Paul R

I used to regularly go to both from 73-76, although I was more a Wigan regular than Mecca. THey were both brilliant in their own way, but for anyone that thinks they didn't play "pop" at Mecca, "Superlove", "10 Miles High", Many's The Slip", "Caught With My Heart Down", Turning My Heartbeat Up" etc are all Ian Levine, Mecca played discoveries. The night I was really put off the Mecca, was when I left the Highland room while they were playing Esther Phillips "What A Difference A Day Makes", went down into the divvy room, and they were playing it there. Also when they started doining the dancing hand in hand bit(was it the Hustle?). Wigan did play a lot of crap, but it was my second home. Paul

I don't know if an album was recorded there, but it certainly gets a mention on the sleeve notes to "The New Religion" album on Piccadilly. There is a woman on the Portsmouth Mad football forum called "Izzyeckerslike" who lives in the States(link below) whose father was owner or manager at the time. She did annoy me with a mention of her sister going there to see "Inez & Charlie Foxx, who were a poor mans Ike & Tina Turner" There is a thread that mentions it here. Pompey Venues link I don't know if you can contact her through the site. For some reason it will not let me sign on. but I haven't used the account for a couple of years. I will ask around if the is anyopne round here to email. Paul

My sister being 3 years older than me mixed with some of the crowd in the late 60s, early 70s. I remember at a party she had listening to "Ain't Nothin' But A Houseparty" and "Love Eye Tis"(B side to Private Number) and all the tracks of Motown Volume 3. She also used to come home with JayBoy & Mojo releases. I think she worked at NEMS record shop in Southport at the time. Also my cousin used to go to the Mecca & come back with tales of "Little Ol' Man" & "The Fife Piper". I then started going to St Maries Youthclub in Southport, this was September 1971, and I was 13 and about to get a education. It was not a normal youthclub, if you wanted table tennis, then Sunday afternoon was OK. If you wanted to hear good music, then Friday & Saturday nights were great. As well as playing the chart sounds like "Maggie May", we were also treated to "Little Piece Of Leather", "The Snake", "Scratchy", "Cool Jerk", "Barefootin'", "Backstreet", "Six by Six" and "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" &" Why Don't I Run Away From You", the last two had just been in the charts. I was hooked. Although I didn't mind some chart stuff, particularly soul, I was after the obscure stuff. I stopped going to St Maries, due to a misunderstanding amongst mates. During 72 I didn't really get too much involved in the obscure soul stuff although I used to get Blues & Soul regularly, and my sister was still coming home with reissues like "That's Enough", "She Blew a Good Thing", "Sufferin' City" etc. In early 1973, the family moved from the big town of Southport, to the smaller village, 8 miles out, Burscough, and my life changed for ever. By this time my sister had started going to the Torch,(she was there for the Dec 9th 72, Major Lance Gig"). and I was reading about the records played at various clubs in the adverts in B&S. At my first day at Burscough Secondary School, I was sat next to a lad with long hair, who had a pile of records sat on his desk. I pointed to the records and asked if I could look. There were things like "Times A Waistin'", "Sliced Tomatoes" etc. These were tracks that I had heard of but never heard. THe lad in question, is Revilot on here, John Orritt, a collector and record dealer, now based in Croston. We entered into a great friendship, during our time at school. He introduced me to the Tuesday night discos at Burscough Football Club with the Soul Spinners 4 at the decks. Within days we were planning a trip to the Torch, although we were only 15. Unfortunately the Torch closed down the week before we were going to go. We went to our first real Northern do at Whitchurch alldayer in August 1973, and within 2 months, had done my first couple of allnighters at Va Vas in Bolton, and had become a regular at Wigan Casino, Whitchurch alldayers, Burnley Cats Whiskers, Leyland Public Hall, ST Helens Court School of Dancing & Geraldo Club and many other places(Leeds soul festival in April 74 anyone). After 2 and a half years of non stop northern soul, and the things that went with it(for many of us), I decided that I will probably end up in jail or dead!. I decided to join the Navy, in 1976. I still continued a love of Northern, DJing round Plymouth in the late 70s and 80s, but did not get too involved in the nighter scene. I'm not really involved in the scene anymore apart from Soulsource & a very intense love for the music, which I believe will never die. Paul

For me, it was my first allnighter with some of the Ormskirk crowd. Mandy Edis, Porky, Steve Marchant, Tommy Allinson, Pete Winrow etc. First record I heard was Alice Clarke "You Hit Me". Memories of the night, as John said Chrome, and big glass panels(some missing, & people falling through! ). Mel Williams "Can It Be Me", Timothy Wilson "Love Is Like An Itching", Jackie Follett "There's A Moment", and the Rolling Stones Version of "Under My Thumb" . Didn't realise that the scene was chemically stimulated . Only got into Va Vas once, the second time I wasn't old enough . Fortunately this time I was in a friends car. I remember dancing, and it suddenly felt like it was raining sideways. I found out later, I was dancing next to Booper and he went into a spin. Anyway John, I don't think you wore your uniform in school, so what were you doing wearing it out? Paul

I love these compilations. Back as a 15 year old soulie in 73, picking up a copy of Funky Bottom Congregation with the current big sound "Honest To Goodness", or A little Bit Of Soul, with "Blowing Up My Mind", and "Change Your Ways", was a great thing. And if I remember correctly, at the time they were regarded as a good thing to have. Unlike today with the anal "it's not the original US release and therefore not worth having" attitiude. They weren't bootlegs, and also were the original UK release. But that is a whole new thread! Paul

Probably the biggest was Proud Mary. Paul

I'm sure Steve Ceasar from Leeds? won it a couple of times. He had a dog called Tomango I seem to recall! Paul

I don't remember the flyer, do you still have a copy? I'd love to see a scan. Do you have any old photos of the time. Since I split with her in Plymouth any photographic evidence of me was destroyed. By the way, it was Tuesday night! Jimmy

I certainly do know all of them. I used to DJ with Tony at Tramps & the Circus Tavern, amonst other places. say hello to Viv for me and any of others. Jimmy Rimmer

AKA Jets, Monros etc. Great times. Paul

Just had the shock of my life when I got down to this post. I was going to ask whether Greg Ronkay was still around. I used to live in Plymouth & DJ late 70s, early 80s. Me, Postman Clive and his Black & white caps, Greg, Len Hardy a go go, Karen & Pete, who are on here. we had a great bunch of people around. Can you please pm me to let me know what happened to my old best mate. RIP Greg. "I wash my hands of your black plastic dustbin"! Paul(Jimmy) Rimmer

THat was great to read. I love stuff like that from when I first started at my local youth club, and hearing my first "northern". Was "Sweet Sherry" on a single? I thought it was just a "Rare Stamps" album track when it went big. I don't mean the Later Contempo release. Paul

The first allnighter badge was avaiable a few weeks after the 7th allnighter(which was my fist one). I got one, but that went, along with all the others, up to the 3rd allnighter badge, when my ex Mrs sister knicked them for some reason in the early 80s. Have you seen the repro ones that say "Right On Russ & Ken" . Paul

I don't know where I got the name Brian from. Stey Hayes was the one I'd forgotton. I'm sure I knew you at the time also, but don't recognise you from your phots!. Paul

I was there, it was more like mid 1975, as I was taking a short break from allnighters after being busted. Strange place really. Do I remember a seating area just raised up along side of the dancefloor, with a mirrored wall? All I can remember sound wise was the 70's style mecca stuff. I'm Shaft, Dance Dance Dance(Liquid Smoke), Who Can I Turn To(Marc Coppage) etc. Paul

I would say more 72 at the Torch. Apart from the dire reworking of Bob Relf by Simon Sussan that would have been 75. Paul

I posted this on another thread, but I remember Ann Rogers From Standish/Shevington, & "Kipper" Rimmer who lived in a pub in Newton Le Willows. Also, we tried this thread about 5 years ago. but didn't get too far then. Paul

First time I heard Joe 90 at a Northern night was around 74 at the Geraldo Club in St Helens. Can't remember the DJ, Dave something I think. played it for a laugh. Also the Kid was mentioned, Surely a Wheel sound? Paul

Great to see that, I thought none of the footage existed. Anm old mate of mine was in there, the girl in the yellow vest & pigtails is Anne Rogers from Shevington. & Kipper Rimmer from Newton Le Willows was in there somewhere! Paul

Va Vas, 1973, first record was Alice Clarke , "You Hit Me". First Love, Mel Williams "Can It Be Me". Paul

The only one I can remember on a Jamie Oliver advert was Felice taylor, "I can Feel Your Love". Don't think it includes counting though. Paul

The first anniversary. As mentioned in another thread that corner by Ms door was "The Ormskirk corner". Somthing that was ruined once Mr Ms opened. First DJ was probably Alan Cain or Kenny Spence. The Snake was a big sound again in the main hall about the same time, as a Reactivated oldie. Paul

Anyone remember Sammy & Grant with their little mob?. I was sitting in that room one night, & someone had told one of the goons that I had been selling chalkies & I had loads of money on me. He sat down next to me and pushed an open flick knife blade against my waist. Of course I shit myself & denied any involvement in the drugs trade. He wouldn't go until I gave him a quid...... Good job he didn't search me and found the rest of the money & stash . The next week, I was sitting on the stairs near the record bar verballing to someone and the goon came past, showed me his new flick knife & gave me a red & brown result!....sort of . Paul

For the first year of the Casino, that corner at the top of the stairs was where the Ormskirk & Southport crowd used to congregate I think this is there with M's door to the right of Hilgs(from N Wales RIP) We thought that the actual casino type gambleing bit was probably behind those padded doors . Once Ms opened some of our crowd went in there, others like myself just wandered around allnight verballing to whoever wanted to listen! Paul

I went to one of these, all chrome & glass, a bit like Va Vas big brother. Wasn't the venue actually the Village Disco? I remeber it being pretty bad, with not many people there. Paul