Russ Vickers

Chooooooooooooooooooooon !!! Russ

Pete I went to Wigan too you know, admittedly, I went after it was crap apparently, but to me 77 - 81 was fantastic, if you read the post, I am know way knocking the venue, in fact I am in agreement with you, up to a point, but its gone, I personally dont give a flying f**k what you listen to or support Pete, but then I have never seen you romping round the dance floor in a pair of Spencers & a beer towel, saying everything post Wigan is crap. I dont care whether you travel the country or not, its not my problem or concern, but those people that do, surely you'd get bored hearing the same records week in week out. If you read the post its about the music & the fact that some people refuse to move on from what they see as the ultimate NS venue of all time.............in fact bollox to it, Im f***ed if Im gonna be slapped down & ridiculed for trying to promote a current scene,.......... I cant even be arsed to even finish this & dont see why I should explain myself & BTW pse dont intimate I do not have a life..............Ive spent 30 yrs making sure people like you are safe in your nice warm bed at night & have freedom of speech............which means in essence you can come on here & slag me off, for being passionate about a music scene that will die, if certain people dont continue to push the barriers & we leave the music in the hands of a bunch of gold diggers who have forgotten why we got into it in the first place. Im bored of this continual abuse by peopple who cant move on...........Im gonna do something else before I say something I'll regret. Bottom line is Im more in to whats happening on the scene now than then. I have the up most respect for you Pete, but please leave out the personal insults & stick to the point of the thread. Russ

I agree, there are enough venues to cater for everyone these days, I just dont wont to be confused or asscotiated with the cheesier side of things, not only this, but I get a little tired of being berated or mocked for my love & passion of NS in its true form, as opposed to the one that is just based on some retro idea of reliving Wigan Casino every weekend or what they consider WC to have been like, based on what people have written etc. I found the transition from traditional NS to 100 Club/Stafford sounds quite a stretch.............I remember attending the 100 Club in the early 8ts & not knowing a single tune, more than that, most did not come into my perception of NS either, however, with the 100 Club in particular, as it was my nearest AllNighter, I persisted & it wasnt too long before I got into the 'groove' of things.................I spose my dogged need to hear fresh sounds helped too, but I remember vividly, a friends enthusiasm for the music, which I initially did not quite 'get' at all & wondered what this had to do with my personal take on NS. Having said that, there were many venues in the 8ts which catered for the more traditional NS sounds........... Sounds quite strange reading this back now, as we all kinda except these tunes as part & parcel, its difficult to appreciate these days just how ground breaking some where at the time.........beat ballads, latin, R n B etc, etc, all part of the rich tapestry.......I think the point Im making here, is the fact that at no point during this time did I consider a) Leaving the scene Not listening to any NS other than that played during the 7ts at my fave venues.......... Best Russ

Its not about the venues, its about the music, the Casino was just another venue, yes, it was a life changing experience for me & many others.....warts n all, but, but I went to other venues as well as WC & when it closed we moved on to the next venue playing the kind of Rare Soul we enjoyed............ Not just trying to be controversial here, but the impression of Northern Soul that most non soulies have is based on certain portrayals in books & the general media, who have been advised by people who for thier own gain need to continue the Wigan legend/myth, history has been re - written, the nasty bits glossed over & now & for some years there is an older generation of soulie returning to the scene, who have no real passion for the music, just want to get together socially with like minded people & dance to the records of thier youth & have a good time, bragging about how they packed it in cos after Wigan closed the scene died, when we all know, most were tourists & didnt have the commitment to the music...........nothing wrong with that in it self, but I find the whole thing cringingly embarrassing & as far away from the true ethos of the scene as can be. The real scene is still out there, playing the newly discovered & under played gems, along with the rareities that you dont always get to hear & contantly coming under fire for being elitist or what ever, well the scene is elitist, it was, is & always will be about discovering & promoting soul music that was never valued at its time of release or if a new release gained a wider audience thru being played on the scene...........its our job to continue to do this, for the sake of the real NS scene & for the as yet undiscovered artists we'll be dancing to for years to come............Wigan Casino did this in spades................so Im always slightly confused as to why, if people were genuinely into the music for the right reasons, do they now ignore the true reason for the scenes original existence & want to wallow in some awful nostalgic bubble, thats based on a lie, that theyve all bought in to & continues to line the pockets of the unscrupoulous people who take advantage of them & enbarrass the rest of us. People cant move on from Wigan, because they see it as some label to wear to impress people, if they loved the music, they would be supporting venues & promoters who to this day, carry on the tradition that the venues from the 'golden eras promoted in the first place. ATB Russ

Once apprehended a reasonably well known 'face' around the bizarres at a Nighter in the Midlands, who was carrying around a copy of a known in demand rareity, I asked is that for sale, they replied in the positive & being wadded that weekend, I said I'll take it off ya hands then.........after some coughing, spluttering & what have you, they disappeared into the etha still in possession of the disc & bathing in the reflected glory.......a few years later, I managed to snag a copy of the disc off another dealer & low & behold, when it arrived it was the same copy that had eluded me that night a few years before as there was a distinguishing 'mark' on the label.................sooooooooooo it alway's was going to be mine one way or the other. Junking locally a few years back & bumped into a local British Motown collector, we had a brief conversation, which the store owner was listening to also & I can only imagine the bloke was trying to impress the store owner, as when we discussed my latest Motown aquisition, which at the time was Virgil Henry - You Aint Saying Nothing New.......he say's 'oh yeah' I have that on British............I did say Im pretty sure this never got a UK release, so questioned the said collector further, only to be ridiculed over my lack of knowledge over British released Motown...............as I disappeared with my tail between my legs, thinking what a w**ker, I thought I must check that out as Im sure that its bollox.........however I never did & I bet some one now tells me, that it came out as a b side of a reissue or some such thing...... ATB Russ

Anyone................?????.........If you need a blast you can call me, just PM me. Russ

Niteliters - Set Me Free - Sounds International - VG+ 100 UKP VSlt wrtg on lb (Same label as The Sheepherders) Superior Northern Dancer, that was given a very brief airing by both Shifty & Irish Greg a few years back, perfect for today & just aching to be played........woooooooossshhhh !!!!! PM me if interested, no trades, cash, cheque, paypal (+ 4%) + postage. ATB Russ

I deffo agree with the fewer DJ's doing longer sets Simon......I think 90 mins max tho', gives DJ's the opportunity to build a set, but punters dont get 2 - 3 hours of a DJ they may not personally like...........Butch at the last Burnley.......awesome 2 hour set & should set the standard IMHO........must be cheaper option for promoters too, as fewer DJ's, plus you get the stongest line up possible. Just my opinion mind. Russ

Your probably right, but I would be interested as to why you think this would be, not being perdantic here, just interested to hear the pro's & cons as you see them. Russ

Who cares, we all have our user names.........even on SS, what difference does it make. Russ

With masses of people on the scene seemingly attending venues every weekend..........could a fortnightly Allnighter ever happen/work again.................I think the day's of a weekly Allnighter are long gone & have been for decades, but would one large regular venue, in a central or easily accessible area work in todays Rare Soul climate. Admitedly any promoter attempting this would have to have a wheel barrow to carry thier bo**ox in............but I kinda hanker after the day's when we all congregated at one inspiring venue regularly for our fix of soul..........the good side of this would be a regular turn over of tunes & the ability to break new records easier, the down side.........well, maybe depending on the promoter it might mean one person or venue 'controlling' the scene, if it was highly successful..............what do you think ???????????????. Russ

Far better than Ronnie Shannon IMHO..................buy it now someone. Russ

PM'd ya. Russ

Totally agree with this............Helen. Russ

Russ

Great I'll file my LP, for listening only then........... Russ

Just been talking about you mate to Rod............how scary is that.............I dont know how the f*** I get myself involved in these things ...........your right mate........its freaking 1976 ahhhhhhhhgggggggggghhhhhhhh . When you over again mate, saw Fergie at Burnley BTW. atb Russ

I know................get the beers in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Russ

As mentioned above Steve's at work, other wise he would defend himself, he's big enough & ugly enough, but Im sure he wont mind me saying that he would be the first to admit that he wouldnt be the right DJ for an event of this kind, so I think that ones sorted. Steve's a very passionate guy & loves his music, he's prepared to go the extra yard every time for what he considers to be right...................hence the post, rightly or wrongly he felt the other thread had become a bit personal & did not want to detract from promoting the event in that thread, so started this. What he's put into the South Coast Soul Scene over the years has gone far beyond the call of duty & we both care very much about the local scene, unfortunately due to some of the points covered in both posts, we tend to go outside of the area for our soul fix's recently, as the local scene tends to be on the whole a little insular, thats not to say that any event isnt worth while for those promoting, attending or DJing at the events, it would however be fantastic if we could have a few different faces on the rostas & I say this from purely a selfish point of view, as Im one of the sad buggers that will still travel to hear a certain DJ or to attend a certain venue, specifically for the music policy, it isnt just about going out, it has to be right for us personally. Anyway, hopefully if the plan comes together, we'll see a lot of you at the 'Crown' Saturday & we can laugh some of this off, some times you cant put into words in a thread your true feelings about things & when your passionate about something you can sometimes, put things over in an over zealous way, Im sure that Steve will stick to his guns over the main points he's discussed, but its just that, discussion...............I know he put his heart & soul as well as some serious cash, along with Molly & Dave Abbott into many years of promotions & we all know how much of a labour of love it can be, to try & put the South Coast on the soul map, so to speak, they could have gone down the oldies only route & made some serious cash, but they didnt, they put there money where their heart was & sometimes I think Steve thinks when he sees 'oldies' only do's down here, 'Why the hell did I bother'.........this last bit is just my interpretation of course. At the end of the day.............................it gets dark , .................right now can we play soul music & get smashed please. Im right bored of this now , so can we kiss & make up & agree to disagree if thats what it takes . Good luck to everyone with everything..........forever Amen...........& hopefully see ya Saturday for a wet & some soul music. Russ

Well, at the risk of repeating myself, as I know Steve is still at work, you can read into it what the f**k ya like mate, Im telling you uncategorically there was absolutlely no malice intended, if you wanna keep harping on about it, its up to you fella, but Im not sure how plain I can make this............& yes, it does matter where you go & please dont make me explain why that might be will you. Russ

Whoops..........apologies...........didnt realise you were a Spider 'Woman', you've changed your avatar Helen, please forgive me.........we can still have a beer tho', or one of those fruity things with umbrellas if you prefer........ Speak soon Russ

Dear Mr Spider Bloke.................dont wanna comment on anything else really other than I am absolutely positive that Steve was not & would not try to sabotage anyones promotion........I do however beleive that it was a fair comment with regards to choice of DJ's for the night, whilst Steve has vented his spleen, no way has he tried to sabotage anything & you might want to re - think your choice of words on that one. Which Nighters do you attend BTW, on a serious note Im possibly looking at a mini bus or coach for the Power Station Nighter at the end of May in Gloucs if there was enough support in the area, anyway just wondered which nighters you attend regularly ?????. Also, maybe we can have a beer at the 'Crown' Saturday, I think now its until 2am we'll hopefully pop along to support Bearsy & obviously the promotion. Im sure that in person you'll realise that Steve is just passionate in the extreme when it comes to soul music, we were travelling to Wigan from Fareham in 1978 when it took over 8 hours on the train & have a history of soul promotions on the South Coast that go back 15 years or more & I would just add, that these promotions were when most were having thier sabatical (politely put) & it wasnt trendy to be into NS & it meant you risked loosing your shirt to promote anything on the South Coast full stop, not like these day's when almost anyone can put a do on & fill it with handbaggers & make a buck . Any way, please note, that there was absolutely no sabotage of anyones promotion intended in any way shape or form & that's for the record & you can quote me on it. See you Saturday all being well, I'll be the 'wallflower' . ATB Russ

Ahemmmm ............Anyway's..........might see you all in Southampton Saturday night at the 'Crown' (Mrs Vickers to confirm, as I know she wants to go 'Silk') & we can solve the problems of the 'Soul World' over a couple of pints..........& have a right old laugh together........after all, our common denominator is 'Sweet Soul Music'. Altho' I did once have a Scooter..honest. Right, I'll go & find mi vest, not the one with the badges........the bullet proof one . 'Do I Love You..........Indeed I do'. Love, Peace & Soulfulness..........Russ Soulies do it even betterer, or is that best or errrrrr anyway, what ever it, is we do it better than Scooterists ........ !.

Dolly Gilmore - Sweet Sweet Baby/ Dont you know you're the yes - Dove - Funky dancer b/w fantastic x over heaven Charles Mintz - Running Back/ Lucky Guy - Uplook - Ditto Russ

Think the liner notes state that 'gutter' is on the LP (it isnt) dont they Tony ???? Anyway, great LP, cheap too !!!!. Russ