Len

The Wellingborough Soul Club 3rd Anniversary at The Embankment Club 1997 Hi Folks, For those that are interested - After a lot of hard word getting this to load on You Tube (courtesy of a good friend) here is a film of The Wellingborough Soul Club’s 3rd Anniversary at The Embankment Club from1997. I actually started the events there in 1992, under the banner of ‘Soul Time Promotions’ along with Rob Glover, and after two years we went our separate ways and I started The Wellingborough Soul Club, continuing the events at the same venue (Whilst Rob started The Buzz) It is over an hour long, so you need a bit of time on your hands - It includes some good interviews with some of the characters from ‘days gone by’. Admittedly it’s bit ‘amateurish’ but it captures ‘a time’ quite well Long live the Glitter Ball! Enjoy All the best, Len P.s - To follow (at some point) will be The Wellingborough Soul Club’s Final Night, which has some great footage (albeit a bit ‘wobbly’) Edit - Here's the link to The Wellingborough Soul Club Final Night at The Embankment Club 2007 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T72WSwuBasU

It's a tactic - As are many descriptions of records........"An absolute must for any Northern Soul D.J"..........."This is the holy grail".......etc, etc...... Personally I luv em - they often make me chuckle (defo not a major crime) All the best, Len

Although I appreciate the lady (or whoever that may choose to hold these lessons) means well, to me, Northern Soul dance lessons are just ‘wrong, wrong, wrong’ I remember my first few nighters at The Fleet in Peterborough, I didn’t dance at all because I was too scared to - and I like that! A while later I was at Loughborough Town Hall (1985) and it took what seemed like an age for my mates (all older than me) to ‘lure’ me onto the dance floor - I felt a right pr*t (and more than likely looked liked one) but my mates simply smiled, and eventually I found my own way realising that it didn't actually matter - That is one of the special things of the Scene (or was) Even today, some 30 years later, I still much prefer to find a DARK corner, and do ‘whatever I do’ - It is not about ‘looking good’ All the best, Len

That's a fair comment mate, and fair enough that they are not for you. Although I have to say, there are good Mid-tempo tunes and bad ones (as in the wrong ones) if that makes sense. I do think the appreciation of this type of Soul music is somewhat regional, and my experience of events in and around London for instance seem to really like these type of tunes. Although I disagree on the awkward beat bit (well for the ones I play at least), and have seen lots of people thoroughly enjoying dancing to these, I do agree they are not Northern in the traditional sense. I prefer a night to have 'light and shade' musically, which of course includes the traditional Northern sound. All the best, Len P.s - To explain my comment....."I don’t want ‘the same ol’ same ol’ OR ‘the same new same new’".......We all know what hearing the 'same ol same ol' is, what I mean by hearing the 'same new same new', is that if I may go somewhere like Life-line for instance to hear these, I don't particularly want to hear those same records somewhere else (or being played by someone else) time and time again, as even those great records risk getting stale. P.p.s - I saw a young lad in somewhat 'traditional' dress this Sat gone. I don't know him, but he was really getting into it, definitely feeling the music, and was by no means a 'div' (It was nice to see)

I disagree with this (kind of) as in - there are plenty for a lot of people……… Ok, so most (if not all) have been played before, but no one, and I mean no one would know them all - In fact I’d say on average most people would know less than a quarter. Through the 80’s the D.J’s were playing records for only a matter of weeks before they shelved them, and in that time relatively very few people would have heard them. I don’t want ‘the same ol’ same ol’ OR ‘the same new same new’, I want the middle ground. I intend to spend my ‘D.Jing time’ breaking these records for a second time, and hopefully a wider appreciation can be had for these fantastic ‘underused’ tunes (There are loads of them) My take on things is actually a positive one, I think while all around we are moaning and criticising (which I often do as for me, generally this past decade hasn’t been up to much) there are little pockets of (what I call) the ‘New Wave Soul Scene’ developing, and I think they will eventually flourish into something very special when a lot of events fade away in the next 5 years or so. All the best, Len P.s - Although some of the young people have had criticism for maybe being slightly misguided, I also think they will find their way ok and be in there at the beginning of what will be an exciting time (getting the same buzz as you older guys did in the 70’s)

Btw, my first 'taste' of such a thing was when I read the back of the Destiny L.P 'The Record Collector', where it stated things like 'Arin Demain - Silent Treatment' - First played by Soul Sam at......etc. At the time I don't think I knew who Soul Sam was (or any of the D.J's mentioned) but I remember it absolutely intrigued me, so I guess that is where my interest stemmed from. All the best, Len

I've always been very interested in who discovered records (also credit where credit's due) Then after that (and they are two very different things) who broke the records, as in who managed to 'sell' them to the dance floor, because that bit can take some doing. Again, credit where credit's due for doing so. Nothing sinister or political in this, I just find it interesting. All the best, Len

I'm on it Len

Well said mate. I'm also finding it interesting - This threads situation is purely and simply someone wanting to hire a venue to celebrate their Birthdays (Happy Birthday btw) which it seems, unfortunately resulted in confrontation when a nice chat would have sorted it. Putting the Birthday Party situation to one side for a moment (and to streeeetch the thread out as long as humanly possible) - looking back over a number of years, no one would dream of approaching a venue to hold a Soul event that was already being used for that reason by somebody else - That person has the Soul events covered there. 'Defensive' is the correct word, as in to defend the event by 'batting off' anything that would effect it - this especially includes someone else putting on another event because doing so 'muddies the water', and worse could confuse the punters when they are not the same 'product' (Worries being that this second person's event could put people off going back to the first persons event) That 'defence' was never needed a few years ago - there was a lot more communication between promoters about dates - Nowadays, there's a lot more promoters, and less communication (or burying ones head in the sand!) All the best, Len

No one wins though - I feel for ya mate All the best, Len

He better not! :D Len

Yeh I know - We have it covered! ......I was leaning towards him using the 'Charm offensive' Len

Ok it was 'very very' badly worded All the best, Len

Hello mate, Yes that was very badly worded on my part, and it would be ridiculous to expect someone to apologise for doing nothing wrong. I meant give the guy a call saying something like...."Hi mate, sorry for the confusion ref using the venue where you hold your Soul Nights, I didn't realise there would be an issue, can we sort something on this, maybe a date far enough away from your event?"......etc. That sort of thing. All the best, Len P.s - As was stated earlier in the thread - Promoting really is a murky world!

My advice would be - to speak to the said promoter again, apologise for 'stepping on his toes' (so to speak) and maybe include him in the D.J line up (simply as a matter of respect of the fact that he may be a bit 'precious' about it)…If you still get a sh*tty response, then go ahead with your plans at the venue, and I will gladly D.J for you for no charge! All the best, Len N.B - The above is worded extremely badly - See future posts (we have it covered!)

Hello mate, Firstly, let me make this absolutely clear - You have done absolutely nothing wrong what so ever, the promoter (if they had an issue) should have spoken to you amicably, and I'm sure it would have been sorted there and then. I was presuming this event was well known in a "Ady (Croasdell) I'm thinking of having my 50th Birthday Party at The 100 Club - What the f*ck are you gonna do about it?"....kinda way ...If that makes sense! All the best, Len.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean / it's not 'a load of rubbish', and I know it seems absolutely ridiculous (especially as you pointed out, invite only), but all it is, is a matter of manners......In saying this, I'm talking 15 years ago, let's be honest - the calendar, and venues (probably) are just a free for all nowadays anyway - Not meant as a dig, it's just the way it is now. These things are made much easier if both sides see the others point of view - As I said, there was no call for the promoter to be rude or defensive because you obviously have all good intensions, so I think that bad start is most probably the end of your correspondence (which is a shame) All the best, Len

If someone is already using the venue, I personally think the done thing is to speak to them first, and maybe ask if they can incorporate your wishes in an event (or work together at least) It isn't a matter of being a baby, it is a matter of respect (and I don't mean in a contrived way) I have had this situation many times over the years, and it just so happens, the said peope have approached me before the venue because they were aware it was the venue I use, and every time, I returned that respect (consideration more so) by working together, and helping as much as I could. There's more to it than 'throwing ones dummy out' No offence intended - That is the way I see it, and best of luck with your event mate. If what I say happens to make you have a rethink and you approach the said promoter with this in mind, I bet you they will do everything they can to help you - It's so much nicer All the best, Len P.s - Also good luck with raising money for Charity (obviously), but that doesn't make any difference to how I think things should be approached P.p.s - It's a shame the person in question was rude to you, as you seem like the kind of person who would understand his objections, if spoken to properly, and no doubt would have sorted something amicably there and then - Good luck mate

Doh! Len

Hu'f*ckin'rray!.....I thought it was just me turning into my Dad!.........My 5 year old Daughter makes better sounds when playing Drums with Sauspans - Seriously! I can not see the 'skill' in just making noise. IMHO of course All the best, Len

Coincidently, last night I had a long conversation about D.J's that me and my mate thought great - They all had one thing in common, and that is they were 'quirky'. The records don't D.J, they do, they have a skill and an attraction that stands them apart from the rest (Infectious is the word I think) All the best, Len

I think the timing between records is very important, and when to talk / not to talk (just enough) or a set can come across as stilted. A few times at my own events, I've rushed up to the decks because I thought they had broken down.......That'll teach me not to give mates spots (It was the pressure they put me under I tell you!) All the best, Len

I wish - Try finding a decent welder that's looking for work.......and as for a young decent welder - impossible! ........These young welders don't seem to realise they need to start from the bottom completing their apprenticeship, before they're gonna get any of the good jobs All the best, Len

I do. Len