Daz Watson

Mystery solved. Its called “Who am I” by Chris Morgan. Now I can relax again. Thanks to all

Hi everyone, Please help me out with the name and artist for this one. I should know it but don't and its driving me crazy! “ I walk the streets of every town, hoping soon that I’ll be found…” Thanks

Great! Many thanks

Yesterday I was re-watching the doc about Cleethorpes from 1996. Can anyone tell me the name of the song/artist playing at 17:43. Thanks

Of course!!!! I see the problem - I was typing in “it gets to me, northern soul” and getting one hit, which was the track but no artist instead of typing in “This gets to me...”. Duhhh! Thanks guys!

Can someone please tell me the artist for “It Gets To Me”. Completely gone out of my head and I cant find the name online anywhere. Also original label details and value. Thanks.

That's the one! Now I feel really stupid! How could I forget that Used to hear it played out a lot but heard it played in a furniture store the other day and it's been bugging me ever since. Many thanks

Hi everyone, There's a track driving me crazy cos I can't remember for the life of me the title or the artist! It's a modern track and the lyric that stuck in my head is something like - "...what can I do, to prove my love to you..." Followed by a sax riff ???? Be grateful if anyone on here can help. Thanks

Only just seen this as not been on for a while. Spent a a lot of time with Ian and Carl from 97 - 04. Went all over the place with them. Lost touch when I moved out to US. Always see Carl when I get back and so I knew Ian had been ill for a while but still a shock. Very sad. Some great memories of Rainworth, Forest Town, Brighouse, Skeg weekenders and everywhere else! Top man. RIP mate. Daz

Martyn, I havent a clue and admittedly wouldn't know where to start. My point was simply there is enough rich material for a film which chronicles the story of the Casino. In my simple mind it would make a good story. And once more to be clear - I have already acknowledged Elaines achievement. Excellent piece of work which took time, dedication and cash. Total respect. However it didn't work for me ( and a lot of others feel the same but won't say so on here ). Paul - of course the scene was alive before Wigan, many great venues. My point is that Wigan became the focal point for the northern soul scene during its existence. It had many ups and downs but it's importance in the scenes history is clear. I never understand why some on here seem to want to deny that.

I've related in "the Film" thread how I felt slightly disappointed by "Northern Soul". Whilst it was a strong pice of film making, in its own way it was as weak as "Soulboy". Both films got certain things right but ,for me anyway, in the final analysis both films fell well short of being definitive works about northern soul. And this last film was set up to be just that - "the definitive story of northern soul". I think there is definitely room for a a film about the phenomenon that was the Casino. Love it or hate it if you were into Northern Soul in the 70's / 80's then the Casino was the only place to be. I don't think its an exaggeration to say that from 1973 to 1981 it was the spiritual home of northern soul. 95% of people on here who were around at that time say that the Casino times were one of the happiest time of their lives - regardless of their respective ages and where exactly they were at in their northern soul journey at that point. Personally I only caught the tail end - 79-81 - and on some visits the place was virtually empty but nevertheless it was an unbelievable experience and one I've never forgotten. Nothing has compared since. That feeling - the feeling of walking through those doors has not yet been captured in any film or documentary to date. Maybe it's an impossible feat. But there is so much material - my own personal experience which must be echoed by thousands of others - age 14 in 79, hearing the music for the first time at youth clubs, seeing the "annointed" dancing. Buying the records and learning the moves. Learning the drops and floor-work. Buying more records. Taking your own box of records to the youth club. When the DJ did the 5 minute Northern spot you were up there with the 5 or 6 others doing your routine for the first time. The circle formed around you. That's when you knew you were part of something special. Then from there going to your first full Northern venue - for us it was Notts Palais all dayers. From that point your world was only centered on one thing - Wigan Casino. You had to get there. My parents were pretty strict and were not going to let their 14 year old travel to the other side of the country to a club, up all night dancing. In the end I lied that I was staying overnight at a mates. Bread and jam in the bag with the clothes and I was away. I had twenty quid saved up from a paper round and odd jobs. I think it cost ten pounds to get there from Mansfield - service bus and train. That left £10 to buy records. And the whole adventure of actually getting there. It took hours. The horror of arriving at Wigan and being chased by the Punks and Grebo's all the way from the train station to Station Road. You ran for your life - literally. But that feeling when you rounded the bend and saw a few hundred Soulies outside - your heart lifted and the Rockers soon backed off at that point. One hour or so later you were walking through those doors and you were in. Dancing at Wigan. The pinnacle reached at last. Then the drugs. None for me on the first couple of visits but subsequently blueys, chalkies - and the whole feeling was elevated 100 times. But then the come down and feeling like shit on the long journey home. But by Tuesday you were planning how to procure gear again for the next visit. And so it went on. Many cars stolen ( not by me ) to get there, chemists raided etc,. That feeling of your world consumed by the whole thing - the music, dancing, gear and the Casino. It was your life back then. For many still is. Thats the story from the fans side which for a film could be juxtaposed with the story of the guys who ran the place as a business - Harry, Mike and Russ. How it started as a leap into the unknown and then became this monster which ran away with them. The story of how a run down dance hall on its last legs suddenly became this huge money making phenomenon. And how they milked the whole thing as a cash cow. The character of Simon Soussan and his story could be in there. The rampant commercialisation. The passion and oneupmanship of the DJs and collectors. Record buying trips to the USA. Then the whole sad fiasco at the end with the 'last' niter farce. All done cynically to make money. But all true and all very rich drama. They say truth is stranger than fiction and the story of Wigan Casino is proof if any were needed. Right sod you lot I'm booking the first flight to Hollywood!

Agree totally with you and also the earlier post from Anais. It was way too dark and depressing. i said in my earlier post that I had to watch it twice to appreciate it. The truth is first time i was disappointed. Expected to see a film about Northern Soul - lots of Wigan action, dancing, drama of actually getting to the Casino, drugs, stealing cars to get there, breaking into chemists etc etc,. All the things that actually went on. Remember for 2 years we've had a lot of hype about this film - training kids to dance for 3 years at dance classes and the rest of it. What happened to all that? Like a 5 minute shot in Wigan and that was it. Then some dancing at the youth club. Also I don't think the dancers were even that good! Maybe a lot of material got left on the cutting room floor. Whatever - as a piece of film making it was excellent, attention to detail and characterisations all spot on but despite this in the end something was missing. Almost like it got rushed. Maybe the editing is to blame. I understand there is a Directors cut which will be released. Maybe this will be better.

Didn't realise Bentinck had bit the dust. I usually try to get to the Grosvenor if it coincides with my trips back to UK. Its the only soul do I've ever been able to walk to as its only down the road from me ma's!

Not sure if he had any brothers. Think he lived Coxmoor way Kirkby - but that was 30 odd years ago!

She didn't. Apparently her older brother went though.

Hi Kev, Last time I saw Mark must be around 12 years ago at the Stoot soul nite. Hows he doing? He always had the top record collection back in the day. NYCs good. Actually went to see Dean Parrish last week in Brooklyn. Brilliant night. I get back home couple of times a year and always try to get to a do. I'll have to get down to Bentinck. When the next one cos Im back around Nov 14.

Wow, not seen Kev for about 25 years! So he still gets around then. There was also Wayne Cooper - Lee's cousin. What about Geeson? I remember Windy. Also the other Mansfield lads Dean Greenway ( RIP) , Siggy, Paul Wheatcroft, Andy Lawley etc,. Last time I saw Mark ( Parker ) was at a soul night at the "Stoot" in Kirkby about 12 years ago. That was run by Mark Hopes if I remember right. I get back over a couple of times a year and always try to get to a do. I'll have to get down to Bentinck. Im due back next around Nov 14.

Just put this up on "members shouts" but thought i'd put it here as well. Watching the film has had me reminiscing all about the Wigan times. For me it was circa 79-81. Originally from Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts, living these days in New York. Went to Wigan as a 15/16 year old with the Kirkby lads - Coops ( Lee Cooper ), Kev Guy, Andy Geeson, Twinny, Mark Parker, Jacko, Harry. We used to get the service bus from Mansfield and then the train - would take forever to get there. Great memories. We used to do the Sunday all dayers at Notts Palais as well. Lost touch with all of the guys years ago and wondered if any of them are on here? Think I saw a photo of Coop at a Grosvenor Rooms do last year? Does anyone remember any of those guys?

Hi, Originally from Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts living these days in New York. Watching the film has got me reminiscing about Wigan days , circa 79-81. Used to go with the lads from Kirkby - Coops (Lee Cooper), Mark Parker, Kev Guy, Andy Geeson, Twinny, Jacko, Harry. We'd get the service bus from Mansfield. used to take forever. Brilliant memories. Lost touch with all those guys years ago. Wonder if any of them are on here. Anybody remember them?

DVD arrived here ( New York ) Wednesday. Watched on Wednesday night and again yesterday morning. Had to watch it twice to really appreciate it. Ticks all the boxes although have to to say I was expecting to see more of the action centered around the Casino rather than the youth club. Thought all the characterizations were spot on. Particularly the Sean character - he was excellent and a great composite of people we have all known on the scene at one time or another. Thought they also captured the menacing atmosphere of Wigan very well. A lot of people say that the Casino was friendly and welcoming - which is true to a point but when I was there (79-81) I remember that there were some right nasty bastards around and you had to watch yourself. I thought that came across very well in the Wigan scenes. Some people say too much drugs but it was a big part of the whole thing. Whilst I never personally saw needles and people jacking up I saw enough pills to sink a battleship! Seemed to me everyone was on something - including me! ( hope you're not reading Ma! ) So all in all an excellent piece of work which recreates the time and the feeling of belonging to "something special" very well. The ending set up everything very nice for a sequel - maybe the lads going to USA??? I think a lot of material must have ended up on the cutting room floor. For instance I read somewhere that Searling had a cameo but Ive not spotted him yet??? Also Im curious and wondered if anyone can answer - was there any real story behind the Salvadores track? i.e: who discovered it, was it covered, who uncovered it? Off to watch it again now….

Thanks guys. Im actually Stateside permanent ( heading back now in fact ) and I only manage to get back 3 or 4 times per year. Dave - Yep, the Grosvenor Rooms is really my local venue if I were in UK. Sadly it's gonna be a few months Im afraid. All the best to Carl and the rest of the crew.

This is the first time Ive posted on here. But after an experience last night I felt compelled to write. For the past 3 years I've lived in the US and so have not been to any UK venues for a while. Last week I was in the UK for a couple of days and decided to drop in on the "Solid Gold Soul" night at Mansfield Civic Centre last night. Wow! I was horrified. It was full and I mean FULL of handbaggers, mediocre music, drinks on the dance floor - the lot. Is that what the Northern scene has come to in the UK? Ive been reading on here about the recent Butlins weekender with attendance of over 7,000. At first I was impressed however, after last night, I have to ask - how many of those 7,000 were true soulies and how many were these clowns who have no clue about the music, the dancing or the heritage and are only there for the social side and to get tanked up! Sorry if anyone feels offended but what I witnessed last night was a travesty masquerading as a Northern Soul night. It was like a huge wedding reception where all the adults are pissed trying to dance to Freda Payne ( and ... yes - they did play that as well !). If thats what over commercialisation has done for this scene then God help us!

Hi Sean, Great. Thanks very much. I'll check it out.

Hello there, Originally from Mansfield, UK but recently moved out to New York. Desperate to find a northern venue over here. Is anybody aware of any venues or even if there is a northern soul scene here. There used to be a monthly soul nite "Subway Soul" in the City but that stopped around last May.