Russ Vickers

Do the lines anyway just for the crack. Just dont think the term is very appropriate. Dont rerally care that much TBH tho'. Russ

I didnt think it was bud. So much want to go to Cali mate, was speaking with Mike t'other night about it & to explain that I just cant afford the dosh to go for one weekend at the moment. Im gutted as I would dearly love to be there for the guys on the Anniversary night, especially as Mike always makes the effort with Hitsville etc. I hope you all have a blast & rest assured I will be walking the floors all night wondering what I am missing..............give Mr Bywell a dig for me & tell im to get some decent records !!!. Russ

It would be quite interesting to play them a traditional 6ts oldie, a recently discovered 6ts newie, a typical 7ts/8ts dancer & a soulful new release. See which they enjoyed. Of course its all irelevant really, cos none of em will be bustin' down the doors of the local soul night, but as an experiment could be quite interesting. What about: Dobie Gray - Out On the Floor Johnny Praye - Cant Get Too Much Love (Yes I Know Butch has played it for at least 10 yrs) Carstairs/lil Major Williams Amy Winehouse/Ron Hall/ Im sure there are better suggestions but just as a start. I suspect that most wouldnt particularly really like any with the exception possibly of the new released stuff. Russ

Hey Dave, how ya doin mate, hope all is well in sunny Florida. Whilst I hope that your post wasnt directed at me personally , there are a couple of points for discussion in your post: I love all the types of Rare Soul from the 6ts to present day. My favourite genre will always be 6ts & 7ts tho'. However I do like certain sounds within all eras & genres of Rare Soul & the x factor I speak of is that certain something within a record that makes it popular to the Rare Soul Scene/Rare Soul Collectors. For example, for every thousand soulful house records that are released maybe there will be one or two that might be relevant. The same with gospel, blues, disco, RnB, etc.................not every soul record ever released was/is relevant to a Rare Soul scene, the above applies, for every few hundred contempoary soul records that were/are released a minute fraction are relvant from the 'scenes' point of view, therefore I feel an open mind with regard to these things is essential, liike Dave T quite rightly points out most of the legendary venues were ground breaking to some extent or another at the time. I also actually did go out & do it, I promoted a very successful soul night & an Allnighter with a completely open music policy...........I would also add that this was done at a time when the scene wasnt particularly buoyant & it certainly wasnt 'trendy' to be doing such things, I did it cos I love all types of rare soul music. At the Newbury Nighters we had people from Manchester passing other Allnighters to get to us !. I will be doing it again too in some form or another. However I would never ever suggest that anyone should be doing anything other than what they enjoy & I am not saying Im any better or that I have better taste in soul music than others who have a more traditional view of things I just have my own opinion. Knowing & respecting you like I do Dave your comments concerning younger soul fans & fans from other countries are spot on too, certainly the guys n gals that attend The Hitsville Weekender in the US are testiment to that. And finally the UK are truly blessed to have such a vibrant & thriving Rare Soul Scene, until you dont have it on your doorstep its difficult to appreciate it, but trust me I know & my whole atttude has changed towards the scene cos of this. I am now takeing coverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr BTW posters using phrases like Norman Soul do not actually help when it comes to these discussions, can we grow up a little class . Russ

IMO the music should be played from the format that it was originally released on, whether that is CD, MP3, Digital Down loads or chunky black vinyl. Russ

Ditto . Like I have said many times before the whole thing in one room on one dancefloor, if the music has that certain X factor then the dancers/scene will go with it, regardless of year of release etc, sensible DJ's playing great danceable soul music, just like it used to be, just how it always will be for some of us, sure they'll be some people bemoaning the Northern/Modern & the oldies/newies shit, but havnt they always.......................... big venue, promoter with some huge balls & greaat DJ's, playing great danceable soul music to an excepting crowd.................. Here's hoping that in my life time there will be another Torch, Mecca, Wigan, Stafford, Yate etc, etc a venue that will unite the whole scene under one roof. There could even be chartered planes picking up across Europe . Russ

we had been discussing the same old, same old about acceptance of modern releases, going to europe and playing 'The whole of soul' to a much younger crowd and them accepting it all. Is it the 'we know best', 'the definition of xxxx is' that is holding back the whole development of the rare soul scene. Sorry Colin to draw you in from the sidelines

Never see people stomping properly these days................there were certain records that you 'stomped' too & certain bits within other records that you would, do ya bit in too, wonder why this kinda dancin is out of favour, apart from the fact that that us oldies would probably need a paramedic on standby before attempting it these days . Russ

A minty one on ebay right now..................I put a link up in the ebay sales bit. Choooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon IMVHO. Russ

Done this link with sound file for a friend...............brilliant Tidewater area soul. https://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?s...search&fgtp= Russ

Im positive there was a thread on SS recently with regard to a local issue of the Salvadors................I have done a search but can find anything.................did I just dream this or make it up ????????????????????. Had some strange looks at Hitsville when I mentioned this over the weekender, so want confirmation so I can prove my immense knowledge of all things soulful Helpppppppppppppp. Russ

Does anyone have a mobile number for Steve Cato pse, if so PM me ASAP. Thank you. Russ

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . Russ

Same thing happened to me Mike, thru ebay warehouse !!!. See ya Friday. Russ

Dont want to start the oldies newies thing again..................just saying that there are always good new tunes coming thru as always that are as good as anything played on the scene in years gone by. Nothing wrong with oldies, just prefer to keep the scene progressive, as it was always intended to be. Russ

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Johnny Praye, Luther Ingram, Voices Inc, Cecil Washington (My Proposal), Sensations (Demanding Man), Nancy Wilcox, The Swans, The Magicians (or is this Cheating) Vanguards, Milton Bennet, etc, ect, ect All as good as the classic oldies IMVHO. Russ

No offence intended mate, but these 2 tunes are truly appalling & what have they got to do with (Northern) Soul. The first instrumental posted by MP I quite like. Russ Who was Claus Ogerman ??? Russ

Russ.

I think I would agree with this & possibly a natural progression to do this in one of the rooms at the bigger Weekenders, aswell as everything that still happens now. Russ

Yes, & when I finally croak Im hoping my lad will carry on. My collection is there cos I love the music, not for any investment or financial gain. Unless Im really financially bollocked, it will stay where it is forever. Russ

Salvadors - Stick By Me Baby..............................da da daaaaaaaaaa omphhhhhhhhhhh !!!! Russ

John I know this isnt much help, but what a fantastic record this, bought mine off Gavin Page some years ago...............remember at the time the odd person turning there nose up at it, I know a good record when I hear one & this is great. Russ

Or Stafford TOTW Dayers...........alternate weekends. Jumped trains, hitched, coach, ended up in stolen cars, someone robbed a gas station on the way to Yate, whilst I sat naively in the car wondering why they were all running across the forecourt with armfuls of cigarettes etc. Once ended up in a car wreck whilst hitching to the 100 Club in the early days, from Plymouth. Also once got a taxi to the 100 Club from Eastleigh, missed the last train or it was cancelled, cant remember now, but when I got there, had no money, so Ady kindly bailed me out from the petty cash !!!!!. Happy day's Russ

Not keen on the Babies........................but the others IMHO are first class NS records. I absolutely love Pee Wee Shuck & Huey, Dean Anderson used to play this covered up & loved it from the first moment I heard it......................You dont have this for sale do you Pete, by any chance ?????. Great choices. Russ

Milton Parker - Woman Like it Harder Constellations - I Dont Know About Lynn Varnado -Wash & Wear Love Barbara Lynn - Movvng on a Groove Flame N King - O h Happy Day Jessie James - If You Want a Love Affair Carol Anderson - Sad Girl Jimmy Ellis - Happy To Be Satin - The Look on Your Face True Image - Im Not Over You Yet Elouise Laws - Love Factory Russ