Russ Vickers

I remember not too long after this was released some geezer from P'boro way turning up at the 100 Club with arms ful of these.the 7' in the picture sleeve, all minty, probably from some cut out bin, he could hardly give em away, luckily I have always liked the good new releases & had a few, thought I was 'the man' floggin' em for a fiver a piece, which was about twice what I paid . Never in a million years worth a ton, but spose if people will pay it.......................good tune tho in its day, pity its been thrashed to within an inch of its credibility. Russ

First played as a new release at the Uptown Down South Newbury Nighters.................your right Dave..................six in the morning, used to get the floor heaving, real hands in the air anthem. Russ

And a great venue it is too, frequented by a lot of the south Coasters.............the few occasions I visited I have had a great time, but Albrighton was a bit special, for mostly the reasons that Ted has already mentioned, open minds, full dance floor...............happy days !. Russ

Man after my own heart Ted, sadly missed venue. Russ

Ditto Russ

These kinda tunes I thought were commonly refered to as 'steppers'. Below mid tempo IMHO but not quite a ballad, dance floors filled at Essence to this kinda brilliant tune for years. Russ

Played as a new release darn souf at Abshot, Newbury nighters etc, other good track on the 12 if memory serves me right too...............will come around again one day as its a cracker, just been thrashed a few years back & needs a little rest, no sample as far as I am aware tho. Russ

Salvadors Mel Britt Magnetics (any)

I cannot agree more Mark or have put it so eloquently !!!. I started going nighters in '77 & to be honest I was just like a man possessed, Im not really sure that I was overtly influenced back then, all I wanted to do was dance, dance, dance, pardon the pun.........I went every were, but mostly Wigan & Yate, so I spose I was influenced in the early days soulfully by the music policy & DJ's at these venues I mean Richard Searling was god like to me, in my eyes everything this man played turned to gold. I dont think that it was until Wigan closed that I really started to get into the music in a big way, actually listening properly & starting to collect. My main influences post Wigan have got to be first & foremost the 100 Club, then Stafford & then Soul Essence, amongst many, many others. DJ wise has to be Ian Clarke,Richard Searling, Butch, Keb, Guy, Terry Jones, Keith & Maxine woon, Gavin Page (Hold the Jazz pse) Nikki Golding, Mark Houghton, Ivor Jones, Ady Croasdale, Carl Fortnum, Gary Spencer, Adam, Randy Cozens, Dave Thorley, Shay Richardson, Andy Mann (Amazing taste) Ben Summers, Soul Sam, Arthur Fenn (sh*t.how can you forget Arthur, man) Colin Law, Rob Marriot................too many to mention.........but my influences over the past ten to twenty odd years have got to be the music policy at the 100 Club & Soul Essence. Nearly forgot Chris Anderton, John Weston, & in particular Saus. Russ

Charles Mintz version of Running back is the dogs dooberries & Lucky Guy is brill too & yet to have its day methinks....................bloody rare too...................mine took me awhile after hearing Butch play it at the 100 Club few years back had to have it...................prefer the harder funkier bassline better than the DOS. just gets me every time . Russ

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Played by Keb at Stafford...............no 45 LP only. Russ

Does any one have the following for sale pse: Don Ray Samson - Baby Come Back - E Records Kathy & the Calendars - Please Dont Go - Port The Embers - Where Did I Go Wrong - Atlantic Please PM with condition & price. Thank you Russ

Ben Summers........................fantastic taste in soul music & all-round bon oeuf, any one got an email address for Ben. One of my lasting memories of you Gavin at Abshott was the punch up with the kid behind the bar..............can laugh about it now.......................at the time thought all that business was the end of the world . Happy days. Russ

All of the above . Russ

Bang on Atom......................Mr Moore...you da man . Russ

Joe Tex on ebay at the mo Russ

Ditto this Col...........brill venue, fantastic night out if you enjoy nostalgia & I hear recently some good post Wigan tunes being played too. I have always had a great night socially at Bisley. Russ

You know what I mean mate.................back then quite cutting edge....................now pretty much oldies. Not knocking that BTW but in the spirit of the thread hardly a Land mark venue these days. Russ

The 100 Club, Soul Escence, Albrighton, & for me particularly the 'Uptown Down South' promotions at Abshott & the Newbury Nighters, pushing the boundaries in the mid 9ts was hard work, but both these venues were well attended & music policy was awesome IMO, I possibly should not comment on the UDS promotions as I was the promoter, but I am very proud of what was acheived at these venues musically, people travelled from all over the UK & Europe, sometimes passing 2-3 so called 'Big' Allnighters to get there & I still beleive to this day that we opened the doors for other venues to follow similar music policies when it was not the done thing. I am quite conscious of the fact that this post could come over as being conceited or blowing ones own trumpet, so I would really appreciate other peoples honest comments on the Uptown Down South promotions at both Abshott & Newbury. I would also like to nominate the Bournemouth Modern do's at Cagney's, hard work promoting upfront rare soul music in areas were traditionally Rare Soul events arnt that well attended any way period.........so big props to Jason. Russ

Bisley........................then or now ??????? Russ

This this has been a popular play for me in the US, usually goes down well. Russ