a couple from Sheffield, and playing over the speakers was a mixture of old northern and chart 70's soul. Anyway, just before 8 o'clock, Darren came in and started setting up his gear. Obviously I though it would be CDs or laptop, but beggars can't be choosers. Anyway the music started and it was the intro to Stand By Me. I still thought it would be OK, until Darren lifted the mic to his lips and with the best club singer voice started "When the night has come"!! I didn't stay. Paul

I picked up this monstrosity years ago for about a quid because I hoped that the few tracks I wanted on CD were original recordings(Darrell Banks, Holidays etc) the rest obviously were Simon Soussan and others remakes. The one that I questioned was the Helena Ferguson. I didn't believe at the time it was genuine. I only hope the Soul Fox didn't profit from my purchase! Paul

I never went to the Cats unfortunately, but I do remember the nighter. Pete Lawson and a few others definitely left early and turned up at Wigan in the middle of the night. Paul

Back in the late 70s there was a Nightwatch track played on the scene, call Lips To Your Heart. also not very good IMHO. Paul

Off topic, but on the subject of American school proms, I was once on a flight to the states sitting next to a woman who, in conversation mentioned her school prom with a very local group called Lee Andrews and The Hearts playing. I then bored het to tears playing Lee Andrews tracks to her and telling her about the northern scene. Anyway, back to Hope & Dreams! Paul

Booted on turquoise Sandbag if I remember correctly with the same track both sides.

Reading through this it suggests that Epitome Of Sound was known prior to Soussans pitched up "Moses Smith" version, which would have been mid 74 when it hit the Casino. Paul

A real legend.