Sean Hampsey

Me too mate! But the missus won't let me! Still, I always slip on one of her albums during... thoise special times... ...late in the midnight hour... ... and I think y'all know wad am talkin' aboud! Sean

And where were you when I was debating exactly the same point on the last few pages of the OVO thread, Baz? Get yer arse over there when you get a mo, will ya mate! I think you'll enjoy it. Sean

Oops! and you think so too Baz!! Did you buy the recent Kent CD "Soul For The Dancefloor" Probably the best Femme 'Real Soul' Dance compilation in the history of the world. Sean

S'true... ...but what does she know? Soul Music Goddess (IMO). Sean

You're right Pete, KC was played, but only for a few weeks. There were several in the same mould, from the same period - Delfonics "I Told You So" - Tavares "My Ship" etc. - but in no way could they be described as "Wigan Anthems". Definately think of Dana Valery, Velvets, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Jones, Mel Williams, Hesitations, Paul Anka, Epitome of Sound, Vibrations, Harold Melvin, Frankie Valli etc as the real 'anthemic' Wigan tunes! Oh... and Top Cat! Sean

Spot on Benji. Pretty regular late 80's Re-Issue... ...and no... "House For Sale" did not gain such a release. Sean

Those two sentences up the situation exactly as I see it, Jez. And I'm sure they relate to 95% of the 'listening' public. Brilliant mate! Sean

Great LP BTW Paul, apart from "Open The Dorr To Your Heart" features "I've Lost You" (currently raved about on here!) "I'm The One To Do It"" and "You Can Count On Me" etc. Sean

Errrrrrrrrrrr yeh......... errrrrrrr, well... errrrrrrrrrr ...on second thoughts! Nobody Ever Said It Was Gonna Be Easy! Sean

And another! (is there only me and thee playing this game, Pete?)

Must admit Steve, I don't have all the answers. It's a tricky one. But a journey of a thousand miles... single step and all that! Just feel that the scene seems to have gone from new tunes breaking every weekend to 3 or 4 every 5-10 years, and that can't possibly be healthy.... but hey, I guess that's the choice of the paying public. Frankly, I think you're right. It's gonna be nighon impossible to attract the younger generation in great numbers - but I'm more interested in retaining and entertaining the generation we've already got! I'm with Simon M and his advice... 'If you've got fresh tunes hammer 'em...' and I'm sure, like many of us, you have a repository of real Soul records that would 'go'... if the criteria on the 'Northern Scene' was allowed, once more, to be much more than 'rarity' first. Of more importance to me is a home for the decent Soul Music that's not getting aired - disqualified because it's on the wrong or unacceptable 'format' or excluded and vilified because it's not (yet) 'rare'. Maybe the 'Northern Scene' (Progressive or Otherwise) is not the place, anymore, for fresh material? Maybe the 'Third Way' (as Plumby calls it) practiced over the years at such haunts as Pitches in Rotherham, the Munsters in Brum and more recently the Orwell in Wigan (not a complete list) is the rightful place for fresher Soul music (or the chance to hear something different)? Most of the 'Crossover' type venues seem to have no problem embracing the more contemporary or less formulaic, as long as it 'sounds' right. Perhaps that audience is more receptive to the Music itself for its own sake and where fresh stuff will always gain a better reception? But, I honestly felt that after too many years of fragmentation, there were some signs of convergence. After all, we've seen Soul Sam getting behind Joi Cardwell "Let It Go" (Soulful House... on the 'Northern' scene?). We've seen Pete Smith making recommendations on here for Anthoney Wright's new offering (not a tune that's been fully accepted by the 'Modern' crowd... but you get my drift?). We've witnessed hardcore 'Northern' folk getting in a lather over Amy Winehouse and Duffy... probably because it was something 'new' to listen to. So I'm thinking, maybe were not as polarized as some might like to think? Or maybe we are I guess DJ's tend to fall under the following categories - and that affects how they approach the choice of music in their play lists. Soul Lover - DJ - Collector Soul Lover - Collector - DJ Collector - DJ - Soul Lover Collector - Soul Lover - DJ There are other permutations, but these tend to be the ones I normally encounter. I'd certainly rather go to a gig where the lineup includes the former categories, because I'm more likely to hear high quality music delivered in an entertaining manner, than be exposed to either the tedious 'same old same old' or have DJ's try to bedazzle or impress me with the collectors items on show. Anyway, I'm sure you'll agree that we've moved a long way from the initial thinking. Maybe 'original format' / "OF" is perfectly acceptable to the majority of people (OVO reminds me too much of 'Whites Only' and Pointy Hats!) because it makes it clear that we are open minded to newly available material but against the encouragement of illegal pressings and bootlegging - but as Rod said, in some cases that genie is out of the bottle and for the Village Hall 'do' or the 'bit of Northern' at a wedding there's little any of us should be too concerned about. From the various messages and replies I've seen I'm pretty sure that most people take the common sense view. Ady has conceded that he'd probably use CD's... if other DJ's would... and Rich has even got a 'Legit Re-Issue' thread running (I'm unaware of any death threats) so that's got to be progress for Music over elitism or censorship, no matter how well intended. Cheers Sean

Only very slightly embarrassed Brett! I remember those days very well. All Soul Music, all in one place... no divisions, no bull! Perhaps that's the answer? - A Soul Coach! We leave Pond Street, Sheffield, every Saturday evening and go from town to town, playing our tapes and spreading our Love and Soul Music to the masses! Or... maybe not! The missus probably wouldn't let me anyway! Thanks Brett for the memories and kind words. The feeling is mutual. Sean

I know that you are a 'general Soul fan' as you put it, so I'm glad you know where I'm coming from on this. And I'm with you, Steve - it might be tough. It was always tough, trying to break new tunes and sticking out ones neck! But its surely worth it! 60's 70's 80's 90's or whatever comes after... I guess like most things in life, if it's easy... its probably not worth doing! Hey, I've spent a lot of valuable time just shooting the breeze here. Don't mind if you concur, don't mind if you don't... and as my old mate used to say... it's only Rock and Roll! But if just one DJ, plays just one new tune that gets accepted on the scene, it'll have been worth it! Sean

So what do you think happened to change it, Steve? As I said in my monsta post - We all played the whole of Soul in one room - to the same crowd. It wasn't only Richard that was playing contemporary Soul, as you know. Many DJ's did at the time. How did Bobby Womack "So Many Sides Of You" etc. become so big - as new releases? It's because it was ALL acceptable (at least to the dancefloor). Do you think the hiving off of the 'Modern Soul' stuff into seperate rooms had an adverse affect? I tend to think it did. Personally, I don't see why the Northern Scene has to be 'last' in many respects with the music. Why wait X number of years to play Drizabone / Corey Glover and the like? Shouldn't 'progressive' DJ's be playing decent (if we can call Drizabone decent) or acceptable 'sounding' music now? Let's take the lovely Doc Peabody for example. A pretty 'modern' sounding Soul record to me (certainly not a 'stomper'). The 'Northern' crowd will/should accept such a 'sound'... because it's bloody good... not because its rare! There are certainly other great 'sounding' tunes from the past 25 years (and even the past 12 months) that should be having their day on the Dancefloor - before they become 'rare' or 'deleted'. It just takes a little effort and imagination (IMO) and a bit of easing off the blinkers in some quarters. Sean

Kent were always the exception to the rule, Ady, I think we'd all agree. Sean

Brevity was never bestowed upon me - and the Irish never use one word when five will do! But you've pretty much summed up what I was saying, Rod. There have been scores of releases these past 15 years that 'could' have been played and enjoyed on the Northern scene (had CD's not been frowned upon) yet they are are considered too 'traditional' for the 'Modern Soul' scene. Theres a wealth of Soul Music that's untouched and underexposed on 'both' scenes. Just figure if either a) they'd been put out on vinyl or CD's had been accepted we might then have had a chance to hear quite a few more 'new' and interesting tracks this past decade or so... something I think most of us would consider a good thing. Particularly as the so called 'Modern' side of Northern is really pretty much 'same old same old' in many respects. Sean

Great expression 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' Gareth and sums up my feelings exactly. Thank you. Sean

Agree 100% Steve. Just no need for it! But let's not prohibit the playing of legitimate CD material in the process, as per your examples earlier (The Steve Plumb Tip List). Sean

Hi Gareth, I most certainly do agree that a venue that promotes VO "Vinyl Only" in this day and age seems to me to be extremely backward thinking... and the main reason is that the advent of the CD has afforded us far more previously unreleased material than we ever thought possible. Prior to the CD 'previously unreleased' material becoming available was almost unheard of (people tend to cite Betty Boo as an example - and then run out of ideas ). This technology has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive to produce - in fairly low quantities - and because of this it has yielded scores of 'new' (new/old) tracks and helped to make them available for the DJ / Soul Fan to own, play and promote. I couldn't imagine the likes of the awesome Bettye Swann "I Want Sunday Back Again" would have gained a posthumous issue, becoming available to us all, were it not for the CD. How sad would that have been? Must admit, this is an interesting subject and one that I've given a lot of thought to recently, thanks to Steve starting the thread. Not sure if anyone else has reached the same conclusion as me - or if there's anyone even remotely on my wavelength for that matter but here's my (further) two penneth. As a Soul record collector, I fully understand the attraction (or is it an obsession?) with rare, original and obscure vinyl. I've been addicted for the past 40 years - and still can't shake it loose - but despite this, I'm still bothered by 'Original Vinyl Only' as a principal when it comes to the actual 'promotion' of Soul Music, particularly 'new' Soul Music and the role of the DJ in the UK today. But in answer to your question, I think that there's a lot that's quite perverse about the Northern scene and the 'non-use' of such a superb media is one of them. The biggest challenge with the dogma is that it prohibits the programming of New releases. Look back at our history; we always played new and recent releases. We played them in the 60's, 70's and 80's... but something happened along the way to change all that. The fact is, new material hardly ever emerges on vinyl these days - so then how does a DJ get the chance to play anything contemporary that might work on the 'Northern' dancefloor - without accepting the new technology on which it appears? Back in the 70's and early 80's, I could go out and buy a brand new Soul 45 release, on a Friday afternoon (for less than a quid) and at the Nighters and gigs I worked, help to make it a biggie... over that same weekend! Likewise, I could get my hands on a new or recent 12" or LP - or dig into the collection - and pull out a handful of unplayed (or underplayed) album tracks and do the same with those i.e. fill the floor and introduce the crowd to something fresh and new - every single week! Nowadays there seems to be little or no opportunity to do anything remotely like that and I can only summise its because, simultaneously with the Music Industry moving away from vinyl, the UK Soul Scene seemed to have become even more retro (60's biased) in music and playlist policy and ever more blindly loyal to the 'Vinyl' format - this on a scene that was pioneered by 'Mods' (Modernists) - and it's my belief that this thinking is strangling the opportunity to play anything that's actually fresh, recent or in any way innovative! Early 80's, at Clifton Hall, Cleethorpes and elsewhere, brand new material was always programmed heavily along with newly discovered old stuff, classics and revivals - all in the one room and to the same crowd. Nobody thought that they were being particularly 'open-minded' its just the way it had always been. For the DJ it was about pleasing the floor whilst pushing the envelope and introducing the dancers to something new (a new artist, a new album, a new sound!). I may be wrong, but there seems to be nowhere on the scene that this happens nowadays and (IMO) it's hugely detrimental to the promotion of Soul Music in the UK... and to the real progression of the scene in general. Sure, we're different to other Music scenes in many ways - we hunt for our music and track down the artists that nobody else would ever champion, we dedicate time, money and resources to looking for that elusive gem, but the argument that 'we're different' is now actually working against us and in many ways holds us back from enjoying and discovering even more. There's seems to me to be a few 'special' criteria on what makes a tune 'work' and become accepted on the Northern dancefloor and though there is a real mystique attached to scarcity or the 'unknown' it never was solely about 'rarity' to my mind. It was much more about the magic created by the Music itself - regardless of when it was made or who it was made by. I fear that while ever we take the view that 'Only Vinyl' is acceptable, it's inevitable that a great deal of incredible Music will be lost. Sean

Thank F*ck for that Gareth. I've been hammering the George Jackson "All In My Mind" from the Kent CD, prior to release, for the past 9 months! Half expected to see a Burning Cross outside the window! Sean

Agree Steve, We can always rely on the PlumbMeister to deliver the goods! Sean

Superb reply Steve - and I'm with you on all points. Your post even has the huge bonus of some awesome Plumby tips! Thanks for taking the time to help clarify. I really think we're getting some where. Cheers matey The Poser Man

Hi Steve, I'd love you to elaborate on that part of your post. So you concur that for otherwise unreleased CD Only tracks, it's perfectly legitimate to play off CD? I see you also said that 'Top Northern Bods' might like to do a carver of it... but for everyone else the CD format is OK? (Said I was gonna leave the shiny disc question until after we'd nailed the Re-Issue debate, so you've given me a good opportunity) Cheers matey The Poser Man

Class

Yeh.... part of the 'Save The Sellotape' campaign! Chance for Roger to Knock Up a new sticker!