Saxafone

Sent Mr Shaw, I write to record my utter dismay at your authority's refusal to allow the Beachcomber Holiday camp, Cleethorpes a licence extension for the Soul Weekend starting today. Even insisting the music is turned off. This appears to be an extreme and totally unsympathetic response. I am personally about to leave Essex to head to Cleethorpes, having been in correspondence with friends from all parts of the UK and Europe who are attending. I can only imagine their response when they arrive and learn of your decision. Welcome to Cleethorpes, Early Closing Friday / Saturday and Sunday. This event has brought thousands of visitors to Cleethorpes over more than 20 years. I suspect many will not be returning as a result of your short-sighted decision. I would urge you to reconsider even at this late hour, so that you may prevent the self inflicted damage to your area that will inevitably result. However, I do not hold out much hope as your approach to date suggests a total absence of fair minded consideration. Yours Despondently, Mr H. OWEN. Taff

The Tops - Something About You..............closely followed by anything else from Levi and co. Taff

Ady must have a man (or Laydeee) on the inside at the Sunday Times. The Kent, Clarence Carter CD is their must have reissue in this week's Culture mag. That's the second time recently they have picked up on a Kent issue, nice one Ady Taff

Dave, I can vouch that your assumption on arses and elbows is bang on. How do I know this ? Ahem, I leave you to work that one out The outcome in my case was most definitely a result Taff

Ahh sheeet, we've gone and booked advance train tix for a mission to N Wales now so can't change plans. Have a gooden Paul - and have a Happy 65th birthday whilst you are there I did check again on the Butlin's web site and it doesn't seem to mention the soul acts, just the rather dodgy looking 80's shindig. There again if the Keith Harris geezer listed is the one with Orville, you'll have a great time. Watch out as well for the tribute to George Michael act - you don't want some geezer sneaking up and noshing you in the khazi Taff Ultimate 80s Fri 31 Jan 2014 - Mon 03 Feb 2014 (3 nights) Headliners Jaki Graham Sheila Ferguson CeCe Peniston Candi Staton Bad Manners Keith Harris and friends The Lambrettas GET A QUOTE Plus Tribute to Michael Jackson Tribute to George Michael Tribute to Bryan Adams Tribute to UB40 Tribute to The Jam Tribute to Blondie Tribute to Depeche Mode Tribute to George Benson Bognor Regis Resort

Bearsy, I'd so some checking up on that Bognor date. Don't want your ticker going all loopy again when you Marie and Hercules rock up to find it's a 90s revisited event . Although, with your collection you'd probably get a DJ spot Although shown on the tour dates, when we looked to book the soul weekender wasn't showing for Bognor on Butlin's site.................... don't think it is now either. Taff

Received yesterday from Amazon, bought as Crimbo prezzie. 2 x B Mc and no Marvin Gaye...................... Santa's little helpers have been on the whacky baccy .......again ! Taff

See ya there Bearsy, looking forward to hearing some tip- top underplayed instrumentals Taff

Can remember Morecambe Pier in the 70s, long before the nighters came along. Parking the scooter up, grabbing a few pints on the Barbary coast before engaging in cultural and diplomatic incidents with the hordes of Glaswegians down for the annual Glasgow Fair holiday. The prom usually being a battlefield with the light bulbs from the annual illuminations being the Scottish greeting of choice. Shaking the broken glass from the parka hood and getting to the pier in one piece was always a result. It usually kicked off again big time inside, with fire extinguishers and chairs flying instead of light bulbs. I always associate The Penguin Break Down and Bok to Back with those nights. Maybe the Scots really didn't like instrumentals either Taff

Ok, so you spotted my meander into fantasy land. I'll just scan it regardless tonight, probably once Belgium are 6 up. That should be just before half time then Taff

I will try and scan the article this evening after the big game, provided we beat Belgium ! Taff

Yesterday's Sunday Times (Culture Section) has chosen Kent's recent Darrow Fletcher CD as a must have reissue. Can't stick a link up but says something like.......as good as anything Mr Gaye, Wonder or Mayfield ever released. Nice one Ady ! https://acerecords.co.uk/the-pain-gets-a-little-deeper-the-complete-early-years-1965-1971 Will try and scan the article. Also a good review of the Muscle Shoals film in the same edition which again mentions Ace Records. Ady's marketing slush fund must have taken one hell of a hit this month Taff

What a show they put on at Basildon last night - superb and a great turn out considering the last minute reschedule. As mentioned by others Jimmy is without doubt the main man. Having seen him some 40 years ago at many venues across the North West I wouldn't have believed he could still be this good - he was brilliant. They had the crowd out of their seats dancing and earned numerous standing ovations which were well deserved. For a wet Monday night it was top entertainment. Taff

Got a phone call over the weekend from the Towngate Theatre Basildon telling me that Ben E and JJ will not be appearing as scheduled on the 22nd Sept due to " contractual issues" but they will be appearing instead .......... tonight. I assume contractual issues means that Captain Cock Up paid a visit. Tonight (Monday) it is then, hope it's a decent turn out with such a late reschedule. I understand it was originally sold out. Taff

Can't remember exactly what year but a long while ago, perhaps very early 80s........... Tommy Hunt did a summer season in Morecambe. That was definitely a step up from the usual offering of Baron Nights, Mud, or Shaking Stevens ....... for a whole summer season too Our gang used to go along to see his show (at Bubbles ? A Council run venue thingy on prom) and sit amongst the random families and pensioners going bananas - that's us going bananas by the way not the .... Tommy always put on a great show and I seem to remember him dragging our lot down to "dance" with him. Seem to also remember some of the crew being of a highly "animated" disposition at the show That Boddingtons was strong stuff back then. I also seem to (vaguely) remember one weekend after an early show night with Tommy followed by a night on the town we then trooped up to the Carlton for a late soul night with special guest star.................. Mr Tommy Hunt ! Happy Days & Happy Birthday Tommy Taff

Methinks it's "I'm willing to pay the price". I don't think it has been released on legit CD, there was talk that it would be on the current Hip O Select 50TH anny package where disc 3 is I think all previously unreleased. https://www.amazon.co.uk/50th-Anniversary-Singles-Collection-1962-1972/dp/tracks/B00AU15IHY/ref=dp_tracks_all_3#disc_3 Maybe saving it for the centenary issue Taff

Think it's this agency that are promoting the tour. Contact numbers are on the web site. https://nonstopentertainments.co.uk/shows/ Taff

Looks like the initial tour dates may have changed - perhaps extra shows scheduled ? Basildon Theatre now advertised locally as below rather than Friday 13th. Superstars of Soul starring Ben E. King and Jimmy James Sunday 22 September 2013 @ 7.30pm - £20 Also sounds like Ben E is a bit of a lad - perhaps this is why they are not on in London ! https://www.sabotagetimes.com/music/in-bed-with-ben-e-king/ Taff

Basildon here I come. Will have to round up the local crew for this one ! Taff

Morecambe was also famous for the Shag in the early 70s, it was extremely popular at the Central Pier........well underneath it mostly Taff

With recent forum threads on "Who's the best live act you ever saw" I reckon my answer would have been Melvin at Cleethorpes which topped his brilliant earlier show at Prestatyn. So Bournemouth here we come ! Looking forward to catching up with Bearsy and Marie for a replay of the "I need my Baby" Cleethorpes caravan anthem. The tale of Barney the Bear and his noise police hunting all over Thorpe Park for the early morning choral culprits is one for the memoirs. Well done Rob Taff

Wot not OVO Methinks the Witchfinder General is mounting up right now to gallop across the badlands of Essex and right this wrong............ Moldie is on here as lightwatersoul..............pretty sure he doesn't play CD's - well he may do in his car Taff

Have to admit that the gig at Basildon totally rocked............Motor City Essex. Clearly not Northern repertoire but the theatre was chocka and Richard and the band had them all off their feet and bouncing. Richard's ability to contribute to a full set is clearly limited and whilst the band did approx a 2 hour show Richard opted out on many and did intros and the like. However when the 6ts numbers came around he was the dog's and gave it the full monty. He did loads of Motown anecdotes and in particular he did a very poignant intro to "I wish it would rain" which he took the lead on brilliantly ........explaining the fate of the writer Roger Penzabene who committed suicide just as the record was issued because his wife was playing around. I personally never knew that and "I could never Love another" has always been a favourite of mine. It will have added meaning in future. Taff http://en.wikipedia....h_It_Would_Rain More so than a number of other Motown songs, there is real sentiment and pain behind the song's words. Lyricist Penzabene had just found out his wife was cheating on him with another man. Unable to deal with the pain and unable to stop loving his wife, Penzabene expressed his pain in the lyrics of this song and its follow-up on the Temptations' release schedule, "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)". The distraught Penzabene committed suicide on New Year's Eve 1967, a week after the single's release.

According to an article in the Sunday Times it looks like Bettye's new book is going to stir a few skeletons in the proverbial Motown cupboard. Can't post a link to the Times as you have to pay to access, hope this one works. https://www.thedailyb...an-like-me.html Taff

Smokey's lyrics are always a cut above, but how many of us when we first heard Tears of a Clown all those years ago knew who Pagliacci was ? Certainly no one at my Youth Club in north Wales although we all sang along. I used to think it was "Pal Archie". Once I did find out about the characters in the opera Pagliacci it just seemed to convey more power to the song and made me appreciate the words even more. Hat off to Smokey So simple that everyone gets it at the first time of hearing but very clever too. Just like Pagliacci did I try to keep my sadness hid Smiling in the public eye But in my lonely room I cry the tears of a clown When there's no one around. Stevie Wonder (who was discovered by Miracles member Ronnie White ), and his producer Hank Crosby wrote the music for the song, and Cosby produced the instrumental track recording. Wonder brought the instrumental track to the 1966 Motown Christmas party because he could not come up with a lyric to fit the instrumental. Wonder wanted to see what Robinson could come up with for the track. Robinson, who remarked that the song's distinctive calliope motif "sounded like a circus", provided lyrics that reflected his vision and sang lead vocal. In the song, his character, sad because he does not have a woman who loves him, compares himself to the characters in the opera Pagliacci, comedians/clowns who hide their hurt and anger behind empty smiles. He had used this comparison before: the line "just like Pagliacci did/I'll try to keep my sadness hid" appears in the song "My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)", which he wrote in 1964 for Motown artist Carolyn Crawford. Taff