jocko

One of those that sounded great at the time, though, and still brings a smile. I think this may have been my first Wigan, having supposed to debut at the 6th anniversary but missing the coach, another lifetime habit beginning in 1979, and like Aid, still think they are unbeatable records. I didn't start going regularly for a good few months after this, and by then the music was even better from old tricky.

Oops, beaten to it. Teach me to start from the top for a change :-)

Wasn't Bob Seger the JC Messina Time Won't Let Me, that sounded like Bob Seger singing off chord, it disappeared just as I started due to being bootlegged. I only remember that as guy in my class bought it, he was buying big records while at school, for £35 I think, and it was booted within a week.

And just think of those deep collectors in Mr Flynns adopted land that were buying it for other side! Adds another couple of dozen, at least, Somebody better sell it to Mr Dennison cheap, before the price plummets when the owners read this and think....... Even though I think the other side is a perfect dancer, and not deep! And almost as good, but doesn't have the spitting fervour that the top side has.

Carla Thomas - Poptastic, Simon, normally all your posts are spot on but on naughty step for me with that one. That record reminds me of just the best times of life, and the communal joy that was in the 100 Club when it was played over the years was immense, and even at the party it still touches and tingles, but at time of its initial plays it just took you to another place and all the other cliches about the dance floor experience. Its a feeling that drags people back week in and week out, if you still get it. I suspect due to age, cynicism and apathy I will never get that feeling again. Which sometimes hurts to think off. But every time I listen to it, it takes me back there, and I put the gin down and just smile. Even playing it at Allanton, which was way past its first plays, it had the place buzzing, and smiling. The best last record, that I always played 4th or 5th last to start the journey to the end. So just in case there is any doubt. That is the best. You lot can carry on debating what is second best.

Surely the argument should be about why are big chunks of the scene now obsessed with playing Tomangoes, Lou Pride, Eddie Parker etc etc as mainstay records, and at every gig, while certain DJ's with lots of records that need recognition stay at home knitting. The OVO argument should now actually be irrelevant to the debate on why the progressive scene seems to be dying on its arse, as viewed from my armchair obviously. If you are too busy arguing about format rather than quality of sound, and surprise of hearing it, you are nowhere near any sort of progressive scene, not even sure what to call it now! Thats not denying the quality of these records, or the impact they can have when used creatively, such as a certain Sunday afternoon in Bamberg, but many DJ's seem to be now chasing these originals to play as mainstay records. Why? The best example of this is the Marvin/Tammi Ain't No Mountain High Enough, a joyous song that I would never really expect to hear out, Mick Smith drops it late in a 100 club, tired and emotional it was just so right and so perfect timing, but then every soul night "progressive" dj is chasing it for a floor saver, and wants list are appearing everywhere, rather than looking for another similar record that could fit the bill with the surprise factor, It didn't and Marvin and Tammi became a floor packer the country over, at allegedly somethign different soul nights, with the sound of Baaing replacing any end of record applause. Not sure its for me as a nighter but Burnley seems to have the perfect mix of this, cheap and dear, but different records. Obviously any nighter its difficult to complete with Lifeline, especially if Butch would walk the 50 yards to the venue, but it doesn'nt mean you give up trying surely. Its doomed, and I have said it before, lots of the people arguing for OVO don't actually get it any more than those who argue against it.

Might be better asking for other side, as its better known.

Surely if you have done Northern Soul properly you have a permanently wrinkled shrunken ball sack! Regardless of age or gender! Whats the question again.

Dave Hitch or Jan Barker? My money is on the former, a former Northern die hard who converted to only new music and then gospel I seem to remember A rather fractious character I recall, supposed to have top notch 60's collection that he asked for wants lists on at one point, so sent all the biggies with really low offers, he never answered :-)

I always thought it would be almost impossible to dislike you, this post has me starting to hate you....... GS in my top 5 wants as well as Towanda Barnes. Harumpfh

Wasn't it a piss take back in the 80's though, like much of the content of the letters actually, Pete's sense of humour was often missed in his ranting raving mode. I was there when he came up with its shirts off and outside with you line, and it was said in Toffs voice as he imagined the modern soul boys would say it.

Mind, pretty sure have this on my wants list at £100, only topped by the Bill Brandon unnissued on at £200. Whats my chances in my lifetime

Ouch, My no 1 want has now moved to my no 34 will never get. I take it this was FunkYou? He rivals Sebastian for getting great prices, which I congratulate them on, except when its something I don;t have, and need more than a baby needs milk, Which to be fair there is not many left like that, but this is one of them, I really can't die without owning it can I! And if Dave Rippoles is not reading this, and he gets a ridiculously high offer completely unrefuseable offer £400, lets keep the latest sale between us, just for now.........

I would say most certainly 81 for Clifton Hall, couple of the Edinburgh guys went twice instead of Wigan, but never made the second attempt. Not sure if it was same set up as it became post Wigan.

Not all of them. some would argue the more tasteful stayed within the fold till end of Stafford etc, the rest of old moaners followed Sam into (Heavy) Rock City, while proclaiming Northern Soul was dead and they would never have any more to do with that or those nasty people that still stayed up all night, rather than went to bed after a 1am soul night. Hindsight is a wonderfull thing, especially when its all documented!

You are listening to the wrong CD's then, or more likely getting them from people pretending they were there, that is just not a Wigan chosen millions phenomenon you know. Mostly people seem to listen to the pish that was being played in 95 and assume thats the story, I was well on my way by then due to the quality of the music, and the people to be honest, on the scene by then. Lots of pish was played, like in every era, and when they were pushing the boat as far as they were there the quality quotient is going to be a higher risk. But like many eras there were as many classics and more than duffers. Go and listen to a Guy Hennigan podcast and tell me its country or R&B. I love the fact everyone is quoting Keb now, as some harbinger of doom ,go over to FB and see what he is championing now, and you will see what a tit you are making of yourself. He says he hates soul and only likes white garage bands (slight paraphrasing) and problem with Stafford was too much chasing Black music. If thats your bag on you go, but don't try and discredit something else with that. Kebs a one off and ironically is still chasing the dream, just a very different one. And Keb has always been a good marketer and controversial with it. So if you want to write off an era do a bit more research is my advice. Mick above highlights one issue with documenting the 80's, it was much more fragmented, and you had to really want it to get it, and just listing venues is going to miss out a whole big part of the 80's success. the attitude, the politics, the fuck it all attitude that matched the dark times for many, lots of people still don't get that. So to me just a historical run-down of the 80' will miss the whole essence of this. Dave Thorley is your man for this. I did an outline for Dave once of how I thought you should tell the story of the 80's, starting in Wigan Tiffanies October 1981 when most people were leaving for their 15 years of something or other excuse. I will ask if he is okay to share it with OP. I think its a difficult story to get write (sic), and if you get it wrong, there are a whole lot of characters out there no longer with us that will haunt your ass for eternity.

It says 1982 on her web page, and adapted from theatre play she did earlier. That makes it more Rotherham time, which would say it was shown on a Saturday, unless I had went to a Saturday all-nighter? Confused, you will be after too many all-nighters It also makes sense in one of the characters in the hairdresser show she wrote being conceived in the Wigan Casino car park. Obviously one of the vast majority who went straight if he could manage that half way through the night, allegedly. I will drop Dave Evison a note on FB, as sure he was originally involved. It was bad.

It is the same one, were my timescales correct?

Everything in a record a soul snob like me should hate, but f**k me it worked, Time and place can never be extinguished from impact of music on emotions and memory. I F**king love it. And was this not what the late Lenny from London wore flippers in tribute, an ironic gesture as it turned out. Mad, bad and glorious times.

I can't watch it but was it the one done 81ish, end of Wigan. Sparse crowd sitting on a look a like stage and lots of funny pills leading to lady od? If so it was first on a Sunday night was it not, as I bribed my folks to go out, which they did every Sunday, and as it was a usual after Wigan Sunday thought it was safe, However I had went on so much about them to go out, they stayed in, I think they thought I was going to be in it or something! They looked at my eyes funny for a long time after that. It was pretty dreadful, sure Dave Evison was asked to consult and they ignored everything he said. Or am I living in a parallel universe?

You have 2 copies of the Poppies? And you normally sell about 50% of Mr M's prices don't you, I think we may have a deal. Just for one mind.

Humble, how very dare you. Call me many things but never humble And expect a lawyers letter tomorrow for your attempts to steal my name.

You mean the Jeff Young thats been, along with Clive Richardson, slagging of the Northern Scene and anyone on the scene all week on FB, What is it with these bitter never were very good hacks that seem to always want to have a dig, Its not just these two, wouldn't have lasted a minute on the Northern scene writing their pish for specialist magazines and droning on like the old farts they were, Until Mr Cosgrove the standard of soul journalism was, apart from the obvious exceptions, abysmal. Read Clive Richardson's book for one of the blandest ever, and funnily very little of interest about music. Cant even call them has-beens as generally they never were! So its quite hilarious, and very ironic, they want to make personal attacks on Elaine. Your enthusiasm is great Carl, and I love your musical passion, and unlike most of us moaners on here, you have done something, but if you dont understand the irony of your statement Only at Butlins re the Northern scene, then sorry mate, you need to get yourself along to a Lifeline or something.

This sums it up. Lots of us talk a good game, but actually doing it, and doing it well is rarer than a Russ Winstanley original thought. And the Soul Boy shimmy whatever definitely didn't! And the lack of heart and soul in that was so evident. Reading behind the lines here, people are saying they want to tell their story, well on they go, I have talked about writing a book my whole life, the first sentence is the best opening sentence ever written, in my opinion. Just struggling to get beyond that. Never mind, another 20 or so years to write the second and that should get me really going....... And sure you would agree Paul, its just completely made up to say Elaine said this was the definitive story of Northern Soul, I don't know why people just make things up. I actually thought the title was as much about the characters as the scene, and was therefore quite clever.

Sorry to hear that Craig, enjoyed his company on the times I spent with him, albeit a few years ago. Will be thinking of him, and all close friends, come Thursday. RIP x