Steve G

Re Wigan DJs I've seen richard Searling dancing to modern. Dave Evison used to dance at Wigan. Tony - Soul Sam - he danced to "I'll be around" by The Spinners when we were Djing in Spain......first time I'd ever seen it. not bad too for a guy drawing his pension. Cliff - who are the people without any thythm then?

Kev From my reading of Sam's article he was quoting some of your quotes from a previous issue. I don't know if these quotes are accurate or not, but these were the quotes for the benefit of fingers etc..... Sam cites the following which apparantly are your words: Demanding Dj's "Play "60-70% tunes that people know and have" "If people are not dancing then I am not paying them (The DJ)" "No modern should be played" Sam takes each of these quotes and provides his views on why he disagrees citing in the latter case the example of a promotor who 'advised' him what the crowd liked, but when Sam went on he refreshingly found the crowd receptive to the stuff he was playing. Of course DJs shouldn't tell the punters to "f*ck of" - a polite "No I didn't bring it with me - sorry" normally suffices. But what about the abusive punter? As you mention the Ritz Des, think I should say a few words on that. Whenever I guested there the floor was always full with a good enthusiastic crowd. Carl, Marco etc. had a great vibe going. Admitedly I didn't go in the last two years, and yet ironically this was the only venue ever where I have ever had a punter have a go at the DJ. I was asked for Barbara McNair and told the guy I didn't have it. I was then asked for Brown Sugar - which was totally played out - having been played continuously for about the previous ten years. When I told him I didn't have that in my 200 box either he went into this rant. "Call yourself a DJ? you haven't got the records......you're like that C*nt that Djed at X last month (X being a venue not a million miles away from yours) - he wouldn't play requests either" (said C*nt was actually - on checking later - none other than the DJ known as the countries top rare soul spinner!!!). I explained to this guy (it wasn't you was it Kev???) that I'd only bought two hundred records and that I was sorry I didn't have either of the requests with me. He continued with "you don't have the tunes blah blah and called me a name. In the end I did tell him to "F*ck off" just to get him off of the stage and gave him some abuse, but his whole attitude - as well as his taste in requests - totally sucked. Paying punter or not he has no right to be abusive either. For me, whilst surprising, it didn't put the dampers on an otherwise excellent night. So back to Sam, all he does is make some reasoned arguments against your own quoted words (assuming you said those things) - I was not aware that this was a crime in todays PC Britain? . Surely Sam is entitled to the right of expressing his opinions on your opinions? Sam actually does this in a logical and reasoned way without resorting to hysteric comments about modern being played in "gay discos" or "tents in Surrey" - more of your own words. Your lengthy posting actually makes you come across as a bit of a drama queen and big girls blouse - and I am sure you are not. Put your head above the parapet and spout off, then when someone replies to your comments, a lengthy "Ooh I've ben so wounded, It's just not fair". Sounds like some of the Levine stuff. Why is attendance at your venue required for Sam to have a view when you have supposedly set out your views of what you expect in writing? Sam doesn't need a booking, and whilst he can speak for himself, it is quite clear from his article that he wouldn't want to DJ at a venue where a promotor is telling him what he should and shouldn't play (and no modern). Sam prides himself on knowing what the punters want and he is one of the few DJs in this country that will actually attract people to a venue. Based on that I doubt you'd want to book him (rather than the other way round), for fear that some of his "modern" fans would actually turn up and request some "East Anglian disco dancing" music. If you knew Sam you would also know that he has an excellent box of 60s - including good oldies. As others have suggsted if you feel so strongly post your reply to Manifesto, they could do with a decent letters page. Anyway I hope people continue to attend your venue for years to come and enjoy themselves as you obviously have a good local following in Northants. Steve

Reading in the late 70s. Col, those were great alldayers

Russ is looking his age.

He's always been fast and reliable whenever I have had anything off of him

Plenty of DJs who aren't what I'd really call collectors Ian - just trophy record hunters after the same 'in demand' titles.....hot boxers etc.....sorry.

Always looked at it this way - a collector buys records they want and like, a DJ buys records they need.

What as Valerie and Nick (i.e. before they were known as Ashford & Simpson)? AT least two others on Glover, Val had solo 45s on Tamla and an album, Nick had solo 45s on Verve, ABC etc......I could go on

I reckon we should each bid on one, and then when we win it all refuse to honour our bids on the basis that the reords are fakes (rather than reissues as he describes them), and then each complain to ebay en masse - if nothing else it will burger up his business for a few weeks

I agree for me personally wouldn't entertain anything less than vg+ or with loads of noise.....

Must admit I was very congenial and engaging, and that's how I got the Groove Merchants so cheap

Don't care what condition you have for personal use, but DJ's need to have records in at least vg+ condition. Was at a gig a few months ago and one of the DJs had knackered copies of rarities.....so bad I thought the chip pan in the back of the attached restaurant had been switched on inadvertently.....it spoilt the whole experience for the audience really.

Whatever happened to Piers?

river - ha ha - spent an hour in there - got four records nothing special or expensive, except - one record which he charged me $1 for - The Groove Merchants on Suemi - mind you it was the early 90s and he couldn't find it listed in any of the books.......I don't know why he let it go so cheap.......Steve

I think that's right. Damn I thought normal service could be resumed but it seems not.....

Why would you be in trouble? The botleggers missed it, and they put it out already without this side on.... .S

He waa still calling it broken english in Sainsburys on saturday and sunday Ady as in "Did you hear that Broken Enghlish record I played?" and "Have you got that Broken English record?" ....He's nothing if not enthusiastic!!!!!!

There is another record by Broken English - Sam got it from Voices from the shadows.

At the risk of hijacking the thread there are two types of record refered to as stompers. Thjose with a bang bang 4:4 beat that are simply fast records with a heavy percussion, and those with a complex tripping rhythm.....so one man's stomper is another man's errr stomper I suppose.....The ones in that mag were probably the first type...... The stompers I think we're on about are the latter (fast tripping complex rhythm) such as: Lovelites, Flaming Emeralds, Gene Chandler, "Do me right", Wil Collins, 7th Wonder 'Captain", Joe Hicks, Alfie Khan, World Column, Cheryl Berdell, Life "Tell me why",Anthony White "I can't turn you loose".....in fact I'd say most stompers were influenced by the Mecca / Cleethorpes Pier type sound when I think about it....

brainstorm "lovin is really my game" - great one for stomping.....the 12" was knackering though,,,,,

No but they didn't ask me for the A side either........I know of two DJs who have played this off of a carver that they've copied from an MP3....I am sure this is booted off of an MP3.

Flaming Emeralds and Seventh wonder - great stomping records from the late 70s, I can still stomp but only for about a minute now........and only on a slippy floor...... Joeseph Webster is a modern day stomper......

Gorgeous ballad......really is top drawer deep soul.......the bootleggers obviously didn't have access to it.

No crack on the run in Rich.....it's in pretty good shape really despite the number of hands it has passed through and the hammering it has received over the years It still grades conservatively as an "E" with no sound deterioration..... John only ever had the one, and there is one in Germany that I know of (member is on here). Steve

he reminds me a bit of Lord Steve Coppell......