Zed1

Careful now Guys..... We don't want to ruin everyones preconcieived stereotypes by talking about "Wigan" and "Modern" in the same sentence........

'A Change is Gonna Come' Sam Cook.......

Only if we continue our discussion about the relative merits of each of the Casino years... Went to the old sink a few times - but sundays are now 'Grandad Day' for me....

Intersting Sharon....... Only real problem I had was having a bag nicked by (sadly again) one of our locals - but like yourself could not prove it, however I think it could be said that our thefts could be 'related' - so to speak. TBH I never saw (or heard) anything about parents turning up to 'reclaim' their kids, but it does beg the question - I wonder how we as parents would react 'today' with something similar I wonder?..

If I've miss-quoted you in any way then I apologise, however it was difficult to read your post below any other way even allowing for Sharons previous post. Just a few other points - from a different perspective.... Now this was the period I went (77-80) so that makes us all a bunch of Scallys who just went to Wigan to rob a few bags, buy some of Russ's CC's and a few 'Do I Love You' Boots off Sousan, then get dragged home by our Mums for being very naughty Boys - and made to write out 100 times 'I will not dress up in comedy trousers and go to Wigan Casino'.... and of course before I went (pre-77) every single person was a 100% rare soul lover who only went to Wigan to buy each other Brews and compare record collections..... Now of course I'm not saying you're refering to me personally in your above statement - but I think you can understand why I (and others) get a little pissed off when we keep being told how bad it was when we were there........ I'm sure if I said all the above about your time in 74 you would be just as pissed!.. As said previous - there seems to be this 'need' with certain people that whenever the 'W' word is mentioned they ALWAYS have to finish any comment with "Wigan Was Shit After ........." (insert year or reason of your choice) even though this wasn't the original question, why this is I dont know - but I just get a little fed up of people completely re-writing a great period for many of us.......

TBH thats a very fair comment, my only gripe is that whenever Russ is on any Media source whatsoever he ALWAYS has to mention (and Play) Frank Wilson...... But Russ - there was more to 8 years of one of the best Nothern Soul venues ever than 'Do I Love You', this track has now passed on - it is no more - it has ceased to be - it's expired and gone to meet it's maker - this is a 'late' record - it's a stiff!, bereft of life it rests in peace - this is an 'EX' Northern soul Record!!"........ *Appologies to Monty Pyphon*

Of course it's very subjective in as much as whatever period 'we' went is always going to be 'the Best', but..... Some of us may have not been there at 'The Beginning' but the Music from this period was a feature of the latter years which we all heard via the main room/M's/Friday oldies nights. however if you stopped going in say 78 because it "Was Shit" you would have missed the stuff that came after - ie 79 onwards - ie the playlists that everyone has posted about, ie The original thread Question (79-81) The Music, The Jocks, the Punters were always going to change over an 8 year period - some of these changes were for the good - others less so, but to simply write off a 3-4 year period as "Shit" is a little sweeping in the extreme just because of a preferance for one year over another.... All of course IMHO..

A little random Sharon, but..... Ever seen/heard anything from/about Neil Mercer?...... Bumped into most of the old crowd over the years, but never Neil?....

Very Rare (play wise) 'Bella-Dellena' The Markettes Slowest instro ever!...

What about some well used 'phrases' to go on the above fidelity tape recorder........ "Stop Pushing at the Back!" "Oh Fook - it's the Squad"........ followed by gulping type noises "Got any chewy Mate?" "Some twats nicked me bag" "Course I've got a ticket Mr Conductor..... honest" "They're my girlfriends sliming pills - Officer!....... Fat cow asked me to mind them for her"

We've ALL been guilty of that.... sadly. The Soul scene summed up in one sketch..... https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AIMzWHdKxPY&...feature=related

Think I'd be P.S.S.S.S.D off with that name though?

Agreed Harry.... Even 30 years on they would still make a decent spot........ inc the covers

And don't forget..... Please note the above MUST be an Original German officer core Pistol and not one of those Cheap Russian copies... Is that a Luger in your pocket Mr S/S man or are you pleased to see me?...

A "Soul Snob" IMHO are SOME of the OVO lot, ie those who have the attitude "If you can't afford it you CANT hear it!"... The same people who would happily subscribe to a OV 'Hit Squad' of specialy sworn in stormtroopers going around the country in an open-top 4 seater Mercedes 'raiding' venues to check DJ's record boxes for boots, Carvers, pressings or 2nd issue's (1'st issue's are Ok if the night is free to get in) Imagine being are your local Soul Nite when........ The music stops, the lights go on, and a guy in a long leather coat and jack boots grabs the microphone and announces.... "Good Evening, My name in SS Groupenfurher Schmitd ov ze OV Hit squad - ZIS IS A RAID. please place any and all recorded material on ze tables in front you for inspection by my officers, Escape is impossible - for you ze Soul nite is over" ..... at which point the doors burst open and in walk a couple of the above stormtroopers with two specially trained Sniffer dogs who can tell the difference between Vinyl, Acetate, Styrene and plastic...... The next days event report would read....... Another great night at 'Local Soul', numbers were a little down this month, however two guest DJ's were arrested by the 'OVO hit squad' and their record boxes sent away for forensic examination - two further DJ's were shot while trying to escape through the toilet window, Next of kin have been informed.

Seem to recall people saying the same when the first Crossover and modern tracks appeared 30+ years ago........ Don't shoot the messenger by the way - it's just an observation

Beautifully put Barry... The above post should be made 'sticky' me thinks.....

Spooky.... Stuck in tonight as my Wife's working so thought I would dig out an old record box from our Wigan days to have a look-see what I'd got..... Some of this Vinyl hasn't seen the light of day for 30 years and I'd forgot she'd wrote Lots of "youthfull" stuff over the sleeves - which made me giggle, was less impressed with the fact she'd wrote on the labels as well...

Apologies not necessary Barry - as I know 'exactly' what you mean.... It's interesting - and perhaps a little sad that I had to think twice about starting this thread as past experiance leads me to believe that whenever the 'W' word is mentioned it doesn't take long before the usual "Wigan was crap after '......' (insert year or reason of your choice) type reply is posted - even though this has little or nothing to do with the original thread question, for Eg this thread managed just 4 posts before the 'usual' reply... Why people feel they need to do this is beyond me (Ok rhetorical question) but you never seem to see this about any other venue........ We both know the Casino had it's problems, but these were a few VERY small flies in an otherwise VERY large jar of fantastic ointment - so why do these people always concentrate on these 'few' negatives?... Such is forum life, sadly...

Come On Barry - you know the rules - whenever anyone posts ANY replies to a Wigan type thread they always have finish by saying what year it went crap - even if this had nothing whatsoever to do with the original question. For Eg..... Question: Hi, Was there a shop selling Northern Soul Clothing at Wigan Casino?. Answer: Yes there was a small stall selling Spencers bags..... However the quality of the material in these trousers went crap after 1978. Question: Hi, Was there a Cafe inside the Casino?. Answer: Yes there was a small Cafe selling refreshments......... however the meat content of the pies went right down after 1976, also in this year Mike Walker bought a job lot of cheap plastic cups from Simon Sousan which went all soft when hot, causing you to spill your beverage all over your newly aquired Spencer trousers from the above stall. Question: Was Wigan Casino ever on the TV?. Answer: Yes, In a TV documentary series called 'This England'......... However Granada TV stopped being a credible broadcaster after 1978 when the Freddie 'Parrot Faced' Davies show was axed from it's prime time slot....

I'd go along with that....

I'm perhaps just one of the Foot soldiers Barry mentions - so like any Soldier I'm more bothered whats 'in' the orders I recieve rather than the fomat they come 'on'...

Cheers Garv....... You've confirmed a story I was told a few years ago (I was reminded of it the other day) but as this was just before I started going I didn't know if was true or not. Interestingly they also used the same words as you, ie "everyone voted 'No' but they just took the cash regardless".. Some things never change..

A little random perhaps, but....... Was there ever a Vote (show of hands) at Wigan to decide if they should let the cameras in to Film the above?..

Trouble is though you can end up smoking 60 a night!..