Barry

I used to play the Hithouse version at Bradford Queens Hall - it was sampled by the Cleveland City label (Wolverhampton) in the early 90's on the house scene, which was a shock to hear as it was quite banging but a very clever use of the guitar. It wsan't fetching that big money then - but the next time I saw it was at Pwythelli Weekender in Sams box, marked up at £50.

My blonde moment Dave, not yours.

Hi Simon, thanks for the wlecome. I know mate, just stimulating a little conversation that's all, each to their own and all that.

Nothing yet fella!

This brings about a question for me - an age old one, and no doubt one that has been discussed here many times - the question is, 'How much difference is there between a danceable 1964 soul track and a 1965 track?' The progression of black music, like any other has to be so subtle, state to state, year on year, as to be un-noticeable, surely. If you like something from '64, you'll no doubt like something from '65, then from '66....and so on. I'm playing devils advocate here a little - but I do feel for people that have a cut off point in soulful black music, wherever that point may be. Apart from a few Lowtons I haven't been out in ages, so I suppose I'm in a minority here. Is the music still so vociferously argued over as it was in the 70's, 80's and 90's?

Paul Hawkins mate?

Nice one.

I was bidding on the Timeless Legend but after reading this I don't know if I should!??

I agree. I was a kid at the end of the Wigan era but was brought up thinking Northern could be anything from The Deadbeats, Mari Wilson, Cecil Washington, ZZ & Co, The Vibrations, The Seeds, Charles Mann, L Allen, Charlie Gracie, ... whatever, just great black music. Other nights that followed pushed the boundaries of certain area's of underground soul - Stafford, 100's Club, Rotherham, Morecambe, Bradford etc but I was grateful for the grounding I got at Wigan. Fair enough, there was a lot of unrest with the punters re what was being played I suppose, but thank Christ the lads playing the music stuck to their guns - surely no one on this scene isn't grateful for hearing something outside their normal 'soulful sphere' at a nighter.

Ahhh, the petition, got you now. Top right balcony as you looked at the stage wasn't it, near the ladies bogs - and yes, it was a great night, Searling in full flow.

I was never a fan of the official Wigan 'backdrop' patch - looked like a kid had drawn it.

Haha, sorry???

I was there that night too, it was a Scottish flag and I remember Richard saying 'The only good thing about that flag is it's colours!' and laughing (obviously a Spurs quote ). It was unfurled at the beginning of Richards set and I'm sure it was Roy Dawson that he opened with. Northern, although majoritively in it's 70's Modern carnation is alive and well, up and down the country in backrooms to Soulful House events, although mainly played alongside disco and funk. The main reason nighters suffer, obviously, is the age group in attendance - the back rooms of House venues playing soul and disco offer a little more opportunity for youngsters to enjoy soul music with more of their own age group - I think Soulful House rooms can only do the Northern scene good, although I'm sure some would disagree.