Russ Vickers

Yes I did mate, thank you.....soooo regret letting it go.... Happy New Year Perry, hope your well mate... Best Russ

Cant believe I sold this all them years ago, Ion had it covered up as Charles Brandy I think it was & I got lucky, then moved it on a few years later....what a tw*t !!!.......brilliant record. best Russ

HNY buddy...well I certainly dont, & I also enjoy a lot of different genres of soul music, so find myself attending different types of Soul Nights & events other than just All Nighters (like many on SS)... However, traditionally the back bone of the Northern & Rare Soul Scene, has always been All Nighters, I think that its a reflection of the current All Nighter scene, that there are very few tips that would be suitable for an All Nighter posted thus far. I appreciate that there will always be folk who want to keep thier current hotties to themselves instead of posting them up all over the internet, I also appreciate that few of the Dj's I would consider to be the top Nighter DJ's have posted, but I think the tips so far, on the whole, are more from a Modern, Crossover & collectors perspective, as opposed to anything that 'fuel' an All Nighter. Non of the above is intended to be critical, the selections once we got going are very good, but I was making an observation, that I think reflects the lack of dancers suitable for an All Nighter. Best Russ

Last entry from me...a marmite tune for sure, but hasnt been off my player all Christmas & I lurrrrvvvveee it, a bit twee maybe & real instruments would have been a bonus, but dropped into a set at the right place, right time I think this could become a bit of an anthem.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e4ONC0KyGk

I am not inviting any kind of negative debate when I say this, its purely a personal observation, I think there have been some crackin tunes posted so far, but very few of them would be suitable for an Allnighter IMVHO, some mixed in cleverly by very good DJ's could make it, most wouldn't....having said that, most would sound great at a Modern/Crossover Night.... Best Russ

Another cover that I've been lovin for a while now....& dare I say I prefer this to the Coke Escovedo original.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV-vqDkLMzQ

Neither of these are totally unknown - but I think they deserve wider recognition, see what ya think......hope you enjoy em. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFRajgbS61E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6ymBtqDt0 I would also add my Judy Freeman & Black Rock Cover, which I've been playing for a few years now. Don't think it will remain under the paper much longer this year, due to another copy surfacing recently, but a great tune none the less - HNY Russ

Love the Fourth Level - Deep South...Shiftys old Royston Vasey Male Voice Choir cover up, proper old skool stompin 'Northern' Soul...Boom !!! HNY Russ

Both of the Shiptown CD's above have been done very cheaply, the one Chalky has posted up is ok, but not comprehensive, they also contain tracks released on Gregory including the Dream Team, they may have been recorded at the studio behind the Shiptown record store, but I'm not certain that Noah's son has the legal rights to release these ???...keeping in mind he also had Shiptown 45's pressed up & sold as originals. I would like to see a proper release by a proper re issue company, not someone who is just trying to make a fast buck.... Best Russ

I would love to see a Shiptown/How Big CD comp. I also reckon that a Lenis Guess comp & a Guess label comp could be interesting too..? Best Russ

We all had wedges way before '81 aswell...& that blonde stripe above the ear too... that blonde stripe got me into a load of trouble as I was in the Royal Navy then lol Russ

That has got to be the most mis guided post I have ever seen written on SS...its wrong in so many ways that I cant even be bothered to answer it properly....surely any sane person who is into the original ethos of a Northern/Rare Soul Scene cannot asscotiate them selves with statements like this....its shocking that some who may not know any better might actually think there is some truth in any of this tripe lol....where do people get this sh*t from.... Russ

Was played darn sarf round about the same time, I clocked it & got Dave Abbotts spare...love the record personally, but never really took off proper like, hope it has its day... Russ

I'm assuming that youre referring to the 45 from the recent box set ?...or do you mean the legit original 45 rlease ? Russ

Wonder why Richard didnt Quality Assure an advance copy before they were sent for production ???.....crap vinyl, crap labels, crap record bags, crap sound repro on some, dished, warped & large spindle hole are just some of the problems/observations...poor show IMHO...I if I was going to put my name to something, I would make damn sure said product was as it should be. Russ

Sorry, totally disagree, on the NS Scene, the ability to use the Mic 'properly' creates atmosphere...if you dont want to hear occasional mic talk go to a rave or some such thing where mixing is the thing & mic is not neccessary... best Russ

Experience, technical ability, presence, the abilty to read a dance floor correctly, passion, self beleif, the right records, bringing some of ya self to the set & making it unique in some way (cant explain this really), the ability to build anticipation......& the X Factor... But I would honestly say, other than the obvious (great records), experince is the thing that makes the difference, when you are DJing on a reasonably regular basis, you learn to read a crowd/floor, the crowd begin to anticipate your 'sound' & those that like it get behind you & raise the atmosphere within a room.... & dont start a set with what you consider to be your biggest track of the moment....it leaves ya know to go...build it, drop it down a bit then BOOM !!!... Russ

Now that is funny Len, I have done that on numerous occasions, most embarrassing when ya mates are all waiting to hear what that brilliant tune was...how can you forget summat in less than a minuit...errrrmmmm dont answer that LOL..... Russ

I dont even keep my records at my house any more for that very reason TBH, I have a very small selection of a handful of recent buys, that are by the decks n thats it these days...all my records are marked anyway & not in any obvious way either... Its a sad state of affairs... Russ

I'm happy to contribute towards a reward if neccessary. This wasnt a few grands worth, it was much more. Someone out there knows something about this, so do the right thing & speak up...when I say speak up, tip Melv off, dont advertise it on here or FB...they will be reading this NOW, let Melv know quietly & let justice take its own course.... What will the Police do...bugger all !!!...its about time someone was made an example of... F*ckin disgusted Russ

I cant flippin wait for the film...I hope Im in the UK for its release... Russ

Ady, as ever the voice of reason, amongst all us over passionate nutters...lol Russ

Im hoping mines come with the mail today, so I will read tonite & post my opinion tomorrow. Russ

I should add that I do not condone the use of illegal drugs in any way at all, its not big & its not clever, but it happened & it was prolific. All music scenes have had an asscotiated drug of choice, well most...NS is no different. Russ

Ok, I wrote a note to self, I tried to resist the temptation, but hey bollox to it....DRUGS, DRUGS, DRUGS were every where, every single person I knew on the scene was involved in some way, whether people like it or not, or whether all these years later they are willing to admit it or not, Amphetamines were the fuel that drove the scene, for years people have tried to pretend they never did it (cos the music was enough lol), it wasnt really that bad (yeah, right !) etc, etc....even RW wrote that they wernt a major part of the WC experience....YES THEY WERE...there, I said it...my book has hopefully arrived today, it has taken about 6 weeks to get to Baghdad, I will read it cover to cover tonight & report back....however, the mere fact that the subject has been broached honestly (?) is a bonus IMHO.... I now await the onslaught of the 'me Mam just packed me sarnies' brigade to once again claim the 'music was enough'....but no matter how many now refuse to recognise the seedier side of the scene, it happened live with it, dont try to cover it up... Russ