Len

I have to confess - I read it, and took it literally, thinking ‘god that was lucky’, and presuming you must have had a nice Shiny Record Box that the Burglars were attracted to…..God, I’m thick at times! - Unless I missed it because it was so ‘bad’ Nice one All the best, Len

Maybe we should start 're-activating' some old threads. As time has passed, people change their views, or maybe completely missed some. Seriously (as you have pointed out) some subjects do get done, over and over again - maybe Mike could see if there’s anything of interest 'lurking' in the archives and pop one up each week…..I bet there’s some cracking ones to ‘bring to the surface’ again - he’s just got to find them amongst all the ‘O.V.O’ threads All the best, Len P.s - I daren’t’ ‘re-activate' my 'What do you do for a living?' thread....I thought that had 'legs' and come up with some bizarre posts, like "I'm a Brain Surgeon" (or whatever)....alas, it didn't happen like that - In fact, someone posted "This is the most boring thread I have ever seen" (Which was my biggest ‘fear’ when I posted it up)…..and that kinda killed it.....I cried for a week....ok two weeks….I’m still soar now….. P.p.s - Sorry, 'off topic' - I'm liking this thread regardless

I recon this needs re-activating…..Apparently a ‘Massive’ Leicester sound, but I think it’s been ‘shelved’ for 20 years now — It’s such a shame, that once records have ‘been done’ they sometimes get forgotten. Well at least by D.J’s that are only after the latest ‘must have’ - Meant in the nicest possible way of course (because I’m nice ) ….Queue, someone saying “I played it last month at ‘So and So”….I couldn’t give a sh*t - I didn’t hear it….and that’s what matters to me and ‘my ears’….That quote always makes me smile by the way....“Plenty of sounds were new to ‘my ears’"…..Who else’s ears are you going to use?!!! …Sorry, I ‘digress’….. Joyce Bennett - The New Boy All the best, Len

....especially if they are cheap.......Sooooooo many have been left 'under used' - There's an absolute 'Wealth' of tunes to be 're-discovered' / 'Someone to say it was played at Stafford' / and enjoyed once again .....and I'm only talking about the 'Midtempo Stompers'.....hang on - Is that an 'Oxymoron'?....Like 'Good R'n'B'.....Or 'Police inteligence' All the best, Len

When 'out and about' you have to be very careful about your records - more so nowadays I’d say (correct me if I’m wrong here) The ‘Soul Bros Trust’ thing is still there ‘in the main’ though — I’ve had some ‘god awful’ people round my house over the years (meant in the nicest possible way of course! ) and for some reason ‘it’ is never an issue, and (as expected) at the end of the ‘session’ all records in everyone’s boxes are ‘present and correct’….except for the covers of course! I suppose, the above is all very nice until it does happen to you (ref your own home) my guests always come through various ‘connected’ channels, so I just presume everyone’s cool - I hope that feeling continues, because it’s a nice feeling when you think about it. I left a sales box in the record bars (all open for folk to look through) at both The Wilton All-nighter and The Burnley All-nighter all night, I 'forgot' I wasn’t a record dealer and went ‘off’ to enjoy my night. Nothing was stolen, and any that did sell, the buyer asked whose records they were, and I was pointed out - That trust thing was definitely there. In hindsight I may have pushed my luck a bit far there - never the less, it’s nice to know some of us are still loyal All the best, Len

Yes absolutely right, and makes sense of course. I used to like it when an evening event (of any nature) ended, a quick clear up, then the Nighter started - Hence the queue! All the best, Len

Hi Manus, In answer to your question - Yes, there is a now a 3rd option. I personally think starting Nighters at 9.00pm discourages people from staying until the end because 8 hours is more than plenty for most people. The 100 Club used to start at 1.30am until 8.00am, and most danced to the very last record - If nighters started at midnight, we might even see a queue once again! I can see why promoters have done this early start though, as some of those that do the ‘early shift’ simply wouldn’t come if an event started too late. I don’t like the fact that these ‘Early Birds’ are sometimes ridiculed simply because they don’t stay until the end - At least they attend. Obvious factors of this, is that people have now got ‘grown up’ stuff to do, so simply can’t do Nighters as they once did, with some not wanting to anyway - instead preferring to book a hotel. All these points have ‘thinned out’ some Nighters. Considering the ‘Double Shift’, and the point about public transport, I don’t know what the answer is, 1.00am — 7.00am? At least there could be a nice ‘build up’ at a warm up do down the road, then off to ‘part 2’ - The Nighter! ……What time did the ‘Nighter’ round my house finish mate? All the best, Len

Soul-source is a competition - Surely you know that Pete! All the best, Len

Classic! - I know, it's blo*dy annoying when the table has no cross braces Len

....You'll get there one day Brian...... Len

Absolutely, except just the odd person asking about tunes of course. I've D.Jed at places where there were so many people on the stage; I struggled to get to the decks. Apart from the risk of someone sneaking off with a box of records, it was a pain in the *rse, whilst trying to work. All the best, Len

I had my house burgled once while I was at a Soul night funnily enough. I got back late that night, and the house was a complete mess, I looked across the room and saw that the catches on my D.J box were undone — I ran across and opened it……They didn’t take one singe one! I was extremely slighted by that! - They actually left me a tape! True story (except for the very last bit) On a serious note though, when I saw the box had been opened I had a ‘sick to the stomach’ feeling, so I really feel for anyone who has had the misfortune of having records stolen. Of course it is the responsibility of the D.J to look after his records, but it wouldn’t go a miss if promoters gave them the option of locking them away somewhere during the night. I also have a chain / pad lock on mine, but do you know what? — I feel a bit rude using it, because it looks like a sign of mistrust to my fellow soulies / D.J’s, I don’t feel comfortable doing so. It is the world we live in I’m afraid, so this latest episode is a wakeup call for us all. Again, best of luck to Craig ref getting his tunes back. All the best, Len

Just awful, every D.J's night mare. I really hope some luck comes your way and you get them back. Maybe if whoever is responsible reads this, they can search their conscience and return them - If you are, put yourself in Craig Smiths place for one moment. You have taken something that undoubtedly has taken a life time to amass. PLEASE RETURN. Best of luck mate. Len

I don’t think Jocko was speaking down to Oldies Lovers - On the contrary, he was saying all that kind of talk was damaging to the Scene, and speaking down to people who were doing just that at that time. I particularly liked the point made in reference to someone he was accusing, about them not doing anything themselves for the Scene - just criticising…..Yes, nothing’s changed! The labour of love is the fact that it took a lot of effort to do something like this in ‘those days’…..I know, as I was the 'Editor' of a fanzine called ‘Northern News’ a few years later, and that was a lot of effort then, but I at least I had a word processer to do it on (Typed by my ‘ex’ mother in law) Folding and stapling them all together was a real pain - most definitely a ‘Labour of Love’ though. Looks like this thread may turn a bit fiery - Great stuff! N.B - You may not have heard of ‘Northern News’..... All the best, Len P.s - Pete, I don’t think you’re a c*nt, your input on threads is welcome whether they are agreeable or not, they keep up debate, which is what it’s all about

Great stuff, second issue to be typed on the same typewriter please Jocko - Retro! Good to see the original version of some of the arguments, rather than all the re 'issues' we have today Nice one. All the best, Len

Let me know Len...or any other reading this who was part of that venue! It would be a shame if we didn;t do 1 last one....like a school re-union....I learnt much there as did u obviously!!hehe!x My Northern had consisted of my mates 100 tunes going back to 1974 on 4 tapes! That was it until 1993...and the City Stops DJ's...you included....teached me loads!!!Thanx...X Bud Harper....never heard it until u played it! Rob...That's My Girl.....which I knicked and took natiownide and had success with it everywhere! DJ's from over 30 Soul Clubs from around the nation came there as 'guests'! Super stuff! A school of learning it was....fancy going back to see how ugly we all is 15 years later???!!!??!x @@ ~ LUV SOOTY X .....u ain;t seen this mong have yer???....!hehe!x ...I felt safe at the City Stop. Fudge never used to get in me face until after we left there. We'd jump in the bus.....17 of us...and go to the 100 Club....he;'d flick paper and matchsticks at me all the way down the M11. I'd avoid him before me spot by mingling and dancing.....and then as I go on stage....a tap on the shoulder...i'd turn around...and 'Soots....YOUR SHI*E' would bellow in me lug hole....for inspiration. 7 years he did that. It dented me confidence i assure you!x @@ ~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you ain't had your 'confidence dented' by Fudge - You ain't a 'proper' soulie, as far as I'm concened (It goes 'hand in hand' with being 'fleeced' by a record dealer! )....I remember after my first time D.Jing at The 100 Club (which you rang beforehand to wish me luck - v. much appreciated that) All went well and I was absolutely exhausted afterwards (what with at least 4 weeks preparation!) I 'limped' off the stage somewhat relieved, and sat next to Fudge.......Ooops....."You were sh*t" (of course!).......I tell you what, it was just what I needed - I cried with laughter! Brilliant, what a c*nt he is (in a nice way) City Stop again? - Why not?, I'm sure yule create a 'buzz' for it, even if there was five All-nighters on the same night. A word of advice though mate - If you do it, you will need to do what you did back then x 10, then it will be a success All the best, Len

Yes, still plugging the Mid-tempo thing mate I had a 'Grand Final' night at The Embankment Club back in 2007, after 15 years. This was by choice, due to a terrible new Manager, having some more babies, and having a business to run. In hindsight a very good decision (albeit more luck than judgement) because from around that date, the Soul Scene exploded with hundreds of new events (as you can see by looking at the calendar) I was well pleased it finished on a massive high - it was a lock out by 9.30, and I had to sneak people in past The Management (lot's still owe me entrance money!) Rob, if you remember never did The Maltings, him and Karen went their separate way and started The Buzz. This is where we differed in opinion - Rob wanted to introduce different music to The Soul Scene to attract younger people, they ended up being very successful playing different music first, then introducing Soul Music to that 'Scene' (I was pleased for them) Also pleased to be working on my own - It's the only way! Ciro and Sharon are 'out 'n' about', but I don't see them very much (different places) I see Dave and Lisa still at local events that I am involved in (at arms length) - I have to put my 'Mid-tempo' Two Penneth in! Ref that photo, we were actually using the Mike as the Ear Phones if I recall! - Still trying to remember the shirt though (Almost the 80's look that!) Yes, happy times....when the Soul Scene was made of Chocolate I'll take up your offer next time I'm about in you area.......Crumbs, are you coming back to haunt us mate?! All the best, Len

I was just browsing the front page, and a thought came to me with ref this thread. Going back to the point made on why (since the site change) some of us are now no longer ‘drawn’ to ‘other’ events threads - We established that before, we would see someone we knew (or interested us) and would usually ‘click’ onto whatever they were writing. Anyway, my suggestion would be to highlight the names that appear on the front page when someone makes a post in a really bright colour. I don’t notice who’s posted unless I’m following a thread, I think this would draw people to threads that they may not be aware of - Any thread really, but for the purpose of this discussion, events threads, then maybe creating that ‘buzz’ again for some events. Just a suggestion. All the best, Len

Aye up Sooty me ol' Bean! All the best, Len (Still keeping it real)

Agreed - The 'different version' is an obsession of ours! All the best, Len P.s .....Now where're going to 'RareMusicDirect'?

Who's Ken? ..... .....I know, what could have been aye? All the best, Len

...Ooops double post. Len.

Hi Andy, There's some great photo's of Record Rooms on this link (mine's in there somewhere) All the best, Len

Would I be correct in saying the 12" version is pretty rare, or maybe a 'keeper' to those that have it? I think Soul Sam used to play the long version, which I've been after for years. If anyone has one for sale give me a shout, unless of course todays somewhat surprising prices scare me off (I'm a bit skint) Here's hoping. All the best, Len P.s - I'll swap it for an engineering company......I would have put 'thriving engineering company', but I couldn't possibly 'over egg' something for sale - It just wouldn't be 'cricket' would it?

They are everywhere.... Len P.s - Allegedly....... .......