Zed1

Pure Quality where ever it was played....

.... another proper 110mph Dancer.

Proper Norven' Soul....

Fab Choice Ste.

Proper Dancer...

Was that the Pick & Mix shop on Bank Quay Station Ste?...

Massive floor filling tracks they may have been but to most on the scene today they may as well be the Rarest of the Rare given most clueless Jocks just focus on the same old few tracks whenever Station Rd is mentioned.

Lynn, Eddie, Kim and You Ste. Can't put names to the others?.

It's interesting that at the time I never really gave the condition of Station Rd much thought, Most Public buildings and Pubs of the time were pretty much all ageing Victorian buildings anyway. It was all a very long time ago and we were all very different people in a very different age. I must admit though that sometimes I look around today's Venue's and see all these Fat old pensioners sat around large tables overflowing with Drink and think 'Northern Soul - Where did it all go Wrong?'..... Hmmmm..... Sound s like a good idea for an Adidas bag Patch.

We're good Ste. Trust you are all Ok. Stickers probably worth more than our cars now Ste!.

C'mon Ste, anyone knows the Casino was a piss soaked Shithole that only played Pop Music...... any of the 14.5 million people who said they went will tell you that.

Exactly. Dj's just think 'Oh, it's a Wigan Casino nite so I'll just play the usual and everyone's happy'. Then the next DJ just's take the lazy option and does exactly the same. I don't bother with them anymore as most are just Parody theme nights, Stick a Nite Owl on your Flyer, play FW and Presto, it's 1977 all over again.

Went to a Wigan Anniversary Night around 10+ years ago, Big name Venue, Big Name promoter, Big name 'original' DJ's, so though we might get some of the lesser known Station Rd stuff played.... First 'Big Name' DJ of the nite played the usual MVP's, Dana Vallery, Frank Wilson etc. 2nd Big name turned up 5 minutes before his spot and played the MVP's, Dana Vallery and Frank Wilson etc, 3rd DJ turned up 5 minutes before his spot and played MVP's, Dana Vallery and Frank Wilson etc. 4th DJ turned up and ..... well .... you've Guessed it. Sadly we were on a coach trip and we weren't getting picked up 'till 2.30am so we fooked off to the pub over the road to watch MOTD.

Horses for Courses. Doubtless The DJ doesn't give a toss about playing these boots because his punters don't give a fook either.

....... and a disposable income and an ebay account does NOT make you a DJ.

Don't buy this 'Just do what you wan't' ballocks Sorry. It's Northern Soul so have a bit of respect and at least try and do a Northern Soul Dance like countless thousands of others have done down the years. There REALLY is no excuse, even a half pi55ed Giraffe in Diving boots with four left feet could learn a rudimentary 2-Step Novern' dance in ten minutes. FFS there is enough Youtube vids on the subject to watch. If I turned up at the next Niter and started Pogoing around gobbing at everyone would that be 'Ok' because Hey!, I've payed my money so I'm 'Doing my own thing'?.......

The original title was 'A Youth culture left in the hands of old men'. And much of the scene today is the exact Result of that, ie a scene run by and aimed at the over 50's, VERY loosely based around a few dozen Northern Soul Records. As long as you hand your cash over at the door & the bar and perhaps massage the DJ's ego a little with a round of applause at the end of his spot for his stunning ability to play the exact same tracks in the exact same order as he's done every month for the last two years, then does anyone really give a fook?. The interesting irony for me is that the scene has turned into the very thing I joined it to get away from in the first place.

In a strange way though wasn't that part of the attraction Chalky?. That little bit of risk, trying that unknown, travelling to places you'd never been to late at night on Public transport, in other words doing what the youth of countless generations have done and take risks to go against the accepted Norms. Now I'm not suggesting that at every soul night you should get a good kickin' and have your bag nicked. But the VERY sanitised, touchy-feely, Keep the Faith, it's a Way of Life ballocks that is the scene of today could do with a bit of 'edge'. This might then be reflected in the Music.

Canoe!!.... you must have been posh Ste, we only had an Old inner-tube from a ford Anglia. Was an amazing day out Ste. Not really the Nautical type but I could quite easily get used to that. Sadly my Wallet will only stretch to your aforementioned Canoe though.

Was very lucky to spend the Bank Holiday with some freinds of ours on their Yacht. Some pic's from our trip around Conway Bay, Puffin Island and Lunch moored off Anglesey.

An old bloke Dancing indoors wearing a Hat & Braces along with and old dear in a Circle Skirt...... now where have I seen that before?.

I doubt very much anyone would trust this old man with the scene anyway Ste....... I'd probably forget where I'd put it!!. Trust you and your's are good Bud?.