Frankie Crocker

Yes, totally understandable in terms of scarcity. However, if you really like the cheaper tune or must have it in a hurry, then buy it. Ownership of an inferior copy is better than not owning a copy - you can always upgrade later although this is sometimes easier said than done. Sure we mostly want mint unplayed records with pristine labels but in the real world, this is hard to achieve. I've bought badly damaged records in The USA as I couldn't be bothered to write down the details - a duff record in the collection is a great incentive to try harder and seek a replacement. I respect those on an income that necessitates settling for less than M- records but it is the music that counts more than the labels' aesthetics.

The copies of the record Kev was asking about, Aalon Butler on PKC came from Russells Records in NOLA. I had all the ones I could carry off the wall in the store pre-Katrina. The storeroom upstairs suffered from a leaky roof during the hurricane and maybe again during Rita. Loads of records were spoiled. The outcome of this was the damaged records were cleaned by the hired help in an amateurish way but access granted to the damaged stock upstairs and stuff that survived unscathed. Don Davis in Austin has had records from Russells post- Katrina but they looked OK on his site. The fellow doing the cleaning took a chunk of stock, bashed out a list and sold them privately for a while. Some of the records I ended up with were H20 damaged but will suffice as the vinyl is generally VG+

I would buy your book. I like looking at label scans for a variety of reasons. The Million Dollars book built upon Kev's featuring 1,000 desirable records. John replaced the faulty hardback copies and hinted at future volumes of label runs such as Thelma etc. The scope for an enterprising publisher-collector team is endless; Detroit Top 500, MGM Top 200, Chicago Top 500 etc so is the interest out there to make it worthwhile?

Duke Browner - Crying Over You Dave Love - Colalined Baby Luther Ingram - If It's All The Same To You Babe Treat yourself to two or three volumes...

Great idea for a Thread. Good book. Good concept. Successful project yielding three editions that I have read, enjoyed and keep for reference. Nowadays outmoded - could be a list of what Kev had played at Wigan by 1978? Now a volume of oldies that made an impact someplace as Northern soul evolved and reached a late 70's peak. Would be a handy guide for a wannabe oldies DJ just starting out... What I would like to see is a new book - the Northern Soul Top 5,000. Records not ranked but graded using Manship's Million Dollars Of Rare Soul three criteria system. Full colour scans. Info on artists, DJ credits, venue spun and quotes from soul fans to ensure sales of 5,000. Water repellant pages to drool over. If a record is in the book, it's been well received: not in the book then it goes into Volume 2.

Not necessarily a boast. Maybe precise quantification to reflect on. Some of us are getting older, others have dodgy knees but a falling attendance at any venue is a cause for concern and the promoter is often best placed to pass comment if sufficiently introspective. Ady acknowledges a stick patch at The Hundred Club and other venues have seen numbers dwindle. - the reasons for this are worth speculating on especially if there is a solution out there. ATB FC

Nice one Bearsy. A blend of truth and levity I admire in a man or a cuddly, furry animal... ATB FC

Simsy - no quibbles about that. A legendary venue for many reasons, always has been and always will be. Still one of my all- time favourite venues. Having been forced to vacate the floor on one occasion because a few outside degenerates took over, I feel in a position to comment. That is not a criticism of the regulars who I hold in high esteem. I am not a fan of non- soulies traipsing across the dance floor carrying pints when I shake a leg so am a little apprehensive about sundry visitors to the club. Neither am I a staunch advocate of Dad Dancing before the regulars hit the floor at 2.30 a.m whenever, regardless of the footwear they have settled on. The 100 Club continues warts and all but is it unacceptable to pass comment based on personal experience and opinion? Keep up the banter... ATB FC

Ady - please excuse the delay in following up. I understand where you are coming from on this as no one likes being rejected at the door. However, the soul scene has had many clubs with membership requirements that were not detrimental to the paying customer. Carrying a membership card involves commitment and encourages a sense of belonging. I could not conceive of tearing mine up even though it is redundant. If nothing else, this thread has got me thinking about how important it is to have outsiders on the inside as this may be where the young blood comes from, after all, we were all outsiders before we joined up. I enjoy the presence of youngsters at Cleethorpes as it is good to see them dragged up proper, and hopefully, eventually join the ranks of full time soulies. As as the door keepers keep the drunks away and the thugs at bay, regulars should have a good night out - membership requirement also achieves this also spats between mates excepted. Sounds like I missed a good night out and maybe it's time to rejoin the crowd again? ATB FC

Roddy - excuse the delay in replying. Like yourself, I have travelled far and wide to experience both new and old tunes. The 100 Club is a legendary venue and hopefully it will long remain so. My comment alluded to the changing character of the clientiele which despite a core of regulars, has dwindled and fluctuated but there are still numbers of transients ie tourists, students, music fans, club goers, the occasional jazz buff AND from what I can gather, smallish numbers of social drinkers and dancers. This may be down to the open door policy that Ady advocates. Whatever, I felt a comment was appropriate but never intended to hurt the sensibilities of any delicate soulies out there. I remain a battle hardened, membership card carrying soul follower so it pains me to see any venerable institution suffering through loss of members, attendees or indeed morphing to cater to a more catholic audience. Nothing too puerile here I hope, just sincere and genuine concerns about how a top venue functions. ATB FC

Ady. Thanks for taking the trouble to write this. My latest post has not been saved for some reason, probably the rubbishy hotel broadband I'm using, and as it was a longish one, I'm not redoing it... Nothing in your comments I would disagree with apart from the quota of non- soulies who attend. In fact, I'm enlightened by them as this is the benefit of discussion. I would respectfully suggest that you re-establish the membership policy to maintain a soul clientele and deflect the non- soulies elsewhere. Zero tolerance of Handbaggers Okeh?

Kev - if the post is negative, maybe it's because Handbaggers are regarded as being negative... For what it's writhe the 100 Club scenario is a lot less worse than is reported at other venues. Sometimes in trying to be objective, the outcome can be negative but perhaps that's actually the situation under discussion.

Roddy - are you a regular attender and if so, what's the issue?

Ady, no offence intended but where are the inaccuracies? Dance floor is in a terrible state with ruts you could twist an ankle on. Tourists and students checking the place out. Walk- ins dropping in after the other clubs have closed. I can remember an allnighter a few years ago when a bunch of smackheads took over the dance floor at 5 or 6 in the morning and you could cut the tension with a knife. I no longer attend the Handbag Club but feel qualified to pontificate having been over well over 100 times. I hope the night is a success. I know most of the DJs and would say this is as good as any lie-up you have put on BUT the numbers in recent times have dwindled and the relaxation of the membership policy have allowed sundry visitors to proliferate. Saying that is not sabotage, it's merely sharing a few observations that others have noticed. You invited discussion so continue the debate but stick to the facts.

I always liked to receive Record Tokens but I've not had any for a while. Are they still available anywhere like Woolworths, Our Price, Tower or HMV?

What a formidable line up - the place should be jam-packed if all the Anniversary attendees show up, but as suggested earlier in the week, the London scene has gone stale, or as commented upon by another SS member, too fragmented, so the crowd could be small. Whatever the attendance, there will be plenty of 'Handbaggers', hopefully placing their bags on the pot- holes on the dance floor to prevent broken ankles and stop Trickster from falling down one. With the usual number of continental voyeurs dressed as mods, students, non-members and walk-ins, The 100 Club has become Handbaggers Central. Since the membership card requirement has been relaxed, any smackhead in training shoes can roll up to pogo around, take the p--- and make a nuisance of themselves. Are numbers so low that Handbaggers are welcome to keep the show on the road?

I have two WD copies, both from Russell's records in New Orleans. First one had water damage so upgraded it. Now sitting on the spare to trade for something tasty in the future as vinyl speaks louder than cash sometimes.

Same number please. Always been part of the scene. Very fond of Supertime despite it's origins, Double Cookin', The Champion and dozens of other quality dancers. Mind you, although I like The Joker, I'm not sure it should be played out six times at an all-nighter as it was at Wigan March 1974 - Russ in Radio 1 DJ mode...

Pete - sorry but I don't have the full story. Read on-line of his passing but the circumstances were not specific; can't remember if it was a family member who made the comment but it was probably linked to the video clip. ATB from sunny Pittsburgh but records are pretty thin on the ground...

Wardie - welcome aboard. Great times however you look back at it...

Dave Ward contacted me a few years back on the subject. Pete Ricketts - great dancer, but one of many at the time - was receiving most of the attention from the cameras. Dave put himself in front of the cameras for bit of a laugh. These are This England out-takes but the tune at the time was Ton Of Dynamite. Easter 1977 so the contrasting dance styles and attire have moved on. I could watch Dave dance all night but the late Pete Ricketts shades it for me. Now seen this clip two dozen times plus on YouTube...sad but true...

Joey Hicks first issue on heavy vinyl is worth a £100 any day. It hardly ever turns up anyway but it is an absolutely top-notch sound that should be in all good collections.

Returning to the theme of the thread, who are the 'top shelf' DJ's today and what are the cheap-but-good sounds they are are currently spinning? Butch - not known for slipping in a Motown number but then he doesn't need to. Ginger - has so many rare records, he can't carry them but never fails to please. Keith Money - continues to spin at the cutting edge mixing up the best known and semi- known tracks. Mick H - another top- end spinner. These guys don't really need to experiment with cheap oldies, and if they did, punters would feel a little shortchanged. So who are the other DJ's?

Gordon - you could be right but is this because the London scene is stale or the north overlooks mid-pace records? In all probability, there are more Northern aficionados beyond Watford keeping the scene alive in The Midlands, North West and beyond whereas London suffers from having fewer followers, too few venues, reluctant travellers and a pre- eminent monthly allnighter that dominates the local scene.