macca

I would contend that Colin Curtis is the Pope, not Ratzinger, and as such his infallibility is beyond all doubt. All other 'big name' DJs, including Searling, are mere cardinals, princes of the Church, worthy of the crumbs that have fallen from the Supreme Pontiff's table. Some scholars have contended that these crumbs have transubstantiated miraculously into vinyl and styrene (invented by Simon of Styrene) discs, the tangible proof required by the Lateran Council for Doctrine and Faith for his eventual beatification and canonisation as a saint of the our Holy Mother Church. During the great cism of the 1970s, a false Pope and his coterie of tridentine catacomb dwelling followers established a licentious, depraved court in a north-western English town famous for its pier and mint humbugs, provoking much wailing and gnashing of teeth among the faithfull. This false Pope today, like the great heretic who established a false papacy in Avignon in the 13th century, is known today for abominable acts of spiritual debauchery, still beguiling those would wear traditional vestments and commune openly with Satan. It surprises me, as a mere parishioner, that such comparisons, abjectly heinous comparisons, with Great Pontiff are made. Let's be sincere, the Great Pontiff has, in the words of Bob Dylan, done it all, and done more than anyone can pretend to do. We should be asking ourselves not what He can do for us, but what we can do for Him. God bless Colin Curtis and his long grey locks.

If rare soul event attendees (we can't use the word punter anymore) are to be believed, then I actually think the opposite would be expected. No comprendo this 'umbrella' business either. I go to events periodically and the words 'northern soul' per se don't appear in the bumph or on the posters. They tend to have exotic names like Runaway Love Soul Sessions, Soul4Real, Sounds Of Unity & Love, Movin' On etc. That's not to say that Northern isn't played at them though, along with a lot of other styles or genres.

That's probably because they have zero credibility anyway, Win. I thought Chris King was insufferable the first time round. To hear he's playing off CDs today, well there you go. And Winstanley? Lord help us...

You'll have to admit that some didn't belong in 1974 either. Just depends who the judge and jury are.

people don't get upset Rich, they just get temporary and emotionally re-adjusted.

over here, like in germany, people drink and then some, but you won't see people with pints. they'll drink either shorts, which really should be called longs, or just bottled beer. some people carry their drink onto the floor, some don't. If townies are admitted and start to misbehave on the floor, they're pulled up on it, given a warning and if that doesn't work, invited to leave quickly. I've never seen any trouble or fights, but I have seen people acting stupid once or twice, but never for long. It depends on how the event in question is promoted. I know the valencia northern soul club lads include 'no drinks on the floor' blurb in their promotional material. others say nothing at all and allow the crowd to 'police' the event. personally, I've no problem with a person dancing next to me with a drink in his or hand as long as they dance in such a way that doesn't impinge on my own enjoyment. here it seems to work, largely because the majority don't tend to do 'stunts' or spins and the like, or even take up much space on the floor. those that do dance 'english style' are given the room they need. I suppose this approach would be unworkable in the UK today...

marvellous. I'm in the very last photo. blue shirt, on the right. :-)

Vicky's parents used to run a pub on the A1 near Sawtry, I think. Smudge is right. Mad as a box of frogs, but lovely with it.

Wasn't the great willie tee a shag hero? I think dear john and walking up a one way street are shag anthems. you gotta pay some dues sounds eminently shagworthy to my ears too...

Have the Greeks been informed?

If I had to name just one record it would be Tony Clarke's Landslide, which I imagine hooked loads of us. It was at the youth club late 1973 I guess, as by the summer if 1974 me and my mate were hanging out with the older crowd, who certainly talked the talk and walked the walk.

Located a copy. Many thanks! Mac.

Demo or issue. Preferably M- Cheers, Mac.

Know what you mean. I could never stand her 'flights of vocal fancy' on 'I Get The Sweetest Feeling' with Jackie Wilson for the same reason.

I'm relieved to know which ones are poo. My favourite would have to be 'Determination' and I got to tell the bloke so in Madrid 5 years ago. Nice bloke. Johnny Maestro's 'Stepping Out Of The Picture' has to be up there too...

What a wonderful voice the man had too. Sad end to a very influential figure. RIP.

Agree it's overpriced on Ebay. 50US, bit steep I reckon. I'm also after one, but not at that price. A lot come up for 10-15US, but they're very often VG, or VG+...

Until this moment, people that hitherto considered themselves to be sane individuals will take these words as a ´sign' and start behaving irrationally, giving their partners cause for concern, with neighbours peering at them when they put the bins out, looking for that tell-tale mad gleam and trace of saliva in the corner of the mouth. You may not be aware of what you've started, Steve.

No, Steve, definitely a male vocal, and not Tommy & the Derbys. Never mind chaps, and thanks anyway.

Nope, not Dee Clark, but thanks anyway. It'll just have to remain a mystery till I next hear it! Thinking about it, maybe it wasn't about having 'class' but perhaps 'style'? Not Sidney Barnes, either. What a conundrum...

We could have a Paypal whip round and pay for Bob's flight to the UK. Get him on at Lifeline or one of the other 'bonafide' Rare Soul all-nighters, followed by a similar European event, in Germany, Scandinavia or Spain. This way he would be able to appreciate just how 'the scene' has proliferated beyond its original UK confines. He could then travel back to Chicago safe in the knowledge that he truly understands what actually drives us, makes us tick. I think it's a splendid idea...

Who couldn't have liked Etta James? A sad start to the year indeed. Rest in peace.

I heard it in Barcelona last December, though it wasn't for the first time. It could have been any one of the DJs that weekend, Edu, SteveG, Butch, Sam, Lars Bulheim etc. Can anyone enlighten me, please?

keith minshull might have been responsible for those?

It keeps raining was played at wigan at the oldies all-nighters on fridays, along with steve alaimo and other 'from another era' tunes. I even heard 'nowhere to run' in the main hall on one of those nights.