TheBigO

Epitome of sound - I once introduced it whilst DJing in one of my more 'you really aren't thinking are you' moments as the Eppytome of sound DOH!!!!!

I am subscribing to that ago old ethos of this wonderful scene of ours - namely the cover-up! I however now no longer cover my head in old newspaper or white sticky labels with THEBIGO written in biro in it

TOOOOON! LOVE this Ady and another quality ditty from the Spinners which I must now hear the full version of The Detroit well isn't run dry yet!

The Calm Before The Storm Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

For me it was Frankie Valli 'You Ready Now' which I got from Taffy on both US and UK issues and thought I was the Bees Knees! To this day it still remains in my all time top 5 records, class dancer.

Soul Bowl packs were legendary and SteveG as always is spot on when he says they were full of the stuff at the time that the majority weren't interested in because they were too slow etc (the shit box as my frinds used to say of my packs when they'd arrive!) That said the front page focus was also fantastic and I got a shed load of great toons from there at the time including both Timeless Legend and Storm for under a £10! I'll have to go thru the reams of old lists in the attic (god knows why I kept them!) to confirm but Soul Bowl was the man as far as we were concerned. On a footnote; it took John several years to work out why he'd get phone calls at 6am and earlier from people like me with his list in hand desperate to get their sweaty hands on the toons listed before the majority of collectors called - thus was the joy of having a fellow collector/dancer who worked in Stevenage Sorting Office and who'd call me at 5am to go through the latest Soul Bowl list!!! Great days.

Thanks viphitman that Thunder & Lightning has just gone on my hunt down at all costs list- TOON! SimonM, quality as always.

Bettys latest cd 'Betty Wright & The Roots - The Movie' should be in everyones box as every tracks a masterclass in soulful loveliness. Not been off the Oppegaards CD player since its release.

Well put Chalky, for what it's worth Lou dropped me a mail asking best way to contact DJs and radio shows etc and I pointed him in this direction. He also asked about a vinyl release for the toons which I said 7" would be best so hopefully we will get that in 2012. I see no problem in his plugging it here to the very people most likely to buy it. The tracks are great and well worth the money, I'm sure this is dealt with on another forum, so go check it out. Btw, when did Dave Godin masquerade as Jimmy McFarland? I'll get my coat......

Well I spent NYE in my bed from 4pm, where I still am now, feeling and looking like crap due to infection! I have checked out Joolz on iplayer and have to agree with everyone that's it's the best one yet. Betty was class, Cyndi was fantastic and a real eyeopener for me but Ruby Turner just sent me over the edge, utter magic! All the other other acts were fantastic and Joolz got a perfect balance yet again. Fantastic! I have always applauded him for his showcasing of lesser known acts and there is no doubting his love and joy for musical talent, so a huge pat on the back to Mr Holland and pass the neurofene for me. Happy New Year!,

Everything these guys put out is superb and for picky aging soul lovers like us beautifully packaged with superb linear notes and rare photos etc. Along with Kent my fave reissue specialists, check out their trading cards! The lovely Mrs O has this under the xmas tree for me (thanks Derek at Beatin Rhythm) and cant wait for Santa to let me rip it open, wahoo!!! Do yourselves a favour and get all their eccentric soul releases.

Ah Daves Modern set brings back memories of being sat in the main hall, grooving on Booker Newbury III 'Love Town', for almost the entire nighter before realising the sixties room was upstairs with all the Letchworth crew who'd failed to tell me and Rob Kearney about it!!! We were begining to think TOTW was a tad Modern biased! Having said that we did REALLY get into the Modern after that, Ronnie Loveman Stokes - TOON!,,,,,

Chalky, superb mate! Brings back happy memories of TOTW allnighters and all the toons are class, much like Dave T's tash and permed hair combo back then!!! Funny how time changes perceptions; back then I can vividly recall getting grief from some sections for our support of Sixties Newies and Modern Soul (weren't Guy & Keb banned from DJing at some venues??) and an article headed Stafford - Playground For The Pompous underlined that battle for the heart of the scene. Fast forward 20+ years and a look at the tracklistings above prove who won that battle. Keep up the good work, as we all know there were 100's of sounds broken at Stafford every night!

Very sad news, spent much of my early youth throwing myself around dancefloors to many of his toons, OOTF will always remind me of great times, great people and great clubs. RIP Dobie, thanks for the memories

Tough one but a great R&B toon, dont know if Manship still has one up for grabs as he did say it had gone missing when i asked him about it a few years back. Good luck in the hunt

Oi Tony, was this during your 'Eddie Shoestring' phase??? LOL is that Tommy from Bedford on the far right too?

I'm in the process of uploading all my old pics etc to the laptop and the reams of articles and magazines i collected over the years on the scene etc etc so expect some pics after September posted here

Great little venue and have fond memories of when Bucky and Sue were running it, loads of Modern and a good vibe! Anyone remember the night when it all kicked off with the Manchester United football fans, they went mental and it was a full scale riot going on as we were grooving upstairs - told to stay behind the doors by the old bill, just as he trunched some guy over the head! My wife and I used to go and then pop into the fetish allmighters across London at the time to promote out fetish wear business, most of which jane was wearing at the venue each time! I can still see Jons grinning face even now lol

Hmmm I am guessing this is either my stunning dancing throughout the Leciester anniversary vid or Morecombe Pier dance com where I vanish in a cloud of talc only to have my arms and legs poke through like the cartton fights on Tom & Jerry - either way do you still have it on file Mike???

One of the very best of the 80's and one we lot never missed if we could help it!! Toon wise - it has to be Lenny Welch on Big Apple 'You Picked A Fine Time' and 7th Wonder ' Shes My Girl' - packed the floor every time and along with Moody & The Deltas they were THE anthems. Lets not forget the starlight room either; many happy memories with Wullie et all grooving in there as the sun came up and fried you!!!! One day I''l post all the stories I have about getting to that venue along with some of the more interesting moments too

One last thing, who remembers the night of the bomb scare when we all had to evacuate the building and mid way down the stairs the Rockin' Rev Clayton announced that the DS would be waiting and searching bags etc....cue a mass exodus back up the stairs and into the toilets to adjust oneself before strolling out the door. I remember Rob Kearney didnt sleep for almost a week!!!! Hmmmm. And all to the Rev's choice soundtrack Blowing My Mind To pieces - now THATS entertainment!!!!

That last pic is Sam Grey, part of the Letchworth crew and we there there in force that night for what was another great night. Agree with all the above who said that the 80's were a great time for the scene with so many great venues and toons being spun on an almost daily basis (ah the 6Ts Mafia)and more modern than you could shake a stick gracing the decks! TOTW (which I well recall being attacked by many in the mags etc as a playground for the pompous - funny how things/views change with time, the mighty Morecombe Pier; 100 Club; the Oddfellows; RSG - the list is endless! Sadly so many good friends on that video that are no longer with us. I remember the night well as i left my then, and now Ex, wife in a hospital bed recovering from a punctured lung, something which I still feel bad about! When the DVD dropped through my door I bunked off work and watched it 10 times, not only for my many moments of glory, but for the fact that it captured all that was great about the venue, the people and the scene. Great days/nights!

Nuts! Ok lyrics will do, but pretty ceertain its the one, also isnt he the guy from SHA NA NA, the band featured in that soulful movie 'Grease'?