Hooker1951

Totally agree with you, most venues are much to bright. it is all the Health and Safety to blame the management and the staff at the venues where we promote are all hard work it's always a constant battle switching lights off and them switching on again. I remember when I used to promote Tony's Emp at Blackburn they fitted a orange light right over the Dancefloor said Health n safety it killed the vibe.I took a 22 pistol in the next month and shot it out. We brushed the mess up.It was about 12 months later before the proprietors noticed. If I'd have asked they would have said no. The Darker the Better I say. Keep on Pressing on ML

Don't forget there was another Wigan going on before Wigan Casino Allniters from 1963 till 73 with all kinds of things being played parallel to anywhere in the country Wigan Casino didn't have the monopoly on the soul scene till 1973 but there was soul being played there from At least 1970 I know I worked There. the Room At the Top Club Wigan was playing Mod, Stax Atlantic All American imports for four years from 1964 till 1968 at their Soul nights and their weekly Allniters so there is a good chance that some not all could have been played at Wigan.Ive said it before and I'll say it again Wigan didn't discover soul in 1973 go back ten years to 1963. I was there. Cheers ML

Had the pleasure of meeting B.E. king 43 years ago when he was performing with his Band at the empress Ballroom Wigan I let him and his. Band in the club and I let them out He was Magic that night one of the best live acts I can remember his band had a brass section ,horns and string section he was still in his prime.I exchanged some small talk with him after the show telling him how much his Music was loved.He was a gentleman no ego you could tell He just Loved doing what he did A true Soul man what made truly genuine Soul Music.I feel Blessed to have met him. GOD BLESS YOU BEN E KING and RIP Mick Lyons

sorry about the spelling Waggy. no it was me on the door I used to let them all in and let them all out. :yes:Cheers ML

Some of the Velours used to perform as the Fantastics they played regularly on the Soul circuit in the North west 1970 till 72 along with E Starr, J Ruffian, W Bell, A Conley Ben E King,Lou Christie,and many more they were all in their prime then not forgetting Jonny Johnson n the Bandwagon and the Showstoppers all fantastic acts at their best. ML

I've seen at least a dozen groups masquerading as the drifters over the last 45 years some better at it than others obviously some of these had one or two members who had stood in a drifters lineup some time the nearest and the best to what I would call the drifters was in 1972 when BenE King and his band played live in the Caino Wigan Pre RW and the allniters Ben E was brilliant that night.The nearest copy group to the drifters sound wise were the Drapers 1962 63 who had the time 3 original or maybe 4 Drifter members.If you lined all the different Lineups of the Drifters they'd probably stretch longer than hadrians wall 62 years of different members. Cheers ML

Cecil Washington doesn't in the slightest sound like a novelty sound to me . To me it sounds like a unique soul sound that captured a special time in NS history and always delivers. ML

109642 northern soul records,at the last count but I can't for the life of me remember who counted them. Keep on counting on. ML

The Empress Ballroom in the casino had a capacity of around 1500,another 300 or so and the club would have been crammed.the Palaise room in what became Mr M,would have looked claustrophobic with anything over 400,theBeachcomber about 300 So the complete set up was filled to the brim you are talking 2500 not 5000. Russ might have had double vision if he did that's problem solved. Keep on Trucking ML

IT took Russ w over a year to pay me £1000 he owed me for security at one of he's events it's a pity that £1000 didn't turn into £5000 like his numbers at the Casino did. ML

Russ was in charge of the Casino drug squad that's why they never caught anybody Keep on Laughing or you'll go insane ML

Russ could have done with some of those drugs. Because he's still not got out of first gear. ML

I Don't for one moment think that that new discoveries shouldn't be looked for and played at NS nights and all biters I run at present probably one of the most exciting promotions along with Andy Mcabe in the country where the best of the old is played with the best of the new if it stopped being exciting I'd change things because I will always listen to the punters because it's them what matter I've been involved with music over 50 years of soul and dance I've DJ,d MC,d and danced and done security for a lot of the artists who we admire on this scene.ive been in the clubs all over the USA and danced with the brothers and am proud to say have been told by the same brothers hey man you've got it.Ive always ran proper biters proper raves full on with quality music. forget Upfront or crossover what the word should be is the best at what your doing. if you don't you should be open to criticism and change your format.Always striving for the right Balance so most people go home happy instead of a few.I am always looking to re activate quality oldies.There are by the way no handbag gers or Beer monsters at Stateside just good soulies who love a good time whatever their reasons are listening, dancing or memories and Nostalgia it all adds up to make a great night and that's all you can do.So I if what your saying is upfront Stateside must be upfront with all the rest Peace Love n Tranquility ML. Excuse the biters I meant Niters

Upfront promoters and Upfront DJ,s means they just like the missionary position no excitement, they've all got fed up with Crossover another excuse for the Boffins of Ballyhoo music.Where everybody can pretend they are experts. come on Guys lets tell it like it is. Mick L

You put your left foot in your right foot out then you do the Soulie, Soulie and shake it All About. you've gotta laugh or you'd end up insane. Keep on Dancing ML

That's why I said each to their own. keep on Keeping on ML

I can understand people having different opinions on Timi Yuro But I find it hard to beleive that anybody who loves Soul Music does not like jD Bryant that tune to me is 100 percent solid soul each to their own but not to like that one surprises me. kind Regards ML

hi Dayo here's some information from an old wise head Yvonne Baker was first played at Wigan casino not the Mecca. keep on Trucking. ML

I'm more concerned about what's gonna be played next week. God Bless Mick L

Magic Carpet ride just dosen,t do it for me, sounds like mid tempo 1960's pop music, sounds like the carpenter,s ect . Kiki did much better than that and so did a lot of the 1960's Brit pop girls at the time who caught that NS feeling with the big production sound of the time. Keep on pressing on Mick L

Brian Matthews as always been a Library of information covering all geners of Music I started listening to him in 1962 on the sat club BBC and of course Thank your Lucky Stars ITV Sat Eve. He always Had a nice easy going way of giving information and Trivia.Probably one of the most underrated people in the era of modern music post 1950 with his knowledge of modern music . keep on Pressing on ML

I understand the point your making very well Chalky highlighted it in a earlier comment about getting the correct balance that balance can only aqquired by constantly being aware of the crowd your playing to are they a Allniter crowd who like substances,a soul night crowd who like a few beers,oldies crowd ,rare soul,or Modern, all these factors come into play to make a good time.I get the impression that a good number of Dj,s don't take these things into consideration and don't alter their sets accordingly.leading to empty dance floors A Good dj should be able to pull it back if things are going wrong not carry on jumping of the cliff.I Take your point about playing safe though I've been there loads of times the only options you have Steve is you can at least make sure the safe records you play are the best and not the same old.You have got to remember also that a lot of Soulies are at different stages of their soul lives. Some new,some just returned some who have never gone away.something what your bored with might be the best thing since sliced bread to them. Thanks for the question. keep On Pressing On Mick L

That's not what I said.I for one don't want to hear the same old tunes but some DJ,s can't even get it right playing them. if your bored to death it means your not happy with the Dj,s nothing wrong with that It's your humble opinion of course ML

Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Dance Floors are for Dancing on that's why all venues have them Surely every DJ worth is salt should be striving to fill the dance floor.If not you might as well book a room with just tables and chairs just listen to the music or stay at home, friends houses ect and listen. it's a sad sight looking at a empty dance floor hours at a time, it's even worse when you spot some tumble weed blowing across it! you've got to try to put some passion in it and dancing is a big part of that passion in northern Soul.Remember DJ,s didn't make the music they just play it at least learn how to play it in the right order to create a atmosphere I used to think that DJ,s could all do that if they tried .Then I realised a lot of them can't. They think they can get away with playing a few big records here and there.and all will be forgiven.Or people think there gurus not to be questioned because of their ultimate wisdom in soul. my opinion only, humble opinion. God Bless ML