Paul R

A few years ago I met up with an old Wigan mate and during the night he came out with what I thought was a classic but typical conversation between him and another mate one night at the Casino. Mate 1 was walking towards the door looking like he was on the brink of cracking up. Mate 2 goes up to him and asks were he's going. Mate 1 replies that he's not feeling too good and wants to be on his own. Mate 2 replies "good idea I'll come with you" Well I thought it was funny.

I don't know about the Virgin Mary, but I've got Doris Troy "I'll Do Anything" on Toast!

Definately 74 and both off the album as Jr Walker had not yet been released on 7" Played off the album Peace & Understanding. Thelma got the first plays though.

Around this time does anyone remember Levine with his leg in plaster. He started getting pretty pissed off with us singing the first few lines from "I'm your Pimp" as in "I wear my hat to the side & walk with a limp"

I always thought it was "You've been dropping amphetamine" or have we done that thread before!

I wouldn't have thought it was worh very much, as every man and his dog appears to have a copy!

Most of the Jr Walker "A gasss" LP. Particularly At A Saturday Matinee, Riding High On Love , and Shut Up Don't Interrupt Me. Also Martha & The Vandellas on "Watchout" Hapiness Is Guaranteed.

And here it is, the 5 star link. the band leader is 5 stars dad. I remember this one being played locally in 73 ish when it was released. I don't know if it was played out at any big venues. https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...4048299491&rd=1

Obviously the One Casino he quotes as his location is more famous for gambling than dancing.

As the curtains start to close it would have to be The Joker(Definately the Mylestones version). Just to beat my wife to it with the laughter!

I was in Russ's shop one Saturday afternoon and the pink suited one (Mr Soussan) had just arrived with some future classics that got played over the shops record player. I actually kept quiet until the new version of "Thumb A Ride" came over the speakers. All I could do was say loudly What The f**k is this. Soussan could only give me a dirty look for criticising his latest masterpiece. Saying that, he also introduced some real classics to the scene even if it was for his own financial benefit.

In the "olden" days we had blues and soul and also with generally only 1 or two main weekly venues or allnighters(ie Wigan and Mecca)(oops not forgetting Cleethorpes). We generally met up on a Saturday night and verballed to our hearts content about the next days alldayers. Nowadays there appears to be more allnighters but not as regular and playing a more varied style of sound within the general umbrella of Rare or Northern Soul. Therefore more organisation on a national scale must be required to meet up with fellow soulies. Oh we also had telephones that were connected to our houses by wires that we could use occasionally.!! Paul

In the early 70s rumours were abound that a vocal version did exist by "Tony Turner" I think. No copies ever appeared though.

One of my all time favourites is Duke & Leonard " Just Do The Best You Can". Such an awsome track (IMVHO).

Freddie Scott, Are you Lonely for Me album Major Lance on Pye? mid 70s Na Allen on Janus?

That's the one. I couldn't remember anything about it apart from the groups name. Now the memory is rekindled I still like it. Cheers everyone. Paul

As an none participating souly nowadays I don't know if they have been revived at any time but I still love to hear. The Willows, My Kinda Guy, Diane Brooks, In My Heart And Betty Webb, I Know. What a good Label MGM was(IMHO)

Does anyone remember a sound played in the mid 70s, I'm sure it was by the Brown Bombers and called "Having Fun" or something similar. I seem to think it was a B side backing track of the A side. Was it ever revived and has anyone got an MP3 or RM of it. Paul

Quite often there has been a bit of Northern played on "Wife Swap". In the last series they played the De-lites Lover & Mel Torme Com'n Home Baby amongst others. One the same subject there is often something good played on City gardener. And one time on Life Laundry they played Little Richard "A Little Bit Of Somethin'".....................has my life really come down to watching this "Reality" crap. BTW Wiganer1- No I'm not horrified by Leeds season, Play Up Pompey!

I seem to remember in about 1973 him doing a program about "underground" music and Levine did a section about Northern. Love on a mountain top was played as it was about the time of its re-release and I think Linda Jones, Just can't live my life, a biggie at the time, was also featured. John Peel "got into Northern" at this time and apparently featured a couple of tracks on his shows. Although not generally a hero of mine, I believe that his contribution to "popular" music was second to none. And possibly without him there would not have been as many "Hairies" to hassle in the early 70's! Paul

My favourite at my first alnighter was Mel Williams "Can it Be Me", but could I dance to it, Nah!. Also I had to wait until the intro to the Magnificents "MyHeart is Calling You" had finished before hitting the floor.

Burscough Football Club in '73 with the Soul Spinners 4 DJing. Described by Elsie Frankson as "One of the friendliest clubs in the country".

Mojo was definately legit. I believe it was run by John Abbey, the editor of Blues and Soul. All official releases including many classic "Northern" Tracks like the O'jays and Invitations "What's Wrong With Me Baby". Many worth buying, but not for much money. I seem to remember that Al Kent "You Gotta Pay The Price" is pretty rare though.

About 15 years ago when I was in the Navy, i used to try to be the first in the mess to put on a tape to inflict my taste of music on everyone else. Usually to shouts of "not more soul crap" or words to that effect. Eventually I made a tape of "Northern" tracks by Paul Anka, Helen Shapiro, Shane Martin, Dean Parish, Bobby Paris etc. There was still no pleasing some people, they still maoned. Talking of the Beachboys I think the intro to "Darlin'" is awsome, but the song doesn't live up to it.

Didn't he have a track called "Magic Saxones"?