Irish Clubnottingham Quality Of Soul

Time for another trip to Nottingham for the QoS nighter, I think I've only missed one of these.

Had an easy trip to Nottingham from St Pancras and after a very short walk I arrived at the Irish Centre in Wilford Street just as things were starting. I spent most of my time in the ground floor Crossover and Rare Room, it seemed a bit darker than usual and the bar wasn't open in there due to lack of staff but not a problem. The music hadn't started in there when I got in but soon Nige Mayfield got going starting with one of my favourite tunes Without You Here by Gene Chandler following it Dee Dee Warwick's Where's That Rainbow and continued in that Crossover vein. A nice easy start to the night for me anyway, upstairs it was more up-tempo from the off.

I'm sorry to say that I don't know which DJ followed Nige but he continued in the same vein mainly, O C Smith's version of Colour Him Father, Black Satin's Everybody Stand And Clap Your Hands, A Little On The Blue Side by the Spellbinders and Debbie Taylor's Never Gonna Let Him Go, really love that one. By this time more people were arriving, good to see the usual faces: Big Paul, Kev H, Pete and Gail, Cliff and Natalie, etc.

I was popping upstairs to get a drink on and off so am not entirely sure of the DJ order up and downstairs. Andy Dyson was on downstairs at 11 pm, he included Sir Joe, the Moments' Baby I Want You and their Key To My Happiness plus the Fascinators' In Other Words.

Kitch was next and he mixed some of better known tunes (I Saw You There, Wind In My Sails, Date With The Rain, Is He Better Than Me, etc.) with some that were familiar but I didn't know who sang them, e.g. Got To Have You For My Very Own Baby and Take It Away, who sings them? He ended his set with Sandy Golden's Your Love Is Everything, a real floor filler.

Soul Sam opened his set with the recent release by the El Count Executives I Wanna Thank You, and then it was Girl Don't Leave Me, Rideout, Love Company, Joseph Webster, Willie Dale, the Pages, plus a few new to me.

Dave Raistrick followed Sam and mixed tempos with Midnight Affair, Walkin' Back, Got To Be A Loser, Not Too Old To Cry, and Ruby by Lee Brackett.

The final set in the downstairs room was by Cliff Steele who opened with My Prayer by Benny Harper. As usual he mixed styles with both Northern and Modern tracks. He kept the floor going and I particularly liked the J.O.B. Orchestra's Don't Want That Illusion. He played a version of Nowhere To Run, sounded like the backing of Martha & The Vandellas one but think he said it was Brenda Holloway but I'm not sure. Over to you Cliff.

At 4 am the Crossover room closed and we went upstairs where the music was Northern Soul and the floor was jumping. Shortly after I got up there Rob Smith opened the penultimate set. He always finds interesting and lesser played oldies and started with the instrumental Do The Pearl Girl which was a Cleethorpes Pier favourite I was told by my friends who went there.

Mick H finished the night, he got me dancing with tunes like Shake Cheri and one of my real faves Pee Wee Shucks & Huey. The night / morning ended with the club's song Count The Days by the Magnetics, and then it was time to say farewell to friends and leave.

It was a bit of a shock to feel the cold when I left, Sitting in Nottingham station I realised I'd made a big mistake by not bringing a scarf and gloves. Despite being enclosed it was cold and the Costa Coffee franchise didn't open till 7, boy was I glad to get a warming drink. My train back to London was on time and had a quiet journey home, got indoors about 11 am. Not too bad at all.

Personally I think the social side of our scene is very important. It is good to meet up with the friends I've made by going out to soul nights, people who've accepted me and share my passion for the music. Some I see regularly but others once in a blue moon, depending on where I go. Always nice to see you all.

I did feel pretty tired when I got home and did find myself drifting off in the armchair after a snack, kept jerking awake, not a feeling I like. But after a good night's sleep back to normal. My apologies to the DJs whose sets I missed but that is the problem with two rooms, you wish to be in two places at once. The music in my opinion was excellent, a good mix of styles and tempos, thank you all. And a special thanks to Mick H for organising this night, I enjoyed it very much and I'm sure the others attending would agree. The next one is on 24 June, hope that's right, keep 'em coming.