Shirleys review of monkey-23 August 03
DMSC - 23RD August 03
Final Bank Holiday weekend of a hot, hot Summer. Col & I had
decided to go to The Drunken Monkey Soul Club extravaganza. So we
reserved a room at the Springfield Hotel in Wales and booked our train
tickets to Wales in good time to take advantage of the cheaper fares.
Of course the weekend of the Monkey was also the last Bank Holiday
weekend of the summer so it goes without saying that our soulful soiree
was not going to be totally uneventful. Sure enough Rail Track
announced plans for essential repair work to be carried out at least
inconvenience to them, oops sorry I mean the fare paying passenger. No
matter we would make our way there come hell or high water. As it
turned out we didn’t have to confront either hell (though it felt hot
enough) or high water.
On arrival in Flint we took a taxi to the
Springfield Hotel, our driver turned out not to be Welsh but an “Essex”
girl who many years ago, came for the summer season, met and married a
local boy and put down roots blah blah blah, oh no we’d got a “talker”
(this is an essential taxi driver job requirement, without it you’re
just a chauffeur;-))))) and then on coming across a “build up of
traffic” (two cars were waiting at the red traffic lights) she decided
to take an alternate route, now call me a cynic, (those who already
know me call me other things as well ;-))))) but do others always feel
as though they’re going to pay more than the locals would when in a
taxi in a strange town) we learnt about her many grandchildren, her
favourite drinking spot and how the Springfield Hotel was pricey, well
it would be compared to the social club she had already pointed out to
us as her local (seemingly most of her in-laws were on the committee)
the Springfield used to put on well known “live artistes” such as “that
bloke from Stars in Your Eyes” Finally the Springfield was there in
front of us, reluctantly I got out as by now I felt I’d made a new
friend, I almost felt like exchanging phone numbers so we could keep up
with all the “goss”. We paid the (reasonable as it turned out) fare and
bid each other a pleasant Saturday evening.
Well I don’t know how Tracy
the taxi’s (well we were in Wales) evening went but I know from past
experience that we were more than guaranteed a more than pleasant
evening with the DMSC boys & girls. Mike Hughes and Steve Thomas
were as usual setting up with the help of the sound boys Ed & Dave.
Andy Rix & Rob Thomas weren’t doing their regular spot tonight, on
their jollies I think, so the DJ line up was Chic, Steve Thomas, Robbo,
& Mike Hughes. Mick H also did a set although I hadn’t realised he
was one of the guest DJ’s, Col previously mentioned Mick was on his
jollies so it was a more than pleasant surprise when he showed up
almost straight from the airport to his spot in fact just re-reading
his playlist now I would say that for me it was an unexpected bonus, as
Mick played a few “new to me” toons. No-one played anything other than
excellent, something for everyone spots. The dancefloor soon became
somewhere to claim your territory, which was hard work for me as I was
trying to keep track (no pun intended) of each DJ’s sets plus I wanted
to strut my funky stuff down there on that dancefloor, but the good
stuff just kept on coming, stuff like Moses Smith, The Tropics, Ritchie
Adams, Duke Browner, Bill Bush, The Volumes, Isonics, Houston Outlaws,
The Appointments, The Nurons (can you see my dilemma now?) When I did
decide to take a breather from dancing and write down a few of the
toons , well you all know what it’s like, it took me a while to
remember what the last play was let alone the fifth one back. Next time
I’ll take my pen & pad to the dancefloor, of course this would only
really useful if you can multi-task, as I’m a girlie that shouldn’t be
a problem, all I need now is full and complete knowledge of all the
records any soul DJ is ever likely to play and I’ve cracked it ;-)))))
Considering how many other soul nights and all-nighters were on this
weekend there was a good size crowd
in, some of whom were non soulies from the wedding reception being held
in another room in the hotel. The “wedding” room was why there was no
second DMSC room tonight. This normally being the place to hear
funk/modern/r’n’b/progressive/connoisseurs…….., in other words anything
that is usually played in the “other” room of a two roomed venue ;-))))
Anyway these curious non-soulies popped in liked what they heard and
stayed – always a good sign. Turned out they were really up for it, -
hey didn’t this KFC/Northern stuff sound even better played out at full
belt, their obvious pleasure in the unfamiliar music was unmistakeable.
I love seeing “mainstream” music folks inspired by what they hear, it
always reminds me of how I felt the first time I went to a full on
Northern soul night only six short years ago. By whatever means
Northern soul comes to you, whether it was in the dim and distant past
of your local youth club, via family and/or friends, maybe it was more
recently at a local retro “Tamla – youth club -” soul night or as seems
more likely nowadays through TV ads, if you like what you hear you’ll
sure as hell be back for more. I for one am always encouraged if
someone is so knocked out by the music, they keep coming back for more.
Always room for one more passionate newcomer to swell the Northern Soul
ranks. ;-)))
All in all an absolutely spanking night for the monkey
boys and girls. A big thank you to Mike, his (tolerant) wife, and Steve
for making us feel so welcome. Thanks to the DJ’s for playing some damn
fine music If you haven’t been here before do yourself a favour, make
the effort, don’t take my word for it just check out the following
playlist. First an apology by way of explanation for any cock-ups in
the following playlist, it took me an age to decipher what I had
scrawled down and even then there’s been quite a lot of guess work
involved in the interpretation, so I just hope I haven’t made too many
blunders. Where you see “?/Guess–help needed” means I’m taking a guess
at a toon I don’t know but if anyone else does I sure as hell would
like for you to share that knowledge ;-))) Any glaring errors do feel
free to titter ;-))))
Warm up Sound check and Chic (not sure who played
what at this point)
Radiants – Heartbreak society
Tangeers – Heart & Soul
Moses Smith – Girl across the street (I never get tired of hearing
this)
? male vocal - ? the only way is up. (Guess– help needed)
Artistics – This heart of mine
? female - ? coming on strong (Guess – help needed)
Cavaliers – Hold to my baby
Jnr Walker – Brainwasher (I think)
Chic (definitely played these)
Archie Bell & The Drells – 1000 Wonders (I know it’s the same group
but it could have been The TSU Tornados I suppose)
Volumes – Just can’t help myself
Big Frank & The Essences – I won’t let her see me cry
Herman Lewis – Who’s kissing you tonight
Tropics – Hey little girl
Dynells – Call on me
? female - ?good got to settle for the bad
Jean Wells – let me love you
Frankie & The Damons – Man from Soul
Pat & The Blenders – Just because
Mayfield Singers – Don’t start none (gotta say, good toon but I think I
prefer the instrumental)
Little Tommy – Baby what has happened
Ascots – Anytime
Big Don’s rebellion – It was true
James Wade – ?
Spidels– Pushed out of the picture
Masquaders - It’s the same thing
Caesers – La La La I love you
Servicemen - ? (for the life in me I can’t remember which one)
IAPC – Check yourself (Gotta say I much prefer the Intruders toon to
this one)
Ruby – Feminine Ingenuity
Bobby Reed – The time is right Steve Thomas Emanuel laskey – Lucky to
be loved
Dickie Wonder - Nobody knows
Ellusions – You didn’t have to leave
Lost Souls – Secret of mine
Johnny Mae Matthews – Lonely you’ll be
Patrice Holloway – Stolen Hours
Phoentics – Just a boys dream
Richie Adams – I can’t escape from you
Charades – Key to my happiness
?Soundmasters – Don’t wanna be your fool
Dells – Run for cover
Gayle Addams – Baby I need your loving
Steve played a few modern toons
followed by a few R’n’B that I wasn’t
familiar with, just thought I’d mention it to let you get a feel of how
is set went Sonny Til – Hey little woman
Duke Browner – Crying over you
Nolan Chance – Just like the weather
Shelly North – Give me one more chance
Jean Carter – Like one
Paramount Four – You just don’t know Robbo Volumes – Ain’t gonna give
you up
?Judy Freeman – Hold On
Bobby Reed – I need your loving
Barbara Mason – Bobby is my baby
Exits – Gotta have money
Jimmy Seal – The yesterday of our love
Charles Lamont – You gotta keep moving
Jimmy Burns – You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
Bill Bush – I’m waiting
? – Go for yourself
Guitar Ray – You’re gonna wreck my life
Mick H (fresh back from his
jollies) Sam Dees – Lonely
Sensations-Demanding Man
Anthony &Delsonics -Everytime
Four Tops – Hands of time
The Videls - Aint Gonna Do You No Good
Appointments-I Saw You There
Youngbrothers -Whats Your Game
Devotions -Do Do Da Da
Nurons -All Of My Life -
Passions -If You See My Baby
Walter & Admirations -Man O Man
Homer Banks-Sweetie Pie
Eric Mercury-Lonely Girl
Springers -Nothings To Good For My Baby
Aspirations -You Left Me
Mickey McCuller – Who you gonna run to
Monique - If You Love Me
Eric Mercury – Lonely Girl
Don Gardner – Cheatin kind
Four Voices - Your love is getting stronger
? – I love you just the same
Buddy Smith -When You Lose The One You Love
Ascots – Three feet from the gutter
Robert Tanner – Sweet Memories
Tim Harris - ?Don’t say
Mike Hughes Isonics – Sugar
Houston Outlaws – Ain’t no telling
Brilliant Corners – Three lonely guys
September Jones – I’m coming home
BJ Thomas – Keep it up
Cubie & the Cs – Church going girl
And then suddenly it was all over
There was of course the obligatory long goodbyes to everyone, and then
into the bar for a nightcap for those of us staying overnight in the
hotel. But hey what a night. Now was I right or was I right about the
music played.;-)))
Til the next time
Soulfully yours
Shirley
Many thanks Shirley for passing on review, as all her stuff a great
read, both informative and enjoyable!
saw the qs, and just thought add odd thing or two (mainly to prevent
Johnny j on me back)
Johnny J from Bangors Soul At Social did the first hour. Had to mention
as had enough banter when he found out wasnt on flyers!
jr walker track on about was King Cutis - Footpaddin (part 2)
Think it was Mick H was billed not that bloody mike h, we usually dont
bill any of the dmsc team, as we just fill in gaps at front and end ,
unless as in this case Stevie T who was doing a main hour so was
billed.
Other plays thrown out on nite not listed think are in other post on
soul source site, but as think only obvious mistake spotted was giving
c going girl its stafford cover name rather than - derc hotzog, gotta
say very impressive skills.
