Geoff

I went to the last TOS last night, and the room had been renovated, had a makeover, it's been described as similar to an Ikea showroom, so anyone whe has been there will get the picture. It has a new wooden floor, but it did need a bit of talc. Obviously not barrel loads of the stuff. Anyway good manners should ensure discretion is used when putting it on the floor. I've gone over when it has been too slippery. Probably others too.

I went to Soul In The City at Vivo's in Watling Street last night, had a great evening with my friends and heard great music played by the 4 guys who run it, but I was really disappointed with the numbers attending. I suppose it had the advantage that I had plenty of room on the dancefloor, but being serious it must be a bit disappointing for the guys. Maybe it is Christmas coming up and people have got other things to do, and possibly money starts getting tight. Also everyone may be saving themselves for the last TOS next week. But saying all that I am still surprised that so few showed. I left at about 11.15 to get to Liverpool Street, and even the usual "City types" who often arrive when the pubs are shutting hadn't appeared. It was nice to see that Janine and Dave had managed to locate Watling Street, it must have Martin firing those flares from the roof that helped. In Town Mikey and Jessica and Graham are much missed. Obviously no more soul club attendees must be allowed to leave the London area. Seriously though, we've seen the CSC at the Dome closing, and now TOS. I urge everyone to support our clubs, we'd all be a bit cheesed off if any more close. I've said this somewhere else recently but it is still apposite: "Use 'em or lose 'em".

Don't know about the record you are referring to Dave, but there seems to have been an attempt to promote 33rpm EPs in the USA in the very early 60s. The Elvis Presley EP Flaming Star (from the movie) was 33 rpm, and actually made the USA top 20. Wasn't issued here in that format as far as I know. Not sure if there were many others. Don't see the point of issuing them at 33 rpm as 7 inch records. I remember there were were LPs issued at something like 16 rpm but they were speech I think.

[How about the odd ones in US top 100 soul/R&b Charts they used to feature in b&S - osmonds first 45 featured, which maybe excusable as uknown j5 ripoff , but later on the bee gees ? ] I have a vague memory of the disco days of the Bee Gees, and hearing someone say that they were being played by black DJs in the USA. And that is how they featured in the R&B charts. Actually in the past white artistes often did appear in those charts, in the 50s Johnny Ray had Cry, and Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis also got into the R&B charts, not sure if Bill Haley did.

[bunny Sigler....Girl dont make me wait. Always takes me back to 1975 with a BIG smile] Definitely heard that played recently, but can't remember where, might have been TOS, SITC, probably not the Dome. Good dance record.

Thanks for posting that, never seen it before. Dave really had a way with words.

Reading some of these posts has bought tears to my eyes. Dave Godin changed so many peoples lives, and for the better. Definitely Soul Brother Number 1. It's a good idea to close the site on the day of his funeral, Mike, a great mark of respect. RIP Dave.

Thanks for posting the playlist Gene. It was a very good evening at TOS.

This thread has reassured me that I am not abnormal or losing it. I often hear (and dance) to tracks that I can sing along to, and dance to, without being able to give title or artiste. Andy Faulkner and John Stubbs must be cheesed off with me asking them what this track is. Good to know I am not alone.

First club I went to was the Scene in distant mod days, but the music was called rhythm and blues then. After that the Flamingo, Marquee (live acts Yardbirds, Who, etc.), La Discotheque, Last Chance, Bluesville Manor House and various other London clubs. Where's my life gone? I looked at some old photos from those days recently and wondered what happened to that young bloke?

Brendetta Davis was played at the Valatone last Saturday. Personally I can dance to several of the tracks mentioned, e.g. Guitar Ray, Masqueraders, even if it is a slow shuffle to the latter. I heard the Three Degrees' Contact at Va Va Voom, and I don't think that is an easy track to dance to, although I've never heard it played anywhere else. Incidentally is it a 60s or 70s track?

Strangely enough the one that changed my life must be Unique Blend's Yes I'm In Love. The reason is that after so many years off the soul scene, with the encouragement of people on KTF I'd screwed up my courage and gone to the Dome. I'd met some of them, and was watching the dancing, listening to the music, hoping to hear a record that I knew. Then Unique Blend came on, and I went out and danced to it. Must have been pretty pathetic, but I pretended no one could see me. And from that moment on I remembered how much I loved dancing, and now when I go to a soul club I just have to dance. It makes me feel so good, forget all the problems, etc. Sad I guess, but it changed my life for the better.

Sorry you are leaving London Mike. Will you be able to get to SITC or TOS before relocation? Good luck, and keep in touch.

I agree with Janine, it is a nice track. Decent dancer. It has been around for quite a while though it seems. But nothing wrong with that.

Hope you don't mind me coming in on this topic again, but I heard the Masqueraders' How Big Is Big at the Dome on Friday played by Ady Lupton, about 3rd record from the end. I've heard it before, but this was the first time in a club. Just brilliant, made me feel so emotional as I shuffled around to it. Just got to get this one.

How about Make Sure by the Dells, great lyrics.

My current favourite is Marian Stewart's I Must Be Losing You, but there are just so many others. Also Mamie Lee I Can Feel Him Slipping Away, Carol & Gerri's How Can I Find The Way/On You Heartaches Look Good, and probably every track I dance to.

The female British singer who did The Wedding, Julie something, just can't think of her name at the moment, did a version of Heartache Hurry On By, the Roy Hamilton song. In fact I heard her version first on Sounds of the 60s on Radio 2, and liked it, then found RH had done it first. Also Janie Marden or Marsden, did This Empty Place, backed with Close To You. Paul McKay played Empty Place at Boogaloo a couple of weeks ago.

I find it impossible to do a top 10 as it changes all the time, but here are some I've played tonight to relax. In a bit of a Modern soul mood. Cory Blake - How Can I Live Without You Bobby Thurston - The Very Last Drop Leon Bryant - I Can See Me Loving You Chanel - My Life Sandra Wright - I Come Running Back (awesome record) Lou Rawls - See You When I Get There Gloria Scott - Too Much Love Making Sunburst Band - Everyday Essex IV - My Heart Is Calling Main Ingredient - Work To Do But next time it might be straight up Northern or beat ballads or R&B, depends on the mood

Sounds a good idea Colin. Be a change to do something different. Such a wide range of music to choose from. As long as we don't extract the urine from each other's choices. I'm sure my taste may be regarded as idiosyncratic. Is anyone interested in a 60s pop CD swap? And I use pop in its widest sense but excluding anything that could be regarded as soul or rhythm and blues or akin to it. No pop stompers!!

Wish I was going. Never been there, must rectify that soon. Not sure how I would cope with a proper all nighter though. Do you all go back to bed when you go home or what? As you say congratulations to Ady, are there any other soul clubs going as long as this one?

I hope no one minds but I was taking my usual lunchtime stroll and more came into my mind. Most from schooldays. Roy Orbison - Crying, Running Scared, Only The Lonely Lettermen - The Way You Look Tonight, How Is Julie Ray Peterson - I Could Have Loved You So Well, Tell Laura I Love Her Gene Pitney - True Love Never Runs Smooth, I'm Gonna Be Strong, I Must Be Seeing Things Classics IV - Traces, Stormy Jay & The Americans - Come A Little Bit Closer, Sunday And Me, She Cried (and of course Living Above My Head, but that's Northern I believe) Lou Christie - If My Car Could Talk Plus some real wimpy stuff I am too embarrassed to list. In my case I love 60s pop possibly because I was a teenager, and therefore the records have a particular meaning in many cases. Would be the same for people in the 70s, etc. Notwithstanding I reckon it was the best decade for music overall.

Impossible to do an all time list as it changes, just so many great pop records, so many memories. Just a few in no particular order. The Turtles - Happy Together (reminds me of the first holiday with my girlfriend (now wife) April Stevens & Nino Tempo - All Strung Out Righteous Bros - Soul & Inspiration Beatles - If I Fell, And I Love Her, Happy Just To Dance With You Association - Cherish Buffalo Springfield - Rock 'N' Roll Woman, Expecting To Fly Laura Nyro - Wedding Bell Blues Union Gap - Woman Woman Richard Harris - McArthur Park, Didn't We Fifth Dimension - Worst That Could Happen Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic, You Didn't Have To Be So Nice Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby, All Summer Long, Wendy Sorry there are so many, but it was a great decade for pop music as well as soul. These come to mind as I sit here, but no doubt could think of loads more if I put my mind to it.

Thanks Gene, I can remember the record, I was at school at the time, but even then had my interest in trivia. Just couldn't remember if it was her. I didn't know she had made so many records until fairly recently. Couple of good tracks on the Goldmine CD of Big Top stuff, issued 3 or 4 years ago. Were any of her other tracks played anywhere, apart from I Go To Pieces.

As I never went to Wigan I only heard Nine times out of ten comparatively recently when a friend sent me an RA of it. Couldn't believe it. Indifferent Eurovision stuff. how could it be played at a northern night. We all may have laughed about the Gap Band at the Plinston dance competition, but at least I'd call that a soul record, probably get shot for saying that but you know what I mean. And people moan about Modern soul records. I suppose not going to Wigan I shouldn't comment but it does surprise me that stuff like that was played. What year would that have been?