Davenpete

Big venue = lowest common denominator - just HAS to be because of the number of different people you have to please (after all frankly there's A LOT of money at stake if you don't get the numbers) and if you don't have a reasonably full dancefloor in a giant venue it just feels absolutely dead (and remember that a full dancefloor in a huge venue could well mean the equivalent of the entire population of a 'normal' sized venue on the floor at the same time - a tough ask of any DJ) - so you HAVE to spin things everyone knows and likes coz if you lose the floor in a venue like this it's that much harder to win it back. Personally I hate really big venues - I think people that need them just want to be cattle. Sadly I think many are simply desperate to be part of a 'gang' because they haven't the passion to be sure they're into the 'right' music/record without that mass affirmation (it's the same mindset that sees records that were bumping along with little interest suddenly explode into being 'universally' loved - king's new clothes). For me you get a proper atmospheric buzz when everyone's kicking off each other in a tight venue with a like minded group musically (ie knowledgable, broad minded and accepting of stuff they don't know if it measures up - that counts whether it's a venue playing 60s club sounds, a newies/lesser known oldies, or a modern venue - I enjoy them all if they good). Dx

Some absolutely amazing stuff. Wonderful to see. Dx

I get told off for listening to this one at home (too close to the knuckle for someone with my suicidal tendencies) but it doesn't get much more anti-valentine than this (defo the best version IMO)....

Given its controversial status - an anti-valentine record on several levels...

...But this one's the right one for my beloved boss...

These two southern swampers measure up well one for cheating witches, the other for evil poon hounds...

ALL of this is OPINION - YOUR'S TOO. Sam used to play Coffee 'Casanova' when it was in the charts - he told me himself and if that ain't a crap record I don't know what is... The music policy upstairs at Blackburn was as upfront and modern as it is possible to get thanks to Mick, so the snotty oldies comments are well out of order. I heard A LOT of wonderful god garage and soulful house there well before it was gaining mainstream acceptance on the scene. Dx PS Tomangoes - Hooker1951 is probably the only guy on the scene who can say that truthfully.

Cheers - I knew she was 'daughter of' - just always seemed a good possibility. Dx

Am I correct in thinking the Robin was the Robin in VIP group Rick, Robin and Him? Dx

The red issue of ALAYLM has a rare B side too doesn't it - Carl Fortnum used to play it - different from Blow Out The Candle on the demo (which I always liked anyway). Dx

Once popular - any DJ that plays this today deserves to get twatted... I also have an intense personal dislike of Doug Banks and Romance Watson.

Donna King - only fit for a plant pot holder - the other two are completely and utterly brilliant records. Dx

Sorry but YUCK - the worst dross imaginable and certainly NOT 'new york' disco. Dx

Brilliant and notorious spin:

About as big as it got in the mid 80s - utterly brilliant and NOT what I'd consider disco by any stretch. Dx

Rod Stewart supposedly has a complete 5,6 and 700 series collection (bought it nearly complete). Dx

Personally I have more of a soft spot for Under Your Spell:

JoAnn Courcy - of course!

Definitely Dalton James and Sutton - used to have it - someone once told me the James is as in Barclay James Harvest (probably BS) - certainly has 'something' but it's certainly not 'soul' - used to have the Wigan tape with it on as well - a lot of dodgy stuff on that one. Dx

Nice to hear it being played - brilliant record - as with so much god garage (got a stack of this stuff on dvds off Roger Williams a few years ago - top chap!) . Dx

So what exactly do you think they played in New York discos in the early 70s (bearing in mind The Loft opened in 1969). Dx

I'm shocked at how much it's going for now - is anyone playing it? I must've sold my UK issue twenty five years ago for about £60. Dx

As an aside I believe Les Cokell DJed at the Mecca (as a guest spot I presume given it would be long after he ceased to be a resident) as in a Yellow Hard Hat, Tool Belt, Work Boots and a Boystown T-Shirt as a joke the night - LONG before my time, but we have the photo somewhere. Dx

I believe real Maurice Williams have gold lettering (they're matrix stamped too - Bellsound?) Dx