Steve G

I've finally managed to find this….enjoy LETTERS TO THE EDITQR write to the Mag address with your soul letters Dear Blackbeat I Have just got to have a say in the 60s newie versus modern soul/played out oldies argument, as I have been on the scene since 1972, having started at the Torch through Blackpool Highland Room, Mecca, Va Vas, Wigan Casino, Yate, Catacombs. All the good clubs, with the exception of St Ives and Samanthas. l experienced the first split in 1976-60s v New York disco, when they said what they have said since, and are saying now, that there are no quality 60s unknown black records left. It was Levine in 1976 with Sam on the opposition. It was Sam saying it in 1980 with Searling disagreeing. Now it is Searling's turn to change his colours in 1984. It seems very convenient for these DJs, after years of turning up mainly class 60s northern soul records, that when the going gets tough they tend to take the easy way out, and fall into the modern soul clone syndrome, they all sound and do the same as each other. The three main arguments levelled at the 60s newies scene is 1) they are covered up because they are not rare, 2) they are already well known, 3) they are white and should not be played. I am quite sure these three tags could be tied to some of the current plays ie Mickey Newbury c/u,Tearettes c/u(white) , Rosie St John & Wonderettes, Creations 'Foot steps' (known before played), Lee Edwards & Continentals 5 'I got to have her', need I say more, along with the latter, not rare. But here is a list of white stompers played on the scene up until Wigan Casino's welcomed closure: Sammy Stevens on Swan,Benzine, Nightwatch, Gary Lewis, Nosmo King, Wayne Gibson, Footsee, Trade Martin ‘I wouldn’t do anything, Greater Experience, Vogues and many more which Richard Searling and Soul Sam both had a hand in being responsible for half of them. Then the 45s spun which weren't rare like Frank Dell, Friendly People, New Wanderers, Rosie Jones, Traditions, Jerry Cooke, Nancy Wilson, Moses Smith, Butch Baker, Jimmy Conwell 'Too much 'and 100's more played between 1970 and 1982. The ones played which were known-when Richard played Herbie Williams c/u and Mel Britt c/u they were quite well known in the Wigan record bar,as we know the former as being Court Davis and the latter as Jackie Beavers on Revilot, why cover them up as they are rare records anyway and there are …