Russ Vickers

This is getting quite ridiculous & some what boring zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........there was no personal attack on you intended Karen (& BTW I made the journey as a 15 year old.........altho' I quite see your point). If you guys wanna sit in the Casino Cafe with your tea & scones talking about old times, then fill your wellies, I really dont care. I think you have completely missed the point for god knows how many times & it seems that no matter how many times I try to clarify, you guys are intent on your own agenda, Im losing the will to live with regards this thread so, hey if it means that much to you I'll leave you all to it.................BTW if anyone ever does a completely unbiased & honest, permanent exibition about the venue, I would love to visit. BTW As a parting comment, I disagree with your if it wasnt for the 'oldies' the scene would have died years ago statement, in fact if it wasnt for the 'real' NS scene continuing to do what they always had, despite the handbaggers having disappeared in droves cos NS wasnt the 'in' thing any more, we probably wouldnt have a scene any more. Keep the Faith Karen & stop taking things so personally................its only a Cafe after all.....................byeeeeeeeeeeeeee enjoy yourselfs. Simon, agree with your last post completly, some people just dont want to get it. Russ

Brian At the risk of repeating myself, my comments were not a reflection on the Casino as a venue. I loved Wigan Casino with a passion. But its gone, its legacy is undeniable, the good & the bad, but its gone, I just get sick of hearing people constantly hankering back to those days at every opportunity. The scene is about the music, the venue is just a vessel for us to hear the music thru the DJ's. The point I was making was that IMHO I think the cafe is degrading to the memory of such a legendary venue, it trivialises & soils the memories, I cant even really put into words how it makes me feel to think that some people will visit this sight thinking that the atmosphere this place creates about WC is what it was all about............they'll never get it from this.............people like you Karen who never went cant even begin to imagine what this place meant, it wasnt just another venue, Im not ashamed to say that every Sunday morning I would shed tears as the notes of the last record faded, for many years it was a massive part of my life, its just another way that society cleanses history & presents it in a modified exceptable form to feed to the unwashed masses. I really dont care about the Cafe.........my memories are quite safe, it saddens me tho to think that others not old enough to have attended will never know from this oportunistic venture the atmosphere & passion for soul that once ebbed thru this sight..............enjoy your tea & scones luvvies, Im not ready for the sanatized version of Northern Soul just yet thank you, I want the scene to continue in a progressive vibrant way, not live on past glories, that have been rewritten to suit the fading memories of certain people, promoters & DJ's. Love, Peace & Soulfulness Russ

I have just spoken with Willie Johnson about 10 mins ago. Fantastic guy, I passed on regards & thanks from all his fans in the UK & around the world for his small but fantastic body of work. I can also confirm that Willie Johnson & Willie E Johnson are one & the same person. The Checker LP 'Listen to The Morning Stars of Savannah' was his first ever recording, I beleive in 1962 (?). The 'True Spirit' LP by the Rev Willie E Johnson is also one & the same. Unfortunately WJ has no records left. He did have a gospel CD out about 5 yrs, which was his last recording. WJ remembers the Stevedors 45, he sang lead & it was his group. He has lost touch with the other group members most of which are now passed on. If anyone would like me to ask WJ any questions etc pse PM me & I will do my bets to pass them on to him. Can anyone pse post some sound files of Willies recordings pse. Russ

This is a fantastic LP & worth every penny of your well earned pennies, Andy I cant remember if there is an August Moon/Mr Wiggles connection with this aswell ?????. Russ

Yep, thanks. Russ

Kind words Mr Bywell, thank you.....................Talmadge Armstrong at his best IMVHO, never fails to make me wanna dance, the LP is worth a punt too, for the couple of X over tracks on it. Russ

Ive been really digging 'Its Me' & playing it to death..........I will pass all your good wishes onto Willie too. Russ

Apparently the sound was awful tho wasnt it ?????. Russ

Thanks Steve, it sounded so familiar, but just couldnt be sure. Russ

Brilliant thread & I was only thinking about this recently. I managed to get Sam to perform live at one of the Newbury sessions & thought it would be a good to get Dave on as one of the guest DJ's. Dave being one of if not the first DJ to push 'Lonely For You Baby" at Stafford. The build up to the Night was fantastic & the sound check confirmed that Sam was going to perform LFYB (The only time he has performed this track live in the UK as far as I am aware)(Sam refused to perform 'Fragile Handle with Care', as he said that he was not happy with the the final release as the song had been written as a ballad). Well as you can imagine Mr Sam Dees took the roof off...........a fantastic performance & by all accounts the best on that particular trip to the UK. I will never forget this night & consider it the highlite of my promotional 'career', with Jeff 'Jeffree' Perry 'live' at Newbury a very close second. Ben Summers was one of my resident DJ's at the time & is a director/producer of some kind (sorry Ben). Ben captured the whole performance plus the said Dave Thorley interview afterwards, on film. We were in negotiation with Sam's people to do an official release of the performance on video, but this proved very difficult. The figures just didnt add up & made it financially out of the question. Ben Summers is one of the good guys & will never put this footage out unlawfully, soooooooooooooooo until we can do it legally the interview along with most of the performance stays in the can. It might be worth revisiting I'll try & contact Ben & see what he thinks. BTW the performance of LFYB by Sam on the Strange World of Northern Soul was shot at Newbury, then messed up by IL !!!!. Hope this helps Dave. Ben if you are reading this PM me. Russ

Hahahahahahahahaahahah. Russ

Good idea Ken, but wouldnt it keep getting robbed ????. Russ

Anyone pse ???? Russ

Brian You've missed the point mate...........I loved the Casino, Im not knocking the venue, tho it had its good & bad points, its just the attitude of the people who once looked down on us & the venue locally who now seem to think its a good idea to prosper with a trendy food court, like I said in my initial response there could be a more fitting tribute to the place instead of a naff themed cafe, its a joke & a poor one at that. Russ

Does anyone have a discography for this label pse. Also are there any rareities or sort after releases on the label ????. Thank you in advance. Russ

I have this too...............anyone any more info on this. Russ

Its a brilliant record........................& you know what really pisses me off, every time some of you lot dislike a record its the same old story 'Its only being played cos its rare' what a load of of old pony................get a life, its a f***ing rare soul scene innit. Most of this is based on the fact that you're jealous that you cant afford a copy or you are too bone idle to track these records down !!!!. With exception of you Pete of course, you just hate everything . Brilliant record.....breaks my heart every time. Russ

Thank you Dave, thats great, i was hoping that you would give me some clues. Anyone else ????. When I have the 'big hit' you'll all benefit honest !!!. Thanks again Dave. Russ

Me too Steve & they always have..............its not just DJ's either I knew people years ago who always seemed to have the latest top sounds, they just sell them at their peak & buy the next big thing...........bragging rights I spose, but no depth of collection really, still I spose we have all sold records to buy others. My 'Hot Box' would contain Ellipsiss, Ice, Mello Souls, Soul Bros Inc(Tear Drops), Florence Trapp amongst others........good thread BTW. rUSS

Passing thru Savannah Georgia & Charleston N Carolina shortly & wondered if anyone can reccomend any record stores/flea markets/thrift stores or have any contacts that you wouldnt mind sharing. Also anywhere worth stopping at along the I 95 between Florida & Virginia ????. Any help would be much appreciated guy's n gals. Need all the help I can get. If we have any SSers in that area lurking, get in touch if you have soul vinyl for sale or trade. Thanks in advance. Russ

Priceless !!! I was once at the bar getting a drink at the Abshott Soul Night that I promoted & a chap one side of me was complaining there was to much 6ts/Northern being played the guy on my other side was complaining that there was too much Modern being played, the room was blowing up big time & thats when I realised we were on to something & that we had just about got the music policy right !!!!!. ............I think the quoted post is one of the most poinient posts on this subject I have read. I love all danceable soul music that has the X factor, I come from a Northern Soul background so my perspective is going to be effected slightly by this I think, but I really do feel we should be in one room on one dancefloor. Current trends, show funkier beats are being accepted along with soul music from all decades, mixed in with 6ts newies & traditional Northern. We have always been a broad church & long may it continue, its for the better if the scene continuously develops musically, keeping it fresh & exciting, whilst show casing the soul music & artists that were/are not widely recognised else where. Peace, Love & Soulfulness Russ

Great choon IMO my copy came from Harvey himself. Deserves more plays, every time I play this it makes me wanna dance & that is is what its all about innit ???. Russ

Thanks mate, thought that it might have shot up during my enforced sabatical !!!!. Russ