Len

What? Len

I ran a little Thursday night session in the 80's where I charged the punters £2.00 entrance / and the D.J's £1.00 (Nothing sinister, it was just to cover the cost of the room) Only one D.J had a slight moan - These were innocent times though (Well, very different to today) But I recon at some events if you had a head count against a 'D.J Head' count, your hypothetical scenario has already taken place! (Loosely speaking) Len

Are you saying there being too many events / and too many people who think spending a fortune on records makes them a D.J are bad things, but generally speaking the Scene is good for you? I think the first parts are what some people think is damaging (Whilst others think it's good to have more of a 'healthy' choice) Good on you for still enjoying your music all these years later - Staying true to your roots All the best, Len

I also thought you were a highly successful city banker Steve! God knows where that came from. Apologies from me too! Len

Oh dear, it's spread already! Len

I went to the Dusseldorf All-nighter, Germany in the 80's (A trip organised by Kurt Fricker) It was an exciting adventure especially back then being so young. In recent years I went to Bologna in Italy, and that was good. I'm hearing more and more brits are now attending them - I hope they don't ruin it for Dave! All the best, Len

Yeh I take that back Dave. I gave Joyce Elaine Yuille a '7', and although I would prefer to hear Esther Philips at an event, no doubt you could also play that in the interests of 'something different defo not scraping the barrel'. This type of thing does stimulate - different versions excite a lot of people Ady has said that Natural Resources track is a grower (more than a Sunday Soul Session track) Fair enough - I'll give that more of a shot than I did. Open mind is good! All the best, Len Edit! - I was listening to this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oai5vWQtXn4 Hence my Sunday Soul Session comment! So to clarify - The 'Natural Resources - If There Were No You'…is f*cin' brilliant! - and guess what? I know it! (Damn me and my titles!) Ahem

Agree Phil - The examples were defo not event plays (Dave knows that) What the 'argument' is, is that the 'Top 500' events would most certainly enjoy other not so well known dance records, along side their tried and tested (I'm sure of that) All the best, Len

Hi Dave, I could only locate two from your list - 'Joyce Elaine Yuille - Just Say Goodbye'…..I know this one, Esther Philips can’t be beat, but I like it, and it does have that ‘play it again (Soul) Sam’ effect - It’s a ‘7 from Len’ on this one Dave 'Natural Resources - If There Were No You'…..A pleasant enough tune that I would enjoy at a Sunday Soul Session in the background whilst having a drink with me mates. The main problem of getting ‘everything together’ (as Steve G touched upon), is that some people like ‘Northern Soul’, and others simply like ‘Soul’ - Never the twain shall meet these days it seems……Although those of us that do enjoy both will keep on trying Thanks again Dave. All the best, Len

I fully understand why some people (myself included) don't want the 'Northern Soul Top 500' played over and over again, but we have to be careful not to forget that they are top records (Hence the description 'Top') Too much negative talk about them could cause some people to write them off completely, thinking it may not be seen as 'cool' to listen to them. They are great records, and I still want to hear them - In an ideal world, along with everything else. What a record this still is!........Not sure what number it is in the Top 500 this week All the best, Len 'The Steve Karmen Big Band - Breakaway' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SEzCoDh1Zk

Christ your coffee must be strong Billy Good on ya Len

Hi Billy, In all your years, have you ever had a bad night? I do love your positive attitude btw All the best, Len

I'm very open to hearing new music whether it be new release / or previously unreleased, but first and foremost - it has to be good (Don't forget, some records weren't released for a reason) Thanks for listing those tracks Dave. I've been a 'busy bee' today, so will have a listen later and post my honest opinion - but at the same time trying to steer it away from the 'round and round in circles' personal taste argument (I know my taste is correct) I hope others also have a listen with an open mind. I liked what you mentioned about D.Jing not always being a comfortable place when simply trying to share more of this great music with others, only to be vilified by some for doing so - Shame that, but stick at it folks All the best, Len

Hi Dave, Len here I’ve been on the same circuit as you for many years, and I think you would agree I have a reasonable ‘ear’ for Soul music. I’m gonna be Devils’ Advocate here for a moment - I am ‘guilty as charged’ when it comes to “writing off anything new”. Reason being, from various play lists I have listened to thus far, most (many being new releases) are to me, either ‘Boo-Boo-De-Boop Boring’, or groups simply trying to sound like 60’s records, which (in my opinion) is pointless when we already have a huge back catalogue of great records anyway - Plenty enough to keep a vibrant Scene going for years (Especially at this rate) So - Would you post up three new (ish) release records that you personally think have that ‘something’, so me (and others) can state what we think of them? This isn’t a trick question btw (respect an’ all that as you well know) All the best, Len

I'm not purposely plugging The Attic Soul Nights here, but at the last event there I kept saying on the mike, over and over again (Whilst explaining our goal)......."All we ask folks, is that you all respect each others tastes - No matter how bad they may be!".........Yes, a bit of a joke (ha ha) but by hammering it home like that, it seemed to work - The variation of music was unique. Getting involved doesn't necessarily mean D.Jing either - Just by attending these events, the promoter (if any good) will obviously want to cater for your tastes by booking D.J's that you like. Hence at The Attic, all sorts of people attend excepting that 'us lot in the corner' want what we want / and in turn, we except what they want - Yes even The Snake! There is a great atmosphere, and 'us lot in the corner' get to hear some great tunes during the evening. "Failure is not defeat until you stop trying" All the best, Len

Hi Kev, I'm not saying there are not venues out there - I know there are (and frequent them) What I am saying is, the change that us types don't like can be embraced / enjoyed by getting involved in a positive way, as I (and others) do locally. Result being - I get a good night out All the best, Len

As we know it - But developing into something else maybe (Hopefully something enjoyable) Len

Whether we like it or not, the days of collectors playing to collectors / fanatics are about over - The choice is, you embrace the change or walk away. I too love variety - Jacos' above post makes sense if you have a room full of people with that attitude, but if you tried to play such variety nowadays it simply wouldn't work at many places (a sad fact to some of us) But you definitely can push the boundaries / make it more stimulating than a lot of places are presently doing - without losing the interest of people But hey, there are still some good nights out there for me, and I intend to have a blast this Sat night at The Attic with people that have been on the Scene for years - along with those who it is new to. All the best, Len

I’ve just been sorting some records to D.J at a local Soul Night this Sat night (The Attic Rushden). I was putting stuff in a pile that I guess lots of people will know, then there was another pile of stuff I may be able to get away with, then there were records that I know most people there won’t know. A thought occurred to me - Surely that’s healthy isn’t it? A crowd that isn’t out week in week out, getting bored and moaning, but a crowd that is out for an enjoyable evening. Maybe some of us have got to know too much about Northern Soul, and spoilt it for ourselves. Below is a tune I stumbled across that I haven’t played in years, I’ll defo be playing it Sat night at The Attic……..Staying in for a while can do you the world of good All the best, Len ‘CANDACE LOVE - WONDERFUL NIGHT’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSXdCzvqlVk

HA HA HA Hilarious mate - To me it's all so messed up I can't even put it into words - Some love it / some hate it etc etc....... See some of you at Stateside Soul, Stubshaw WMC in October Also - Nice one Russell Gilbert Len

Well I would add where I’m going Mike, but personally I don’t plan on going anywhere until Stateside Soul Clubs’ event at Stubbshaw Cross Labour Club in October (Except for a few Soul Nights that is)......I do hope all the venues in September are busier than this thread! Have a good weekend folks All the best, Len

Credit where credit's due Pete S So many fun moments on here (reading as well as taking part) Shame I can't remember lots of them. Len

It’s a shame you couldn’t somehow compile a ‘best of’ moments - An impossible task I think. In saying this, one comedy moment that stuck with me was a ‘toe and toe’ between Pete S (Or Pete 99) and Robbo K….. It was on a thread discussing The Superlatives, and that there was more than one group of the same name. It got a little heated, Robbo K stated that it was his picture of the said group that someone posted up etc etc - It came to a head with Pete S (or Pete 99) saying something like…….”Christ, are you a member of The Superiors?”…….(I thought that quite a cutting remark) But ‘quick as a flash’, Robbo K came back with……..”Which Superiors?”……Straight away, Pete came back with......"" Stuff like that is priceless. Thanks from me to all those that take the time to contribute - Maybe not all posts work (Guilty as charged!) but so what - Keep em coming! All the best, Len

Hi Mike, Apologies if I'm being stupid here - Do you mean for example......."I'm going to the ****** All-nighter, and hope it's a busy one! I'll let you know how I get on" (So this thread may give us an idea where some people are heading) Amazing how many there is... Len

Not sure about the Scene being killed - But I get ya point Steve me ol' mate Personally I miss the days when this was played at 4.00am. Passed caring anyways now - KTF to those that can be bothered. All the best, Len