Tomo

Some great choices; a few that get me buzzin: Steve Karmen - Breakaway Tee Fletcher- Happy loving you Johnny Sayles - l can’t get enough Eugene Gaspard- Holding on

Was there over the weekend and spotted Sharon on Friday, she was my tip to win. I spoke with Jack briefly on Saturday afternoon about dancing in his bags and could tell he was passionate about the scene. We missed the first few rounds of the competition but from what we saw most there enjoyed it. To me you do have to take these competitions with a pinch of salt, I do think that northern dancing is subjective, I’m personally a Steve Hinds fan. I’m sure Jack or any of the other previous winners wouldn’t consider themselves to be the best dancer in the world. I agree the title doesn’t say what is on the tin but it does help promote the weekend. The winner is chosen in part by the crowd so if you turn up with a few bus load of mates you stand a good chance of winning (not that any of the winners will have done that). Being a bit of a dancer myself I love to watch the dancing there were some fantastic dancers there in IMHO. A few of the female dancers on the Saturday night were amazing (didn’t see them in the competition). All in all it was an enjoyable weekend, yes there are better nights out but the venue has to be up there with the best. Tomo

I wonder if that’s the same Kim that beat Vernon into 2nd at Hinckley when we all thought Vernon would walk it; both great dancers.

One from me……Timothy Wilson

A great turn out at Barry Holland’s Memorial Day on Saturday; a total sell out and even had an additional marquee to accommodate the numbers. A massive well done to Ann and all the DJ’s for putting on a fitting tribute to a well respected gentleman of the Northern Soul scene. Tomo

Morris Chestnut - Too Darn soulful. Went straight out and bought it after hearing it at the local youth club and still got it today. Can’t remember the last time I heard it played out but still love it.

Bought 240 records for £240 at an eBay auction in 2008, nearly all of them were mint originals. Sold part of the collection to JM(not my best ever decision)and most of the others on EBay for more than £2,500. Would be interested to know if anyone knew the owner, I bought them from a guy called Chas Hooper who owned a drum music shop in Darwen, he said that he found them in his brothers loft after he passed away.

Hi, He’s originally from Sheffield, I would think that most people into northern from Sheffield/South Yorkshire will have known him or known who he was especially the DJ’s. He used to be a dj at the Vault of Soul that was run at Ponds Forge together with Mark Etheridge, Tony Wiggan n Errol. For many years he lived in the Manchester area where he did a few soul nights including the Bowlers soul alnighter along with Ginger, Pete Eccles, Dave Evison and many other well known DJ’s. Modern Soul (if you can differentiate that) became his love and and as such he became more well known in those circles. Tomo

No not the only one with Eloise Laws with the reversed labels, I’ve got one exactly the same. I think that the trainee must’ve been busy Tomo

Not being on FB only just found out that my old pal Cliff passed away recently and was buried today. Have some great memories of us travelling to soul nights all over the country. RIP Cliff Tomo

Totally agree with the comments above, will be there at the night to remember such a genuinely nice guy. RIP Barry. Tomo

Thank you for the very informative replies, I’m astounded by the knowledge that you guys possess. ATB Tomo

I was recently reading the comments on a YouTube video for Bobby Garrett - I can’t get away. Amongst them it was mentioned that Bobby had 4 recording names; Bob Relf, Bob from Bob & Earl, Bobby Valentino plus Bobby Garrett...... I know that quite a number of artists recorded under different names, just out of interest does anyone know if there’s an artist with more than 4 or who recorded the most number of records under different names. Apologies upfront if there has been a thread on this topic previously. Tomo

Pm sent

Thank you to everyone for your comments, I’m still learning and I always value another person’s view whether I agree with it or not. I bow down to you guys on here with the superior knowledge all about soul, that is why I joined this site. I love to read the articles and in the short time I’ve been on here I have read some great stories and found out some amazing facts. Kegsy I was certainly keep my eye out for that album pal. Cheers Tomo

Agreed Joey, I’m most probably not explaining myself clear enough and I fully respect your view. I grew up dancing to Northern, we never really danced to Motown even at the school disco or youth clubs. I suppose we were doing it for a reason more than because we didn’t like the music. We would take our own records for djs to play at the pop n crisp night discos and then also on to the top rank. I missed out on places like the wheel and maybe if I had attended venues like that then I would’ve appreciated them more.

I don’t profess to be any long serving expert the point I was making is that this has always been my view right or wrong. I’m certainly not into the soul police or politics. I will try and explain MY point of view, at certain large city venues( my own city has 2 a year)in the main room they are playing, third finger left hand, jimmy Mack, heaven must have sent you etc etc a lot of people like that style but not me and again MY point of view dancing to that music is different to dancing to northern.

Firstly I appreciate your opinion, I don’t need anyone to tell me what to listen too. To answer your question was wasn’t my point, the couple of dozen or so are to me the Motown records that I think that you can get away with playing at a Northern night. I fully recognise that most if not all Northern was down to artists trying to emulate that Hitsville sound, never would dispute that.

Myself and a good friend who have both been into Northern for nearly 50 years discuss this a lot. We both like Motown but we love Northern. We have in the past left venues when in our humble opinion there has been too much Motown played(not advertised). Any thoughts on this and whether it is ok or not to dance Northern to Motown? There are some fantastic Motown songs and I could select a couple of dozen or so where you could get away with it. Tomo

Asked a few and no one knows, could try Ray Copley he’s a member on here and knows him well. Tomo

Such sad news, RIP Barry. Great memories of the Kgb! Tomo

Really!!! Was that from people genuinely from the scene or just the sad trolls that sadly have nothing else better to do.

So true Wayoutgirl, I’ve watched many of Glynis’s images, my favourite being the one from 1978 - 1980 where there’s someone holding a sign saying “chemist open” memories

Thanks Ted for the update, I wish him well in his recovery. My thoughts are that we are the losers here, he was doing a great job which preserved great memories. Tomo

Laid in bed self isolating decided to reminisce about the past. Seen lots of footage of people sadly no longer with us( Ray France etc) a lot of the filming was done by Jud, does anyone know why he’s not putting up any new ones? I know filming at soul events is a controversial topic but wondering if there’s no pictures/filming done anymore at events what memories will we have in another 20 years(if we are still here ) of venues that we don’t attend. Ps not found any of me Atb Tomo