Paul R

I got vol 2 in HMV, and immediately bought vol 1 via ebay cheeper. Don't know about the JJ track though sorry. Paul

Hey hey Bunny was played on the scene at , I think, the Torch or maybe late Wheel. It certainly was played as an oldie in Mr Ms, Wigan around '74, 75. Track below. Paul

I think that it was taken on the first anniversary. the reason being is that the girl in the centre of the photo is Cath from ormskirk and the guy with curly hair at the far right looking right is Keith Dickinson her boyfriend. Unless I'm very much mistaken, they only went once to Wigan, although they were Mecca regulars for a while. Keith lived at the Greyhound Pub in Ormskirk. Paul

Just to join in on the SS thread, I haven't got any juicy US style SS stories unfortunately, but I was talking to Richard S on the way to the casino one (i think) Wednesday night, and he was enthusing about the new versions of Blowing my mind to pieces, that were arriving on the following weekend. I was in Russ's shop on the following Saturday afternoon when Russ came in with a well coiffured pink suited diminutive gentleman, who proceeded to put som absolute shite onto the deck. What really took the biscuit was this abortion that appeared to be loosely based on "Thumb a ride". I just stopped flicking through the vinyl and said "What the f*ck is that"?. I got daggers from the man. I was actually suprised that Richard was in on these crap(IMHO) tailor mades. That's it sorry it wasn't more glamorous. Paul

I know it is all a matter of opinion, but to my ears California Montage is pure elevator music. I'm not criticising the pedigree of the musicians, but I don't get it as a soul, or Northern thing. I do love northern instrumentals though. Mike & Ike, Hank Jacobs, Fathers Angels, Checkerboards, Rat Race etc. Wasn't the Nino Temple version of "Put It Where You Want It" a vocal? Paul

I believe Mike Post Was the arranger or producer. Also wasn't there a story going around in the 70s that Sam played Classical Gas covered up as "Morning Of The Monkey" at some venue? Paul

Just like to put my two penn'th in about this thread. I don't like to comment on these arguments normally, as I do not get around as much as I should(She won't let me out will she Steve!), but looking at the flyer for the venue it does say Northern Soul, and it does also mention the main, early, (i.e. pre 1981 venues), and therefore does not indicate a cutting edge "rare soul", "modern soul", "tent music" scene. If I were to attend, I would expect old style northen(including Mecca type '70s), and not a night of disco , slow funk, rock & roll, or feckin' beat ballads for that matter. Why not split the whole scene into the 27 factions it appears to be nowadays and go into your own little underground cults..... or maybe learn to live together. Or even just go to the events that appeal to your musical taste & let the others do the same. Paul

Didn't sneak in from what I remember(apart fron the 2nd anniversary when I got in through Mr Ms), but I used to pour myself the occasional pint from the unmanned, upstairs bar in Mr Ms. Paul

How about the Centre Newton Aycliffe. Went there once in 74. Jumped the trains to get there, had duff gear. Good Northern in one room. The film "Diamonds Are Forever" in another room . And arrested on the train on the way back for having no ticket . I think it was the week before Wigan 1st anniversary. Paul

The sort of obvious one would be the combined vocal talents of the aforemention menagerie on Mark Johnsons "This Beautiful Place". Not the vocal version though because that would be a bootleg of Frankie & the Classicals. Either that, or the classic "Daisy, Baba, Tarka, Bagpuss & the Stick Insect doin' The Boogaloo" by Wigans Ovation Paul

Another favourite lyric: I knew all along that I was your pet, 'cause you treated me like a dog & I'll bet..... Paul

On her way to work one mornin' down the path along side o' the lake etc etc etc. Paul

I remember Monday-Leyland Public Hall with ken Rigby DJing, Tuesday-Burscough Football Club, Wednesday-Wigan, Thursday-Court School of Dancing then Geraldo, St helens, Thursday-Guinness Exports Club Ormskirk, then Friday-Wigan. Plus various others at times Paul

I haven't got a clue about the price of an original, about 15 years ago I ventured to a car boot sale in a little village 10 miles outside Portsmouth , and while perusing a box of pop records, I came across an EMIDISC with the GTOs on one side & Bits & Peices Keep on Running Away on the other. Nothing else northern just this. Odd!! Paul

? Paul

Ah Burscough!, the Ponderosa greasers cafe! the Fooball club Soul Nights on a Tuesday with the Soul Spinners 4. I'd love to get up for one of these new nights at the Legion . But alas, it's 280 miles away now. That's a ong way on a Lambretta. Good luck with the nights though. Paul Rimmer

brilliant! . paul

I don't like to get involved with these petty bickering arguments about What Is Soul etc, but to me, NORTHERN soul is basically a scene and not a music genre. In the Northern Soul scene the music played is predominantly uptempo music performed by black artists(normally referred to as soul), but also records with the correct dance beat performed by white artists. SOUL music is extremely difficult to define, and I wouldn't attempt to do it. Certain records by established POP artists have been featured in the Northern soul scene this does not make the artist concerned a soul artist, just someone who has performed at track that fits. The logic that if one Lulu track fits the bill in the scene, that means that Boom Bang a Bang is a soulful classic, is bollocks. Paul

As a northern sound, I dislike both Murial Day & Toni Basil. I do like Holly St James though. Not a great song or vocal even in a poppy sense, but as a dancer, I just love the way it builds to a crescendo, and then suddenly drops off towards the end. Just my opinion though Paul

I read through back issues of both BM and B&S, from 72-76 ish, all the time. Each day on my way for a dump I'll grab one at random . Quite interresting. I get very nostalgic for the "big sounds" listings in the clubs adverts. definately IMHO the golden age. One interresting point I found was that Tony Cummings favorite release from I think 1974, was a certain Nolan Porter If I Could Only Be Sure. I also remember the fallout from the Northern Soul exposes in BM. I caused so much anger, especially at Wigan. Still it was a great time to be around. Paul

In 74/75 I was at the Rose Room in Burnley for an alldayer. It was early on & me and my mate Gossy were just on the edge of the dance floor when Ian Levine walked across towards the Decks. In unison we started pouring adulation on Mr levine, "Ian We Love You!", "You're Great" etc etc. He turned round with a big grin on his face that quickly became a scowl & he growled "Oh you're Pete Lawsons mates arn't you", and scuttled off in a huff. OH! sorry the thread was about CELEBRITIES Paul

Even though it is one of my favourites ever, I always have problems picking up the correct beat to Mel Williams "Can It Be Me". Also the intro to the Magnificents "My Heart Is Calling" starts off a bit tricky. Paul

Don't they both pay homage to Archie bell "Tighten Up"? Paul

neither can I. Love 'em both actually. Most uptempo things by the Velvelettes(Motown) plus the Stormer "I'm Gonna Find Me Somebody" By the Vel Vets on 20th Century. I may also have spelt(or spelled) some of the above incorrectly, or even got a name wrong, gammar or punctuation may even be incorrect. Yes I do know the difference. Paul

In its day before the term Northern Soul was invented. Paul PS I loved the Snake when I was 13 and at 50 I still love it!. And The Velvettes for that matter.