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The Definitive Wigan Casino Sound

Russ Vickers

By Russ Vickers
in All About the SOUL

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SOULMAN62
SOULMAN62

Got to be this one for me.

Ernie Andrews
Ernie Andrews

Ton of Dynamite did it for me- It was like a herd of Elephants charging at you- You were stamping your feet before you found that elusive space on the Dance floor- then slipped in quick before you joi

Davenpete
Davenpete

RS once told me he thought the most perfect Wigan sound was the Casualeers. Dx

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Davetay Veteran

Davetay

Posted
Posted

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, what is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

The Group "I Don't Like To Lose"

Richard got best past of 3 years play out of it, maybe a little more.

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Agentsmith Veteran

Agentsmith

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Posted

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, that is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

what we call a "casino tune" didn't come into its own until 74 onwards, innaugural year was full of torch/wheel/va-va's/catacombs tunes that went stellar at station road. after that the discoveries and cover-ups gained pace resulting in some of richard's best powerplays including: VICKY BAINES - COUNTRY GIRL, CECIL WASHINGTON - I DONT LIKE TO LOSE, RITA AND THE TIARA'S - GONE WITH THE WIND, THE NURONS - ALL MY LIFE and my all-time fave, WILLIAM POWELL - HEARTACHES,SOUVENIERS......yes, the tomangoes, for instance is an awesome tune, no doubt but remember it was around before september 23rd 1973.....in the end guys, what matters is, virtually all of northern soul's greatest tunes and discoveries featured at a venue that was around at the right time and in the right place

rob.h

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Albert Petit Long Time

Albert Petit

Posted
Posted

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, that is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

Hello Russ,

Maybe too many years to resume in one song...lot of good tunes but also lot of s**ts... From the finest soul sounds....till titles like "afternon of the rinho", "you´re ready now", etc...but this is only the humble opinion of who never was there...

Cheers & sorry for my bad english!!!!

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Mick Howard Regular

Mick Howard

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Posted

what we call a "casino tune" didn't come into its own until 74 onwards, innaugural year was full of torch/wheel/va-va's/catacombs tunes that went stellar at station road. after that the discoveries and cover-ups gained pace resulting in some of richard's best powerplays including: VICKY BAINES - COUNTRY GIRL, CECIL WASHINGTON - I DONT LIKE TO LOSE, RITA AND THE TIARA'S - GONE WITH THE WIND, THE NURONS - ALL MY LIFE and my all-time fave, WILLIAM POWELL - HEARTACHES,SOUVENIERS......yes, the tomangoes, for instance is an awesome tune, no doubt but remember it was around before september 23rd 1973.....in the end guys, what matters is, virtually all of northern soul's greatest tunes and discoveries featured at a venue that was around at the right time and in the right place

rob.h

You are quite right Rob - it has to be a 'choon' that was discovered at the time the Casino was in operation & went 'stellar' there (not necessarily played there first 'cos a lot of sounds got their first outing at smaller, local Soul nights didn't they?). For me......

Tough Girl - Billy Arnell

Can't Get Over These Memories - John & The Wierdest

Mick

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Zed1 Long Time

Zed1

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Posted

CW was IMHO the best record ever to be played at Wigan, but are 'Definative' and 'Best' the same thing?.....

Station Rd was about the 100mph track which always had the instro' break around 3/4's in for the acrobatics and spins, so lots more tracks which were arguably more popular could be said to be The definative record.

Intersting thread though as FW never was/is the Wigan 'anthem' certain people would have you believe....

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steve Regular

steve

Posted
Posted

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, that is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

They always seemed to be playing Williams & Watson ~Too Late' & Dance, Dance, Dance by the casualeers

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Guest kevnewry

Guest kevnewry

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Posted

Maybe..........? It has that bit of 'Casino quirk' but is still a floor-filler...........thumbsup.gif

and also a popular tune with the pun threads.......biggrin.gif

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Agentsmith Veteran

Agentsmith

Posted
Posted

They always seemed to be playing Williams & Watson ~Too Late' & Dance, Dance, Dance by the casualeers

absolutely steve, nothing wrong with the fact they were being played in a bigger venue to bigger and even more appreciative audiences and a lot of first timers. it dosnt take away the fact these records were broken at smaller and in some cases, legendary clubs but with the influx of even greater numbers of people to the scene these, in essence, were new tunes....that is the only differential. essentially, and speaking personally, i would say richard was, on the whole, largely responsible for playing " wigan's own" and, thats thanks to john anderson in the main.

rob.h

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Guest

Guest

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" The Lurch " - Ted Cassidy ......

https://www.youtube.c...h?v=hYkQ2qlANhc

Malc Burton

Bloody brilliant Malc! You know we used to have a black guy from Southampton FRANK POWELL, went everywhere in the 70s and early 80s and he did that exact dance with the foot swing travelling a little further for 15 years! Never variated as anybody who knew FRANK will testify...FRANK testifies for the Jehovas Shitlessness's today....Do the 'Lurch' baby!thumbsup.gif

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manus Veteran

manus

Posted
Posted

Quite sure that Billy Arnell was played at St.lves months before the Casino.. thumbsup.gif

Twas a Soul Sam spin Webby so I suppose wherever he was on it got played

Just thinking about the repetition of sounds back then - and I think it was possible to hear something like August and Deneen maybe 3 times in an hour at Wigan 74/75 and other big sounds the same. I remember once at Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens) the Pointer Sisters getting played maybe 10 -12 times over the course of the night.

Sounds that sum up Wigan the Vel-vets maybe at it's best for sheers energy and Muriel Day at it's worst.

Cheers and looking forward to having a chat with you at Rugby Webby

Manus

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Mick Howard Regular

Mick Howard

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Posted

Twas a Soul Sam spin Webby so I suppose wherever he was on it got played

Just thinking about the repetition of sounds back then - and I think it was possible to hear something like August and Deneen maybe 3 times in an hour at Wigan 74/75 and other big sounds the same. I remember once at Cleethorpes (Winter Gardens) the Pointer Sisters getting played maybe 10 -12 times over the course of the night.

Sounds that sum up Wigan the Vel-vets maybe at it's best for sheers energy and Muriel Day at it's worst.

Cheers and looking forward to having a chat with you at Rugby Webby

Manus

I think you guys are right on both counts vis-a-vis Billy Arnell being played at St Ives first & the repetition of tunes - seem to recall at St Ives hearing Derek & Ray 4 or 5 times in one night and in fact I also seem to remember it being called 'Overplay' after a while.....

Mick

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manus Veteran

manus

Posted
Posted

I think you guys are right on both counts vis-a-vis Billy Arnell being played at St Ives first & the repetition of tunes - seem to recall at St Ives hearing Derek & Ray 4 or 5 times in one night and in fact I also seem to remember it being called 'Overplay' after a while.....

Mick

Just the sort of record you wouldn't want to hear more than once Mick let alone 4 or 5 times

Cheers

Manus

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De-to Veteran

De-to

Posted
Posted

It will be a pleasure meeting you too thumbsup.gif

Think l've said on another thread that The Vel-vets gets me up everytime no matter what state l am in!! thumbup.gif

i remember reperata,panic and sam ward,sister lee being played a few times at one wigan all-nighter,unsure.gifph34r.gif

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Epic Long Time

Epic

Posted
Posted

Two tunes for me sum up Wigan Casino & strangely enough they are both by "non-soul" artists & this is in no way derisory.

Afternoon Of The Rhino - Mike Post . I have never seen a dancefloor in my life as packed or as animated as when this was at its height of popularity at Wigan.

Similarly with Can't Help Loving You - Paul Anka. It filled the floor when covered up as Johnny Caswell - nothing changed when we found out who it really was.

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Missing Link Regular

Missing Link

Posted
Posted

Bloody brilliant Malc! You know we used to have a black guy from Southampton FRANK POWELL, went everywhere in the 70s and early 80s and he did that exact dance with the foot swing travelling a little further for 15 years! Never variated as anybody who knew FRANK will testify...FRANK testifies for the Jehovas Shitlessness's today....Do the 'Lurch' baby!thumbsup.gif

Frank testifying for the JWs - never! He used to hate people like that.

Can definitely confirm that his dancing was like that apart from the fact he never leaned forward. I used to hang around a lot with him but haven't seen him for 25 years as I lost touch when I moved to the Midlands.

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Agentsmith Veteran

Agentsmith

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Posted

i remember reperata,panic and sam ward,sister lee being played a few times at one wigan all-nighter,:unsure::ph34r:

this thread is becoming repetitive lads....just like the records....you see you're making another valid observation .....that in the 70's maybe we were all nieve....it was the thrill of dancing that governed our lives....after all thats what we payed to go in for and the fact that tunes were replicated didnt register with young lads and lasses who wanted the best adrenalin boost you could find anywhere on the planet( not drugs). so now we're all looking back with wiser heads and....oh yes...."god that got hammered didnt it?...wouldnt dream of dancin to it now!"...or as weve mellowed we think..." nah, thats not a bad tune after all and i might have a jig on the sidelines"

repetition...do you get the picture? in the first 2 years the amount of records available was miniscule to what was to follow and if you caught my other thread there are literally 1000's of tunes that were also big at the casino but didnt take off elsewhere and subsequently dissappeared hence, the rare soul scene and the advent of stafford, 100 club, lea manor, soultown etc....bigger playlists, more djs more venues and more big ears listening out for "the repeat play"...another anorak trait?

rob.h

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Guest

Guest

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Posted (edited)

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, that is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD - ADAMS APPLES - BRUNSWICK

WE GO TOGETHER - AUGUST & DENEEN - ABC. USA ORIGINAL CUT. THIS WAS SO ICONIC AT THE TIME, PLAYED 4 TIMES A NIGHT. BEFORE THAT HORRIBLE UK RELEASE!

EVER AGAIN- BERNIE WILLIAMS - BELL

SITTING IN MY CLASS - RONNIE MCNEIR - DETO

I NEVER KNEW - EDDIE FOSTER - IN

BABY WITHOUT YOU - DANNY MONDAY - MODERN

BEING WITHOUT YOU - MAURICE WILLIAMS - DEESU

JUST ANOTHER HEARTACHE- LITTLE RICHIE - SOUND STAGE 7

PAIN IN MY HEART- POPPIES- EPIC

EASY BABY - ADVENTURES - COMPASS

JUST LIKE YOU DID ME - YVONNE VERNEE - SONBERT

I CAN'T SEE HIM ANYMORE - TWANS - DADE

LOVE YOU BABY - EDDIE PARKER - ASHFORD

I know some of these where played at other venues, but at the time these where great Wigan Casino records to me, and don't forget these we're upfront 60's newies at the time!

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Guest Dave Turner

Guest Dave Turner

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Tomangoes

Jades (I'm Where It's At)

G.Davis & R.Tyler

Saxie Russell

Also I can never ever forget, when it was at the height of it's popularity, Mike Post "Rhino". Whether anyone likes the track or not there's no denying the place just used to erupt.

Edited by Dave Turner
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Guest kevnewry

Guest kevnewry

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Posted

DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD - ADAMS APPLES - BRUNSWICK

WE GO TOGETHER - AUGUST & DENEEN - ABC. USA ORIGINAL CUT. THIS WAS SO ICONIC AT THE TIME, PLAYED 4 TIMES A NIGHT. BEFORE THAT HORRIBLE UK RELEASE!

EVER AGAIN- BERNIE WILLIAMS - BELL

SITTING IN MY CLASS - RONNIE MCNEIR - DETO

I NEVER KNEW - EDDIE FOSTER - IN

BABY WITHOUT YOU - DANNY MONDAY - MODERN

BEING WITHOUT YOU - MAURICE WILLIAMS - DEESU

JUST ANOTHER HEARTACHE- LITTLE RICHIE - SOUND STAGE 7

PAIN IN MY HEART- POPPIES- EPIC

EASY BABY - ADVENTURES - COMPASS

JUST LIKE YOU DID ME - YVONNE VERNEE - SONBERT

I CAN'T SEE HIM ANYMORE - TWANS - DADE

LOVE YOU BABY - EDDIE PARKER - ASHFORD

I know some of these where played at other venues, but at the time these where great Wigan Casino records to me, and don't forget these we're upfront 60's newies at the time!

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLYthumbsup.gif

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Guest Chris Waterman

Guest Chris Waterman

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Posted

Disregarding FW for a moment what is the definitive Wigan Casino NS record, that is the one 45 that sums it up. Epitome of Sound maybe ????

Russ

First ever record I heard in 1978, when I finally got in and got to the top of the stairs..................Stemmons Express : 'Woman, Love, Thief' will always be the sound that sums up Station Rd to me.

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aintgotit Regular

aintgotit

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its funney you should ask this chris, as many other people have said on here , how do you pick one out of so many great memories , maybe it comes down to for me the first time i heard a particular song and its hard to explain what propels you from your seat to get up, might be because every other bugger s gettin up too, or when your on a dancefloor and a tune suddenly makes you attentive to it by the introduction being dramatic or in some cases bludgeoning you over the head,(ton of dynamite for example.)i took a mate to the Cis allnighter at the new century hall as he was intrigued as to what the music would be like and the atmosphere. etc. Him and his missus sat in their chairs for the best part of two hours, having a drink , watching what was goin on around them, chattin away, he even agreed to keep an eye on somebody,s records ffs, thats how "settled "he appeared. i became a bit concerned that the music might be goin over his head a bit, as some people i,ve heard say, "it all sounds a bit the same after a bit to some people, Are you alright h, i asked him , your not stalled by it are you,? wondering whether he might soon be heading home, No i m just wondering at the sheer difference in all the stuff thats got played , he replied, but i havent heard somat i really want to dance to yet! i have to say ,thats probably the most diplomatic OR the most considered answer anyones ever given me to the query about if their actually getting the music in all its idiosyncratic variety,Ten minutes later i grinned a huge sigh of relief to see him march straight out onto the dancefloor as the first saxophone chords wailed the introduction to ..."Lou Pride, im comin home in the mornin". Does that ring any bells for anyone else? As soon as its ended he has me laughin , as he comes straight up to me and says , Fuckin el , i liked that, whats it called ,? d,you know who sings it, im gonna try and get a copy of that , where will i get it from? WHAT, its f888ing HOW MUCH? Can i get it on a cd or somat then? right im havin that .I know i was smiling because thats exactly what happened to me the first time i heard it,

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Guest nickic

Guest nickic

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wow all those memories.. you could go on and on, i've got no problems with what people called blue eyed soul! love all types.. paul anka when we get there/i can't help loving you.. joe mathews(cecil washington)

lorraine chandler.. holly st james , helen shapiro, kiki dee, is some of this really n.s does it matter! all in know is that atmosphere was electric, and the floor was packed, and thats all that mattered!

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Wiganer1 Veteran

Wiganer1

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Posted

Bloody brilliant Malc! You know we used to have a black guy from Southampton FRANK POWELL, went everywhere in the 70s and early 80s and he did that exact dance with the foot swing travelling a little further for 15 years! Never variated as anybody who knew FRANK will testify...FRANK testifies for the Jehovas Shitlessness's today....Do the 'Lurch' baby!thumbsup.gif

==============

oh my god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! even i wouldnt dance to this - what a shocker.....one capitol issue that wont be in my box - this is as bad as anything wigan spun - maybe...lol

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Guest Dave Turner

Guest Dave Turner

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Afternoon Of The Rhino - Mike Post . I have never seen a dancefloor in my life as packed or as animated as when this was at its height of popularity at Wigan.

=-=============

Wow, that clip brought all back. I still have the most vivid memory of one night looking over the balcony (as I did from time to time) and seeing an absolutely rammed dance floor going at Rhino when it was at it's height. The most jaw dropping sight I've ever seen, and ever likely to see. They were even giving it some on the outskirts of the floor and on the balcony. I often think if I could have captured any one time at the casino on film that would have been it. The sound clip is great but not wishing to detract from it, it can never even come close to actually being there in the heat and surrounded by the buzz. Atmosphere you felt you could reach out and grasp. A film clip of it would have been magnificent, but even then it would fall short for actually being there.

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