Neckender

THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER RARE NORTHERN This list contains what I consider the most sought after and rare original release Northern soul 45s at this point in time. It contains some seriously rare 45s and includes many that have been deemed to be ‘the hot collectable to have’. Records that have eluded collectors over the many years of searching for them and the ones that keep you awake at night, brooding if you’ll ever own them. The records are not listed in any particular order, just as they came into my head. I checked with a few well-informed people on the Scene and it looks like such a list has not yet been compiled? The criteria used to assemble this list is loosely: 1. A proven rarity over a reasonable time span. 2. Are sought after by many collectors. 3. That it has a great sound. I suppose a few people will want to know, how do you know what are the most coveted records of this genre, as there is a lot of secrecy, fabrication and fake news within the collecting fraternity. Plus it must be difficult keeping track of the movement of all records over a fifty year period, especially these days where the majority of collectors constantly recycle and refresh their collections almost on a weekly basis. Yes, it is quite clearly impossible to know exactly, without implementing a Doomsday survey of some sort, but there are ways to collect relevant information, which help make informed judgements about rarity and what’s sought after: Rare soul bragging rights have always been a big part of the Scene; just remember the old flyers from the Blackpool Mecca and their exclusive playlists etc. Today, something similar happens on the Internet, where some individuals and their hot-boxes do some persistent boasting, telling others about their precious vinyl treasures. Sales lists over the decades have been a wonderful place to buy records, but also a great source for collectors to compile information. The lists have been numerous, but some were streets ahead of the others, selling unknown Northern that no one had heard before. Other information gathering comes in the form of numerous stories that abound on the Scene about missed chances to buy a record and not having a sniff of a copy since, ruing that time for not taking that opportunity. Or about owning a record and foolishly letting it go in a trade, or for a ‘not to be missed price’ and regretting that decision ever since. And tales of record digging trips to America, unearthing rare vinyl gems. This is where some invaluable information comes from to formulate such a list and having spent over 40 obsessive years, digging and collecting Northern and its numerous spin-offs, constantly immersed in the inner world of rare soul, I assumed that i could make a decent stab at compiling the list. I remember a time in the mid 70s when the Scene contained only a handful of record collectors, who had an interest in the obscure import. For the majority, Oldies, as they became to be known, were king and that suited us just fine, because we faced no competition when acquiring our next purchase. This was all to change in the early 80s as the Northern soul scene contracted and spawned a very much smaller scene that thrived on the esoteric. Ultimately, this had a seismic effect on the collecting habits of the rare soul scene and what was deemed collectable. Today, 40 years later, it is a standard default position for most rare soul collectors, to dig for the illusive and exclusive. By the 90s the expansion of the soul scene into Europe and then worldwide was underway, culminating today into a global collecting phenomenon. This has had a big impact on a dwindling resource, as ever more international collectors begin to build impressive collections. Not being able to acquire various records has been a major and vexed problem for most Northern buyers since the inception of this scene and that problem escalated with the expansion of the scene into Europe, Japan, Australia and America (plus the recent arrival of the millionaire collector) Ebay and the Internet initially did make an impression, throwing up some amazing finds and for a period, satisfying the collectors. But that didn’t last very long and now we see the result: scarcity and high prices. Who in the early days of collecting, could have imagined that sometime in the future, Northern soul 45s would regularly sell for £5000 plus. Some Northern soul folk may want to evaluate and compare this list with the Northern Soul top 500 list. They are in essence a similar thing and a number of records appear on both lists. However, the lists are two different entities; one appearing to represent the scenes majority Oldies crowd and the other a smaller, more dynamic, experimental and younger minority crowd. Virtually all of the 45s on the Northern Soul top 500 list, to put it mildly, have in the past 50 years been totally over-played, engendering an indifferent and weary attitude to them. Whereas, most of the records on the Sought after Rare Northern list have received less exposure in the clubs, have a vibrancy about them and are still relatively unknown to the greater bulk of the Northern Soul public. This list will probably appeal to the person who takes a sustained, time consuming and determined approach to rare record collecting and doesn't mind spending the majority of their income on rare vinyl. Not included on this list are 45s from the Modern side of the rare soul scene, concentrating on the bread and butter: Northern. Maybe the Modern list will come later, but I suspect for various reasons, that will prove to be a very difficult task. The list has an obvious relative aspect to it. Some of you will read the list and be asking where is such & such a record. The simple answer is that Ive compiled the list myself and somewhat reflects my own personal taste in what i consider good and not so good Northern. I may have missed the odd title and will probably after some nudging from fellow collectors will be including any omissions later. It is therefore a dynamic and fluid list and records will be added or deleted as time passes. I haven’t included any recent, new discoveries, or cover-ups, as they haven't yet had time to prove their rarity and longevity. No doubt many will reach their potential and move onto the list at some point in the future. No studio acetates either. NECKENDER 2020 THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER RARE NORTHERN Eddie Parker I'm gone Awake C.O.D.s She's fire Kellmac Combinations What cha gonna do Kellmac Del-larks job opening Queen city Don Gardner cheatin kind Sedgrick Larry Clinton She's wanted Dynamo Damon Fox Packing up Fairmount Salvadors stick by me baby Wise World Lester Tipton this wont change La beat Gwen Owens Just say you're wanted Velgo Admirations I want to be free Peaches Jimmy Burns I really love you Erica Bobby James I really love you Karol Yums Yums gonna be a big think ABC Mel Britt she’ll come running back Fip Classics so glad I found you Yan G Parliaments This is my rainy day Cabell Springers Nothings too good for my baby Wale Magnetics lady in green Bonnie Magnetics I have a girl Rahsel Ramona Collins you've been cheating Clarks Appointments I saw you there Delite Lou Pride Im com’un home in the morn’un Suemi Billy Woods Let me make you happy Sussex Young Brothers Whats your game Soul Power Junior McCants - Try Me For Your New Love - King John & the Wierdest Cant get over these memories Tie Johnny Hendley My baby came from out of nowhere Mutt & Jeff Prophets If I had -Shrine Counts Peaches baby Shrine Cairos Stop overlooking me Shrine JB Bryant I wont be coming back Shrine Eddie Daye & 4 Bars Guess who loves you Shrine Ray Pollard This time Shrine DC Blossoms Hey boy Shrine Les Chansonettes Dont let him hurt you Shrine Shirley Edwards Dream my heart Shrine Cavaliers Do what I want Shrine Tomangoes I really love you Washpan Jimmie Bo Horn I cant speak Dade Paris Sleepless nights Doc Sam Williams Love slipped through my fingers Tower Al Williams I am nothing La Beat Servicemen Sweet magic Chartmaker Servicemen Are you angry Wind Hit Vondells Hey girl you’ve changed Airtown Walter & Admerations Man Oh Man La Cindy Yvonne Vernee just like you did me SonBert Del-Tours Sweet and lovely Starville Bernie Williams Ever again Bell Chuck holiday Just cant trust nobody gloria Four Voices Our love is getting stronger Voice Richard Caiton I’d like to get near you Up Tight The Butlers with Frank Beverly Because of my heart Rouser/Fairmount Precisions Sugar aint sweet Drew The Poets Wrapped around your finger J2 Kell Osborne Law against a heartbreaker Highland Margaret Little Love finds a way Genebro Sandy Golden Your love is everything Masterpiece Delites Lover Cuppy Pat Lewis No one to love Solid Hit Jesse James Are you gonna leave me Shirley Mr. Soul what happened to yesterday Genuine Al Scott what happened to yesterday Genuine Mello Souls We can make it Mello Tommy Ridgley My love gets stronger International City Professionals Thats why i love you Groove City Cashmeres show stopper Hem Camaros We’re not too young Dar Cha Ray Agee im losing again Soultown Archie Hodge I really want to see you Narco Debonairs Loving you takes all my time Solid Hit Robbie Lawson Burning sensation Kyser Little Wille Faulk Look into my heart M&H Ree Flores Look into my heart M&H Empires You're on top girl Candi Arthur Willis The hurting is over Mars La Tour Lillie Bryant Meet me half way Tayster Little Stanley Out a sight loving Vance Inticers since you left Baby Luv Executive Four I got a good thing going Lumar George Blackwell Cant lose my head Smoke Johnny Hampton Not my girl Dottys Leonard Jewel Bettin’ on love Terri De Gaylettes heartaches i cant take Black jack The Proffs Look at me Curr Inspirations No one else can take your place Breakthrough Jackie Beavers I need my baby Revilot Adlibs You'll always be in style Blue Cat Ivories Please stay Wand/Despenza Arin Demain Silent treatment Blue Star Joe Matthews Aint nothing you can do Kool Kat Jimmy Gresham This feelin’ i have Terri De Esther Grant - Let's Make The Most Out Of Love - Wilstone Magnetics When Im with my baby Sable Lee McKinnney Ill keep holding on Sable Mac Staten There she goes Prelude Bobby Kline Say something nice to me MB Tommy & Derbys Dont play the roll Swing Tommy & Derbys Going back to Houston Kool The Trips There’s that mountain Soundville Precisions I wanna tell my baby D Town Colt 45s Lady lady Jerry Cody Black Its our time to fall in love Gig Timmie Williams - Competition - MaIa Bobby Wisdom Handwriting on the wall Out a Site Imperial Cs Someone tell her Phil LA Soul Willie Hutch The Duck Dunhill flouorescent Smogg all my life W.G. Little John Just wait and see Gogate Ernestine Eady Lets talk it over Phil LA Soul Rita & Tiaras Gone with the wind is my love Dore Milton James My lonely feeling Dore Little Johnny Hamilton Keep on moving Dore Superbs On a day when its raining Dore Nabay Believe it or not Impact Emanons Orchestra Bird Walkin’ All Brothers Freddie Chavez They'll never know why Look Chuck Cockerham Have I got a right Mala Don Varner Tear stained face Quinvey Fascinators In other words Bombay Sag War Fare Dont be so jive Libra New Wanderers Aint gonna do you no harm Ready Nurons All my life Nu-Ron True Image Im not over you yet Super Smash Connie Clark My sugar baby Joker Honey Bees Never in a million years Garrison William Powell Heartaches Souvenirs Powerhouse Robert Tanner Sweet Memories Magatone Checkerboard Squares Double Cookin Villa Earles Everybodys got somebody Tee-Ti Billy Arnell Tough girl Holly Buddy Smith When you lose the one you love Brute Tranells Blessed with a love Flo-Jo Emeralds Beware Vick Stanley Mitchell Get it baby Dynamo Caressors I cant stay away Ru-Jac Stewart Ames Angelina Oh Angelina J&W Sensations Demanding man Wayout Combinations Im gonna make you love me Kimtone Walter Wilson Love keeps me crying Wand Ty Karim You really made it good to me Senator Brooks Brothers Looking for a woman Tay Jimmy Raye Philly dog around the world KKC Frankie Karl You should o held on Philtown Utopias Girls are against me La Salle Danny Monday Baby without you Modern George Juke Byrd Im available Pay-Tons Fortson & Scott Sweet Lover Pzazz Lonnett Blue Jeans M-S Districts One lover Nile The Crow Your autumn of tomorrow Inner Ear Yvonne Daniels I dont want to get away from your love Sterling Carlettes Im getting tired BR Rufus Wood Before 2001 Espanola Dynamic Three You said yeah Del-Val Billy Floyd My oh my Arctic Precisions My sense of direction HenMar Kenny Gamble The jokes on you Arctic Four Andantes Hipper than me MoDo Blendels You need love Dontee Ruby Feminine ingenuity Gold Token Nolan Chance Just like the weather Bunky Soulettes Bring your fine self home Scope Sequins Try my love Detroit Sound Groovettes Think it over baby Reness Salt & Pepper A man of my word Heatwave William Cummings Make my love a hurting thing Bang Bang Jimmy Andrews Big city playboy Blue Jay Frank Wilson Do I love you Soul Cresa Watson Salvation Charay Martha Starr sweet temptation Charay Telma Laverne Baby dont you leave me Northern Del-La Four Dynamics Things that a lady aint Peachtree Eddie Billups Ask my heart Peachtree Anderson Brothers I can see him loving you GSF Ronnie McNeir Sitting in my class De-To Willie Tee You're gonna pay some dues Bonatemp Willie Tee I peeped your hole card Gatur Willie Tee Im having so much fun Gatur Willie Tee Please don't go Nola Anthony & Delsonics Every time Emerge Larry Wright Sweet sweet kissed Agogo Joseph Webster My love is so strong Crow Cecil Washington I dont like to lose Prophonics Vickie Labat Got to keep hanging on Shagg Eric Mercury Lonely girl Sac Hank Hodge Eye for an eye Eye Dennis Edwards Johnny on the spot International Soulville Donna King Take me home Hot Line Sonatas Going on down the road Hot Line Benny Harper My prayer Harper Soul King George I need you Audio Arts Volumes Aint gonna give you up Karen Sam Ward Sister lee Groove City Norma Jenkins Airplane song Maltese Roy Roberts So much in love Sugar Vanguards Good time bad times Lamp Lynn Vernado Wash & wear love Gator Lynn Vernado Second hand love Yumie Gene Toones What more do you want Simco The saints Ill let you slide Wigwam Tempos Ill never forget Diamond Jim Mini Stokes & Spyder Turner Get yourself together Sound of Soul Just Brothers Carlena Garrison Lonnie Russ Say girl Kerwood Joe Hicks I gotta be free AGC Phonetics Just a boys dream Trudel Brand New Faces Brand new faces Lujuna Melvin Davis Find a quiet place Wheel City Bob & Fred Ill be on my way Big Mack Jay Bee Praying for an answer Thunderbolt Johnny Barnes Nothing without your love Jab Flirtations Stronger than her love Festival Bernard Drake Ive been untrue La Louisianne George Hobson Let it be real Sound City Lil Lavair Ill be so happy Lenann Terri Goodnight They didnt know Phelectron Mr. Lucky Born to love you Stardom Patti Young Head and Shoulders Ernstrat Tamala Lewis You wont say nothing Marton Eddie Foster I never knew In Satans Breed Road runner Jenges Harry Moon Womans man Jenges/Sin Just Brothers Sliced tomatoes Lupine Differences Five minutes Mon’ca Masquaraders How La Beat Patrinell Staten Little love affair Sepia Joni Wilson Losers seat Volt Antellects Love slave Flodavieur Sweets satisfy me baby Soul Town Eddie Hughes Soul searcher Bard Out of Sights For the rest of my life Saru Milton Parker Women like it harder Closet Inspirations Your wish is my command Midas Ernie Johnson I cant stand the pain Artco Little Willie Johnson Loneliness Vandellas Candi Staton Now you've got the upper hand Unity Primers How does it grab you Hale Softiques Bashfull Sheldon Jokers Soul sound Skofield Billy Prophet What can I do Sue Joe Jama My life Optimum Herman Lewis Who's kissing you tonight Stone Blue Limelights Dont leave my baby Uncle Charles Mintz Running back Uplook Ron Baxter This is it Ole 9 Grey Imprint Do you get the message Clear Hill Silhouettes Not me baby Goodway Moments Baby I want you Hog Soul Incorporated My proposal Coconut Groove Montclairs Hey you Arch Six Pack Midnight brew Trip Universal Montiques Take another look Lamp The Contessa I need you baby Las Bar Joseph Moore I still cant get you Marvlus Little Al Lonely days of my life Shell Little Ron & Esquires I found someone Charade E Rodney Jones R&B time Charisma Hytones You dont even know my name Southern Artists Martha Starr Love is the only solution Thelma Ty Karim Lighten up baby Car-a-mel Ty Karim You just don't know Romark Intensions She needs somebody USA Voltaires Movin movin on Bacone Volumes Ive never been so in love Garu Nat T Jones Moving forward Wilshire/Goliath Oliver Joy Keep love growing Big Deal Ernest Mosley Stubborn Heart La Cindy Locations Mr diamond man Ron Paul Matt Lucas You better go go Karen Celebrities I choose you baby Boss Pamela Beaty Talking eyes Tip Soul Bros Inc Pyramid Golden Eye Thee Midnighters You're gonna make me cry Whittier Tiaras Foolish girl Opart Eddie Whitehead Just your fool Black Jack Lil Major Williams Girl Williams III Tut Sutton I can feel the tears USA Betty Wilson Im yours Dayco Patty Stokes Good girl Mir-a-don Gene Woodbury Ever again Del Val Fabulous Jades Come on and live Rika Jades Lucky fellow Mode Wendell Watts Kiss a good thing goodbye Reforee Webs Dont hurt me baby Dynamic Topics Have your fun Dream Keith Curtis I got to keep you baby Smoke Barbara Jean Why weren't you there Big Hit Noble & Uptights Dont worry about it Action Little Joe Romans When you're lonesome Tuff Royal Imperials This heart of mine Mellow Town Richard Caiton Reflections Up Tight Royal Robins Something about you TruGloTown Gail Nevels Taking my mind off love Star Track/Dottys Notations Trying my best to find her Tad Parisians Twinkle twinkle little star Demon Hot Antiques Go for yourself La Salle John Leach Put that woman down Lawn Prince Ella Baby sugar I love you Prince JoAnn Courcy I got the power Twirl Johnny Honeycutt Im coming over Triode Flash McKinley Ill rescue you Bombay Don & Ron Im so sorry White Cliff Minnie Jones Shadow of a memory Sugar Jimmy Mack My world is on fire Palmer Nat Hall Why Loop Willie Mason Why KaLaMa Dusty Wilson Its gonna be a tragedy Mutt TSU Tornadoes A thousand wonders Ovide Modern Soul Trio You're no good Youngstown Purple Mundi Stop hurting me baby Cat Eddie Rey Ive got something of value True Soul Johnny Rodgers Make a change Amon Charles Holiday Dont lie Playboy John Wesley Loves such a funny thing Melic Stormie Wynters Life saver Mercury Appreciations Its better to cry Sport Appreciations I cant hide it Aware Jades Im where its at Nite Life JT Rhythm All I want is you Palmer Troy Dodds Try my love El Camino Little Nicky Soul I wanted to tell you Shee Eddie Parker But if you must go Mico Sidney Barnes I hurt on the other side Blue Cat Eddie Daniels Is he better than me Boots Ster-phonics If you dont do right Enjoy Bobby Rich Theres a girl somewhere for you Sambea Clarence Reid Carry on Reid Kings of Soul Is your love for me Down to Earth Betty Lou & Bobby Adams Dr. True love Tar-x Lovers Without a doubt Frantic Universals Diamonds and pearls Cooking Jimmy Delphs Dancing a hole in the world Carla Eula Cooper Let our love grow higher Super Sound Paulette Love you baby Contact Charlene & Soul Serenaders Can you win Paradox/Volt Ascots Another day Mir A Don Charles brandy I cant get enough Blue Cat Capitals Cant deny that I love you Omen Lynn Terry I got a good thing goin’ La Salle Turbines We got to start over Cenco Fred & Turbins Bernadine Cenco Allison & Calvin Turner Everytime Im near you LuLu Two Plus Two Im sure Velgo Lou Ragland I travel alone Amy Venturas Heart of love Greenlight Vickie Baines Country girl Parkway Lou Pride Your love is fading Semi Paul Kelly Its my baby Lloyd Twans I cant see him again dade Pee Wee Shuck & Huey Beside myself Flagg Betty Fikes Prove it to me Southbound Scott Three Running wild March Vivian Carol Oh yeah yeah yeah Merben Soul Brothers Inc Teardrops Salem Masquaders Thats the same thing Soultown Soul Shakers You're turning Terri De Sandi Sheldon You’re gonna make me love you Okeh Carpets I just cant win ViJ Tony Hestor Watch yourself Giant Charles Smith Come and see me Music World Eddie Smith I didnt realise Mellotone Dave Charles Aint gonna cry no more Donnie Summits Ill be over United International Adams Apples Dont take it out on this world Brunswick Karmello Brooks Tell me baby Milestone Tiaras Loves made a connection Seton Grambling College Marching Band Harlem rumble Spontaneous Arts Frank Foster Harlem Rumble Top Level Nomads Somethings bad Mo-Groov Rotations Put a dime on D9 Frantic Moments Hey boy Deep Smith Brothers There can be a better way Soul Dimension Conquistadors Cant stop loving you Act IV Soul Communicators Those lonely nights Fee bee Precious Three I need a man Reforee Little Tony & Hawks Give me your sweet love Etah Superbs Wind in my sails Dore Al Gardner Sweet baby Sepia Trey Js I found it all in you Tee Gem Little Eddie Taylor I had a good time Peacock James Lately Love friends and money Temple Fabulous Performers One little kiss Blackjack Informers Baby set me free Blackjack Barbara Acklin Im not mad anymore Special Agent Appointments Keep away Redd Coach Chandlers Your love makes me lonely Col Soul Gerri Hall Who can i run to Hot Line Delreys Incorporated Destination unknown Tampete Carol Anderson Taking my mind off love Whip Oscar Perry Face reality Feron Ellusions You didnt have to leave Lamon Othello Robertson So in love Baby Luv Tobi Lark Sweep it out in the shed Topper Cal green Ill give you just a little more time Filmtown Sugar Boy Free man Shades Martells Where can my baby be A La Carte James Bell The love of my girl PRP Chuck Flamingo Whats my chances Rojac Gentlemen Four You cant keep a good man down Wand Chico Lamarr What do you think I am Fuller Underground Express A man’s temptation UGE Exits Another sundown in watts Kapp Tropics Hey you little girl Topic Virginia Blakly Let nobody love you MoJo Mamie P Galore No right to cry Sack Agents Trouble Liberty Bell Mal Adams Since man began Emerge Tootsie Rollers Give me love Me-o People’s Choice Savin my lovin for you Palmer Lenny Vestel Its paradise Sanla Celeste Hardie You're gone Reynolds Gambrells You better move Carla Sam Moore Give you plenty of lovin Atlantic Hank Hodge One way love Eye Otis Lee Hard road to hoe Quaint Reatha Reese Only lies Dot Johnny James Tell you about my girl Circle M Four Tracks Like my love for you Mandingo Edith Brown You did it 4 Brothers Billy Thompson Black eyed girl Columbus Sammy Lee What goes around Promco George Pepp The feeling is real Coleman El Corols Band Chick chick Tiny The Devils Love and understanding Cuca Benny Sigler Who you gonna turn to Phil La of Soul Penetrations Champagne Terri De Johnny Mae Mathews I have no choice Big Hit Oracles I aint got time OM Waymond Hall What will tomorrow bring Jamal King Sound Interpreters Hi note Talent of Music Calvin Grayson Love just begun In Inmates This is the day Kopit Stormy I wont stop to cry Twilight Clay Brown Everybodys talking Aljon Jackie Day Naughty boy Phelectron Tommy Turner Lazy Elbam Little Johnny Hamilton Oh how I love you Dore West Coast Distributors Girl Jam Cha Ritchie Adams I cant escape from you Congress Bob & Gene I really really love you MoDo Kell Osborne Small things Newbag Decisions Do I love her York Kenard What did you gain Dore Hyperions Why do you wanna treat me like you do Chattahoochee Kelly & Soul Explosions Talking about my baby’s love DynaMite Idols Check her out USA Sound Masters Lonely lonely Julet Inverts Time will change Broadway Duke Browner Crying over you Impact Herb Ward Strange Change Argo Gloria & T-Airas Im satisfied Betty Talmadge Armstrong Gigi Spindletop Freddie Butler Save your love for me Wheelsville Jock Mitchell Not a chance in a million Impact Clarence Townsend I found a love Clara Hopkins Bros. Shake Cheri Magnetik Buddy Conner When you’re alone Breakthrough Monique If you love me Maurci Carl Underwood Aint you lying Merging Honey & the Bees Be yourself Academy Sonny Parker What can I do Hitts Re-Vels I want a new love Trent Town Chryslers & Monarchs Band Im not gonna lose you JE Don Hart Turn back Mary Jane James Dockery My faith in you is all gone Soul Craft Rotations A changed man Frantic Passionettes I'm not in love with you anymore Soul Burst Belita Woods Magic corner Karen Startones Lovin’ you baby Billie Fran Four Sights Love is a hurting game Shy Soul Betty Lloyd Im catching on BSC Moses Dillard Ill pay the price Mark V Constellations I dont know about you Gemini Star Court Davis Try to think East Coast George Lemons Fascinating girl Gold Soul Limitations Im lonely Im troubled Bacone Shirley Johnson Too big to cry Lashawn Eddie Campbell Contagious love Artco Bernard Smith Gotta be a reason Groove Cleveland Robinson Jr. Love is a trap Nosnibor Cynthia & Imaginations Why weren't you there Blue Rock Traditions On fire Artco Big Bo & 4ms Ive got to go Gay Shel Chandlers Your love keeps drawing me closer Bleu Rose Bruce Cloud I wish Motif Mighty Lovers Aint gonna run no more Soulhawk Vivian Copeland Chaos D’Oro Rita Dacosta Dont bring me down Pandora Timmy Carr Workin’ Kee Andy Fisher My hearts beating stronger Fat Fish Prince Paul In the beginning Parker Elbie Parker Please keep away from me Veep Dynamics Im a lonely man Dyna Changing Scene You cant destroy my love Jo-Vee-Jo Fiery Spartans Talk about love Charay Wade Flemons Two of a kind Ramsel Trends Thanks for a little lovin' ABC Flint Emeralds Just like a baby Gateway Blue Jays Point of view Jay

THE 100 CLUB….. 40 YEARS ON The 100 club allnighter celebrates its 40th anniversary in September, which makes it, by some distance, the longest running allnighter. In the greater scheme of things Northern, this is a unique milestone and for many of the northern soul fraternity, the allnighter has a legendary & iconic status, for some, go further, and see it as a national treasure! For those that have not ever visited, it’s situated in London’s famous Oxford street and is a compact, no frills basement club with a capacity of 350. It could be described as grubby, quirky, dark and very hot, but has loads of character and atmosphere. There are two bars at either ends of the dance floor, but only one is usually open. In true ‘northern’ fashion, the toilets are grim, but nowhere near as bad as the infamous Wigan bogs. One big factor in its favour is that it is a proper club, a perfect fit for the 6ts rhythm and soul brand. It all began in the late 7ts, as Ady Croasdell explains: “Original London mod and soul fan Randy Cozens and I had been attending occasional London Northern Soul dances in the late 70s. By late 1978, one of these - OBJs at the Prince Of Wales in Hammersmith on a Wednesday evening - became very popular, with DJ Terry Davis playing a mix of Northern and old mod, club soul. When it closed there was a sense of loss over such a remarkable night. I knew of a perfect venue at the Bedford Head on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden and teamed with Randy to run a dance there on Saturday Aug 17th 1979 with DJs Ian Clark, Terry Davis, Tony Ellis, Barry Quinell, Tony Rounce and Randy. People travelled from Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire, North Wales, the South Coast and Market Harborough - the DJs excelled playing a selection of classic and under-played 60s club soul that had largely been ignored in the Northern Soul clubs for many years. A good portion of young mod revivalists had their eyes opened. The 6TS was up and away. After successful nights in Covent Garden, West Hampstead and a handful of one-offs in London’s West End the 6TS settled at the 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street starting on Friday 20th February 1981. The monthly newsletters we wrote and posted to members along with Clarkie’s latest flyers, really helped establish the club and give a sense of togetherness. Randy retired from promoting but stayed an influential DJ and enthusiast. After a few months of Friday night dances, we were told a regular club was taking over and we had to leave. I then proposed Saturday all-nighters after the jazz club had finished at 1am - a chance for the guvnor to double his takings! On October 24th of that year we had our first 100 Club all-nighter. The club classics continued, particularly in the early part of the evening, but inevitably the all-nighter attracted night owls from across the country, many of whom I and the DJs knew from around the Northern Soul scene. There was a split among the DJs over the music policy with some feeling the R&B side didn’t fit in with the Northern; a recently revived point of view! As the nights progressed the tempo upped and with the addition of Mick Smith, Pete Widdison, Roger Stewart and myself to the roster, by mid ‘82 we were a full-blown Northern Soul all-nighter”. Keb Darge has his own unique recollection about that period: “I moved to London in February 1979 and very quickly hooked up with the 6t’s crowd. I went to their nights, if I wasn’t at Wigan or the Clifton Hall. I did used to hang around grumbling at the lack of proper northern being played so me and Mick Smith started a pure northern night in the West Hampstead Country Club in the summer of 79. Some of the 6t’s crowd came, but not many, as they felt themselves above the northern thing. We therefore filled up with curious mods. When the first 100 club all nighter was announced I felt sure we would get more northern, but again hung around most of the night with some other exiled Wigan-going Scots, grumbling and pestering the DJ’s. I remember clear as day towards the end of the night Mick Smith saying on the mic ‘what the fuck is wrong with northern anyway’, he then played Lennis Guess “just ask me”. What followed was a rush to the floor by seven wild jocks and a throng of young mods standing around jaws on the floor watching the fancy dancing. From then on these young mods wanted more. I took a load of them up to Wigan on a coach not long after and guaranteed myself a much larger team of DJ pesterers, asking for northern at subsequent London nights. Eventually, in 1983, Ady gave in and said to me, if you want northern you play it yourself and gave me a regular spot at the 100 club” Ian Clark is a dj who is synonymous with the 6TS story and he sums up his own experience: “40 years is a long time....who would have ever thought it would last the decades.....thanks to the likes of us, intelligent djing..and some crackin tunes, we all did it justice. So many fond moments, too many great tunes...so what does one say....its very very emotional...we were all in the right place at the right time. Ady and Randy had the vision and opportunity to find a cracking venue...100 oxford street and riding high on the apt. mod revival, more youngsters were into soul, a great group of soul friends were picked as djs and it worked. Ady created a magical world beneath London’s most famous street and folks loved it. It became a mecca for all soul fans from all over the world. It is one club that has flown the flag for soul music as high as the Mecca, Wigan and so many others. It bucked the trends to survive many obstacles and was fuelled by Ady’s luck and sterling work at kent records. That first lp. crackin cover by the way, was a turning point for us all, great fun, great music, great friends and it has given immense pleasure to millions....and the best music ever made. I do miss it and one 45 stands out, capturing the club atmosphere, Spooners Crowd, two in the morning on Cadet...it takes you there! With love and sincere thanks to Ady..... Clarky, the man in red spexs”. A DJ that crops up a lot when telling the story of the Rhythm & Soul phenomenon is Mick Smith, the proprietor of the famous record list, MJ records and UK collector extraordinaire. A Northern soul fan since the early days and a reputation for unearthing very rare British soul 45s. I first ran into Mick in the record bar at Wigan Casino, where he was selling records next to Pete Widdison. I soon found out that he loved to take the piss out of young and gullible collectors, but as the years passed he became a warm and likeable friend. I spent twenty unforgettable years DJing with Mick, something ill never forget and found him to have a real passion and love for the scene and the music. He always seemed to have a deputy with him when he was selling his records. Firstly it was Taffy and then later Pete Hulat, two top blokes that I’m pleased to call mates. Mick told me that “the longevity of the 100 Club imo is down to Ady, especially when he started getting the unreleased stuff via Kent and also getting butch on board playing the super rare records & C/Us. That’s what keeps people coming back because they can hear records that no other venues are playing. Just like the old days, when we travelled to hear exclusive sounds that only one club had. The 100 club gave me a chance to play some underplayed Oldies and reactivate some things like, Vicky Labatt-got to keep hangin’ on, the Differences-five minutes and Walter Wilson- love keeps me crying. I also procured a great unknown seventies record from John Anderson, at Soul Bowl and covered it up as Eric Lomax, which took off Nationally after its first airing at the 100 club. Later to be uncovered as Lil Major Williams and now a major spin by most top jocks”. During the early 8ts, Roger Stewart was added to the DJ roster, with Dave Greet and Taffy joining a year later. By 1988, Keb was getting divorced and selling his collection, so he dropped out and recommended butch as his replacement. Val Palmer, the first female DJ at the club, was enlisted at about the same time. By the time the 9ts arrived the DJ lineup had unraveled to include: Ady, Mick Smith, Ian Clarke, butch, Val, Irish Greg & Shifty. As the years passed by, Ian, Val, Irish Greg and Shifty retired and following the millennium Keith Money, Joel Maslin and Tomas Mcgrath joined the spinners. I should not forget to mention the many guest DJs who have fulfilled their dreams and ambitions to get behind the sacred decks and spin their top tunes (too many to mention) At its inception, to gain entrance, you needed a membership, which after a number of cock-ups, was eventually phased out. By now the membership would have reached an estimated 35,000 if it had been kept in place. The club has been run almost single-handed by ADY CROASDELL, who decided the musical direction it should go in by selecting DJs who could support him in that journey. The 7ts DJing tradition of unearthing and breaking decent new sounds is maintained, played along side Oldies, with a smattering of c/u’s to keep the crowd guessing. Ady principally cites the longevity of the allnighter to his excellent relationship with former owner, Roger Horton and currently his son Jeff. Ady says very little is planned; he plays it by ear and lets nature take its course! Of course we all know that’s absolutely true, as he can be slightly disorganised but in actual fact, Ady is a great ambassador for the club and most of the regulars look up to him with warmth, affection and respect. At the beginning of the night, he is usually to be found at the entrance, greeting clubbers with a smile and a handshake. He is also a pioneer DJ. who has introduced many wonderful new discoveries over the years and since the mid 8ts, he has worked for Ace, Kent, as their compiler of soul & RnB product. As far as possible, Ady hasn't let the 6ts night fall into an Oldies night, even when on the occasion crowd numbers have waned. The music policy has always been to break new sounds and to keep the night interesting and fresh. Oldies are routinely played, but not predominately. He has recently been joined in partnership with Matt Bolton, a young curator, who has plenty of energy and clubbing know-how and between them aim to push the event into the next decade. Matt recently made this point to me, that in a world of instant access to music, that after 40 years, the club still offers us something to genuinely travel for; quality records that can heard literally nowhere else in the world. Many of the club’s regulars are slightly younger than your average NS club-goer and have shared values of what to expect at a typical 100 club nighter. They are an extremely knowledgeable crowd and can be exceptionally receptive to records that are ‘going big’ at their club. The 100 club doesn't suit everyone who makes the visit: many aficionados and connoisseurs from an earlier time on the Scene have been to see if it measures up to their strict definitions of a Northern night and many have left, been sadly disappointed. They have probably been somewhat right in their judgement, the 100 club isn't like other clubs in Britain, it has its own bias and sets its own course. I remember Ian Taffy Guy referring to the allnighter, as ‘our thing’ Between 1982 and 1986 the 100 club ran along side the now famous Stafford allnighter and during that period was regularly supported by the Scottish soul clan, a chapter of the British 6ts mafia, a dedicated and enthusiastic group, who thought nothing of travelling the 800 mile round trip each week to listen to their favourite records of the day. Now that’s what i call dedication! I also must mention the bouncers used specifically for the allnighter and for over twenty years Winston looked after any issues that might arise. Such a likeable and friendly chap, kept a low profile until really needed and over the years became just one of the crowd. During one night he had to eject some drunken lad, who wasn't too pleased getting thrown out and who came back with a sword to take some revenge. Winston with all his coolness and experience managed to convince the wannabe swordsman to ‘leave it out’ and go home to nurse his hangover. After Winston retired, at least another three of the regular bouncers used were just as much interested in the music as the regular punters, coming over to the decks to enquire and make notes about the current sounds getting played. For many years, not really bouncers, but more security, we had ‘backdoor Kenny’ and Jim Eddlestone. When I think back over the years of the niters, a few things that happened still make me chuckle, like when Gaz Kellett DJ'd with a homemade cyberman helmet on his head; when Betty Lavette's breast popped out while singing live, when Barbara Acklin came over to perform at the Xmas party; her voice was so shot Ady waited until midnight for her to sing, when all the punters were pissed and then they all came up and said how great her singing was. I also remember Pete Lawson getting barred for 3 months, but he still turned up each month and sat in the back mews car park chatting to anyone who popped out to see him. And when Kitch, driving the Notts crowd down in a minibus, decided it was a good idea to knock down the bus stop outside the 100 club. Additionally, one night a couple of quest DJs had a particularly bad time behind the decks, when they played more of the slip mats than their records. Equally funny and strange was what became known as the ‘dirty protest’ when someone had a crap, in the corridor, outside the women’s toilet! The anniversary night in September, which is usually well over prescribed, is an all-ticket affair. Customarily on entrance, each ticket holder is given a unique anniversary 45 record, usually with two previously unreleased northern tunes. By the time the anniversary night is over, these records become instant collectors items, commanding quite a wedge. In the early days of the allnighter anniversary, unbelievably these singles weren't that sought after and many of the clubbers left them on the tables as they left; hard to imagine these days. During the 1990s there was a healthy augmentation from overseas soul visitors, mainly from Europe, but also from Japan, USA and Australia. Some of these soul-pilgrims enjoyed the experience that much, they decided to stay and now have become part of the 100 club furniture, such as Yann & Kim Vatiste, Cristina Naggar, Philippe Breauvais, Etsu Kinoshita, Adriana Ventura, Emmanuel Guerit, Bettina Lauk, Paul Duffy, Paul Davis, Lisa Wolverson and Andy Newman who flies in from Guernsey every month. One such piece of furniture, Naoko Omasa, from Japan, reflects: “in 1993, i moved from Osaka to London to study art. During my first few months in the city, i was looking for a club with a Mod feel, as i had studied the British fashion and music scene. We came across a place in Soho, called the Wag, where Keb was playing Funk & Northern. I was immediately lured into the Northern sound and Keb suggested that i check out the 100 club, as they specialised in that genre. At first i was overwhelmed by the dancers and the music, but after a few visits and because of the friendly atmosphere I eventually felt I was part of it all. Northern Soul has a very strong following in the Kansai area of Japan, which sprung up around the millennium and some of the most enthusiastic disciples have made trips to Britain to sample the renowned venues, almost all wanting to dance in the Oxford street basement. Over the last 15 years, the DJs at the 100 club have included more Modern soul into their spots, which hasn't always gone down well with some of the clientele, but personally, it’s just up my street. When I'm feeling stressed, slightly down, or just in the mood for a proper dance, i usually head off to the 100 club allnighter to take my soul medicine- the place that for me, opened the door to soul music”. Although the regular attenders are by far the most important component of the 100 club soul events, in passing we can mention the celebrities that have had a taste of the sweaty shindig; Billy Jackson, Ronnie McNeir, Bobby Patterson, P P Arnold, Shane McGowan from the Pogues ran the cloakroom and frequented regularly. Paul Weller, Cook & Jones from the Sex Pistols. Roisin Murphy and Sharleen Spiteri were regulars. One of the Gallaghers from Oasis came down, Liam I think. Andy Kershaw and Mark Lamarr. Mainly pop stars, half of whom I didn't know. Ady reckons he kicked out George Michael for being a prat with a water pistol and made Van Morrison & his minder go to the back of the queue to get into the dressing room to see Doris Troy. One night, I remember Bobby Patterson turning up out of the blue and agreeing to sing a few of his songs. So the DJs stopped for a while and Bobby got stuck into a few of his Jetstar classics, ‘my baby’s coming back to me’ ‘what a wonderful night for love’ ‘i'm in love with you’ etc. beautifully serenading us even without a backing band. What a talent! On to the records, one of the main reasons that the club has sustained itself. Most people who have frequented the event, will have some fond memories of the following 100 club records (and many others) Maxine Brown - It's Torture, Melba Moore - Magic Touch, Carla Thomas - I’ll Never Stop Loving You, Bobby Kline - Say Something Nice To Me, Jesse James - Love Is Alright, Sharon Scott - Lock And Key, Chuck Jackson - Whats With This Loneliness, Johnnny Maestro - I’M Stepping Out, Mayfield Singers - Dont Start None, Royal Esquires - Ain’T Gonna Run, Moments - Baby I Want You, Walter & Admirations - Man O Man, Antellects - Love Slave, Parliaments - This Is My Rainy Day, San Francisco Tko’S - Make Up Your Mind, Kurt Harris - Emperor Of My Baby’S Heart, Nancy Wilcox - Gamblers Blues, Little Nicky Soul - I Wanted To Tell You, Timi Yuro - It’ll Never Be Over For Me, Lil Major Williams - Girl You're So Sweet, Paramount Four - Sorry Ain’T The Word, Saints - Ill Let You Slide, Ben E King - Getting To Me, Luther Ingram - Baby Don’t You Weep, Hytones - Good News, Ruby - Feminine Ingenuity, Peggy Gaines - When The Boy That You Love, Sensations - Demanding Man, Proffs - Look At Me, Sammy Ambrose - Dreamsville, Esther Phillips - Just Say Goodbye, Magicians - Faith And Understanding, Mr Lucky - Born To Love You, Willie Kendricks & Nancy Wilcox - She’ll Be Leaving You, New Wanderers - Aint Gonna Do You No Harm, Appreciations - It’S Better To Cry, Robert Tanner - Sweet Memories, Patrinell Staten - Little Love Affair, Jesse Davis - Gonna Hang On In Their Girl, Harvey Averne Dozen - Never Learned To Dance, Unique Blend - Yes I'm In Love, Metros - Ooh It Hurts Me, Imperial C’S - Someone Tell Her, Barons Of Soul - You Need Love, Lorraine Chandler - You Only Live Twice, Charmaines - I Idolise You, Gerri Granger Why Can't It Be Tonight, Hank Hodge - Eye For An Eye, Oc Tolbert - You Got Me Turned Around, Arthur Willis - The Hurting Is Over, Diane Lewis - You Aint Got A Chance, Mixed Feelings - Sha La La, Lee Mckinney - I’ll Keep Holding On, Jimmy Andrews - Big City Playboy, Darrow Fletcher - Love Is My Secret Weapon, Peggy Woods - Love Is Gonna Get You, Springers - Nothings Too Good For My Baby, Annabelle Fox - Lonely Girl, Ebonies - You Got Want I Want, Bobby Rich - There’s A Girl Somewhere For Me, Tommy Knight - Don't Bring Back Memories. Etc. Etc. One memorable and exciting music find for the 100 club in 9ts, was when Ady negotiated with RCA to dig into their back-catalog for unreleased soul records and then unleashed some magnificent examples of Northern, whipping the dancers into a frenzy. Johnny Beggs, former Torch DJ (and my co-driver to the 100 club for over 12 years) recollects: “one hot night down in the 100 club basement ...so Ady says..’we just bought a load of unissued RCA stuff and i’ve got a cassette of it if you wanna listen to it’?  We say yes. So four of us, (myself, Butch, Dean Anderson and Ady) slipped out of the back entrance of a sweaty, seedy, packed night club in the middle of London, into the dark back alley, squeeze into my 2.8 injection ford capri and listen to some unissued RCA material for the first time ever! It blew us all away! Priceless memories! Incidentally...i still have the cassette…” One of my good & close friends from the Northern scene, Dave Peers (Campo) was a regular at the 100 club during the 1990s and makes the following insightful observations: “The 100 club seemed more of a secret scene tucked away underneath  Oxford St. - most people didn’t know about it or that we were there - it was like you needed to be given the nod. Being once a month it was more of an occasion. From the ashes of the Casino the embers still flickered on at Stafford but I felt my fire was only really ignited again at the 100 club. Part of the fun is in the journey; the drive down Oxford St. which is great for people watching & London gives it that extra buzz. It was not in traditional Northern soul land - times had changed , this was a new exciting venue run by a fan for the fans - I felt it was that new beginning I’d been waiting for -the scene sucked me right back in. It didn’t seem to be a business just to make money out of you. It wasn’t like the typical dance hall environment that I d been used to eg. Casino / Mecca establishments, so had a very different “club” feel - much more like Yate than any other all nighter. As it was small you felt part of it all, where at the Casino you only felt part of your spot where your mates sat or the record bar. It was much easier to meet and get to know the crowd as the numbers were so much smaller and the atmosphere was enhanced as it was underground. It was small and intimate - you got the feeling that the people who went, were the cream de la creme; there was no room for that joe 90 style crowd. It was  friendly with an accepting but discerning older crowd who wouldn't put up with any crap sounds or dodgy DJs  - even had a female DJ which made it more contemporary. The d j line up for me was way ahead and ambitious - there was life after Searling after all - no old DJ s who used to play the ....or the .... I liked the DJs doing s double sets, great for introducing new sounds. That Casino style dress uniform had gone - thank god. Having a smaller dance floor worked well to build up the reputation of new sounds - sometimes there weren’t many dancing , but that was ok as it wasn’t as obvious like those infamous Casino floor clearers.  What did I miss about the old casino days - no balcony for people watching! The clapping I remembered so well had largely petered out - the acoustics of the Casino gave some records that extra edged and turbo power. The toilets in the 100 club were def. not as scary. For me the Casino was all about the “atmosphere” the 100 Club was about style and substance”. Tim Ashibende, luminary of the NS scene, writes of the 100 club: “When I think of the 100 Club, the first thing which comes to mind is the word ‘Subterannean’! From about the age of 12 or 13 onwards, for several years, like many many other 70’s teenagers, I regularly frequented a ‘Youth Club’, a long forgotten phenomenon now, and seemingly a completely alien concept to today’s cyber-focussed youth. But back then it was almost a right of passage. On Friday nights all activities centred around an archetypal wooden hut, within whose timber walls was the ever present 70’s Youth Club fixture, the table tennis table! While waiting for your turn, the older lads would command the small knackered Dansette record player to treat us to the likes of ‘Rescue Me’ ‘My Guy’ ‘Young gifted and black’ ‘Sweet Soul music’ Black Pearl’ ‘Walking up a one way street’ ‘I spy for the FBI’ and a host of other Motown, Reggae, Ska. Sunday night was the night though, coz on Sunday, as an incentive to go to the church there, the youth leaders would allow a couple of hours in the club room in the cellar under the church, after church service, where the older teenagers went to. No more Youth Club ‘light’, this was the real deal, where the real action was. On walking down the stairs the first thing you’d see were all the walls painted brightly in metre high arty graffiti, with words which made no sense to me back then; Catacombs’ ‘Twisted Wheel’ etc. Those words  may have made no sense to me, but the music certainly did. That’s where later, I first heard ‘Free for all’ Skiing in the snow’ ‘Queen of fools’ ‘Love love love’ Doris Troy, Scrub Board, Mitch Ryder, Major Lance, etc etc. That’s where it all began for me; this incredible musical journey, lifestyle, and roller coaster ride which I’m still on. Many years, many niters, and many 1000’s of great records later, I had feelings of ‘deja vu’ every time I visited the 100 Club. That same feeling of “this is how it should be”; underground music in a dingy atmospheric underground club, underneath a big city. Normal people above overground, and soul music lovers doin their thing below those City streets, oblivious to the mundane humdrum goings on above them in the metropolis. The 100 Club for me, has always had that claustrophobic, sweaty, 60’s throwback club, atmospheric vibe, which you know is gonna yield up some awesome tune you never heard before, and which will never sound the same again, as in that musical dungeon. I loved Wigan, and that huge ballroom venue format, but uniquely, the 100 Club has always had that intimate, 60’s ghetto ‘Speakeasy’ club feel to it, which reconciles so well with our music. So so many great records have been pioneered, played and broken there, but one abiding memory is sitting near the bar with Butch, and suddenly hearing Ian Clark for the first time play an unknown covered up as Eddie Banks. It was ‘Goose pimples everywhere’ time; reason being it was the first time we’d had the pleasure of hearing what turned out to be the Springers, ‘Nothings too good for my baby’….awesome. A few years before that, It was only when I visited the 100 Club one time, that I realised that on the other side of my Soul Bowl ‘pound special’ ‘TCB’ lurked the beautiful ‘Say something nice to me’, brought to the attention of the masses, (and me) by Mick Smith, via its humble beginnings at the 100 Club. A universal Northern anthem now, but to me it will always have a ‘100 Club’ association. There can be no better venue on the planet for hearing Lorraine Chandler’s ‘You only live twice’ for the first time. The unbelievable synchronicity between the dimly lit, subculture venue that the 100 Club is, and the echoey ‘recorded in a subway’ sound of that iconic James Bond’ish Northern powerhouse was really something to experience. For me there will always be something magical about the memory of hearing my best buddy Butch play the ‘Just Brothers’ Go on and laugh’ ; a fantastic ‘one off’ mysterious soul record played in an appropriately mystical iconic unique music club. Finally, when I see the 100 Club in my minds eye, I see the characters, legends and friends who always typified it for me, especially in the early days, Ady of course, Mick Smith, Ian Clark, Pete Widd, Roger Stewart, Pete Crampton, Eddie Hubbard, Tony Smith, Duncan Morris, etc etc; so many. Not forgetting the dance floor either; Keb’s classic northern dance floor athleticism, and Ion, lurching, always precariously backwards, to the audio mayhem of the Mello Souls or similar. These and many more, are just a few of the many ‘Subterranean Soul’ experiences which contribute to my memories of visits to the 100 Club”. Elaine Constantine, the globally recognised photographer & director of the film, Northern Soul, with her creative edge gives us her slant on 100 clubbing: “I often spot a first-timer entering the doorway that brings you immediately onto a dark and packed out dance floor. It’s like watching yourself enter all over again for the very first time.  You see people almost fall in. They're trying desperately to recognise some music while re-setting their eyes’ ability to see. Barely in before they’re faced with a Kaleidoscope of murky, sweat-covered faces that emerge and retreat quickly through weak sporadic shafts of light. Is it possible to stay? Stay dry, or stand still. Will I remain intact?  My first time… I was working for the Face magazine in the 90’s.This was an assignment, not a night out. I thought I could just go in there, get some good photographs, then leave, a one off visit, put it behind me. I had left the all-nighter scene in the 80’s since becoming a photographer and moving to London.  I know now that when I entered it must have been Butch or Ady playing as I didn’t recognise at least half records but they sounded good, new discoveries, great to hear, and that cheer and enthusiasm that I thought had gone away since I’d stopped going to these things up north was there again. That was a lovely thing to hear after the years away and experiencing other types of clubs. I snapped away with my camera, trying to distill the atmosphere but my flash was killing it. I almost expected it when a bloke tapped me on the shoulder, ‘We don’t like that here’… ‘We’re not bothered’… Okay, I thought, fair enough, so I stopped for a while and sat on the edge of the stage taking it all in and trying to work out if I had enough images in the can or should try for more.  I’m not really sure what happened next but a track I knew came on. ‘You left me’ by The Admirations. I got up and my legs were moving around before I’d even had chance to think through that I was not an observer anymore, I was a partaker.  Several tracks later, the guy tapped me on the shoulder again. ‘I didn’t realise', he said. He must of meant, ‘one of us'. I nodded back to him but I was in another place. I was becoming more and more focused along with the rest of the floor. Little did I know, but  I was subconsciously hooked in again and wouldn’t be able to leave it alone. I got chatting to a group of people near the stage who were into their dancing and they were very welcoming. We became friends and I still see some of them down there these days on a regular basis.  When I finally ventured through that dance-floor I emerged literally right in front of a pretty impressive record bar. No corny merchandise on sale like you see elsewhere. Not a night-owl key ring or a beer mat in sight. Just tapes/cd’s and records and hoards of blokes shuffling at speed through boxes of vinyl, some with torches dangling from their mouths.  I still don’t know what happened that night to make a difference but I knew I’d found a second home. I went along to other all-nighters again and had many great experiences, they certainly sometimes felt more welcoming and didn’t give you that sensory overload the second you are through the door like the 100 club did.  Maybe it’s down to Ady’s music policy coupled with and the fact it’s just so bloody dark, it gives all these die-hards the opportunity to simply enjoying the music and dance without being on show which is quite liberating, especially since the age of social media.  I know there’s nowhere else quite like it. It’s kept me coming back. I met my husband on the dance floor there and many of my closest friends, so it’s not going to be easy to get away now even if I wanted to”.   Currently, one of the younger members of the DJ team is Joel Maslin, an enthusiastic soul lover and general all round great lad, who on many occasions since starting to DJ, has gone without a decent meal, having spent his hard earned wages on vinyl instead of buying groceries! He describes how he got into the 100 club tendency: “As a younger member of the 6t’s family my path to the club was through the early 2000’s mod scene. We’d heard talk of the nighters through word of mouth - often spoken of in revered tones - so this made the prospect of our first trip down there all the more exciting. Some familiar faces we’d begun to see regularly from the mod scene around Gerrard / Wardour Street asked us to join them ‘over the road’ at a 100 Club allnighter. Part of the Allnighter’s allure for me was not only the underground, slightly forbidding reputation it had but the fact it started at 1:30am - which felt like a real taste of ‘backstreet’ London nightlife. Only having heard a very limited amount of rare/northern soul at the time our first visit was a mind blower - I can vividly remember hearing the strains of Luther Ingram’s ‘Baby Don’t You Weep’ as we barrelled down the stairs into a dark, sweaty, heaving atmosphere. It was that same dark basement vibe coupled with those first experiences of knock out sounds such as the Charmaines, Martha Starr, Brooks Brothers and so on (all of which i’m pretty sure we were treated to on that first visit) that instantly sealed it for us as THE club to frequent. I remember also being desperate for the following date to come around so I could hear those same sounds and more, and we quickly signed up to be proud card carrying 6t’s members (another element of the night that gave it an exclusive, alluring feel). Subsequent visits found us dodging the spinning and back dropping moves of the regular dancers as we made our way to ‘mod corner’, but it wasn’t long before all that seemed to matter to us were these incredible new exclusive sounds…fresh to our ears…. hard rhythm and soul records… powerhouse northern… our first real taste of rare forgotten late 70’s soul… and of course a whole new vibe for us to digest - crossover. After that musical box of tricks had been opened we visited as many times as possible, and quickly became immersed trying to listen to as many new sounds as we could. In doing so we also found that the club’s initially tough exterior faded away and we were soon being greeted by regulars of all ages and quickly forged what has turned out to be long lasting and great friendships. We’d already begun tentatively collecting original records, but this now seemed to take on a whole new sense of purpose and meaning - to say we began an obsessive relationship with soul records at this point would be an understatement! It was quite some years before I was asked to guest DJ at the Allnighter, and I was of course hugely flattered and nervous on a whole new level. I’d never intended to regularly DJ but was always happy to oblige if kindly asked by friends. I’d been busily collating all the best sounds I could afford that pals had turned me onto… a varied mix of the various styles of soul music our scene encompasses. I was very lucky to be put onto some fabulous music by some of the most knowledgeable people through the club, and still am - something i hope never comes to an end! To then be asked by Ady to join the 6t's gang as a permanent member a short while later was of course a huge honour. It’s been a real pleasure to DJ for such a discerning and welcoming crowd”. John Kerr, from Shrewsbury, was a regular at many venues in the 7ts, Wigan, Whitchurch etc. and returned to the scene in 2005, after which he hasn’t missed many 100 club nights. John reflects on his comeback: “Like numerous soul fans I was aware of the 100 club, Ady Croasdell and Kent records for many years. Northern all-nighters in London were not on my musical agenda at the time of my first visit in 2002. I reluctantly accompanied friends (who where regular attendees in the late 80’s and early 90’s) after a night out. Not expecting to, I really enjoyed the night. It was busy, and the atmosphere felt quite intense but had a happy, good- humoured vibe. I wasn’t that focused on the music I didn’t know, of which there was a lot. A lasting impression of that first night was how many rare oldies were played one after the other and how good they sounded (Mick Smith spots I guess). My friends all left after a couple of hours, I stayed until the end and was so pleased I’d been persuaded to go. It was meant to be just a one off visit – but the seeds were sown! In 2005 I made half a dozen visits. That year I was attending a few other venues including some wonderful bank holiday all-dayers at the Orwell in Wigan. I mention this because the connection was one D.J. in particular (Butch) who I’d heard at these other venues but I just knew I had to hear him at his residency at the 100 Club. At the start of the year I knew virtually nothing on his playlist. As the year progressed I heard so many wonderful records from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s and put together so well. Also importantly here was someone applying quality control and that had excellent taste. My first contact was at the decks asking the usual record trivia questions, I found him very generous with information and genuinely interested in any comments. This was to lead to further discussions and recommendations. He soon became a good friend. The excitement of those first few visits convinced me that this was where I needed to be. From 2006 the 100 club became my priority over all the other events. Opening times were still 1:30 - 8:00am and usually a full house. I got to know more and more people so it became very sociable. I got to know the D.J.’s and their sets and learned so much. Anticipation was always a factor and still today and it’s my number one venue, I hate to miss it. I still make new friends and miss old ones. We still get to hear so much good music, always something new. I can spend much of the night in discussion about music, the collective knowledge is tremendous. I’m proud to wear the badge of a regular! Through all the twists and turns, licensing issues, low numbers in, closer threats etc. Ady Croasdell has kept the faith. Thanks Ady. I remind myself often not to take it for granted. The 40th anniversary is a great reminder of the continued effort from Ady and the team that allows us to all come together and share in something special once a month or so. Not every time is a classic or the best night you’ve ever been to. However attending as often as possible supports the club and does mean when the best nights happen you’re there!! I’m always glad I made the effort. The nights usually fly by and I’m sorry to leave. The long journey home gives me plenty of time for reflection and of course to start building up a little anticipation for the next time”. Another recent regular at the club is Jack Gadsden, one of the younger posse who frequent the night: “I remember my first visit to the 100 club quite vividly. It was the December 2018 allnighter and as I walked down the steps I heard the thumping bass of Soul Incorporated - My Proposal, through the doors as I walked down the stairs. The first thing which gripped me was the atmosphere, seeing a sea of people dancing under the low light. I quickly met other young people, had a great night and stumbled out at 6am in anticipation for the next. As I’ve attended more and more allnighters across the country, the 100 club still feels like my ‘home ground’. The consistent high quality in music, especially the presence of new sounds makes it a standout event in my calendar. Being able to hear beat ballads and mid-tempo throughout the night is a breath of fresh air. I now regularly try to bring other young people from various other subcultures to introduce them to the music and every time they leave wanting more.  The 100 club is certainly iconic and long may it continue”. On a personal level, Ive now spent over half of my life attending the 100 club; it almost feels like a second home. Although not every night has been a corker, most have been well worth the 160 mile drive. I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have made some very close and first-rate friends there. Over my 30 years, the regular crowd has changed many times and that can mean friends that you've made over some years, sadly suddenly disappear to do other things. But there are two upsides to that: making new friends as a new patrons begin to become regulars and when out of the blue, an old friend pops back into the club again after a long spell away. Musically, no one can deny it’s been an enduring upfront venue, where many great new Northern records have been aired and I will always have top notch memories of its wonderful contribution. The 100 club is still a thriving northern soul hub, but eventually as all events do, it finally closes its doors for the last time, I like many others will be gutted, just as we were after Wigan closed. And as Ian Clark predicts, that’s when this venue goes into NS history as an iconic club along side illustrious names such as the wheel, the Torch, Wigan, the Mecca etc. Butch September 2019.