Boomerang With Butch

This was quite simply a pilgrimage to hear the greatest soul DJ ever - Butch. Hes done it in the past and he can still blow everyone else out of the water now. He did 2 spots which were so varied and would have kept everyone happy, no matter what their musical tastes were. Through the night we would all turn to each other and mutter-OMG what the hell is this. This was exciting and fresh again just like the early days. To top it off hes a really nice unassuming bloke. Well done to Boomerang for getting him to come to Yorkshire. Brilliant brilliant night.

For me it's been a good week for soul, first Soul Prescription on Thursday with Ady Croasdell, and last night Boomerang with Butch guesting.

There was a small gathering of Maria's friends to celebrate her birthday before the start of the night and then it was all systems go. Maria's husband, Arthur Fenn, started the proceedings to a very packed room, with Quiet Home by the Sea Shells, proceeding to mix Northern and Modern Soul in his inimitable way. Thanks for playing Butterfly by the Ballads, hadn't heard it out before.

Then it was Butch for his first set, which soon got me up for Esther Grant's Let's Make The Most Out Of Love and Romona Collins' You've Been Cheatin'. Butch too mixed both 60s and 70s with Modern Soul like Frazelle's Today Is The Day, KLC's You Don't Want My Love, 21st Century's Shadow Of A Memory and the Saints' I'll Let You Slide for example. He ended this set with Annette Poindexter's Wayward Dream.

Next up Maria, doing her only set of the night but keeping the quality high in her own inimitable way. Included in her set were the Hamilton Movement, the Four Voices, Betty Wilson, the Martiniques, and the Out Of Sights.

Arthur did the penultimate set and again mixed the styles but kept it danceable. Little Love Affair, I've Been Untrue, Every Time I'm Near You, One More Broken Heart, There's A Girl Somewhere For Me, ending his set with the Paramount Four's Sorry Ain't The Word.

Butch came on to carry on till 1 am, He started with the Just Brothers' Go On And Laugh followed by Old Time Lover by Martha Jean Love, two of my favourite records. I'd asked him earlier if he had MJL in his box and he'd said yes. Great news for me as I love it. Following these two with the Mighty Lovers, musical heaven. Classic after classic followed: Life Is A Miracle, Don't Bring Back Memories, A Man Of My Word, Kiss Me Goodbye Girl On The Way Out, Just Can't Leave You, Think It Over (the Chesterfields), Shake Cheri, Your Love Is Everything, etc plus quite a few I didn't recognise. He slowed it down with a nice beat ballad called I think Lonely Lonely Night, a cover up I believe. By this time it was 1 am but he carried on for another 15 minutes, tracks like Things A Lady Ain't Supposed to do by the Four Dynamics keeping the floor busy even this late.

The room was packed, might have been the busiest I've attended. Loads of friends there, great to see everyone. Travelling up to Thorne and back with Martin Ainscough (Rbman) again was really good, what a laugh we had, hope this will be repeated. Thanks for driving Martin, the weather on the way home was unexpectedly snowy.

Thank you Maria for putting on such a superb night, every DJ did their bit and it's a night that won't be forgotten.