Back Street Blue

Did some in depth research into that via the Billboard archives and it turns out that it was totally false. What the article actually said about Wigan was that it was the best "dex-score" in the world

Went to Amsterdam for New Year this year.........mad as f*ck.........didn't want to come home. Have a nice tangerine time mate

Cracker, will look them up thanks for posting

"You too can have a body like this..............after 14 days in an open boat" me sneakin' home after a niter in '75 aged 16 lookin' decidedly worse for wear, what a scruffy urchin I was.

You must have had the best set up in the country. We stopped goin' to ours when we got to 13/14 as we could get in the junior nights at the Cats Whiskers in Oldham and the Motown in Shaw which was aimed at the teenagers. No all niters at those clubs though. I had to tell massive fibs to my folks in order to get to Wigan which was the first niter I went to, told 'em I was staying at my mate from school's house.

F*ckin hell, didn't get to hear a lot of the NS tracks on there 'til we started going to soul nights at the local Night Clubs round our way. The youthy's were predominantly chart stuff and bit of trojan and blue beat, then "the Motown" club opened up and we started hearing the soul there. Offliberty time again thanks Pete.

Favourite intro is the Dells - wear it on our face ......favourite break is when the low notes on the sax solo kick in on Earl Wright - thumb a ride ......favourite ending is Temptations - glass house

Mel & Tim - backfield in motion (fried egg)......borrowed by youth club b*tch in travera jacket, monkey boots, jaytex shirt and feather cut Prince George - Wrong Crowd (pressin' of course).....borrowed by Wrighty Maze Live Album....borrowed by Nik Cheetham (fat b*stard)

Golden Disc in Oldham & Spin Inn on Cross Street Manchester had a new batch of pressings every week or so of stuff that was getting played at the time.

Not so much about the scene as the history of RnB in Louisiana, the first one I ever read was "Walking To New Orleans" by John Broven (1974) and which has since been republished as "The Story of New Orleans Rythm and Blues" by Pelican. The focus is gaining some recognition for the lesser known artists of the area and mentions artists such as the Montclairs, George Davis, Alvin Red Tyler, Aaron Neville, et al and labels like Parlo, as well as Fats Domino. (The copy I read C'76 had been "borrowed" from Oldham Library.......wonder how much Scally's fine will be when he takes it back?)

Totally agree. The lists in the discography etc, relied entirely on "prose" for example, whereas today, with a couple of clicks you can insert documents, sound, stills or even video into your narrative. Had to be a labour of love in those days.

pd

Just read it.......chronicles the time brilliantly but is just as relevant today. Two epic comments for me which illustrate the perpetual split between the oldies and the chin-strokers are; "Mr M's.....the cess pit of northern soul" and "No one ever told me how difficult it is to write while dancing". (I know this second quote is said in jest but it is the idea of hearing a sound and mentally critiquing it which makes me refer to chin stroking) The passion and knowledge of the author justify the highest accolade for this regardless of which "camp" you belong to....but I prefer Pete Smith's suggested title, tongue firmly in cheek. Here's to the next installment

Top stuff....gives a real insight into how the music know's no racial boundaries and challenges the views of some people that white artists per se cannot be truly accepted as soul artists. To be accepted by the black artists and their audiences as being true soul artists at the height of the 1960's racial tensions in the States really is some accolade.

"Show us your bird........ .......and wildlife pictures" Great thread......will get a serious response organised soon

What were the definitive sounds played at the original (Brazenose Street) Twisted Wheel (i.e. when it was an RnB club, before the Soul tag)? That must be the origin of RnB on, what subsequently evolved into the NS scene (i.e. in the context of RnB as a sub-genre of NS) and may help to clarify some of the apparent confusion of how we pigeon hole stuff. Just a thought!

Out of QE Hall Oldham, Prestatyn main hall and Brid' Spa.....I'd say Brid' Spa is the biggest and that Sheffield City Hall is also up there. Mecca main room was big, so is Blackpool Winter Gardens. Never had the pleasure to dance at Bell Vue, but went on the bobs and to the zoo there plenty of times when I was a kid! Forgetting size for the moment, the best I've ever danced on was the old raised/sprung floor at the Ritz, sadly replaced with one of the worst I've ever been on.

Saw them on Jules Holland last week, caught my eye but did remind me a bit of the Ruttles to be honest