Torch56

Catacombs opening night was November 22, 1968, with 'Top Radio 1 DJ' Mike Raven the star attraction. Carl Dene, known in those days as Farmer Karl, joined the roster in December, having been invited to do so because of his Chateau Impney reputation. Despite what was proclaimed in those Blues and Soul adverts, the Cat's rarely closed as late as 2 a.m. and frequently much earlier. Even in its 1973 heyday (post Torch, pre Wigan) proceedings were halted at 1 a.m. leaving an enthusiastic crowd seeking alternative arrangements. I recall being impressed by a group of lads who had travelled from Carlisle one night so hats off to Dave Meikle for making it to the Cat's from Glasgow.

Express and Star, January 26, 1972. Big Dave {Dave Moore] was so called because he was very tall and his name was Dave. The Soul Brothers were literally brothers. This line-up DJ'd at a host of venues in Wolverhampton in the early 70s playing a mix of pop stuff and Soul. You were as likely to hear Slade's latest as you were to hear something like 'Helpless'. The Catacombs had a much more consistent cutting edge playlist, so I was surprised to come across this advert indicating their appearence there. The reference to Cav Regulars refers to the Cavendish Suite which was part of the Victoria Hotel complex. In the late eighties Pep ran monthly soul nights there which were very well attended.

Express and Star, January 26, 1972.

Hilton Park Services provided an alternative venue for punters frustrated by the Catacombs' 1a.m. closing time in mid 1973. With the Torch closed and Wigan yet to open, punters descended on the M6 in numbers to while away the early hours with animated conversation and discatrons before the grey light of dawn pulled them back to the more mundane routines of life.

Sunday morning ritual after the night before. Bob Dryden from Wolverhampton at the back on the left.

Didn't come across any Northern on local radio until Terry Christian on Radio Derby in 1985. Interesting that Merseyside was doing some six years earlier when Liverpool was always supposedly regarded as a bit of a Northern-free zone.

Gary from Brum is the Sheriff of Nottingham look-a-like on the left. Johnny Day and Pete Tilseley in the black shirts, circa '72.

Express and Star, July 6, 1974.

Not a fan of many of their tracks, and some leave me distinctly cold. However, Back in My Arms Again is a glorious exception. Was it played at the Wheel?

Until I read Neil's book I was under the impression that Graham made the one visit to the US and that was in late '72. However, as you know, he said in the book that he 'first' went to the USA in 1971, implying there were other trips after that. When he talks of the big find in Miami, he is not clear about exactly when that was. Was that '71, or later? I suspect later because, as you say, if those records had been discovered in '71 then playlists in '72 would have reflected this, and they don't-until the autumn. From that point onwards many of the listed records were being played at the Cat's and the Torch (until its closure) The only evidence I have for the original Miami find being in late '72 is a memory of a buzz of excitement around the DJ booth and the change in the playlist that occurred at the same time. I don't recall that happening anytime prior to that, or afterwards to the same degree. Ian Levine is definitive that his big haul was in the summer of '73, which fits that time frame. I take your point about the cost of flights at that time, and also take into account Neil Rushton's and Ian Dewhirst's assertions that Graham was going to the States from 1970 onwards. All in all, much of the evidence precludes a100% definitive conclusion. I suppose none of it really matters. All we can say is that it was great to be going to venues in that era and hearing such great sounds, no matter who found them.