Len

Absolutely "the strange world of Northern Soul".......I have started many a set with Soul Bros Inc, and it has 'worked' every time - yes, "each to their own" All the best, Len

The three generation thing is ignored by a lot of those who just did the early years, and as Jocko pointed out, some dismiss the 30 years that followed - Look at The 100 Club alone - Incredible! All the best, Len

Yes, I think you're right, another reason of course is when someone try's to hard to be 'cutting edge' and forgets to actually listen to the record! - A great Classic Oldie in its place is no comparison. Len

.....Mmmm, I'll have to think about adding 'Young Souls' to the Shudder List, I quite like it.....I'll get back to you on that.... Len

.......I would love to be able to say "You obviously haven't heard that version then".......alas I can't - Doh! (You could have P.Med me, I now feel such a fool )......I used to have the blo*dy record! All the best, Len

Point taken - I have to say, the R 'n' B you speak of is 'Good R 'n' B', which (as you referred to) I did for some time think was an 'Oxymoron' in itself. I have thoroughly enjoyed good R 'n' B' at Burnley, and yes I was completely put off by bad R 'n' B' in the past.......The same could be said of Mid-tempo - I believe the stuff I listen to is good, but except there is sometimes 'Mediocre Soul' played that has probably put folks such as yourself off any Mid-tempo Soul. All the best, Len

Yes, I respect the very early sounds that may not be to my taste (different generation an' all that) Len

Book me a ticket - As long as you play 'Joe Bataan - Bad Breath' Len

Back in 1992, I started The Embankment Club with a Guy who had different ideas to me - his plan was to attract younger people by playing ‘different’ music at our Soul events. I completely disagreed, saying that he couldn’t possibly introduce ‘different’ music to the Soul Scene, adding that I thought it would be possible to achieve, if he did it the other way round — Starting an event for ‘different’ music first (attracting younger people) then introducing some Northern. We went our separate ways, and he did just that, and is still to this day ‘packing em in’ and adding Northern to the mix on a regular basis (and good on him) If we had tried doing it the other way round, there would have been a riot - Crumbs, it’s hard enough playing a good Northern track that some don’t know, let alone confusing the issue by trying to be too clever and adding ‘even more’ genres to ‘The mix’ All the best, Len

I understand your points......but yet again (I have also been guilty of this btw) one is getting mixed up with 'Soul fans' and 'Northern Soul fans' - Of course they don't want anything else but Northern (and what they except as Northern)........Chr*st only knows where it went wrong letting some of that depressing R 'n' B stuff 'though the net'.....That seemed to be the end of 'The Modern Room', which is a real shame - at least The Modern Rooms were Soulful. .......and as for 'stopping taking it so seriously' - We're not! These are two other things that also get regularly mixed up - 'passion' and 'taking things so seriously'....Chr*st, you should see my 'Pained Serious D.J' face - It don't mean I'm not enjoying every 'god damn' minute! All the best, Len

What a great word Len

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g6bUe5MDRo

Let's not get passion mixed up with preaching - Jocko is passionate about our 'evolving' Scene, and he sticks up for what's right.....By the way, I am reading into both Tezza and Jocko's posts the exact way their views should be put forward, and I don't see either one patronising the other - Great stuff All the best, Len

.......another phrase I cringe at being used is 'Hand Baggers' - If that ain't patronising, what is? All the best, Len

Agreed...or Ska (I like it, but not at a Soul event) All the best, Len

Nice one mate - 'Respect' is the word.......although a word that I cringe at using now, it resides on my 'Shudder List' of words / phrases, due to it being 'over used' by people that don't actually 'practise what they preach' (welcome to my head!) I think both 'parties' are guilty of pre-judging down to their personal experiences - Me? I've had a lot of aggression thrown my way over the years (as well as fun banter) so I have been guilty of presuming 'most' are that way, on the other hand (again due to experiences) some of 'you lot' have presumed we're a load of snobs (or whatever).....the truth is - we're just a load of f*ck wits and have a great laugh, Chr*st, have you met Brian Goucher?!!! All the best, Len P.s - Howzat for a reply mate?!

Bless you my Son .......The word 'Educated' being used has done so much damage towards 'the cause' - It's so patronising in itself. .....I wonder .......if suddenly over night everyone on the Oldies Scene 'got converted', how many of 'us lot' would go 'full on' into our Oldies just to be cool / facetious / retro All the best, Len

Your whole post is absolutely fair enough, and well put. As I used the above term, if you read back, you will see in context, that it was in an example I was showing. I also stated "(For want of a better phrase)", twice in the post, so I didn't come across as patronising.....The frustrating bit that some people feel, is that they actually want others to get the same enjoyment from different stuff, and can't understand why some dismiss it so quickly - Yes, it can come across as preaching, but I think in most cases, people just want to share, and enjoy 'their' great tunes in the big venues because they genuinely feel some are missing out. I enjoy the banter of different views, including when I'm on the receiving end, and 'banter' is the way it should always be - "Len's Rare Sh*t" was one of my faves All the best, Len

I think it best that we don't add too many more styles - let's just carry on 'fine tuning' what we have already, with the Soul left over at the end. All the best, Len

I find that very hard to believe! Len

Yes, I'd say that was Stomping, and not Shuffling (my view anyway) Actually around 8 minutes in on the clip referred to above, is a pretty good example of shuffling. Len

Oh, I almost forgot, Mike Gibbs - The best Shuffler I ever did see - and that's the truth! We were at one of Elaine’s film thingy's (as 'Bubble Wrap' of course!) and even Keb commented on how good he was (don't tell him) Oh, and Tony Smith '2' (from the 100 Club) on the rare occasion he stops talking about matrix Numbers I think the last time I saw him dance was at Cleethorpes, yonks ago. We were talking about who could shuffle (god that sounds sad read back ) In my defence, it was Sunday night, and we were in 'La La' land...anyway he said..."I can, I'll show ya" .....and calmly went and did just that, fantastically!.....Then came back....."Where were we, yes - Detroit, as I was saying Len"....(Probably ) Hope ya well mate All the best, Len

Pop along to 'The Den' - You ain't seen nothing yet!.......after a few beers - ahem (See above).....If you are in my head that is (Or wearing the same 'Dancing Goggles' that I do at times)..... It makes me feel better if I just repeat to my self 'Ultra earnestly' "Yeh, but I 'feeeeel' the music, they 'obviously' do not!'...he he.... Len

Touché! Len

It's sneered at by those that don't listen, and some simply attack anything they don't understand (hence the sneers) Lot's share your frustration, but the masses do catch up (for want of a better phrase) in the end, and it is happening - Once 'converted' (again, for want of a better phrase) they are more enthusiastic than anyone . I've witnessed it - it's almost like an ex-con going overboard, to mend the error of his ways! All the best, Len