Mark Bicknell

Rated this for years also 'Lost Love' not a big priced trophy record but pure class. regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Festivals - Hey Girl B/W Checkin' Out - Blue Rock DJ, two fantastic sides but can't stop playing Checkin' Out, simply a quality tune so right for now, if you see this pick it up now as i think this could prove a popular record and will soon be on hundreds of wants lists, good solid semi known oldie, a beautiful record worth £50.00 of anyones money.

Ged, You know it son...lol on a more serious note regarding dj fee's it's a private thing between dj and promoter, yes there are certain dj's who can get more than others but the fee's don't even come close to the financial investment for records, still most of us do it because we can, because we have the records, the passion, the commitment, i always say i do my nine to five gig through the week which pays the bills etc. the dj thing is my release, my escape and my contribution to the scene and the music i love, it's for life this scene and it's a pleasure to be asked to play a few records..........it's a little harder and not as simple as that, many of the comments Ian Cunliffe made here i second, yes there are many people out there playing records yet how many are really top draw? Regarding how much dj's are worth well that's a hard one, i work on the basis that if it's a big night,packed etc. then i tend to leave it to the promoter to make an offer but i do have my own rate in my head, if i know the promoter i normally agree a bottom line and tell them let's see how it goes, long distance major venues i give a straight price, for the right people i would do it for a flat fee and if it's a bad night then forget it, however having said that if you are gonna promote an event i believe that you should go into the venture with enough money to cover all expences even if it's a lower fee to the dj's, it's about trying to cover your back and reputation. I've worked hundreds of gigs over the past twenty years and have done the freebies, worked for nothing, served my time so now for myself and many others out there dj'ing the money ain't really what it's about coz even £500.00 a spot for the likes of Soul Sam, Butch, Andy Dyson, Keith Money etc. don't even come close really, as long as we cover the expences, have a few beers (or a lot of beer in the case of Mr Rimmer and myself) we do it because we can, we do it because it's inside us, we do it because we love it it's that simple. But that does not mean that we are the last thing to be considered when it's time for a 1000 capacity packed venue to pay the wages at the end of the night, or oh lads sorry i've had a bad night, or we have only had xxxxx through the door. I've heard it all before over the years as i'm sure many other dj's have, don't have a problem if the place is empty but when it's rocking pay the entertainers i.e the dj's a decent whack. There might very well be dj's who will do it for nothing or for £15.00 and a pint but this ethic is something set in the dark ages alongside £3.00 admission for a soul night, compared to other forms of entertainment, modern day admission prices to current night clubs etc. in any city centre across the country i bet it's £10.00 if not more to get into the place, then you have £3.00 for a bottle of lager etc. etc. yet the northern scene seems to not have moved with inflation in terms of admission prices for example, crazy really when many people think nothing of spending thousands of pounds on records and other forms of weekend entertainment lol yet god forbid we have to pay £15.00 or £20.00 to get into an allnighter. The other way is simple revert back to the days when there were only three or four dj's on instead of ten or more, all do longer or more spots. which brings the best out of most dj's, to dig deep, think it out, blend the spot, take the dance floor to another level, another place, work it, enjoy it, have a feel and a passion for it. Hope you don't take my comments the wrong way i just believe if some venues are packed with 1500 people at £10.00 each admission charge then to pay a top namr dj anything less than £100.00 is a little insulting, still with the likes of myself Mr Cunliffe, Rimmer, Banks etc. etc. we would all dj in a telephone box to one person for a pint or ten........well me and Mr Rimmer perhaps two phone boxes one to play the records and and one to turn into a bar. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I said i agree with you Christian, was simply quoting an interview from liner notes via a Relic LP of Volumes Chex recordings which was an interview with Union in the mid 80's, as i said often the artists are a little cloudy of their past so what chance do we have and does it eally matter anyway. The fact is that most of The Volumes recordings are awesome no matter who sang lead and thats all we really care about is it not. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Christian, Only going off an interview Eddie Union gave in the mid 80's, i guess it's even hard for the group members to get a little cloudy after so many years, i take your point and on listening to the records i tend to agree with you. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Volumes Formed around 1960 made up of five Detroit teenagers which were Eddie Union lead singer on all the Chex, Jubilee, Old Town and American Arts records including 'Gotta Give Her Love' B/W 'I Can't Live Without You, 'I Just Can't Help Myself' B/W 'One Way Lover' Elijah "Teenie" Davis-first tenor, Larry Wright-second tenor (not sure if this is the 'Sweet Sweet Kisses' Larry Wright but it's possible), Joe Truvillion-baritone and Ernest Newson-bass. Eddie Union left the group in 1965 Larry Wright sang lead on the Twirl record 'Maintain You Cool' B/W ' I Got Love' - Twirl 2016, Some line up changes and shuffling followed and Gerald Mathis sang lead on their 1966 Impact release 'The Trouble I've Seen' B/W 'That Same Old Feeling' and then Jimmy Burger sang lead on the three Inferno releases between 1967 and 68. Eddie Union returned to the group in 1968 for two years in which time there were no recording sessions until hooking up with legendary producer Ollie McLaughlin where during this time they recorded the superb 'Ain't Gonna Give You Up' again i think 'Union' sang lead on this. I'm not sure if 'The Magnetics' connection is just rumour or Northern Soul folk-law were there not three Magnetics groups anyway, Sable,Bonnie and Rasel are three different outfits i thought? but the information above is i believe correct and i hope it helps at least from this you now know that there were at least three front men on 'The Volumes' records. Hope It Helps - Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Masqueraders have just been confirmed and added to the Northampton weekender later on in the year...wow so thats The Just Brothers, Chuck Jackson, Willie Kendrick and now these guys, this should be a wonderful weekend, more details i'm sure to follow from the promoters......see you at the bar. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Dynamics - I Need Your Love/Love Me - RCA Ty Karim - You Really Made It Good To Me/All At Once - Senator/Romark Garland Green - Forty Days And Nights/Girl I Love You - Gamma/Revue Larry Atkins - Ain't That Love Enough/Lighten Up - Highland/Romark Vala Reegan - Fireman/Living In The Past - Atco/Atlantic Had toothy out so still in pain, i'll be back with a few more. Regards - Mark Bicknell

The Cashmeres - Show Stopper/Don't Let The Door Hit You Back - Hem The Ambers - Potion Of Love/Another Love - Smash Dena Barnes - Ever Walk Out/Who Am I - Inferno The Ascots - Anytime/Sometimes I Wonder - Mir-A-Don Billy Hambric - I Found True Love/She Said Goodbye - Drum Billy Kennedy - Sweet Things/Groovy Generation - Thelma Festivals - Hey Girl/Checkin' Out - Blue Rock Tony Hestor - Watch Yourself/Just Can't Leave You - Karate Johnny Rodgers - Make A Change/Soul Food - Amon Steve Mancha - Monday Through Thursday/Friday Night - Groovesville Emanuel Laskey - Peace Loving Man/Sweet Lies - Thelma Stanley Mithchell - Get It Baby/Quit Twistin My Arm - Dynamo Falcons - Good Good Feeling/Love You Like You Never Been Loved Before - Big Wheel Volumes - I Just Can't Help Myself/One Way Lover - American Arts Volumes - Same Od Feeling/Trouble I've Seen - Impact I'll get back on this one, brain is mush due to toothy ache. Regards - Mark Bicknell

Taking this playlist topic one step further i thought it would be a nice idea if we perhaps listed our big in our record rooms or bedrooms selections, the stuff that flosts our boats in private rather than out and about at the clubs.........here's twenty that have been getting plenty of turntable action upstairs in the Soul Shack. The Metrics - Wishes ( Chadwick ) Stunning uptempo Northern Soul. The Festivals - Hey Girl B/W Checkin' Out (Blue Rock DJ) Two fantastic sides both need playing. The Sinceres - Girl. I Love You (Pzazz) How good is this, simply awesome tune. The Lovations - Heaven Told Me So B/W (I Keep Singing) La La La Ooh (Part III) Another superb double header. Jimmy Burns And The Fantastic Epics - It Use To Be (Tip Top) Just about as good as it gets. Bobby Sansom And The Maus-Marks - "Don't Leave" (Baby Don't Go) (Sublime) Simply stunning. The Exceptionals - Unlucky Girl (GRT) Love this too bits. Sunlovers - My Poor Heart (Breakthrough) Wonderful tune. The Webs - Tomorrow (Popside) Cheap as chips awesome record. The Legends - "Fear Not" (Locket) So so good. The Stratoliners - What Do You Want With My Love (Federal) Does it for me this one. Irma And The Fasinators - Lost Love (Scepter DJ) Magic record. Little Ben And The Cheers - "I'm Gonna Get Even With You" B/W Never More (Penny) Been around for years two stunning sides. Irene And The Scotts - I'm Stuck On My Baby (Smash DJ) Class Northern. Johnny Newbag - Sweet Thing B/W Little Samson (Port) Another superb double header. Tha Fantastics - That One B/W High Note (Sound Stage Seven DJ) Awesome! The Masqueraders - How Big Is Big (Bell) This is just about as good as it's gets. Little Jewel - I Want To (Tay-Ster) This needs more spins out at the venues, fantastic record. Clarence Reed And The Delmiros - Sooner Or Later (Selma DJ) Love this record. Two People - Stop, Leave My Heart Alone (Revue DJ) Far more popular second time round this one, has it all class Northern Soul. There are a few more, well loads to be honest but this bunch have been driving the neighbours mental in recent weeks. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Roger, I take your point regarding the cheap unknown becoming popular then exspensive but this is basically out of the control of the DJ rather the demand being far greater than the supply, when i sourced Curly Moore for example i was drawn to it's quality rather than value and if you have a good ear for a tune and it caputures the imagination at the venues how rewarding to turn a little unknown into a monster, perhaps a better way than trophy collecting the established big ticket items? All records started out at reasonable prices say twenty years ago but the way the collectors scene is now basically Global, price guides, E Bay etc. etc. the prices have become out of most peoples reach, so i choose to try and source records which could possibly work at the gigs if they do and increase in price again thats down to record dealers and demand not the fact it was a ten quid record to start with but it's quality,and rare aspect becomes the issue and has nothing to do with my own financial gain as that has no interest to me as i'm far more interested in the tune rather than how much it's worth, often rare and exspensive don't always mean good! Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Have the best of both worlds i say, i pretty much think i have all if not many of the quality Northern CD compilations out there, ok so i get most of them on promo format prior to release for my radio show but even then i still buy the one's i miss, records are a different ball game and although my collection is all authentic original USA 45's I'm by no means complete...who is? when DJ'ng in my book at any level it has to be presented with original format 45's it's tradition and simply the way it is, i have a pretty good collection including some of the so called big ticket items but also hold many records under £100.00 and to get hold of a cheapy and turn it into a monster is fantastic and very rewarding i.e Curly Moore - You Don't Mean - Sansu was down to me basically which i picked up for £8.00 played it now it's three figures mid hundreds. Price and format should not matter really as you can still have as much passion for the music as the serious collectors, DJ'ing like i said is totally different and i reckon it will always bee vinyl driven. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Muppets, puppets.........think about are all operated by puppet masters......now think about? 'I'm Animal' without question do what i like for who i like when i like and operate on my own....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

A Muppet is a very cheerful puppet type thingy as seen on television. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Saw this for sale a couple of years ago for around £750.00 i think it was Ady Pierce who had it at the Prestatyn weekender when Gwen Owens performed, now this is a very early record and i agree with all the above points, had it myself sometime back and found it to be pretty much an unplayable venue record being very much a collectors record a very manic under produced record seems like this has turned up as did The Four Gents - 'Young Girls Beware' also on Oncore which i did pay rather a lot for but is a reasonable quality early production. At a guess Gwen was in her early teens when she cut this and not much older on the two Velgo releases, well worth a listen but i agree should make around a $1000.00. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Should it not be driven by the music ?....lol funny old game, scary ain't it but fantastic fun. If non soul scene people get there hands on the authentic rare big ticket items for an investment thing then god help us all. Regards - Mark Bicknell

Just put 'Take It Baby' B/W 'In Paradise' Swan in the second play box for front room at Sheridans on Sunday night, always rated this great double header and a nice cheaper end quality tune, can't believe 'Our Love Will Grow' is selling for £50.00 always around £10.00 for a black stock issue copy and perhaps double for a white demo also came out on British Action twice i think. Superb records all four sides. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Totally right Blackwhite/Derek, many of us have been saying this for years and the day will come when we can all source the records we want at a reasonable realistic price, meantine we all have to chip away at it and collect within our means and not all get sucked into the big ticket game. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Ok James sorry about the shirt comment.... You CANT! Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I can think of a few worse CANT'S than James out there who have nothing to do with Cover Up's, Funk, loud shirts, Baggies etc. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

It's really very simple all this regarding 'Cover Up's' why bother, if a record is firstly good and of a quality play it for what it is, if it's rare then that's a bonus, don't try to be a clever CAN'T because often you will be found out, Cover Up's have been part of the scene since the year dot often the practice of well read, well informed DJ's and collectors who know their subject inside out, it's all about keeping a tune exclusive to them for as long as they can. I've never really been into this practice because at sometime the true details are often found out pretty quickly so what's the point, it's all a bit silly really. If it floats your boat and keeps the music up to a quality and a standard then that of course is a good thing. I welcome the new tunes with open arms and we should all embrace the true inovators of this scene, the guys who are more than one step ahead of the game, this scene and it's music is often looked at through rose tinted glasses, pulled apart and it's getting to the stage that we have constant agro like this and to be honest this thred has shocked me, James played me a unissued Detroit thing down the phone recently which blew my socks off, totally awesome and not known to me and i suspect not known to others, James has a passion for the music and we need people like him to help carry on this wonderful scene, i really can't comment on the Funk scene as i know nothing about it, only to say thet i know Keb Darge is a major player on the Funk scene and if he conducts his Funk buisiness as he did when he was a major 60's newies DJ Stafford period then i can understand that the collecting side and passion for Funk is no different to that of Northern Keb could not do it any other way it's in his blood to push the music into another level. James is a good buddy of mine and i know it's not his intention to upset or offend as he does that enough with those shirts, he has commitment, dedication and passion for what he does and in time he will become a regular top name on the Northern scene as a DJ, he's about quality tunes enough said. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Al Wilson - Help Me - Wand, instant record has it all, powerhouse vocal, driving back beat, still sounds so good even after all these years. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Only a few days to go until the first Sheridans Detroit / Chicago Allnighter, pre buzz is pretty good despite another very busy night throughout the country, i wish all promotions well for Saturday night and let's hope we all have good nights, i will be posting DJ times up later on, for ticket and further information please feel free to contact me on 0161 330 6267 or bicknellmark@aol.com Regards - Mark Bicknell

Well i did'nt play it on the Prestatyn Radio this year as i was at home working, sounds like i missed a belting weekend, yes the track was Bobby Joy - You Sweet Devil You - Tangerine Records, good to know someone listens to my efforts on Solar Radio, hope to see a few of you at the Detroit/Chicago Sheridans Allnighter this coming Saturday March 12th, the music will be top draw i promise. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I have my folks to thank basically, my late father had a very unique job in the early 60's he worked for The Beatles so music has always been in my life since the age of five or six, my parents loved all the popular Motown, Chartbusters LP's and my dad had picked up many Albums on his travels, Sam And Dave, Ray Charles etc. I guess the first record that hooked me was Jnr Walker - Road Runner from mum and dads collection, the first Northern record i bought was Little Anthony and The Imperials - Better Use Your Head / Gonna Fix You Good British UA reissue and the Jumping At The Go Go RCA LP, thought i was the dogs danglers taking them into college and trying to tell my friends at the time that this was the best music in the world, it is!!!!! I always remember walking into The Casino and hearing The Jades - I'm Where It's At, the atmosphere, the clapping, the energy it was incredible, i had arrived, i had found my special place to be, to belong, to be part of.........that was back in 1976 and im still as passionate about this weird and wonderful music and thanks mum and dad. Regards - Mark Bicknell.