Steve G

Not going to carry on wasting my life debating this with folk that don't care. None of the bootleg DJs has answered why can't they be honest with themselves and play off a lap top if no one really cares on the format of the music at their venues? Truth is, apart from Brian who does this, and is honest about it, they haven't really got the balls to carry it off. So instead they try and pretend they are playing "proper records". Fake Elvis's - always have been, always will be in my mind.... Ian - where is your Sy Hightower now then? as if you didn't know......Still gets a full floor at x-over and 70s venues....but you should be aware two of the three best tracks were out put a few years ago by Hayley so you can re-own those tracks for a tenner - and that's where the knowledge comes in. I am sure, mixing in those exhalted London music circles that you do, you can find a "rich twat with too much money" who would want to buy it You could even make a living earning a commission on the deal, like you did with James Rubble !! .Let us know when you have found someone "suited" for it please. ATB Steve

I am sure boots were played at WIgan and we all know about the emi's and tailor made soussan soul fox stuff as well. However back then the scene was very different with big sounds breaking nationwide in a week and most of the punters were still in school etc. Not like today at all, where it's just fellas (and a frew gals) with a box of treasured records. In any event Wigan Casino played some awful stuff. And it is a shopping centre now, and so on a number of levels it is not the benchmark I choose to use for comparrison purposes - far from it in fact. I'd rather look at clubs like Stafford and the 100 Club, and what's been going on since Wigan closed it's doors. I doubt boots have graced the decks at these places, except for possibly Ady or Dave's cowboy boots . The clubs round these parts do not play boots either, except the mod ones, and that's really a different scene - a parallal universe in fact (our paths don't cross). I don't believe boots are played at places like Va Va Voom, SITC, Groovesville, Lifeline,Caliente, Bamburg, Stoke, or come to mention it Bob A's US venues either. Certainly as a collector who has worked hard at this sport for a long time, I will stick to my views on this thanks, whether others agree or not. Perhaps I am more aligned to the rare soul scene, rather than the northern scene, and maybe that's the difference. However - Rod you can rest assured I wouldn't really use some finishing DJ's bootleg of Eddie Parker as a frisbee to behead some unsuspecting dancefloor junky as "Odd Job" did in James Bond with the metal lined bowler hat! So you can pack in the "infantile" references cheers. If I accept what several of you are telling me, that in certain parts of the country, boots are "de rigeur" and the scene is really "just a bunch of mates playing the music they like", then fine, it is what it is, but that's not the scene I am on. And if that is the case can't see why these folk don't just use CD's or better still a laptop or i-phone. (except they are really trying to play "pretend DJ with rare vinyl records" - a bit like a fake wannabee Elvis) . If these folk used a laptop, or their i-phone they could carry with them many more titles to keep the public happy, than they can ever fit into their box. I went to a wedding in Exeter and the DJ had 15,000 titles available to him on his laptop - no more "No sorry Fred I left it at home", so the opportunities are endless - makes more sense to me than lugging around a heavy box of popular pressings. Carrying these boots around with you seems a bit like going to see a tribute band rather than the real thing.... so, come on boot boys, shed your inhibitions and at least be honest, and play the music you love on something other than "fake" copy vinyl if it really doesn't matter to you. Right off to dig out some OV.......Wright that is, not vinyl Brett - Hi!

So Bob, at your events in Milwaulkee, Chicago etc. do the DJs play boots? Or is it OVO.....Just curious to know....no agenda....and not being infantile (rod take note )

I was going to say it was on his auction the other week as I recall. Also saw one at the Manchester record fair last week.

I thought you were a Cabbie

Actually in reality Pete, I doubt very much that I'd be booked at one of these bootleggy type venues in the first place.

You're playing Stardust pressings, Mine are original re-presses with Delta matrix numbers on them!

Excellent post Matt Male. And for those that still "don't get it" I get serious about it because I have spent as much of my diosposable income as I could, and endless hours of my life - for all of my adult life buying records and building a collection. Not 5 years, but 35 years +. At this point no one is ever going to convince me that people who turn up with a box of boots and CDs at northern soul venues is what it's about. "The dancers don't care so wtf" is what I always hear, but that doesn't change anything from my perspective. Thanks for listening.....anyway sense of humour returned now..... BTW the wost insult surely is "your pressings have needle burn".

zzzzzz.....Oh no not the money debate again, we've just had 11 pages of that Ian...... :sleep3: Move along now please On the point about someone queing up Eddie Parker on a boot, if I was planning to play such a record I'd tell em to play something else as am going to play the original. If they didn't take it off, I'd play the original straight after the boot and announce it as such.....so the public would get to dance to it twice back to back, and the DJ would be "outed" for the undeniable rogue that he is.... Probably preferrable action to taking it off the decks and throwing it into the audience as I hear happens from time to time

...or were not around back then and therefore only have an 80s onwards view of the scene.

Marilyn Smith also had a northern / 70s number on SoJamm Oops sorry George.....just read your reply.

Shame, enjoyed DJing at the Niters several times.

Ok fair do's in which case the list is endless........Steve

Agreed Marc. Unity and Legend also have more than one record on them.

There were a number of roller records made Audra, probably at least 100 and enought for a "hot box" . Sorry that's not very helpful, but even big Motown acts like Ozone got in on the act. ATB Steve

Must admit the Appolos isn't a favourite.....filler material

Nah Dave, I kow what I like and what I don't like by this stage of my life; I also have a reasonable pair of ears as well . Nothing to do with progression. It's about hearing exciting new records.....Steve

Am I the only person that actually likes the Black Aces of Soul now then? Strewth! It's absolutely got a place at a Niter.

Both Heaven and It only takes a minute were both main room spins at Wigan back in 76

But BAOS and things like that aren't a bit like "Shake N bump" or King Sporty. Totally different.

No, no no - I don't agree you've got this right at all Daddy Dewdrop. In the scene's heyday of the 70s new and recent releases were played (Mel Britt 2 years old, Lou Pride the same), but that was because the oldest records were only about 10 years old and the style (recording, tempo, rhythm etc.) wasn't much different. And nobody knew what was really rare then either. I mean over a week's wages for Joy Lovejoy etc - give me a break! There is a million miles between the style of the 60s - mid 70s and contemporary soul releases of today. As well as musical development also you cannot ignore nearly forty years of the northern scene's development - even if you haven't been around on it for all the time. The "rare soul" scene today is precicely what it says in the title. Not clapped out oldies, not new releases, but lesser played tunes with that 60s / 70s vibe and feel - including a bit of funky edged stuff. KGF and SJ&DKs are but two great examples of singers / bands (there are plenty of others as well) who have made their mark by recreating that 'feel' / sound of the 60s /70s. They are not trying to sound contemporary. Incidentally I might play them at a soul night, and have certainly played them on radio, but not at a rare soul night and I think that's the difference. DJ Genesis was such a bad egg that I actually played Betty Wright at a soul night once as a protest and had people asking me "what's this? Have you got the dance version we know please?" etc. When I frequent a rare soul club I don't expect to hear DJ Genesis though, or anything which is a new release. Said it before but "northern soul" is a meaningless term in this factionalised world of ours. All the best, Steve

But a bit of funky stuff has always been under the umbrella Winnie. Another good "wresting analogy" in your reply btw, about slackening the rope. Do we get points for spotting them in your replies?

Good for you Joel. As a DJ always play what you believe in. You don't need to justify what you play to anyone. The scene is a very broad church, and not all music is ever going to be to everyone's taste. BAOS has a very strong rhythm, and right for todays allnighter scene. Mind you I wouldn't play it at a crossover night Funny back in the 70s some of the Tommy Navaro stuff didn't get a look in (sorry Ian). Conversely some funky edged stuff was played back then too and massive - as I am sure Daddy "Ian" Dewdrop can remind us all - Summer in the Parks, Lovelites, Flaming Emeralds etc. to think of three obvious headbanging examples of the genre. Peace, Love and Happiness. Steve

Hi Gareth, The Bernard Drake is in demand for the funky B side "The natural thing", which is right for today's scene. "I've been untrue" is a wonderful midpacer, but that's not why it's so in demand. Always been a rare one, so I don't think it'll turn up in quantity as Dave says. ATB Steve

Don't be so defensive Ian. Not trying to fit the cap on yer head You've confirmed you don't want to be a northern soul DJ. All I was saying was that I have seen plenty turn up from nowheresville with a box of recently purchased expensive (and often predictable) tunes, suddenly start appearing "at an event near you", and then just as suddenly disappearing again, with their records appearing on Manny's auction site, or somewhere else a few weeks later. Steve