Dim
-
Posts
133 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2 -
Feedback
0%
Content Type
Forums
Event Guide
News & Articles
Source Guidelines and Help
Gallery
Videos Directory
Source Store
Everything posted by Dim
-
Article: The Truth About Northern Soul by Stephen Riley Review
Dim replied to Dim's topic in Front Page News & Articles
There are several definitions... I prefer the Cambridge dictionary.. Factionalism: 'a situation in which a group forms within a larger group, especially one with slightly different ideas from the main group' Just for perspective I was born and brought up in Council houses for most of my life. I'm so posh that at 66 years of age, I still work 3 shifts full time in a factory. Do you know the meaning of the word 'patronise'? I can only speak from personal experience in terms of the books that I've read and I was just attempting to give some context to this particular book. While many of the others may not be to my taste, I would never name the books or the authors as I have a great deal of respect for the effort, time and passion it takes to undertake such a monumental task. I think in many ways the Scene is a beast. More people are attending more events at present than at any time, including the so called halcyon days, back in the 70s and early 80s.The money being generated through events, memorabilia sales, book and magazine sales, record/cd/mp3 sales must run into millions of pounds. One of the unpleasant side effects of all of this burgeoning interest is the fragmentation and factionalism that pervades the current scene.... but that's another story. -
Article: The Truth About Northern Soul by Stephen Riley Review
Dim replied to Dim's topic in Front Page News & Articles
I can only speak from personal experience in terms of the books that I've read and I was just attempting to give some context to this particular book. While many of the others may not be to my taste, I would never name the books or the authors as I have a great deal of respect for the effort, time and passion it takes to undertake such a monumental task. I think in many ways the Scene is a beast. More people are attending more events at present than at any time, including the so called halcyon days, back in the 70s and early 80s.The money being generated through events, memorabilia sales, book and magazine sales, record/cd/mp3 sales must run into millions of pounds. One of the unpleasant side effects of all of this burgeoning interest is the fragmentation and factionalism that pervades the current scene.... but that's another story. -
A review. The book is a brilliantly written and well researched look at the Scene from the early days up to the present. It strips away some of the mythology and preconceptions surrounding the Scene. Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full
-
There's a plethora of books readily available on the subject of "Northern Soul". I've ploughed through a good number of them....they're mainly (not all) personal memoirs of the Scene back in the 70's and most of them are poorly written, turgid affairs which rely on photographs to carry them. Most of them are fixated with Wigan Casino. There are exceptions, of course, but not many. 'The Truth About Northern Soul' is Stephen Riley's analysis of the Scene, warts and all, from it's early days and on to the beast it has become in the 2020's. It's a quite brilliant attempt at debunking the rose tinted mythology which surrounds Northern Soul. His narrative style is engaging and immensely readable. His argument is well articulated and well researched. Whilst not agreeing with everything he puts forward, I would say that he pretty much hits the nail on the head. I reckon the book will have broad appeal and could easily be used as an educational tool for those with any sort of appetite for what is one of this country's most enduring sub cultures. I recommend it unreservedly. Dim 2020 aka member @Dim site note - available in both Kindle (£3.00 and Paperback versions (seen at £9.99 ) You can view/read a preview of the kindle version of 'The Truth About Northern Soul' further down the page... -
Article: Bletsoe to the Wheel and Back.... Norman Rogers Book Review
Dim replied to Dim's topic in Front Page News & Articles
Kev... I'll get back to you with info later today. Sorry I can't be a bit faster. -
Article: Bletsoe to the Wheel and Back.... Norman Rogers Book Review
Dim replied to Dim's topic in Front Page News & Articles
Derek.. Cheers mate, -
View full article
-
Book Review. When I was first knocking around the Rare Soul Scene, there was a guy from Cambridge called Norman Rogers. He was one of the 'faces'. Everywhere that he went, Norman took his camera. The story goes that it was a present from an aunt or uncle and that it was a top quality job.... In fact it was his father who gave him it. Over the years he's taken thousands of pictures, many of which have subsequently turned up in various books, magazines and TV documentaries often without Norman getting any accreditation or acknowledgement. So this book is, if you like, Norman's own tale. It works, in my view, on two quite different levels. The first being a hefty piece of nostalgia for those of us lucky enough to know Norman and who were in an around the venues at the time. A lot of the photos are of guys and girls I know, many of whom I consider to be lifelong friends. The second and possibly even more important level is that the book, with it's images, accompanying anecdotes and playlists, is a bona fide historical document from the early days of the Scene and it may prove to be a bit of an eye opener to the various people who think that Northern Soul started and finished with Wigan Casino. The paradox, is that the heartbeat of Northern Soul, was and still is embedded in so many ways in the counties of Cambridge, Northants, Bedford and South Leicestershire....( at least to those of us who hail from there) I can't recommend this book highly enough. Incidentally Norman is a great bloke and he still treads the boards on a regular basis. Some of the book's photos are from the equally prolific Olly Pearson -
-
We have had to cancel today's event due to the flooding in and around Chesterfield. Many apologies and Regards.. Dim.
-
Soulville Sunday Sounds. 16th February 2020 DJ Times: 3.00pm until 3.45pm... Dim 3.45pm until 4.30pm... Mark Shaw 4.30pm until 5.15pm... Mark Johnson 5.15pm until 6.00pm... Knocker 6.00pm until 6.45pm... Dim 6.45pm until 7.30pm... Mark Johnson 7.30pm until Finish.......Knocker
-
Come and join us on February 16th, from 3pm until 8pm...or later, for an afternoon of the best in top quality Soul in the company of residents Knocker & Dim, (with Mark Shaw's RnB set). We're very pleased to be joined by our guest DJ Mark Johnson.
-
-
Book Review. When I was first knocking around the Rare Soul Scene, there was a guy from Cambridge called Norman Rogers. He was one of the 'faces'. Everywhere that he went, Norman took his camera. The story goes that it was a present from an aunt or uncle and that it was a top quality job.... In fact it was his father who gave him it. Over the years he's taken thousands of pictures, many of which have subsequently turned up in various books, magazines and TV documentaries often without Norman getting any accreditation or acknowledgement. So this book is, if you like, Norman's own tale. It works, in my view, on two quite different levels. The first being a hefty piece of nostalgia for those of us lucky enough to know Norman and who were in an around the venues at the time. A lot of the photos are of guys and girls I know, many of whom I consider to be lifelong friends. The second and possibly even more important level is that the book, with it's images, accompanying anecdotes and playlists, is a bona fide historical document from the early days of the Scene and it may prove to be a bit of an eye opener to the various people who think that Northern Soul started and finished with Wigan Casino. The paradox, is that the heartbeat of Northern Soul, was and still is embedded in so many ways in the counties of Cambridge, Northants, Bedford and South Leicestershire....( at least to those of us who hail from there) I can't recommend this book highly enough. Incidentally Norman is a great bloke and he still treads the boards on a regular basis. Some of the book's photos are from the equally prolific Olly Pearson
-
I think the "baggy pants" thing may have evolved from the Karmann Ghia jeans phase in the early/mid 70s. I remember that there was a predeliction for the boys to wear scarves, knotted loosely while dancing.... too add dramatic effect. That's a photo of me in 73 or 74, playing with my mate's nephew.....look at the width of those jeans. On a more serious note, whilst I agree with Karl and the Phantom Janitor in their general sentiments....I do think that there's room for everybody. We have to bear in mind that the Top 500 records are the top 500 for good reasons, just as a lot of the Rare and underplayed are underplayed because they're crap and no one danced to them the first time around.
-
Maybe there's more than one reason. Are the numbers down because the Weekenders have become expensive to attend? Butlin's on site amenities can be pricey. Are the numbers down because the formula has become old hat and tired? Or....are the numbers down because age (and infirmity) is finally taking it's toll on the punters?
-
-
At the height of his chart success with "Let's Twist Again", Chubby Checker toured Ireland in 1964. I was a fortunate 11 year old at the time as I got to go to the matinée performance, courtesy of the lady pictured, my Auntie Kathleen (performing under her married name Cissie Parlour) who was a member of the supporting cast. Just a little bit of personal memory really. Dim. -
-
Steve...everybody's younger than me!! Even my Dad....lol.
-
To say that I've come to this thread late is the understatement of the decade. What a superb thread it is though. I've lived in the Mansfield area for just coming up to 5 years and I've knocked around the Rare Soul Scene for 10 times that long. So the content in this has given me a brilliant insight into the past, the venues, the people and the nature of the Scene in and around Mansfield. I've had the pleasure to have met many good people, some of whom have contributed to the thread, and to have enjoyed the company of many of them. I think you'd have to go a long way to find anyone more enthusiastic and passionate about this than Deryk Banner, a man with great history and great stories, not to say great humility given his pedigree on the Scene. For me the thread is also lifted by the contribution of what I'll call the "Attic generation"... the slightly younger but nonetheless important part of the evolution of the Scene in this area. As an 'incomer' the friendships I've made from it have been very important in helping me settle into what was a totally new start in my life. Nice to see the Corner House mentioned, as I was involved in it with Studge.I think I'm right in saying that Mr.Banner was enticed out of retirement to grace the decks there. Brilliant thread..brilliant. Atb.....Dim.
-
Scrub board was played at Bletsoe Allnighter 71/72 by Northants dj Glenn Bellamy. Unusually, so the story goes, the instrumental came first. It is said that a sound engineer at the recording suggested that it would be great if a vocal was added to it. Plausible I think and may go some way to explain the time delay between the release of the two records.
