harpo1

Bloody hell mate you really said that from the heart , as someone who has known you for many years , I know I can say I have never met anyone who is as passionate about the scene and soul music in general as you, I really mean that . Maybe its time I dipped my toe in the water so to speak once more on the scene , as you probably aware I had my problems in the past with gear but that is behind me now, but still one day at a time . Always enjoy reading your blogs and Sandis come to that and I am aware of all the tittle tattling that goes on on the scene still , maybe see u soon keep in touch Paddy Jennings Paddy old mate, we would love to see you ASAP, we've all been there mate, well me anyway Love ya....Harpo

Just like to say thanks to everyone for the positive response to my comments, hoped i hadn't trod on to many toes, apparently not. Regards Harpo

Cheers paul me old mucker(is that shite enough for ya) Harpo

I have spent 35 years plus loving and embracing our music, and its sub culture, having a ball, and i am over the past 3/4 years finding it as exciting as when i was a young man, while so many others are harbingers of doom as they struggle with what they see as a current downturn. They say that age and experience allows you to have a more measured view of things, and i have over the past months puzzled over certain comments or situations i have encountered, and heres what i have come to see as the answers from my viewpoint. Let me list a few examples. Just back from Prestatyn, it was wonderful to be able to once again listen to the "modern" soul music in packed rooms with full dance floors, it is so sad that in the midlands and north so many great venues have been lost due to lack of support, and a general indifference. There is nothing better than to experience the "whole thing" with dance floor calling to you, and a crowd thatare up for it. All the finest "gear" in the world will never make a "flat" night become a classic on anything other than a personal basis. One particular highlight was on Sunday lunchtime, when having had a frustrating morning twiddling thumbs as my friends wished to take a little breather, leaving me pacing the chalet, or mostly with my head out the bathroom window salivating at the music coming from "the house of soul". Sandi and i finally hit the room when Sam had just 15 mins. left of the final spot. We hit the dance floor, and second record in he drops Ike Strong "Your love keeps me dancing", that record is, as Sam said one of the best 3 dancers ever, and at that moment a good day was gonna become great. The outcome was that Sam did an extra hour playing so many classic and pivotal records, finishing with applause from the crowd that equalled any recieved by the live acts, pure magic my old mate. Yet as i danced to that driving beat, and watched so many others also with such energy and obvious delight, i also noticed many other regulars who were stood off the floor, why, how! i'm thinking this is for me a tune that is a dancers dream, with that little extra thing that makes it so special. Even the wise sages sat around the perimiter pontificating and sharing valued views, such as Dave Thorley, and Cliff, had unmissable wry smiles that said oh yes!. I think to my self, surely these others know this record, what's up?? Then the penny dropped, if you were at Wigan , and the other like venues at that time, you would always remember that of all those wonderful early "modern" classics this one had that little extra drive that made even the most moderate dancers, like myself, step it up. That extra ingredient is what makes certain great records become electric, and that feeling is thick in the air just pure magic, its a long tradition, you only have to think of the likes of "Cool jerk, My little girl, Our love is in the pocket etc.. etc..., with for me the ultimate dancer The Salvadors, i only have to think of that record and the hairs on the back of my neck, arms and head prick up and im buzzing like , well i can think of no better way to explain it, having had black bombers big green and clears, and a generous sprinkling of filon. Today we still see it with those records from the much reviled modern scene, that do cross over to the "northern" scene, Michael Proctor, Bobby Pruitt and Joi Cadwell all have this, and the first time i heard them years ago i felt it. Thinking about it i then realised, that with the crowd assembled from nationwide lovers of "modern" dance and soul we did not all have the same roots, and experiences, although we had all ended up drawn together, rather than a northern/southern soul divide that once existed, its legacy is not only the ridiculous and rightly maligned term "Northern", it is a lead boot that has hung on to the scene, 30 years too long, like "soul bags" Thinking about it i then realised why much loved and revered records, have at times left me cold, the likes of Loose ends "Dangling on a string" and so many others from those 80's weekenders and the like leave me flat, not great records, coming from where i did. We learn from our experiences, and i did not experience that scene, its only due to there being less big influencial venues, and ease of transport that we have melded together, as lovers of soul and dance music, there are so so many records i missed at the time that i have become aware of, while others i cant see, but its a personal thing, and we cant like 'em all. We from the northern scene finally embraced the weekender an idea that at first was so alien it seemed stupid, why have a room we are out every weekend, with regularlly the journey and those you met on the way being even more enjoyable than the night, and the thought that it would lead to loads of piss heads turning up, staggering around and being asses was another major factor, this wonderful, yet if we are honest elitist scene of ours, would never suffer fools, and i suppose thats why we are still here, but we have become better by embracing the music, and most of my peers will not think for a second of using the chalet for any other reason than to get changed, and to keep the weekend going while the breaks in the music take place. Thinking about this im pleased with my personal reasoning and im sure i will be more understanding, and by understanding but not embracing those others itll make it even better from now on, heres to another 35 years. I'll finish however with a counter- point to the above mentioned events, as during the weekender i had an experience that left me in amazment. No names mentioned, but during a spot by a dj i was previously unaware of, he was playing great records, but several people were saying he was saying he would play requests but not doing so, ok that didn't bother me, as the tunes were good, when you so often go out and listen to what you see as shite! Eventually i asked him for a record, he said he didn't have that one by the artiste but did have another, one that again was a fave of mine from that early "special" period, yes please i said. I've dj'd a bit over the years, and i find that when you have one or two people who obviously like what you are playing and must therfore have taste, it adds to your confidence, knowing that you can use them to get more people off their asses...GREAT!! He then pulls up another record,"you want me to play that" he said, "yes that would be great" i reply, he turns to me then and says, "you dont even know what it is, do ya". I was stunned not offended that he implied i didn't know it, more by the attitude, i'd never met him before, or heard of him, and i'm sure he was the same with regard to me, if i'd not knew the tune i would have said so, and if the roles were reversed possibly played it for him to hear, or at least said it was worth listening to in the future, as the dj if you can give just one person some new knowlege it is job done, as much as it is to get dancers up, not see people who seek you out as just a nuisance, or am i getting it wrog!! Oh yes!! the record, well it was Bessie Banks "Dont you worry baby, best is yet to come", where i come from that is a classic record, even more revered as being the last record played at Blackpool Mecca, a sort of Dean Parrish "i'm on my way" with many, many knobs on. Now harking back to my earlier references, i would assume that everyone knew and loved that tune, one of the "Crown jewell's", as i like to call them. Mate, i hope you will realise like me from this, if you even remember the incident, the scene is held together by its legendary, friendly image, embrace your peers, dont go out thinking you know better than those lot, and if im honest your spots later in the weekend did seem much better, and it flowed, perhaps you were having a bad 'un, next time kick the fuckin' cat not me!!! Thanks to you all Harpo

PETE SMITH

Also used to get the minibus there to the Wigan oldies nights in '79. A red Ford Transit with an tailgate type back door, driven by Paul O'Neil, who used to charge £2 return. Yes i can remember several of our lot from Ashma and Wolvo getting a lift in there one oldies.....we were im afraid a bit OTT for the regular liftee's, and thought it best to not put on them again, as our exceses and off the box ways left the lads a bit agog to say the least I know its about 30 years late but sorry for that

Right as promised a playlist from the days of the Wheatsheaf, this is just some of the tunes i recall playing at times there, and rather than duplicate previous lists relating to the Cavendish/Cleveland etc...i've tried to cover other stuff i was playing at the time Harpo Bobby Sheen "Something new to do" Bobby Smith "Walk on into my heart" Sam Dees "Lonley for you baby" Tommy Fontera "You're my leading lady" Roy Roberts "Got to have your love" Irene and the Scotts "I'm stuck on you baby" Spyder Turner "I got to get myself together" Monroe Taylor "Proud guy" Jack Montgomery "Don't turn your back on me" Maurice and the Radiants "Baby you got it" Johnny Guitar Watson "I ain't gonna move" 21st Century "Shadow of a memory" Shadows "My love is gone" Strides "I can get along without your love" Garnet Mimms "Prove it to me" Gene Chandler "Bet you never thought" Scotty Williams "Fear" Kris Peterson "Just as much" Lollipops "Loving good feeling" Tobi Lark "Challenge my love" Theres a few to go at....others will hopefully add their lists

Here's a picture from 75'ish, about 11 years after the earlier one of me and Pete Smith on our hols. at Weston Super Mare.

Ibought mine off Sam one Saturday lunch time in the Vic. on the bus going home it somehow got in the wars, and cracked it two thirds of the way around the final run in groove, you could push the label part right up, really wierd, never quite figured out how id done it. Yes it was Bell Sound stamped. Ihave seen a couple of the counterfeit ones one priced as a proper one, the other in a mates box didn't question his purchase, other than to say it was different to the one i'd had, at the time i didnt know the copys existed so i asumed he was buying the real deal, it appears not! It did finally bite the dust along with a few others inc, Luther Ingram w demo Ivorys Inspirations Your wish deon jackson thats what you do and cant go on demos roy hamilton shook me up Lee Andrews Ive had it issue and a couple more i cant recall after a domestic with my ex led to her slinging my play box out the back door cest la vie!