Soulsmith

You just have to see Mischiefs dance to The Snake. Honestly, it will crack you up.

"s for the Rocket, first nite, packed, too packed really, but hard place to fill as v.big and parking a nitemare! How many people didnt get their cars broken into is what I would like to know as Im not on that list! I have good memories of going there due to attending with a v.good friend of mine, not with us anymore" Yep, agree totally. First night packed, no room to dance & sound from speakers was dreadful. Mates also had their car broken into. Col. Sorry, next bit completely off topic, but maybe slightly amusing to some. Another mate Steve & I went for a quick beer round the corner. Pub was an Irish pub & they were having a karoke. As soon as we walked in it stopped & it was one of the moments where tumbleweed could have blown across the floor. One of the locals took an instant dislike to my mates leather trench coat. His opening line was "a bit of a nazi are you?" I thought fcuk, here we go again!

You are just rubbing it in now

First time I heard it was early 80s on a pirate radio station. Think it was JFM out of London.

Going off topic a bit.......surely I'm allowed to do that Its funny what effect records like The Snake & Interplay have. Was at a south coast do, a year & a bit ago and those records were played in one of the worst sets I've ever heard. Can't remember who the DJ was - but he was wearing a red beret I had a right cob on for the whole hour. But looking around Tim Brown was loving it, he appreciated the comedy element of it all. Something that was so bad was so funny. But try as I might, I couldn't get it.......for me it was like watching Rome burn!

"I think it would fetch tuppence h'penny and that's what I would be prepared to pay" Oh come on Simon! Not saying they were right or wrong, but they are now part of northern soul history. Representing a seminal moment in the development of the rare soul movement! I think they could be graded as kitsch which is very collectable you know!! Col

Thats interesting....whats MAA news? Cheers

But a brilliant record. First heard it played out by Lisa Hurley. I saw the trouble Jamie was having getting hold of one and assumed it was rare. Just checked the books, one say £100 the other says £250.

Thats quite catchy. Close your eyes and you can just imagine Peter Kay marching 'Amarillo' style through your living room.

With the beauty of hind sight, its possible that my greatest contribution to the scene may have been winding you up.

Yes, I get where your coming from. And I do appreciate that he was very successful in pop & hi energy. But for a self confessed life long soul fan, how come he couldn't make any/many decent soul records? Or did he & I just haven't heard them? Col Ps glad I can still make people

How about posting an mp3 for us sad gits that have zero chance of ever owning it? Col

Cheers for posting up. Not quite my cup of T, but can see a lot of people getting it. Lke Simsy I'm not particulary bothered by his legendary rudenes nor do I care if he is really a good person. The thing that bothers me most is about the music and his record productions. Just the sheer scale of the wasted opportunity. Having the funds, material, artists, studio facilities & distribution available to him, you would have expected something a bit special. 95% of everything I've heard has been dreadful. Why take talented soul singers & produce high energy? If Ian had a gift, I would say that it was in producing a sows ear from a silk purse. Col.

Blimey, I never saw that one coming? What did I do to deserve that? Posted thread 'cos I was genuinely interested & thought other people would be. Col. PS I have no immeasurable contribution to the scene. Just love the scene, the music & just about every body on it.

Thanks to every body for making this thread balanced & interesting. Simon are you able to post any of those tunes either up here or in the library? Col.

Always play Martha Reeves - No One There, when I'm on the 8pm shift. Just tickles me.

Being full paid up southerners my mates & I all had to travel some distance for our week-end fix of northern. I always found it quite ironic that we had Colin Bee records almost on our door steps. Don't think Colin Bee started the pressing game but they certainy knocked out some boots! Anybody know who first started pressing northern records? What were the first titles? Col

Heard about from couple of lads locally. Said it was almost unregulated, very funny & with some massive arguments. Agree with John - The Exciter's "Reaching for The Best " is an all time classic. Done to death at the time, but now NEVER gets a spin. Andy, sorry to disappoint but don't have the T shirt, but its fairly easy for me to get them printed up. But not much point at the moment

Hi Bill, Today one of my mates died (see my blog). Personally I am at a bit of a loss right now. Maybe I'm looking for a bit of personal closure. If this carries on somebody may get sued and I wouldn't like that right now. I love my northern/rare soul, but it doesn't amount to hill of beans when it comes down to the issues that really matter - like family Col. ps your post was well thought out & good

Remus.......where you been? Looked out for you at Cardiff all-niter Col.

Nobody can argue with your points Karen, but personally I'd like to see it all drop.

Good points. You should post more often.

Came back in the scene with a flourish & disappeared just as quickly Anybody know what he's doing now? What exactly was his relationship with Take That? What was his best contribution to Soul music? - serious question What do you think an orig. 70s 'Levine Must Go T' would fetch on E-e-bay - or what would you be prepared to pay? Col

No, I buried 'em all on a treasure island.

Brainstorm '78/79? Almost everyone down south chopped in their oxford bags down south for a pair of pegs Derek only another 4 stars to get & then you can get to deal with the public again.