Steve G

Really, seems like everytime you write something I disagree with it. Brainstorm and Flaming Emeralds were contemporary soul releases made for the US market at the time, Sidney Barnes (much as we love the fella) was made specially for "da scene" here. It's a catchy pop record that probably should have got into the charts. Enjoy London (it's raining here)...

Three memories for me: Preston Street Dancers (from Preston) Neil Page's flashing lights on his record box Randy nearly getting us in a fight with a bunch of Rotherham locals in a pub.... Happy days,.

Sums it all up for me rather nicely actually.... "Modern DJ" playing Alfie Davison, Prince Phillip Mitchell etc......what a f*ckin joke. Played at the Casino 33 years ago, and nearer to you, you should know we were hammering them at the Fleet, St Ives and Wirrina early 80s too (Adam & myself).....And all you can come up with in repost is good old Lou Pride yawn yawn yawn. Sidney Barnes "Solid ground"? - I have left many a room when a so called DJ has put this on. lazy man's record. DJ Genesis ruined a perfect decent Betty Wright record. Keep saying it, but why not leave these revivalists to get on with it? - going same places dancing to the classic oldies. They ain't never gonna change in a million years, so why do we persist in moaning about 'em? Like complaining about the weather......

Is it an unissued Chuck Jackson or a cover up name? Thought Butch told me once it was just a blank label acetate, although must admit it does sound like Chucky boy....

A couple of tricky ones in there Ian.

Arthur Winstanley?

Gordon….

the difference is Arthur is still a legend in North Lancs....

Buzzin in Barcelona mate - very few seats in the venue - maybe that's part of the answer - put armchairs and sofas out and people will sit down - you should get over there. Great atmosphere.

Fair enough.....I have always been more of a collector at heart....as happy in me armchair as in a venue to be honest.....but always wanting to hear something new, fresh and exciting whenever I go out. I am certainly not wedded to the "I have to go to a club with a holdall and chewing gum and be part of a "scene" malarky - not since I was 18 really. I was talking about the rare soul scene as well...often a different ethos to "northern soul" which comes with baggage and is psychologically damaged as a brand through too many years of abuse.

But why would it Quinvy? The European "scene" (if there is such a thing) was in large part kick started by the mod revival late 70s / early 80s and has attracted new blood ever since. It didn't have the heavy baggage of legacy of Twisted Wheel-Torch - Wigan Oldies v Newies etc. Just people having a great time. It can be done y'know

That's my point Pete - "Northern" - dunno what that means now. Upfront, midtempo, stomping oldies, 60s, 70s, Motown hits, tailor mades, beat ballads, latin - northern soul just doesn't define a genre anymore . It also includes everything from Kings Hall to a few local lads in the sports and social playing booties....

Easy....it has to be soul and dance music....sorry thought that was obvious......

That's the point though, there is none of this ridiculous "genre tagging" in Europe. Full dancefloor to everything from two-steppers and 80's dancers to funky edge, the odd oldie or two and Butch's hardcore 60s "one offs" and everything in between. The point is the upfront crowd only have two genres Terry - great music and poor music.

So you need to clarify whether you are talking about the music genre or "the scene". The music has it's place assured in history now.....no doubt about that it is widely recognised and won't disappear in the same was as say Doo-wop did. The scene is something altogether different. The "big dance hall" type affairs I guess came about in the early 70s and will die a slow death with diminishing numbers of younger members willing to attend and a diminishing number of older attendees able to attend. As others have said younger people tend to like smaller atmospheric clubs. Get with it Baggy!

You are obviously going to the wrong venues then Chris. And for the record I haven't commented on oldies venues, just the ridiculous stampede to the dancefloor for a very average pop record while progressive record labels struggle to sell 500 copies of new material with musicians who are cutting it today. You are not a daft man surely you can see the irony? That said the thread is about the future of northern soul not the current state of northern soul, and if you think that venue attendance will be carried on by an ever ageing demograph then hey ho!

Disagree Chris. You'll find full dance floors and an open minded and receptive crowd at many of the bigger Euro venues. They don't need to have heard the record 100 times to have a dance to it. Instead of "play something we know mate" the DJ is more likely to get "What's this record please?" it's just so refreshing. Not everything works mind, and any DJ can "thin the floor" with something that's new and doesn't really work, but you never see a completely empty dancefloor once the night starts and the doors are open.....

Amazed there hasn't been more fuss about singles like "Strictly reserved for you" by Charles Bradley (£5), Lady L (G C cameron co -penned) etc....as well as the many good "new" sides put out by Timmion and a host of other labels like Sundae etc. Yet whenever one of the thousands of Paul Wanka WD's turns up for sale there's a feeding frenzy..... Welcome to the soul scene UK . Thank goodness there are others who are trying to do something a bit different and more progressive....

The heydays of the mid to late 70s when you could find Wil Collins & Willpower, Brand New and a ton of UK soul demos for next to nowt.....

Never found a really decent record there....tons of records....tons of crap records......

My Satisfaction Unlimited test press sounds the same as the album tracks...."Why?" and "Bright City Lights"

yes a classic.....and ex manager of The Marvellettes too wasn't he?

An issue Dave or a WD? Bought mine from Soul Sam about 15 years ago - £90. Lou Ragland certainly seems to have gone up in price - was a steady £600 job a couple of years back - is Ginger playing it or something? "Gone with the wind" - one of my LA finds in the late 80's......so pleased that is now starting to fetch decent money.

Forget Johnny on the Spot……."I didn't have to but I did" - awesome side…...

Last two weeks I have heard Mel Britt in a branch of Thos Tyrwhitt while shopping for shirts, and today heard Ann Sexton in a branch of Pret A Manger......the world has truly gone mad!