BrianB

Sorry Malc, I can't see that for one moment? That could be a thread on its own. Brian B

Great thread this. Dave Fergie or Dave Moore got anything to add? What about Dave Comer and his American contacts in the 70ts? Where they all through his brother who was in Ace?

Are you from there?

Are you being serious, or is this a big wind up? Have you ever heard of etiquette?

Hi Paul I honestly think you have made some good points on your 2 posts. I also believe you did yourself no favours with the way you did it. I am on here regularly, and may be controversial and blatantly wrong at times, but I do not consider myself, although others might, to be a t..t. I can imagine Liam Q, Paul W and Paul B not wanting Soul Sourcers, including me, at this do, because I'll bet that this exactly the kind of response they thought they would get from us stick in the muds on here. Its a different scene. Ta, Brian B

I'd love 70ts and cross over.

Hi Dave I think the opening minute of Mercy sounds like something like Etta James or even a Betty Lavette would have been recording in the 60ts. I have an inkling you may disagree with this.....? As for him having no records in his hands..... I was in his house last week and looking at some of the stuff I had given him, which was in his "I Don't Play These" box. Bloody unbelievable! I played Whole Lot Of Shakin Going On by the Miracles for him, and it immediately went in his "current" box, accompanied by comments such as " I didn't know I had this!" ditto with Sweet Sweet Lovin and others. Bloody kids, who'd have 'em?

There has always has been and always will be people on the NS scene just for the dancing, (and the one thing I have always been short of is NS dancing lessons!) I think some have missed the point. This is a soul night for young uns! Not the likes of us. Its about letting them hear some classics, some R&B and others in a safe environment, with like minded people. The Duffy video is simply brilliant. I also think many would have had her down for being a black american if they hadn't seen the video. Bloody hell, relax and enjoy, its not a conspiracy (I don't think ).

Hi Sandi, Any words to Poma would never have been enough. No words can ever make a difference when someone is in that dark place. "Don't cry", "Cheer up", "Don't worry". Great words that are sometimes all we can offer someone in their time of need. It is all we can give. It means nothing to them. They don't even hear them, but you bloody tried. As Kirsty says, do not beat yourself up. You sound like the type of friend that we all need in challenging times. You did everything you could. You should feel proud that you did not walk away. All the best, Brian

Hi Steve, I've been ill, but I'll get the CDs done for you. The Reform Club! I never worked there but thinking of you, Hopper, Keith Johnson and Jimmy McDonough working where Jules Verne wrote around the World in 80 Days was unbelievable!!!! I bought loads of records from Hopper, all originals and all for 25p each! He must have got them from the same place as you? KJ told me how he was stood on the TV in the club, arseholed, peeing down the back of the telly singing Londons Burning, Fire Fire, Put it Out!! And to think of Hopper and Jimmy Mac waiting on, when Jimmy's next stop was Angola as a mercenary!! Didn't John Barrow get a good whipping down there from a pro before he got sent down? You must have earned good money, cos Hopper used to fly back to play footie for Greenbrook on Sundays. He once flew back, and Tom Norris dropped him to the subs bench, and Hopper chased him around pitch 8 while we were playing and peeing ourselves laughing. This was after watching Burnley away, going to the Mecca, coach to the Casino, had a swim afterwards, then played footy and went on the beer afterward. (We were only 21!). We didn't call it Northern Soul til at least 75 if not later. Didn't we just call it the Mecca Soul when we first started? ATB Brian

There have been numerous all nighters in the Burnley area from around 67 onwards. I haven't seen the Circulation Club mentioned? They ran all nighters from around 75 onwards. Ginger and Eddie were the main guys and I'm sure Richard played there as a guest. They also did all dayers there in competition with the Rose Room. Dave Moore or Fergie will know all the ones from the mid 70ts onwards in this little hotbed of Northern Soul.

If you want to see young people having a whale of a time dancing to 60ts soul, Northern and Motown get down to Paul Bs, Liam Qs, Paul W and Mattys nite at the Manc Metropolitan Uni on the 2nd Friday of the month. Its like going to the wheel 40 years ago, with a knowledgeable young crowd, who by the way, can dance!

No mention yet of Jack Ashford???

Hi Paul, I started what off?. I didn't say I was p....d off, I said I was disillusioned. Anyway each to their own eh? Off to Scotland Saturday for a week to climb some big mountains. I will reflect on my stance and hopefully recharge my batteries. Reg, I went to Paul's do. I loved it. Great variety, but boy did I feel old! And the break dancers who turned up....Wow!!!

Thank you Mr Sadot for pointing this out to me. However, believe it or not, I was actually aware that 70s records were played at NS venues in the 70s. That does not mean to say that I have to like them. Just to answer your question, if I like a record, I do run up to the DJ and ask what it is. If it is a good, or great record, I am not interested in when it was made. What I do not like is the type of record that has no resemblance whatsoever to the 60s type music I love. To be honest, I am not really interested in what you are p....d off with. I know what I like and what I want to hear. Thank you for your observations but I didn't really find them helpful Yours in Northern Soul, Brian B

This type of attitude is exactly why I am disillusioned with the NS scene, and where does the title Jazz/Funk mention Soul? Most NS do's now have the obligatory 70s spot. I don't want to hear 70ts at a NS do! Trevski's post was bang on, and is exactly how I feel. I am sticking to listening to sounds at home and reading my There's That Beat until I can sort my brain out, but am I wrong in wanting to listen to 60ts NS, be it newies, oldies, Motown or whatever. I do not want to go out to listen to 70s/80s/90/2000/R&B/Jazz bloody Funk.

When did you leave the scene Steve? 1972? It has always been divided, and I would dare say, never been one big happy family. I have been attending NS venues since 1970 and would go so far as to say the NS scene has never been in such a bad shape, and I for one am totally disillusioned with it.

She Won't Come Back The Hesitations

Never ceases to amaze me how people can't resist a cheap shot at Ian Levine.

Thanks Phil

The scene will never be the same as we had, whatever our era was. It has to change or die. Youngsters may not want 100% northern all night, but similar to the night Paul B is putting on at Manchester Uni, a bit of funk, a bit of reggae, some Motown, and about 40/50% northern is what they may go for. Surroundings will change. I love old dingy venues with atmosphere. Not many about in modern City centres. However the music will never die entirely, but values, at some stage, will plummet. We must enjoy it while we can, but I must be totally honest, I have not enjoyed the last few do's I have been to, but still listen to the music every night, searching for newies, records I have never heard, or those hundreds of underplayed oldies. I think there are signs, like Burnley all nighter attendances slipping, that our scene is on the decline now.

My Main claim to fame apart from holding Brenda Holloway's hand whilst she sang Starting the Hurt All Over Again at Burnley Mechanics, is as worthy as some replies you are going to get, but..... Me, Cathy and my mates Ann and Jeff Coyle went to the Michelin Social Club in Burnley to watch the "American Drifters". (Don't laught, they were tremendous!) I had a senior position at Michelin, so I managed to get us to chat to one of the guys before the show. We'd had a few, and Jeff was really ranting on about Clyde, Ben E the Brill Building, and I saw that the said Drifter was slowly backing away from us, feeling for his dressing room door. He then shouted at these 2 large skinheads who were pretty much in his face by this time, "They are all dead!" and he ran into the dressing room and locked the door. Jeff turned to me and said the immortal words, "Bloody hell! We shit a Drifter Up". I Told you it was a crap tale, but funny at the time.

Also Stewart Duthoit (Dewi) and Johnny Roscoe.

Loads of the Burnley crew on this photo. Brian B(Barker) Cathy Broxup (now Mrs Paul Bailey, Alan Hughes (Fuse) Lesley Berry, Maggie Hartley, Chris and Ian Magnall, Kim (forgot her last name), Brian Heywood is on there somewhere, and 2 girls from Dudley that spent time with us every week, Rachel and ?. There are others, but I haven't got my reading glasses at work! I'll list them tonight. Those really were the days!

Sitting on the balcony at Burnley Mecca on a Sunday Night in 1970, hearing all the Wheel sounds and watching the dancers. Mick the Fed then played The Contours Its So Hard Being a Loser. I looked at the dancers, watched the spotlight reflecting off the globe of mirrors and listened to one of the most under rated records of all time, and I was lost for ever. I still love that record, and have so many memories of the early scene, but that one always stands out for me. Levi Sta Prest, black Baratheas, Royals, red socks, black or red jumpers, crombies, how cool were we? I have the record on Gordy, UK Tamla Motown, the 16 Classics LP from around 69 and on CD and love every one of 'em!