macca

Sorry, but I still think the term 'disco demand' was ill chosen. I don't think any of us went to 'discos' to hear rare soul back in 74/5. Ian Levine's PYE album was excellent. Nowt wrong with releasing records. But why did the PYE singles thing go the way it did? They had a wealth of material there from Wand & Scepter and we got things like The FlintNiks, The Sha Na Netts, Wayne Gibson and Wigan's Chosen Few instead. Admittedly there were a few decent things, but given the wealth of material it could have been a lot better. Was it due to Winstanley's tutelage? Rest assured McAleer would have been none the wiser. Far from giving it a rest, as it were, I stand by my comments. Saludos...

I think Wigan started to 'sell out' well before 'This England'. What about Dave McAleer from PYE being invited to The Casino? Before we knew it we had a UK label called, of all things, 'Disco Demand', a term repulsive to most of us. Russ Winstanley milked it for all it was worth, within 18 months of the first all-nighter. The Wigan's Chosen Few/Javells debacle came in 1974, with Wigan's Ovation hot on their heels in 1975 right? The arrival of the film crews in 1977 shouldn't taken anyone by surprise. I only attended The Casino two or three times that year, preferring St.Ives to an 8 hour cross-country train odyssey. Strangely enough, I find the documentary much more watchable today than back then. In answer to the question about letting in film crews today, I would say no.

When you say 'these people have to be told' I assume you're referring to these people who accused you of 'promoting the venue for regular monthly nights', not the people on this site. This thread has inevitably raised the transparency issue, or lack of it, at some so called charity events across the country. I think people are right to voice such concerns, it's got bugger all to do with cynicism in my opinion.

if we want to go really back, then there's the yiddish music for the jewish immigrants then flooding into NYC.

Beiderbeck and people like Eddie Lang were part of their Jazz series which fell nicely in step with the company's Race series of the 20s. I suppose Johnny Ray was your first 'pop artist' to record for the label. 'Cry' is a tremendous recording. Remember that 70s Okeh compilation? I only used to listen to stuff like Williams & Watson back then, skipping all the rest of it, which is a crime when you think about it. Otis Williams & the Charms 'Your Sweet Love Rained All Over me' off the same album is also gob-smacking. We were far too tribal for our own good back then... :-)

Then I'm a naive old git then Ged. I guess common sense must prevail in the end. After all, acts of charity can be simple gestures rather than giving the shirt off your back. The airline thing does work me up though... :-)

It would be difficult if we're talking about the calculation of profit, but I'm talking about a chuck jackson scenario of handing it over (the lot), even charging people a special fee to use the khasi. I'm serious. I'm involved with someone who gives a month of her annual holidays to improve the lives of the less fortunate and it pisses me off that the airlines don't donate the airfares and excess baggage fees for all the medical equipment for the group. they can afford it and so can we. :-)

Some promotors today use the charity tag as a lure though, don't they? If, as a result of hyping the charity aspect of the event, they get a bigger turnout than normal, diverting a given percentage of the kitty isn't really going to financially challenge them in any way. I'm of the opinion that all proceeds should be donated, from the booking fee for the hall to all DJ fees and all bar and door takings. Any other arrangement just smacks of opportunism to me.

I think it's another sign of approaching mortality. As we pass middle age and enter the third phase of our lives, we become more aware of the need for solidarity, compassion, altruism etc; After all, charity events were pretty thin on the ground in the 70's, weren't they? DJs should of course donate their fees if they decide to accept a booking where it's clear that all proceeds are going to a named charity. I also think that all bar takings/profits should be donated, then we'd really see how sincere people were, wouldn't we?

When I think of the garbage I had to sit through that day & night, & then you see this, criminally left off the DVD, it just makes you realise what kind of agenda the music industry has when it comes to black artists. I know Hall & Oates hauled out Kendricks & Ruffin, and Patti Labelle blew everybody away with her version of Dylan's Forever Young (well she blew me away) etc, but this powerhouse performance from the Tops is just wonderful. Levi is in fine form.

I would also dispute the Euroland clubbers tag James. Though I can only speak for Spain, I've attended events in Madrid (Magic Soul), Santiago (Modern Weekender) and Gijon (Sounds of Unity & Love) and the vast majority of the crowd are, to use a Spanish word, aficionados, not undiscerning 'wiggling clubbers'. Apart from The Boiler and Movin' On, there are other events across the country like Bilbao's Soul4Real (Aitor on here) and Valencia's VNSC nighters (Dani Herranz & Albert Petit on here), which I've yet to attend. To use a well worn clich, I'd say they were cutting-edge Rare Soul events. Not quite sure what 'Euroland' is either. I would have thought Rawtenstall, Levenshulme, Shoreditch, Stamford and Stotfold were also part of 'Euroland', but I could be wrong of course. ;-)

Syng McGowan is a great tune.

Chris Cerf 'Sweet Music' was a right clapper. Eddie Garrigan 'I Wish I Was' as well.

Tammi Terrell was very pretty in a wholesome way, but I don't think she exuded the raw sensuality of singers like Laura Lee, for example.

Am I to understand 'scene' in the 70's sense of the word? i.e. a handful of key venues strategically placed in the north west, the midlands, the east midlands, the south west and the capital?

They evidently danced so as to be less conspicuous then. Did they dance in the approved fashion?

A Carpetdancer is a variant of the carpetbagger. Their modus operandi is exactly the same, i.e. they move into an area with the sole purpose of extracting whatever is beneficial to them with no real committment to establishing roots. I think they should be given their marching orders, especially when they crowd tables and sweat profusely.

The Fleet in the early 80's most definitely served alcohol, but just for the first hour I think. Crisps, whatever the flavour, are the most sinful manifestion of all-nighter goer perversion I can think of. A few handfuls of millet was chickenfeed compared to being caught with cuttlefish bone, powdered or whole. This thread is going to spiral out of control.

Agreed. I think it may be a tiny minority, often just one prat, that spoils it for everybody. The Spanish have the saying 'pagan los justos por pecadores', which means that the righteous pay for the sins of others. Root out the sinners now!!

Hello chaps. Willie Mitchell's Driving Beat Mono HL 12029 It's virtually a mint copy bought sealed. Sleeve in perfect condition too, ie no cut corners or seam splits etc. Any ideas? Cheers, Mac.

How do you distinguish those that 'are there for the bar' from the others then? I might attend an event & not move from the table/record bar, apart from trips to the khasi. That's not to say I'm not fully attentive to what sounds are being played and who's playing them etc; If I go to a club at around half twelve/one o'clock, having the bar close on me at 3.30am is extremely irksome. I know what you're gonna say though, get there earlier!!

Years ago we had no choice, due to the absurd licencing laws then in place and with most people being into gear, it just wouldn't have lent itself, would it? Walking into a venue at 1am and finding it smoke-free with a soft drinks only policy would seem very, very odd to me now. Sadly, I'm one of those that has to 'loosen up' a bit before hitting the floor, quite pathetic, I know. But could it be that drinking pints in session mode makes some people boorish, particularly the chaps? I ask because where I live it's shorts (also in session mode) after midnight, rather than beer. There'll be lots of hugging, kissing and 'friends for forever' stuff, but very rarely do people become obnoxious. I think the only thing you can do is encourage people to be civilised, observe the etiquette etc, and if they fail to do so, escort them to the entrance and invite them to abandon the premises.

That's what you call a lively delivery. bless him.

Soul freak was in common usage in the 70's.