Russ Vickers

I would particularly appreciate the new term of 'Baggy Soul' being used on flyers from this moment on. Russ

Hahahaahahahaahahahahahahahahahaah nice one mate. Russ

And if I play it, it'll be one of those crap but rare things that clears every dance floor & is deffo sub standard compared with discoveries from the 'Golden Era'.............. !!!!!. Russ

Sorry, please could you say that in english as I have no idea what you are on about ????????????/. Russ

Im pretty sure that it's a Detroit label, Ronnie Shannon was based in Dtroit wasnt he ??????????. Russ

I never forgot it, its on going, how I remember it was last weekend or the weekend before or the weekend before that, what do you mean first time around, it hasnt been any where, only some of the people went away. Russ

Peter, I was replying to your posts, that was why I mentioned your name, the content of the post was answering generally to the thread topic. Anyway, regardless, didnt want it to become personal, because that was never my intention. Russ

Nothing personal meant Pete, Im sure like most of us your a nice guy, Im just giving my general opinion, my intension was not to be rude to you in particular, just offend everyone . Apologies if you felt this was directed at you personally, it wasnt. Russ

Yes . Russ

That actually says it all, on the whole they're fricking clueless & Peter, if you dont care, live n let live blah, blah, blah why are you being sooooooooo defensive. People have a passion for the 'true' scene, it wont go away, Im in this for the long haul & when the souless have all f*cked off again, I/we will be still here, still dancing, still listening, still searching for new & exciting tunes, supporting promoters & DJ's who make a difference & living the life. Trev great post mate, maybe one day these buffoons will realise what its actually all about, but Im not holding my breath............in fact the sooner the bubble bursts again, the sooner we can get on with it, without being lambasted constantly about NS ethics by the neandathol contingent, living thier one night at Wigan Casino in 1976 over & over again & being a constant source of embarrassment. And Peter, by doing 'their thing', it reflects on us all, we all get tarred with the same brush mate.............I know that I really shouldnt bother about any of this, Im not nasty or malicious & Im sure most that know me would describe me as friendly & personable............, but Im passionate about this & hurts me, that this part of the scene trivialise & degrade the scene in the eye of the casual observer from outside of our world. Russ

RIP Popcorn............a massive contribution to music, we loved your work & we'll continue to celebrate your wonderful talent that has made so many of us very happy over many years, thank you. Russ

Yes, I know mate Muscle Shoals & Ollie Mac produced ...............see ya soon buddy. Russ

To me the term 'rare' is not always about the availability or cost of a record, but the rare quality within the grooves...........also who knows how rare a record is until their is a demand, a well spent tenner from the right tut box on what you beleive is a good ditty............ also expensive doesnt always equate to rareity either. Just my opinion. Russ

I agree Tony, but there is a tendency to forget the dark side of WC & RW is guilty of glossing over this, as is the local authorities who all now seem to court the Casino myth, that was my real point really.....hope your well BTW. Russ

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yep, c'mon sense would be never to have got drawn into the fiasco of this kinda thread again......!. Totally agree with Jocko, Steve G & Terry tho'...........the scene I'm into is very, very far removed from this kinda event & to reiterate on the thread topic, I have so much venom because I love this sh*t with all my heart & soul..........I cant help it & the life blood of the scene is a turn over of interesting records, forgotten oldies, unknowns, semi knowns & from any era or genre of black music, so long as it has the xfactor, guess what I love oldies too & a well thought out set with a classy oldie thrown into the mix or two is absolutely fine by me.............I still like the idea of a relatively underground & special scene, championing under valued artists & music, thats what it was all about wasnt it ???????????. RW continues to use the name of WC to commercialise NS with the aim of conning as many people as possible into beleiving his version of NS & making a shed load of dosh at the same time. If you enjoy it fine, but be under no illusion that you are being manipulated to aid RW pension fund...........fact !!!!!!. And yes, Im sure he is a very nice bloke, but wake up & smell the coffee, there is so much hypocrisy in this event from all paries concerned that it would take a week to cover it...........the non existent drug problem at WC according to RW for one..................& dont forget we were the devil incarnate to the council & most locals.........& now they're having a celebration in a shopping centre all nicey, nicey, lovey, dovey fluffy NS all those nice old people dressing up & remembering the lovely old WC, IT WAS A DIRTY, DRUG FUELLED DEN OF ENIQUITY, WITH SOME REALLY NASTY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ALL KINDA SH*T, as an aside it was musically brilliant most of the time too..............its unbeleivable...............now someone is going to come on here now & try & justify it hahahahaahahahahahah . Russ

It would be fantastic to hear your opinion, we're all just very passionate & I for one occasionally just get a tad frustrated with the blinkered approach, I think we all want similar things at the end of the day, to dance & have a good time listening to soul music, thing is some of us prefer to hear something a little different mixed in with the rest of the wonderful sounds played. Please share your thoughts, we'll be very gently . Russ

I know Pete, loved Wigan too, its not about saying WC was crap, it wasnt, for me it was my first wonderful experience of a NS Allnighter almost, its just cheapening the memory for me & also the fact that, its also about hearing new exciting tunes, exactly why most went to WC in the first place. But as you know you can never recreate anything as it was, I feel sorry for the people travelling from Aus.....hope this isnt the only reason for visiting the UK. BTW Once on the way back from Tony's in Blackburn years ago, got off the train at Wigan & walked up to the 'hallowed' ground, hadnt been since it closed & I never wanted to go back again........ever, but that was my private moment or pilgimmage maybe you could call it, so Im not entirely without a fondness for the old place, its just that its over. Do you think they wear Spencers & vests etc............. Russ

Yes, your sooooooooooooooo right Dave, just read my post back & I am genuinely sorry if I have offended anyone, it was a bit of an immediate reaction post, if I had of thought I would have realised I shouldnt get involved in this kinda thing, it just makes my blood boil that some one might asscotiate me with this kinda thing, due to my passion for soul music & it genuinely embarrasses me. That weekend we have Revolution on Friday, 100 Club Anniversary Saturday & of course the infamous Hitsville Weekender, as well as numerous other authentic soul nights, do the scene a favour, invest in the future of the real Rare Soul scene & PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I beg of you attend a propper NS Allnighter instead of lining the pockets of an old has been, by perputating the myth of the Casino...........stop & think why you first got involved & then wonder what this event has got to do with it. Russ BTW Dave, yep, contacted Kev via email, nothing back yet.........could you PM or email me his number please mate.

Bunch of hypocrits............do what ya like, but dont even begin to pretend this is part of any kinda NS scene, I personally find it absolutely cringe worthy & if any of my divvy mates, asked me about it, I would do a 'Judas'........its totally embarrassing to anyone who even has a tentative grasp of what Northern & Rare Soul is about...............I dont want to get into some long drawn out debate again over the same old sh*t, but you lot should be getting ya selfs to a propper Allnighter some where instead of this pathetic dross. You're sad & have lost the way NS wise IMHO. Still each to their own & have a good time, personally I would rather drip sulphuric acid down mi japs eye. Russ

Well, Wally there's actually two not that far from me, I've always shied away from checking em out, as I was a little worried about em being a little 'uptight', Im gonna check em out now tho' buddy. Thank you Russ

Thank you Sharon.............I think that is a good call & I have started driving round the countryside recently, no luck yet, but I think you have a very good couple o points there. Russ

ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm if we get a boat from some where we can get in for free then...........can you just imagine that . Russ

Ditto..............hope everything works out. Russ

Yeah, & I remember saying to you at the time, would it be any good for a soul dooooooooooooo.............the rest is history as they say ....oh well, you win some, you lose some. Russ