Paul R

I saw her at Preston Top Rank around the same time. Also saw the O'Jays on the same bill as Bunny Sigler , and the jazz Funksters Sun. This was at Jacksonville Colluseum in 1978. Very disappointing if you were expecting the "Northern" repertoire from either acts. But great all the same. I missed the following week, but I seem to remember it was the Isley bros, & Maze!. Paul

Len Jewel-Bettin' On Love Gene Chandler-Bet You Never Thought Also for a Casino there were never enough Decks. Ooops sorry possibly a drug reference. Paul

For me, it never quite makes it. Very Muzac ish IMHO. But you never know. Paul

Cheers Pete part one was excellent bring on Part 2. But Pete Please tell me which do you prefer Gary Lewis or Carstairs. Does anyone remember when a big scandle broke that Jerry Lewis beat his kids. My Mrs at the time was a big Jerry lewis fan and was absolutely shocked. When she mentioned it to me , the only thing I could say was "have you actually heard My Hearts Symphony". In my opinion, in my time going to Wigan 73-77 it was the worse record played or possibly Johnny Vonelli. Paul

A bit harsh, with Gary Lewis, Tim Tam, etc around. But I know what you mean. As it says on the front of the CD Vol1 so they were obviously planning Vol 2. I should think if you are compiling a series, then the big mistake would be to put all the real goodies on Vol 1. By vol 3 it would be all really second or third rate. Paul

Found this one, a Jamie/guyden release from '98 Quite cheap from the states. 1. You're Number One - The Volcanos 2. Boogaloo Down Broadway - The Fantastic Johnny C 3. Standing In The Darkness - The Ethics 4. Storm Warning - The Volcanos 5. Right On The Tip Of My Tongue - Brenda & The Tabulations 6. You May Not Love Me - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 7. Girl I Love You - The Temptones 8. Baby - The Volcanos 9. The Touch Of You - Brenda & The Tabulations 10. The Jokes On You - Kenny Gamble 11. That's The Way Love Goes - The Ethics 12. Get Out (And Let Me Cry) - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 13. Say These Words Of Love - The Temptones 14. Make Your Move - The Volcanos 15. Don't Stop Loving Me - Kenny Gamble 16. Help Wanted - The Volcanos Still need plenty though. As you say it's about individual tracks. Got to be one of my favourite labels, and almost the soundtrack to my early allnighter career in late 73/early 74. Particularly "the Laws Of Love" takes me back to that New shopping arcade in Station rd Plus us all buying plastic saxaphones to play along to Mike & Ike Great days. Paul

I've had a look around, but does anyone know of a CD with all the classic "Northern" Arctic recordings? Volcanoes, Mike & Ike, Kenny Gamble Etc? Paul

The Snake on UK silver Bell Paul

Was my favourite record at the youthclub in 1971, and that was about 2 years after it was a Wheel play, I believe. It was resurected at Wigan in '74. IMHO it's still got somthing good going for it in a cheezy sort of way. Paul

There's a lot worse played on the radio/adverts every day. Unfortunately, we don't have any control over it. For that matter, there was/is a lot worse played on the "rare" soul scene since the 6ts to the present day. Just a matter of taste, opinion, attitude. The Snake still holds a place in my heart from the first time around, ish. I don't play it out of choice nowadays, but when it comes on the mp3 player in shuffle mode, I certainly don't switch it off. But I obviously like dross!. Paul

Got to agree with this. Awful IMHO Paul

A few times down in Plymouth in the Late '70s I played Sam The Sham & The Pharohs, "I'm In With The Out Crowd". I still think It's a great dancer with quite funny lyrics. Also Chubby Checker "Do The Freddy". But that was in the days when you could have a laugh at local soul nights. Is it still so? Paul

I don't ever remember it as a Wigan track, but for the same reason you stated, I don't remember some complete nights. I've just googled it & yes, I know it from the golf, but it is quite reminiscent of "California Montage" (which I do think is muzak!) IMHO. As for I shouldn't like it but..... When I play the "original" fake "Footsie", live with the hand claps from t'casino. Such memories!. As for "Witch Queen Of New Orleans", I'm sure I read somewhere recently, that Redbone were the musicians on Joe Hicks "Don't It Make You Feel Funky". Or did I dream it? Paul

I met Soussan in Russ's shop in Wigan when he came over to promote the Blowing My Mind to Peices covers, and I could not believe it when he was very smug when putting one record on the turntable expecting me to be enthusiastic. His version of thumb a Ride. He was quite put out when I told him what I thought of it. Following on from the Richard Searling thread that has been resurrected. He was always my favourite Wigan Jock, so, I was quite suprised with him as a couple of weeks prior to this, Richard was telling me about 2 great new versions of "Blowing My Mind To pieces" he was getting. When I heard them & knew the source, Mr Searling did go down in my estimation. ..........I don't supposed he noticed though. paul

Thinking about it, was it more pronounced years ago?. You didn't see the "Top" Jocks at allnighters dancing. By that, I don't include people Like Dave evison, who was a fan that played oldies. The dancing DJs were generally the people who put on Local soul nights in pub back rooms & working mens clubs. paul

I sold most of my vinyl last year, and it consited of records mainly bought from the early to late 70s. Some pressing went to silly prices, like my dark blue Salvadors for £62. which was more than an original Moses smith, or UK demo of the Tiffanies. very strange at times. In answer to your question, If your morals deplore the selling of bootlegs then destroy them. If you think they are only worth a couple of quid, then as 2nd issues put them on ebay as buy it now. IF you need cash and want to offer them to people who may want to buy them, just ebay them with a picture and describe them as 2nd issues. generally punters will then knbow what they are buying. I sold a Youngblood Smith "Walk On Baby"(sic) on Soulworld for £11.50. The guy asked if I had a scan of the original for when he was DJing There is a market for them. Paul

Epitome Of Sound "You Don't Love Me" was speeded up & pressed as Moses Smith on Sandbag. I don't believe that Johnny caswell "You Don't Love Me Anymore" was covered as Moses Smith. Both records were big at about the same time though, and with minds being a bit vague there could be some confusion. Paul

The problem is, if you reclassify them as Motown, you couldn't play them at a Northern Night & Vice versa. Still, it would give the soul police a job to do. I'm more concerned about playing Edwin Star SOS etc at a Motown night. Surely that must be against the rules. And if taken off the playlist it would leave a space for Stoney & Meatloaf. Paul

For years I had the memory of a track I remembered from the old north west gambling house that I though the chorus was "Your Wonderful". Bearing in mind that I only heard it at an allnighter and that was 30 odd years ago, I never knew what it was. About 3 years ago I was at one of Steve Cs does in Portsmouth, and I heard it for the first time since 74ish. They were singing "Fool To Fool". It all comes flooding back. Fantastic track. Not heard the B side though. Paul

Further to what Pete S said about the Ormskirk connection, the two main people involved actually worked separately. and were always threatened by Frank Elson from Blues & Soul with "writs". I don't know if anything actually happened. I did go with one of them(who I shall call Pete ) to a recording studio in Carnforth where he would get a 4 track EMI done for about £1.25. He used to provide a lot of originals himself, but at least one of the top DJs at the time used to same studio, and the owner used to tape all the tracks he had copied, and offer them to Pete next time he went up. This would ensure a good supply of biggies. Both Pete & Keith also used to sell originals as well, and I've just dug out a couple of old Black Musics with the classified section. I don't know about any of the other advertisers apart from the 2 Ormskirk lads, but there are a lot of "top" records being adbvertised. By the way, the only EMI I ever had was in mid 73 and it was Butch baker "Workin' At The Go Go" B/W Promatics "Sugar Pie Honey" Paul

Sorted now, cheers Tabs. Paul

After selling up the 45s last year, I've just realised that I do not have a CD with Ike & Tina Turners Dust My Broom. It's the "Northern" one I'm after & not the Tina Turner blues one. Anyone post me an MP3. Cheers Paul

Although the black magic release was 75, I'm pretty sure it was 74 that soussan sent the demos across. I may be wrong though. Paul

I think you've got your years a bit wrong Pete. It was played 72-73, and pressed in 73 on the yellow Trans Logo. By 74 it was just an oldie. I remember talking to Richard on the way to an early Wigan session, it must have been 74 and he was very enthusiastic about the new version & instrumental. Which turned out to be the "Bob Relf" and Paula Rousell atrosities done by simple simon. Paul

Thing is though, when this was "big", the Buzzcocks were still about 6 years away from being invented. Totally agree with Pete, Not soul, but Northern. Paul