100 Club

Top notch as always, well worth the trip down and lack of sleep...not happy with Joel leaving me with an ear worm that I had to text him about the other day

Thanks for the excellent review Geoff - just a quick note to say it was Wayne who played the Imperial C's, much as i'd like to claim that one

Also a few people asked me who some of the last mid tempo tracks were by - i can't remember exact order but they included Carol Morgan on Born, Mitzi Ross on Cougar, and The Passions 'If You See My Baby'...

Was a real pleasure to do the last spot but some rather big plates to fill with the boss taking a break

December's nighter was curated by Matt Bolton and was up to his established high standard with three guests and two of the regular DJs. Ady Croasdell was taking a well deserved break.

I arrived outside the club about 10 minutes before the opening, and gradually a queue formed. We were all glad to get in because it had started raining.

Joel Maslin started the proceedings, playing Northern for half an hour ending with Someone Tell Her by the Imperial Cs. Already the floor was busy.

The first guest Wayne  Napier-Gibbins followed at 11.30. I'd not heard of him before, he's a young guy with a good collection. His first set included Lover by the Delites, and She'll Come Running Back.

Henning Börm from Switzerland followed Wayne and kept the tempo up. He included Beside Myself by Pee Wee Shucks & Huey, the latter enticed me on to the dance floor for the first time that night, Sugar Boy's Free Man, Bill Bush's I'm Waiting and Frankie Lyman's I'm Sorry, the latter is one I've rarely heard played out.

At 12.50 it was time for Butch's first set. Opening with J Hammond's Kiss Me Girl On Your Way Out he included Just Can't Please You, Where Were You and KIC's You Don't Want My Love and Herb Ward's Strange Change, but a different take I was told. As usual a full dance floor.

Val Challoner was the third guest, first time I'd seen him on the decks. He played what I'd call an upfront set but didn't recognise any titles, although I've read above he included Broken Heart Inc's Please Don't Walk Away.

Then it was Joel doing the spot that normally Ady does in the middle of the night, ending with Our Day Is Here by J P Robinson.

Wayne followed with his second set including Top Of The World favourite You're On Top Girl by the Empires, Ray Agee's I'm Losing Again, and my favourite Shrine record Dream My Heart by Shirley Edwards.

For his second time behind the club's decks Henning opened with Attica Massacre by Willie & West, then his set included Willie Feaster & Concrete Wall's Voices, an alternative version of Open The Door To Your Heart by the Mighty Vikings and an up-tempo version of Willie Tee's Thank You John by Soul Culture, and the perennial favourite She's Gone by the Hamilton Movement .

Butch took over and started with the Four Dynamics followed by Tearra's Just Loving You, and continued with some favourites including Beware Beware, I Want A Guarantee, the Chuck Jackson cover up, Salvation but included some I didn't know, one a Modern Soul tune, and ended with the Visitors.

Val took over and played a set that was on the Modern side. He included Bobby Womack's How Could You Break My Heart and Expansions by Lonnie Liston Smith, one I certainly never expected to hear at the 100 Club allnighter, people were dancing to it. The clientele are very open minded about their music.

Finally at 5.30 Joel starting his final set to end the night. And it was mostly mid tempo including Hey Girl by the Topics, Clydie King's Soft And Gentle Ways and ending the night with a different Four Tops record: Ask The Lonely.

There was a good sized crowd in, and although it inevitably thinned out as the night went on there was a good number at the finish. Good to know we've still got the stamina to do that. Nice to see plenty of my friends and hi to a nice lady from Essex called Victoria whom I chatted to at the bar while I was ordering a drink. I've always found the 100 Club nighter to be a friendly venue.

Well done to Matt and thanks to the DJs and staff of the club.

Merry Christmas to all who attended.

Great night thanks, my first return trip since supporting Len last year...how fast time goes and how quick the 6 and a bit hours went after arriving just before 12.. A warm welcome (even the quick check of my pockets by doormen was no bother) and into an already busy room with plenty dancing to “round one” from all DJs. Mostly uptempo and mostly 60s, as I expected, but then gradually a few more 70s dancers through the early hours.. even a quite recent new release one of my faves from Val towards the end of his first spot (Broken Hearts Inc..Please don’t walk away). A good few people there from Northants and surrounding counties to support Val & Wayne and brilliant to catch up with Jens, Carl, Imke etc all over for the weekend and to support Henning, who was dancing well behind the decks!

Dancefloor was busy right through, as I expected...I think I spent more time on it than off, some great younger dancers in and really was a wide range of soul to soak up, mostly rare but some records much less so, uptempo to some superb mid tempo sides to have a breather to later on (eg Bobby Womack..how could you break my heart / J P Robinson..Our day is here / Four Dynamics..Things that a lady ain’t supposed to do, etc)

Wonderful spots all round, loads of records I didn’t know but great to hear some favourites I did know, even Lonnie Liston Smith..Expansions which went down well and I never expected!...and finally the 3 before 6 from Joel, ending with Four Tops - Ask the lonely.. still just wonderful.

Aching feet walking back to my digs up the road, so I knew I’d had a good time (that floor in places though...brilliant!).

Now come on Geoff..please write a proper review  

Cheers, Steve