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

Manifesto Magazine put on a couple of successful events down in Gloucester during the 90's (All-dayers if I remember correctly) If you don't mind more work Mike, suggest you think about maybe putting on a big event to mark the 20th Anniversary 'The Soul-source 20th Anniversary' event of the year (etc) (You would be able to fix the calendar so that no other event is listed on that particular night) I'm sure it would be one heck of an occasion (Along with being good 'PR' for the site of course) Food for thought All the best, Len

Yes well done Mike and the team......I wonder what the Scene will be like in another 18 years time Had some great laughs on here over the years, and I've said this before, this site has enabled us to be in touch with other 'like minds' that we may never had chance to - Thanks. All the best, Len

I sold mine to a mate for 50p (Early 90's) 'cause he really wanted it and I wasn't that keen on it (Carol Anderson that is) I have no regrets about doing so. It's best to ignore what others may wish to pay for records - just choose whatever you want to pay / sell for. The Festivals - Beautiful record Len

I don't think anyone is making a fuss about it, if you see some as 'soul police' for simply relaying the magic that once was, leaving home at midnight when everyone else in the world was going to bed - Well I say up the Soul Police! It was magical, and that bit has disappeared because of the early starting times. But as Phil says, times have changed - What you say in the rest of your post is right for nowadays. All the best, Len

Exactly mate - The only All-night I ran was The Millennium one (See link below) Lots spent the evening / midnight bit with family or 'normal' friends first. This All-nighter ran from 1.30am - 8.30am. It was really exciting everyone turning up bang on 1.30am 'itching' to get in, and most (if not everyone) was there right until the end..........Then lots came round me and Nina's house, but that's another story (Matt and Jane / her sister, Rob, Sam, Ian, etc etc etc) Happy days All the best, Len The Millennium All-Nighter.pdf

The 100 Club used to be 1.30am - 8.00am. A huge queue to get in, and lots stayed until the finish. Before you knew it, it was 5.00am (the night zoomed by) Starting at Midnight would bring those wonderful long queues back, and being condensed to a shorter time would probably mean a place being full from start to finish. Those that start early are good for people that don't want to stay until the end, preferring an 'early start early finish'. At least this makes attending worthwhile for these people, although it can add to a place not being very busy towards the end (6 - 8 hours is plenty for most people) Answer to the thread - An All-nighter has got to be at least a 6.00am finish to qualify. All the best, Len

I once asked a Hod Carrier if he had a business card all matter of fact like (This was after a nighter btw).......He looked at me gone out......"Hod carriers do not carry business cards Len!".....(Closely followed by a rye smile) If I remember correctly, he was referred to as Scouser (Nice guy) Manus - I think we're 'off topic' somewhat All the best, Len

Exactly - Although undoubtedly the Soul Against Racism group would have been formed with absolute good intension, I think it a shame it was necessary. The great / unique thing about this funny old Scene of ours, is that it welcomes people from all walks of life. A very interesting thread this, I can't imagine what it must have been like to be on the receiving end of racism growing up in the 70's (Even just the language that was used back then) I agree with Mick, some things are better left unsaid - meaning, we don't need to give the issue too much oxygen because we all know it has no place on our Scene. All the best, Len

Yes, a good post mate - I, and many others also don’t get that excitement you talk of as we once did, and to be fair to those returnees that want what they experienced in the 70’s, ‘us lot’ want what we experienced in the 80’s and 90’s. As you say, individual eras of the Scene run out of steam - Today’s Scene is ‘fine ‘n’ dandy’ for those that never experienced other eras as they have nothing to compare it to. In saying this, it’s not that bad, it’s just not the same for some of us that’s all. That excitement we all enjoyed (whatever era) also has something to do with being young and having nothing else to focus on (Life eventually gets in the way) Ref the music, what Chalky said in Post Number 56.....“In the absence of a large amount of new discoveries, knowledge and imagination have a greater role to play”.....is so right - Some great sets can be cobbled together with the huge ‘back catalogue’ that we already have. Stay positive, and enjoy what there is - It’s still better than watching ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ (just) All the best, Len

'Cause it's confusing D.Jing with C.D's Point is - They should be played (From C.D or a cut) All the best, Len

Even going forward a while - I've just dug out a Manifesto magazine from 1995 - Total number of events in the whole month of November - 27! Amazing how it's now changed to 60 odd on one night / over a 100 in a weekend. This was a time when most of us went to the same events. Len

Any time before this moment - Me sat at the hair dressers......"So Len, what are you doing at the weekend?"........."I'm off out to a Northern Soul event"......"Oooh, I like a bit of Northern Soul, Vera, Len's off to a Northern Soul Night, we like that don't we?"......... Underground is when the 'outside world' are not aware of what you're up to / and you don't want them to know. Len P.s - Look through some old Manifesto magazines - That was pretty underground / a great time at least

Sinatra’s is a club I went to in Birmingham - I wonder if that's still there. Len

Pat Brady was at Bretby, and I'm sure it was a nighter - I could have sworn you were also there Dave, in the Modern room. Edit - I bet it was the Chris King nighter (Now I've seen the above post) All the best, Len P.s - Jimmie Reed Jr - Top tune, love it