Len

Here’s a positive story for ya (I think!) During the 90’s and even up to around 2007 ish, I know you’ll all agree that musically the scene was pretty healthy, people welcoming fresh sounds and during that time (especially the 90’s) there wasn’t many ‘returnee’s’ influencing things. After that in my opinion, things started to go downhill. Bringing you up to today, locally we have an event ‘Soul in The Bowl’ at Rushden where we recognised the ‘change in the market’ because that is exactly what it is, so basically we ‘gave them what they want’ and ‘segregated’ anything ‘different’ into the second room, which they kindly named ‘Len’s Den’ (Probably much to my critics irritation — Great!) Anyway, we finish ‘The Den’ at 12.30, then we all go and join the main room to do some ‘northern soul dancing’ for the last half hour, which is brill. But last time, three different people came up to me and said something I thought interesting, the best being “Len, we need you back in here, it’s too Cheesy even for us!”….I replied - “Be careful what you wish for” and carried on dancing my socks off to ‘Spring Rain’ with a huge smile on my face!...We get the best of both worlds don’t we? — Have to say these people had seen the funny side of the situation All the best, Len

I nearly actually did that once, was going to take a mop and bucket with me, step down from the stage after 'clearing' the floor, 'clear' the floor with the mop and say on the mike "Now that's what I call clearing the floor!".....Nina put a stop to it because she feared I may be stoned to death....she had a point.... Len

Wasn't allowed! lol - Back then 'HOUSE FOR SALE' was part of my '3 BEFORE 8' (along side The Bottle and The O'Jays - I Love The Music) At least everyone went home smiling rather than growling! lol Len

Yes, the '9.30 Water Shed' I call that - I always used to start a fresh D.J on that very time as I knew his first record would 'Trigger' the dance floor into action - It worked a treat everytime! lol All the best, Len

Some would wonder why we do it, as apart from the flack when D.Jing you can also get it elsewhere. I suppose if you really believe in what you do (Which I do) it's all worth while even if you only 'connect' with a small minority. All we are doing is trying to share the joy we get from our records and I can't understand how these 'types' don't see that - I suppose it's 'yet again' a matter of people attacking anything they don't understand, which someone else pointed out on 'another' thread a while back - So true that. All the best, Len.

That kind of set should work in a lot of places (Nothing wrong with it) 'In general' the scene has gone backwards 20 years due to 'The blind leading the blind' so sometimes you really don't know what to expect (Not aimed at this particular event as you explained that you have the upmost respect for the said promoters) In answer to your question, no I don't think you need to fade out a record half way through mate - D.Jing is a 'funny' ol' business ain't it? All the best, Len

....I'd love to, but I'm too scared! - Just the other week I was on the receiving end of the most aggressive outburst to date, I thought I'd had em all. What made it so unnerving was the fact, to me my set was working really well, floor busy, floor thinned but 'working' it nicely so it was so unexpected especially when I tell you what record was playing when this bloke shouted "Why don't you f*ckin' play something they like?" ......'The Dynamics - I Need Your Love'....I think I must just have 'one of those faces' god knows, but it didn't half shake me. Later he lectured me, he’d been to Wigan etc, etc, I didn’t want to let on that he’d got to me so I heartily agreed with his ‘wisdom’ and to round it off nicely, he said “Don’t worry ‘son’ you got potential!” — Much to all my mates’ amusement! Later of course it sank in - How f*ckin rude!?!!! and ignorant, all the hard work that goes into a set - Why do we bother? springs to mind sometimes... All the best, Len.

Unfortunatelly less and less people about now who think like that, or there's 'more and more' people about who don't - Hence second rooms at venues....."Yeh, put all that 'rare sh*t out of the way"...A really well thought out statement that one All the best, Len

I'm the same, all except the Latin. I went through a stage where I couldn't listen to enough of it, but just one or two through a whole night does me now. I couldn't listen to it all night. All the best, Len

I suppose there are others but I would say 'Use It Before You Lose It' is a 'really' Latin record that has been played throughout the years (Post Stafford) Not sure if I'd descibeThe Majestics or David and Ruben as Latin though. 'Mongo Santamaria - We Got Latin Soul' is played, but it's not as well known on the whole. All the best, Len

I love this, it's so 'haunting', it could be used in a film like Pulp Fiction. It's one of two Latin records I actually kept, the other is Joe Bataan (Gypsy Woman) The other side of this is a version of Len Barry's 123 (Is on mine anyway) Sorry, I couldn't find a clip for that. Good choice. All the best, Len

I hope this record isn't too 'off topic' but these sounds have reminded me of 'a time' - I used to love 'hitting the boards' to this b*stard! .....and what a 'groovy' video!... Yep, also sold it! lol Len https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT8tsDclHzU

'kin brilliant record!....God this site is soooooo depressing sometimes.....I also used to have this. Wish I realised at that time, that records come back round to the front of ones mind aventually. ...and another....I also bl*ody sold! Len

That's not so bad then, that record really is an acquired taste mind, so probably wouldn't go for silly money although I believe it is quite rare. All the best, Len.

No it hasn't been mentioned yet.....we all thought that far to obvious - Only joking mate! lol - Ignore me, I'm just trying to be cool! ...... ...Seriously though, 'Use It Before You Lose It' must be the 'one' latin record that has been played on the Soul Scene and 'stuck' if that makes sense. I still love it and like the fact we only hear it out every so often. All the best, Len

Yes! - Some one else has heard of this record! lol - I paid £20.00 for it in 1988, which to me was an absolute fortune, I thought the record was 'quirky' and was great to play on the mod scene back then, that is when loads of Latin was being played and I believe also at The 100 Club, which is where the 'Burst of Latin' must have 'filtered down' from....I sold it in the mid 90's probably for something like £40.00...... .....Go on, lay it on me - How much did it sell for on John Manship's Auction?.... All the best, Len.

I love Subway Joe, really nice to dance to. This is nice to (Other side to Gypsy Woman) - All the best, Len

I don't think most of this thread is aimed at the poor chap mentioned in the opening post. Actually in answer to the opening post, it looks to me that he is simply explaining where the records were originally played, not that he went to The Torch - Lots of lists have comments like this after records. But, it has opened a good debate. All the best, Len

I thought we 'spoke' at 'The Wheel' (Ged it?!!!) Len

"A liar starts off by fooling others and then end up fooling themselves" - Not sure who originally said this, but it's so true isn't it? I actually find it fascinating, as I do all human behaviour - Not least my own! Len.

Sadly Russ, not everyone sees through these people so it works to some degree, it must somehow make them feel better about themselves. To be fare though, this is another thing that is rife in all walks of life. I often hear people telling stories about some situation or other that I was at and I have to bite my lip for it being so far from the truth. I don't challenge, simply because the 'story' is entertaining, so why 'break' the nice atmosphere? I'm sure some of you 80's Football 'Hoodlums' have seen this happen many times. A famous person - David Nivon, was known as a b*llshitter (Story teller) but was so entertaining, everyone loved him for it. I think the subtle difference is, some exaggerate to make their story more entertaining, whereas others exaggerate to impress - that's where for me, it falls flat and I stop listening. Len.

Nothing wrong with mentioning The Casino, it's PART of the tapestry of the scene......But there is something very wrong with people who did go that think that makes them superior to people who didn't. I once asked an 'Ol Boy' about his 'beginings' as I was interested in his take on the early days, because he had 'an edge'.....he replied, "That was then Lenny, what's now is important" - Wow, cool or what?! - My respect for this individual is now sky high. All the best, Len.

Lots of folk around now days that never 'did it' in the first place - The thing is IT DOESN'T MATTER! Just be HONEST! Len (Founder of The 100 Club)......

Yup, I can vouch for that All the best, Len ‘The Knowledge’ Dopson - Otherwise known as the ‘Andy Rix of The Modern Soul Scene’ ……Honestly, I am…..Well I’ve been to ‘Essence’……Once……

...Or they choose NOT to discuss their lack of 'history', thus creating a completely false persona. There's nothing worse than someone pretending to be something they're not - As stated earlier, I have respect for honesty If anyone ever goes on and on about The Wheel in a way that nothing else has happened since (You know the types) I always say "What the invention of? - Chr*st you are old!"Â - Just to let it be known that I'm not hanging onto every word they're saying... All the best, Len