Len

You'll have to forgive me Ted, I'm half way through a huge 'reefer' - Nina and I have been watching Jay-Z live at The Hackney festival (In the comfort of our own home!) Don't particularly like his songs and can't make out a word he is singing (saying)...but god the 'guyz' got stage presence! Lol Night night 'smiley' zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz All the best, Len.

...Ooops, wrong thread! lol

lol Len.

I just love the record dealers for it though - If you've never felt you've been completely shafted by a record dealer, you haven't lived! Lol When I was trading anything British - "Sorry Len, American imports is what everyone wants at the minute Bud"....A few weeks later, trying to trade some American imports - "Sorry Len, British is what everyone wants at the minute Bud" ....Believe me, this has happened to me but I smile about it - I got what I wanted! All the best, Len.

"Well done 'my Son', a good choice" All the best, Len 'The Guru' Dopson (D'ya think this may catch on?!!!) - Watch out Ted 'The Messiah' Massey! lol

Wow, there's another two! - 'Driza bone and Kenny Thomas' lol - Absolutely agree with what you say there mate, diversity is so much more interesting and as I've said many times before, each different style / genre (What a great word!) compliments the other. For example if say something was played that some may class as 'old hat' amongst other stuff, it can 'revitalise' that particular tune, in other words it can re-activate ones appreciation of it. I've seen it happen on occasion and it's great. Does that make sense? All the best, Len. P.s - Is this going 'off topic'? I think the original question was how big is the modern scene?

Nothing to do with ya 'dodgy knees' mate - It simply means you have good taste! All the best, Len.

God, I know how that feels - Loads of my 'work' hits my 'cutting room floor' I can tell ya! All the best, Len.

He He, Ref Steve G's post (I can't cope with the 'Multi quote' lark on here, I always mess it up!) Have to admit my 'irony' was actually aimed at me as to be perfectly honest that's about as far as my 'modern' soul 'knowledge' goes. Agree though Ref the above post, 'tis a nice track and as far as the demarcation lines go, I also agree there is no need for them - 'A good soul record is a good soul record' so should be played in the same room in my 'humble' opinion. Ooo, just thought of another - 'Skip Mahoney - Janice' I must be a 'Modern Soul Guru'! (I've now been to 'Essence' you see) All the best, Len.

'Charles Johnson - Never Had A Love So Good' All the best, Len.

How dare you quote me before I get time to check, double check and treble check my post you swine?!!! (Sorry, a bit of my 'O.C.D' coming out there mate lol) - Yeh, good point, but do you agree? These rooms really were 'kicking' weren't they? I loved em. All the best, Len.

Ref the Modern soul on the'Northern Soul Scene', when was 'The Modern Room' replaced by 'The R'n'B Room'? When I was going out every weekend in the 90's most All-nighters had a modern room, I remember Winsford as I always took a 'break' in there with Gavin Paige and co. The Modern Rooms have now been replaced with that or an 'alternative' room. I just wonder why as they were 'kicking' if I remember correctly. Maybe it's that there is now more of a 'call' for R'n'B / 'Alternative' which also gives more of a 'licence' to play anything so less Modern is played in these room than before. All the best, Len.

I'm not sure of the law, copyright etc. but I think a good photographer should always respect his subjects. Recently I (Along with a few others) got 'e' mailed a picture of myself dancing to the last record at Burnley with a witty comment and I 'replied all' something on the lines of "Blo"dy cameras should be banned!" It was kinda 'tongue in cheek' but 'even I' don't look my best at 6.00am after 'dancing hard' for 8 hours solid! I say 'tongue in cheek' as believe it or not, I wasn't that bothered by the photo, more amused by looking at some stupid tw*t (me) at that age dancing all blo*dy night 200 miles away from home. But....In the defence of the chap that took the photo (who was included in the mass 'e' mail) He immediately sent me a lovely 'e' mail concerned that I had taken hum bridge over the said photo and explained that he edits a lot of his photos and takes extreme care not to print or show anything that he thinks the 'subject' may not approve of (unflattering photos etc.) I was really touched by his concern for my feelings and thought what a great example and would hope other photographers also have his ethos. Is this something that professional photographers learn or is this just a reflection of this particular chaps caring personality? All the best, Len.

Yes - Stone him to death!!! Len.

Arrr, I getcha - meaning the prices John's auction reach may have been mentioned before Cheers, Len. P.s - I don't think it was a sly comment though, it was just a 'wow' comment. Is it really a crime letting people know you have a record for sale like this?

Maybe he was just tired - hence the yawn. It is a Friday and we've all had a long hard week. Have a good weekend folks! All the best, Len

If ya get it, the other side is tremendious - 'There He Is'. It'll be a nice surprice for you if you don't know it which is great when that happens All the best, Len. P.s - 'There He Is' is 'facing forwards' in my record box anyway

Mmmm, thought as much, I'll 'ave a read of that at work tomorrow Thanks All the best, Len.

I've always been interested in who discovered records, what the cover up names were (if used), who broke them and at what venue and I like it when a D.J 'tips his hat' to that person when playing a particular record. Has there been a thread on this subject already? If not, if anyone can be bothered it would be great to see a list of, as I said - What, who, where? Am I correct in saying some were discovered by one person and broken by another? I expect some of us will be surprised how early some of the sounds we listen to today were actually first played. Bet you could name a few Chalky ref the 80's - Go on be a sport! All the best, Len.

Missed this one - God the dr*gs really were better back then! Len.

Ok, maybe 'detail' isn't 'quite' the correct word - 'Effort' is more suited I think, the point being that Elaine won't just throw this together. As explained above, she will spend time and 'effort' on the project whilst getting as much 'detail' right as possible. Obviously if all the details are 'bob on' but the story's rubbish and the actors arn't up to much then it won't work. So let's hope - The detail is pretty near, the story line is interesting and the acting is good enough to portray the attitudes of the day - Then we will have a great film! Len.

I don't know what you mean! Len. P.s - 'Conjugated' - Nice word!

Thanks for not saying I needed the lessons! lol Len

I tell you what Jocko, that p*sses me off as well - Yes of course going back to the 'underground' thing, it's not 'cool' to go for lessons as dance is an expression and in our scene it really doesn't matter what you look like as long as you are feeling and enjoying the music. But - I don't mind admitting that I went to dance lessons for the 'Moloko Familiar Feeling' Video as Elaine specifically asked me to do so, simply to learn how to dance the way they did back in the 70's (Stomping) Obviously it felt a bit odd, there I was standing in line at a dance studio in London with Keb Darge at the front giving us all instructions (Like a Sargent Major!) - It was very surreal I assure you! But this wasn't to learn to dance so I could go out and do it, it was to dance the way Elaine wanted us to for the video - I would call that attention to detail. When it came to filming we were dancing our *rses off for a solid 12 hours (c/w make up on!) So just for a 3 minute video we had two days training and a really long days filming so Chr*st only knows how much time and effort will have to go into this film. As I said, it was a very surreal experience - On the first day at the dance studio I sat round with all these young 'actor / model' type people and we had a 'getting to know you' chat before we started. We all had to say what we did so it went round the room - "What do you do?" - "Model" (next one) "Model" (next one) "Model" (Next one) "Model" (Next one) "Welder!" - Doh! I thanked Elaine after for giving me an insight into what was involved in her work and I can tell you, the film industry is absolutely exhausting and a few shouts of support from our camp wouldn't go amiss Len. P.s - I did offer to return the honour and invited Elaine to my workshop to experience some welding but she declined! P.p.s - Mike Gibbs is the best shuffler you will ever see albeit a very rare sight!

He was great in '24 Hour Party People' - Great choice I recon Len.