Mark Bicknell

Mark Bicknell Farewell A Final Thank You To Everyone. Well thats pretty much it from me on a DJ front had a fantastic weekend at The New Century Soul Club on Saturday and a blinding last Allnighter for me at Sheridans in Dewsbury, many thanks to... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

George Blackwell - Can't Lose My Head (Smoke) Powerhouse vocal, classic tempo, really has it all. Mark Bicknell.

I'll swap my wife for a George Pepp - The Feeling is Real ( Coleman ) if anyone can help call me.....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Shane Martin, Lynn Randell, Jay And The Americans, Jay Traynor, Joey Heatherton, Shades Of Blue, Little Richie, Bill Bush, Joey Dee, Ben Zine, Lou Roberts, Johnny Caswell,Ambassadors- Pee Vee Band, Sprial Staircase, Magnificent Men etc. etc. and the list goes on and on............... All been played at NORTHERN venues, all packed floors, all white performers which have played their part in the history of the scene, perhaps these records should not have ever been played then....................???????? Who knows and who really cares, this topic could go on for years, basically it should be about whatever 'floats your boat' we all have different ideas of what's good and whats not, yes ethnic origin of a record is important to the SOUL purists, personally for me you can't beat black male vocal group records, Falcons, Volumes etc. but i also think Jay Traynor - Up And Over (ABC) is a fine example of a very good NORTHERN record, so who's wrong and who's right on this one, there are no winners as there is simply no argument to answer here. Northern Soul as a scene has embraced so many different styles of music over the years and the Blue Eyed records are just a small eliment in a rather large machine and personally have their place. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Ok Weller is god................ Mark Bicknell.

Oh No...Next you will be telling me that Dean Parrish and Paul Anka are white...please don't burst the bubble...lol Mark Bicknell.

Come on Mick.....Please have a photograph you can post of 'The Epitome Of Sound' then we can get back to the debate...lol... I thought they were from Slough anyway..... Mark Bicknell.

As i said in the Paul Weller thread, SOUL is a feeling, from within, from the heart, often it seems Black performers do it the best possibly by tradition rather than by right, not all Black performers can sing either, so then we have Northern Soul often the tempo and beat has been the important issue over the years rather than ethnic origin, some of the titles already mentioned are simply great records be they Black, White or otherwise, god there are bad so called Black Northern records so we can't have it all ways, or can we??????????? Like 'Shane' said this debate will go on and on, don't forget not all Black performers are SOUL singers, Tina Turner was for example now i would consider her to be more of a soft rock act, Tom Jones can mix it with the best of em', Check out Amy Winehouse, white, possibly Jewish i think with a voice that will level a city and leave it begging for more, what about Dusty, Timi etc. not soulful i think not. I think soul singing is more about attitude, power and emotion in the voice and song, i have often said 'you have had to live it' to sing about it, what so Black people only fall in and out of love then................... Love pretty much being the bases of a good SOUL tune. Personally in the main i enjoy.collect and play Soul music, but i hold my hands up and say that yes there are non Black soul records in my collection, and if we dug a bit deeper we may be suprised just how many Northern Soul records are infact by White performers, i'll think you will find the likes of Little Ritchie which is a classic Northern dancer to be far from a Black performer............. colour has no bounderies..does it? Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Mark, You pretty much covered this topic well and infact have answered the real question here, yes this is a soul forum and not perhaps the right arena to discuss Mr Weller's career and his cover versions, you mentioned Soft Cell, Kylie and others again in a nutshell these acts have nothing to do with soul music, perhaps we have double standards on the Northern Soul scene as we have over the years accepted non Black records in the Northern up tempo style such as Lou Roberts, Paul Anka etc. etc. more because the beat was right to dance to rather than the true ethnic origin of the records. Another question is do you have to be Black to have and perform SOUL, perhaps a very difficult question to answer as Soul has been described as a feeling from within an expression from the heart and all that, so i guess anyone, creed or colour can express that, just that in the main Black performers seem to do it the best. Mr Weller is without question a very talented bloke and has been on the music scene for many years so on reflection perhaps this thread has been a little over the top and a little anti 'Weller' in places and to be honest i don't really think he would give a flying f*** what we say or think about him and his work. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

If new blood is to discover the soul scene and it's music as we know it then as we all did they will find it, stumble upon it and that's that basically, should it take self elected famous people to turn them onto it who have no idea or conception of what it's all about,Northern Soul can become trendy when it suits people, the media, pop world, advertising houses etc. almost think it's cool to use the scene and it's music as and when they see fit, yes it may bring it to the attention of the masses but how many of them will dig deep and really get into it, very few i suggest if any. Paul Weller as it goes seems to be a really decent bloke, very talented and will always be a Mod i guess and that's cool, what is a rather hard pill to swallow is the mainstream acceptance that he and others are doing something new and creative when the real credit should fall with the likes of Nolan Porter, Sister Sledge etc. I'm sure he's the type of bloke to credit his sources on cover versions which yes may then stimulate interest to the non soul person to investigate the original at least, but as i said this would not perhaps turn them into a regular on the soul scene. I would suggest that Mr Weller's love of all things soulful is at best very basic and limited to the Stax/Atlantic/Motown and the well know Northern classics, again if he likes what he likes who are we to judge his level and understanding of a music, culture and attitude which takes a lifetime to even start to understand as we all know it's a journey of discovery, learning, debating etc. if he has never been there how can he realise or grasp what Northern Soul is about and again does he need too, want too and why should he? Still as the man said 'That's Entertainment' just perhaps as he knows it and not basically what we are all about. Full credit to him and for his efforts with the covers thing but in future it's better left alone i feel. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

So the man can't dance, he has no soul, has nothing to do with the rare soul scene, has covered a few soul records on his latest album, nothing new there then... take the Stones and The Beatles both covered early R'n'B hits when they started out still Mr Weller ain't in their league is he!!!!! so taking all this into account i agree with Chalky on this thread......what the f*** are you doing talking about it in the first place...lol I saw The Jam way back on their very first tour on a Wednesday night i think at the Top Rank in Redaing when 'In The City' came out, went with some friends and thought they were ok, Mr Weller likes the image, likes to walk the walk, has talent yes and a huge bank balance, but i suggest has no real interest in Soul music on our level and in his defence why should he? So he's covered a couple of soul/northern related tracks so what, his fans which i would think are many and loyal since The Jam will support what ever he puts out and if he sells a few hundred thousand units then again so what, it has nothing to do with us the soul scene and hardcore people who will only down his covers and never accept them as Soul anyway. I strongly suggest that he was a 'Mod' in style of dress only rather than his way of life, manufactured rather than natural and was of his time around 1978/79 and perhaps cahed in on the 'Mod' revival at that time, a clever bloke perhaps but not to be confused with a Soul attitude, you could play him the best selection of quality rare soul music and he just would'nt get it and again why should he? Perhaps he should stick to what he knows best, I've heard the Bottle and Nolan Porter things by Mr Weller and on this ocassion i just did'nt get it but why should i? Regards - Mark Bicknell.

You bitch Mick, how did you guess, don't have to ask if you have it....lol But The Verve record is pretty good, and no i've never been keen on the Sussex thing. Mark Bicknell

Here, Here Dayo. Totally correct. Mark Bicknell.

Here, Here Tony! Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Does it matter how many copies there are of a record, just means more collectors get the chance to own them, rare records are the life blood of the Northern scene and having a good collection is something to be proud of and i guess the more big money records you own does play it's part in scene status etc. i'm cool if there are a few copies knocking around if this is reflected in the price, trouble is records can and do get hyped to almost guru status and it's sometimes down to who's playing them. Far better to go looking for semi known bits that float your boat rather than get sucked into this must have all the big tunes ethic. The current high prices on the scene today has pushed many records out of reach to the average working bloke, i admire the few guys that can afford the big titles but most of us look in other areas to source records, i rarley go on Ebay these days either to sell or bid, anything half decent or the top end stuff is basically pointless bidding on as you ain't gonna win and you are certainly not gonna get any real bargains. I would be interested to know what drives some people to almost totally lose control on Ebay for example, this 'must have it' ethic is driving even the most average records to an inflated price, still what goes up often comes down and will some people be quite as interested when the bubble bursts, Bill Bush was a £150.00 record only three or four years ago and is not a rare record, Cashmeres may also be more common than people think but and this is my real point does it make it any less a brilliant record if there are three copies or three hundred, the honest true answer has to be NO for the simply reason of it's quality as a tune. Still who are we to question how some people spend their own money, i guess we would all do it if we could....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Vondell's - Hey Girl You've Changed - Airtown Twan's - I Can't See Him Again - Dade Velvet Satins - Nothing Can Compare To You - General American Jewels - We Got Togetherness - MGM Orlons - Spinnin' Top - Calla/Planet Eric Mercury - Lonley Girl - Sac Sapphires - Gonna Be A Big Thing - ABC Ellingtons - Destined To Become A Loser - Castle Bell Boys - I Don't Want To Lose Your Love Ronnie Forte - That Was Whiskey Talking - Tarx, still a blinding record though. or are we all just that much older these day's Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Top gesture Kev, respect. mark bicknell

Kolla ans All, I've simply dedicated my whole two hour show this coming Sunday to Dave on Solar channel 879 www.solarradio.com from 8pm - 10pm, what else could i do? Regards - Mark Bicknell

So why don't we all get together as a mark of respect and for Dave's vast contribution and do this, all the proceeds to go to charity or a good cause, perhaps Ady Croasdell would be best to get this idea in motion. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Hippo, I take it that was in jest the pressings and CD comment in your original post, if yes then i like your sense of humour........... For me this is an easy question to answer without question Ian Clark by far the best DJ at Yate, and for my money one of the best ever. Chris Waterman.................you naughty man suggesting the double deck idea, whatever next?????? still like Hippo suggested i would only be allowed to play pressings and CD's so would that be ok???????? Still i get the odd booking here and there don't i....oh Chris any chance of a CD player at New Century next year, just to humour Hippo you understand.............. Hippo comment taken in a nice way...... Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Brett would be perfect for this. Mark Bicknell

Mick, Do you need a caddy mate....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I really don't know what to say, the man was simply a treasure. Soul! pretty much say's it all really. Mark Bicknell.

Interesting topic this one, Mick the Derek Martin issues have a organ based backing and the demo's don't, demo sounds oh so much better as the organ to my ear spoils the tune. The George Blackwell Example does not look right to me and i believe it's a speeded up version. Regarding the original thread here is not just the simple fact that many of our records never made it to the issue stage so many of the records are promo/demo/audition only not always white put certainly demo's. Can't beat the pureness and richness of holding a box full of demo's as it don't get much better does it. Mark Bicknell.