Agentsmith

dave, i know that dave kilworth mentioned of someone he knows down south who has footage from the casino, as yet its provenance hasnt materialized, but i wouldnt doubt dave's word for a minute...its in the hands of the owner if he ever wants to go public. i was not aware of a video archive sale, if its correct that the collection included said footage, that would appear, initially to contradict the former, but in reality there would surely, have to be more than one tape, even if the bbc believe and subsequently stated that they had erazed the tapes. so, perhaps, they werent aware that it had already been shipped out and they have no paperwork to colloberate its release. in which case, is it impossible to trace where it disappeared to?

the wigan casino years book informs us that the footage of the dancers on top of the pops, circa 1974, no longer exists as the original tapes were erased....how very tragic...i suppose like many others, this comes as a devastating revelation or, perhaps im way behind and its old news. however it prompts me to ask the question, much in a similar fashion to the one i posed about 18 months ago, along the lines of does any old footage exist of the casino that was independantly filmed. alas, it appears that is unsolved and as such, remains a holy grail. is it possible that the dancers who appeared on the show, and we all know a good many of them, perhaps may have been presented with copies of their performance as keep sakes ( like as if anyone would have a projector in those days?!). yes, thats quite possibly an ill-concieved longshot, but its not beyond the realms of probability...or someone associated with the production, may have it stored away somewhere forgotten?. i realise the chances are miniscule, especially when it is apparent that the age of the video recorder was so tantalizingly close ( infact i think the first ones appeared in 74...correct me if im wrong). i, like many old enough, distinctly remember watching this event played out with glowing pride....regardless of the fact, it was footsee, just watching these heroes going through the motions, they had perfected through endless dance sessions at countless all-nighters,mesmerising the cardboard cutouts who, had never seen the likes before!!...... i know steve powell is on here......perhaps, he may have, or know something we dont....if so steve, enlighten me and everyone else. i cant wrestle with the assumption, this archive film is lost forever,...i thought something as important as this film would be set in stone for all time. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.....

aye up lad, have to agree, a bit spartan on the detail....must have felt like a whistle stop tour as well. i have to say i was not aware stoke had a dedicated plaque but in all honesty, this is something we should ALL have thought about a long time ago, instead of waiting til were all falling off our perches. went to the cats unveiling and now, bearing in mind tims testament to the casino, it seems appropriate that wigan council should put matters right.....ot have i already missed the bus there as well?...TELL ME DOES ONE ALREADY EXIST?. anyway, look forward to dec 11 and another packer at the kings:thumbsup:

hi ian, for what its worth, my opinion is already on here, yes, ive read it already and its the benchmark and attempting to enlarge on the subject in contemplation is akin to a sequel....with the sincerest respect to your venerable self....as walter jackson aspired " after you, there can be nothing", YOU being this fitting theosaurus. i believe will will ALL be quite right to signal this, in due course, as the greatest book on the subject of our devoted attention to ever be written and in the remainder of our lifetimes will prove to be the ONLY definitive one. rob

CORRECTION MATE,.....THE VELVETS gobsmacked to find out it was rita graham on vocals even though she had nothing directly to do with the group. cecil washington without doubt one of richard's best....hairs on the back of the neck stuff...detroit with attitude!

i know there has been a certain amount of unrest with the delay in publication but, believe me, it is well worth the wait. itsa well scripted overview of 8 years that changed the face of the scene, that took it out of the shadows of monotone commercialism and drove it forward to become what it is today, a diverse unification of musical styles that attract people young and old from all walks of life, many of whom have applied their trades to polish it and give it a professional outlook. in the beginning it was an underground scene that was frequented by an elite few who jealously guarded their secret, but a mod movement had to believe there was more than live bands and uk releases of american rnb singles, it was then that the conflagration to the states began and the search for more of the same uncovered a previously unknown mountain of uptempo soul music that would fit the bill and quench the thirst of a flourishing scene. as the seventies began, clubs sprang up all over the heartlands of the industrial northwest and midlands and more youngsters began to wake up to a real alternative to the pop dross that was force fed to them. this was a new way of life, it encompassed music that they never dreamt existed, it fuelled their excitement, it encouraged them to travel to seek out more of these secret tunes and, ultimately, it pulled these many strands together in the name of comradeship and under the banner of the newly named "northern soul", it demanded a temple in its honour....and the bricks and mortar of wigan casino just happened to be there in the right place at the right time. the rest is history. tim brown's book lays out the groundwork and the details in episodic fashion, highlighting the ups and downs that the venues and the scene in general, encountered during the casino's rise to fame and deals frankly with its pre-forcast demise. it was never the intention to deliver a personal recollection of what went on there or the characters encountered, and true to word, it isnt. it certainly dispells many untruths and lays bare the facts surrounding the history of the holy grail record "do i love you". to my mind, having read this publication back to front, its the most complete and fitting enditement of a venue that has shaped all of our lives, for better or for worse,....either way it makes one glad that we lived through it and most impotantly that we discovered this wonerful scene and the riches of the music it bestowed on us.the book is a glorious colourful landscape that one can pour over in reference time and again and still achieve fulfilment, its a must buy, its our dna footprint to leave behind for others. as they say, " i commend this book to the house"...well done tim!.

appologies dave, mine's on snow which is belgian ( dont think it helps with no glasses on!) and it dosnt have the drunken rambling just the count-in. guess it helps to have a soundburger handy when attempting to buy what you think is the original version, its certainly confusing with so many different european releases.

dave, would it be correct to think then, that when it was played at the casino, it would have been from the lp?, because i remember the full spoken intro there. i have a dutch arista in a picture sleeve BUT the intro is shorter, yet its still 5 mins long

appologies pete, steve.. i couldnt honestly be sure that these people DO have it in advance of your good selves and whoever else has placed the advance order. it should be pretty obvious though, that as far as you're concerned, you're going to get the extras as you put it, and i would be surprised if too many of those first bulk orders will contain free discs, other than for say, the persons who are actually distributing them on tim's behalf. either way, the delay offered people extra time to cash in and get the free disc. the upshot where im concerned is, that you guys will get yours before me:D

the zoo book is concise and a must for anyone interested in what the uk's zoos and wildlife centres have to offer, lets face it, a good many here have kids still of a young enough age to be thrill by a visit to the zoo. there is currently one in the pipeline from tim about bristol zoo which, i think, is celebrating its centenary or something. with regards the delay of the wigan book, it was unavoidable and, if you had cared to notice, i posted about this fact on here just recently. tim was just as miffed as everyone else, particularly as having it available for prestatyn was a priority, however, he was equally pleased with the response there, from people placing orders. i believe this will be a big seller regardless of any controversiality and, for anyone going to the togetherness weekender, you will find ample copies on sale, care of several distributors. in tandem with that, i think i am going to do a tribute spot, showcasing the wierd and wonderful tunes that pitched for stardom at the casino during its 8 year reign.

tony, if the price is correct, as you suggest, then why is it currently costing $42 inclusive of shipping, surely this cant be right?. id understand if it was released through universal here, as was with the isley brothers anthology, so why the staggering price differential?

well, should be recieving my copy end of this week but i'll be blowed!!, the music journo on our local paper, the shropshire star, has ALREADY got a copy AND REVIEWED IT LAST NIGHT!! ( 30/11/2010)....only a small piece but very praiseworthy....cant believe he's beaten lois at record collector to the plaudits, nevertheless, a great addition to the collection.

all the above pics look great and it certainly is worth the debate.....i would have thought a uk white polydor demo of personally fits the bill of rarest outside of say, foriegn copies e.g. what mr. flynn has posted

well spotted stan, and eloquently put by ms. barton...fitting then that the broadsheets should find interest and originality in music from a bygone age as opposed to what purports to be "music" in this day and age!

its a sad but not unusual trait of ours as human beings that we DO take everything and everyone for granted, we forget we're not immortal. the saying goes that the good ones go first and by god, this scene has seen some wonderful people from all walks of life leave the stage and all we're left with is the memories and the regret we didnt make the effort more often to keep in touch...we just have to accept that. while we're alive we're just another part of the furniture and weldon is a name synonomous with the culture we have grown up with, we just dont appreciate the enormity of the loss until it happens and, as has been said here already, we really should learn to cherish more who, and what weve got.

yes paul, try and get this story sorted if you can. i think the soul world will be waking up to this in the next few hours if its confirmed, just spoke to kev roberts and he wasnt aware...ive just logged on and am gobsmacked. he was a giant and true pioneer of soul music through his work in detroit and philadelphia, so many of his productions/compositions familiar to the northern soul scene...will be greatly missed.

please note that the forthcoming book release has been delayed by 2 weeks and as such, the pre-publication offer has been extended to the end of october

ditto yet again col, larry......and paul & sandi's wedding bash at that....considering the tunes that were played, we could see why it is held in esteem. the sad irony is, i go past this place most every day and its so unpretentious, on a crossroads, surrounded by countryside, skirting bishops wood....but it was like stepping inside the tardis...BIGGER THAN IT LOOKS!...lovely little dance floor, and with that distinct feature called atmosphere that would have thrived with 100+soulies sweating like pigs....this is an all too familiar lament, sorry to see it go.

here, here!! absolutely agree, bloody morons dont realise just how many people they rile up when things like this come to our attention.

good god mick!, its no good sayin thanks pal......how did you fookin well let that slip from your grasp!!?? thats a piece of detroit history missing from the jigsaw:no: .......ALRIGHT THEN........WHO HAS GOT IT??

a few jazz funk/soul lps and 12" singles for sale £3 or 4 for a tenner evelyn king - get loose ronnie foster - argentina starship orchestra - celestial sky spyro gyra - morning dance crusaders - images dramatics - the dramatic jackpot alicia myers - i fooled you this time teddy pendergrass - same 12" chanel - my life ( streetlife backing track) jazmine sullivan - backstabbers break my heart majic massey - i got that ritchie family - i'll do my best for you hiroshima - lion dance joe farrell - night dancin alicia myers - you get the best from me mass production - shante cds 2 quid each terry walker - love / the chapter - the return of real soul music / nate jones - set the tone / all night long - various / marissa rose - introducing / beverley night - very best / tweet - its me again / united soul - reservations / for ever, for always, for luther / lemar - time to grow / lemar - /lionel richie - comin home / usher - confessions /lisa stansfield - 6-3-1 / jahah - mamas only son / stevie wonder - a time to love / george benson - greatest hits / dennis taylor - greatest hits / shades of soul - shades of soul / browns bag - labour of love / anthony hamilton - soul life / kenny thomas - the best / r.kelly - happy people / bass x - heir wave / martha redbone - skintalk / john legend - get lifted / organic soul vol.1 / leila james - a change is gonna come / faith evans - the first lady / lemar - dont give it up / mario - let me love you / mariah carey - greatest hits / joss stone - soul sessions / philly steps - variousartists if interested, cheques please to; rob haigh 8 james nelson crescent trench, telford tf27jg

fer,fer,flippin' eck....YER'VE HIT T'NAIL ONT HEAD THERE LAD,......THIS HAS TO BE THE GREATEST AND MOST IMAGINATIVE COVER-UP TITLE .......EVER!!.....ONLY AT THE MECCA EH?

a reappraisel, for anyone intent on purchasing the forthcominf cd.....its is widely available via amazom.com $35.99, add $7 for shipping. order now to recieve by november 15 - 6 december. listen to the soundfiles before you do, it is a truely eclectic mix...her voice sounds as fresh and vibrant as if it were recorded yesterday, amazing to think she actually duetted with jimmy radcliffe!

a true giant of the r&b genre, classic music over 5 decades and a magnetic performer...the bishop is with his flock, amen.

who's this cats rat?