Len

Me to Len

This’ll make you laugh…….. ………Over the 15 years that I ran The Embankment Club, there was only ever one fight (different times) and it was between two soulies - You never know how you are going to react until ‘it’ happens……. ......I was D.Jing, and was facing the other way going through my records, Dave Vanner was with me, and he nodded at the dance floor and said “here it goes’, I turned round and saw the whole dance floor ‘move’, as in, the fight started at the back of the hall, and seemed to ‘surge’ forward to the front taking the crowd with it. I have only ever had one fight in my whole life which stopped because the School Bell rang, so if you don’t know me that tells you I ain’t a fighter!.....Anyway, god only knows what got into me, some sort of ‘Authoritarian Spirit’ or something, because I literally jumped off the stage, ‘reached up’ (As I ain’t very tall) and grabbed this guy by the throat…….wait for it……I ‘actually’ growled at him (whilst holding his throat)….”Not in my club!” (Gawd, I am cringing as I type!)…….That is not ‘me’ by any means of the imagination!......It gets worse……..at this point someone shouted…..“Len!”…..I turned round (still holding his throat)….”What?!”……..”Len, That’s the wrong bloke!”….Doh! ……..I let go of this poor chap… “Um, sorry about that” …..He was fine about it, and we have since had a few laughs about that night “Not in my Club!”….Oh deary dear Len

Yup 'A Promoters lot is a Promoters lot' I'm afraid - The people that do it for the right reasons know this, and they stick at it because their heart is in it. After reading this thread, I'd just like to add that I hope the Easington Welfare Soul events (as have been discussed) all the best for the future (or other events they may be involved in) I don't know them and have never been to the event, but on reading this I can tell they are 'on side', and care very much about what they are doing. As a promoter one has to be able to take all sorts of criticisms and not all are constructive (to put it lightly), also they can be 'thrown' at you in a very aggressive manner. This and many other things just have to be dealt with......but every so often one gets through and hurts - It's bound to if you put your heart and soul into something All the best, Len

Thanks Billy.....um, best not mention this to Nina (the wife) All the best, Len

Great tune - Tell her, I love her Len

They usually conduct themselves correctly. All the best, Len

"Guilty as charged your honour!" Len

Yes well done to all involved, and to everyone who 'has the nerve' to contribute! .......Why is it so blo*dy addictive?! One of the many great things about the site for me, is that it keeps us all in touch. Some folk I haven't seen since my '100 Club years' (before kidz) but I often 'chew the cud' with them on here, also I get to communicate with people that I wouldn't otherwise get chance to get to know - Great stuff. All the best, Len

Yes a fantastic record that Ady. Coincidently, Adam played it the other week at 'The Den', and said to me "If you don't know this - Get one!". I didn't know it, and have since 'done what I was told', managing to get one easily. Ain't it great though? As in, after all these years (More so you, than me) , that there's still bits out there that have passed you bye, and you still get to say "What the f*ck is this?!!!" Great stuff All the best, Len P.s - See post 2 on this thread - knows, it would be great for you if you haven't heard the track on post 3 either. I always get loads ask about it when I play it, Adam was having kittens about it because it was one that had past him bye.

I asked Kiddo that very question just the other month. I must admit I felt a bit silly, but he did say it was a good question - if ya don't know, why not ask aye? Glen Bellamy informed me that Billy did in fact do the producing for Eddie Parker, and I'm sure Glen could come up with more info, as he has met him........I of course relayed that 'well known fact' over the mike minutes later, after playing his version of Crying Clown .......what a record that - Just perfect to me, and as pointed out above, I think his version is actually better. All the best, Len

Apparently it was played at The Pendulum in Manchester in the early 70's, I don't know by whom though. I was told the lead singer was also the lead singer of The Inticers. All the best, Len

Well done that man! I'm still going to meetings, but I am now at least hopeful - My defence being, that no one told me that my Children would need feeding every day! Len

Thinking about it, I've always presumed that whoever is running an event is 'obviously' doing it properly, and providing the correct equipment. It simply has never crossed my mind that promoters wouldn't do this - Times have changed I suppose. All the best, Len

...Contradicting myself even more now - That is one thing I do worry about, I always turn the deck backwards when cueing, and I should check that. All the best, Len

He he, I knew I shouldn't have said all that - Just 'keepin' it real' in my own little way You are correct of course (these things do cost us a lot of money), but honestly my records have been chucked all over the show, and they're fine - Records are pretty robust......I suppose I was metaphorically speaking - gawd knows, I confuse myself sometimes. I know what you mean ref C.D's when the original release, and I don't see a problem playing the track out off the said C.D. Personally I would prefer the carver simply because I would find it easier to D.J with, because I've never D.Jed with C.D's - Just practical on my part - Nowt wrong with either. Thanks for you reply - It could have been worse! All the best, Len P.s - Don't put yourself down - I'm sure you are nearly as 'Northern Soul' as me

PHEW! - 'Snap'!..........Well, I have watched that roulette wheel on the telly go round at some ridiculous time before, but that's as far as I've got 'Same wavelength' Len

.......Um, 'just out of interest', how many of those 5 things listed is normal to be 'excessive and even addicted' to?.........just wondered...... Len

Yes end of the 90's mate. There's often been folk that 'pop up', buy everything, then disappear - There's more to 'it', than owning records and they never get that. The lad on the right is Martin.......Haven't a clue who Jim Ross is, he could be a sudan name like our very own 'Dave Double' Len

‘Bring ya own’ personal cartridges? / £15,000.00 records? - That ain’t f*ckin' ‘Northern Soul’...... …….I was having a record session at my house with Gary Holyman one evening (ok, morning!) and we’re going through my shelves of records. We had a pile of about 20 picked out, which we had ‘perched’ on the corner of the shelf, when one of us (I actually can’t remember who) knocked em, and the whole pile fell to the floor after doing a summersault (like a ‘Stunt record’), they ‘crashed’ to the ground completely flat, landing on all four corners (like a Cat)…….. …...At almost that exact moment, Nina (The wife) popped her head round the door - Gary and I must have looked like a couple of naughty kids because she recognised ‘something was a foot’ straight away….”Do any of you two want another cup of Tea? What the hell’s up with you too?”…….We looked at each other; I turned to Nina, then looked at the pile of records on the floor, and just said…..”Nothing to see here Dear, tea would be lovely thanks”……and off she went (after rolling her eyes at us)…Gary and I ‘pushed’ on, I then said……"Gary, where’s ‘so and so’ record gone?”……Gary’s ‘deadpan’ reply just killed me, he looks at me in all seriousness, points to the floor at this pile of records that had crashed to the ground, and says….”It’s down there with that lot”......and with ‘not a peep’, we left them on the floor and carried on looking through the shelves….It was priceless...My point being -THAT IS F*CKIN' ‘NORTHERN SOUL!’……. …….To me anyway All the best, Len P.s - I just despair when people are ‘oh so precious’ that’s all, some of my records ain’t even got sleeves!

Yes, I remember Steve, I was round Shifty's house with him before they both played at The 100 Club that night - They were playing snap with all their really rare records, it was surreal I tell you. That night Steve played 'PROPHETS - IF I HAD ONE GOLD PIECE' (SHRINE) that he had kept a secret from Shifty......Yes, some get such an addiction, that sadly can become the wrong reason for buying records...... All the best, Len

.......and phones! Len

What a lovely statement - I'll try my best Boss Len

and recognise your limitations, meaning not everyone wants to bother with 'silly' attention to detail....there are so many factors that make a huge difference to an event, that most people are blissfully unaware of (and rightly so) It starts from how a room is 'dressed' (Where the furniture is etc) I know some may laugh at that, but it's true (It's a 'Dynamics' thing), then there's the lighting, the flow of 'people traffic'.......I could go on for hours.....don't worry I won't.........I 'released' my full list on a thread on the very subject a while back - I really enjoyed doing so as well.....god I'm sad Len ........Mmmmm, I wonder if anyone will notice that I didn't even wait until Monday, let alone Wednesday to post again......

Right must go and iron me shirt after this 'corker'.........It's now 5.53pm Sat night, and I just got this text off me best mate (He normally comes with us to local nights)....."Hello Birthday Boy. What sort of time does The Duke Finish tonight. And what time you going...... .......I f*ckin' despair!.......how he organised my Stag night I'll never know......hang on he didn't - we were an hour and a half late! Laters. Len

The Soul-source withdrawal Symptoms will kill me........maybe Tuesday then Have a good weekend guys (Wherever you go) and see some of you tonight at Stanwick for me Birthday Bash......Mmmm, I wonder what 'direction' I'll take the 'punters', maybe play a spot of Mid-tempo for a change.......No one can moan on my Birthday.......can they?!....... All the best, Len P.s - ......Or Monday 'P.M'