over the years i've seen bands from pink floyd to garnet mimms (5 times) billy fat boy stewart 8 times ,junior walker 3(once on my 17 th birthday-1968) times ,alan bown set 9 times (they did fix me good)geno and ramjam band 14 times,alvin cash and the crawlers once ,soul sisters 3 times , ike /tina turner twice -mojo /wheel, vibratin vibrations twice,chris farlow and thunderbirds9times , and about another 60 other famous names that would take too long to list,then suddenly some acts appeared like the FABULOUS temptations , and they were nothing like the real thing( -seen them too) .i went to see thethe fantastic supremes who 3 weeks l;ater appeared back as the 3 degrees! different name same tunes. many were brilliant but i found edwin starr -even when he wore that terrible green lurex skin tight suit and declared WAR! was a superb act onthe many occassions i saw him ,as professional as stevie wonder! anyone else got good memories /bad, of artistes they have seen? who did you think was the tops(yes seen em )

At Nighters:

Eddie Holman

Jnr Walker

Gene Chandler

Curtis Mayfield

Edwin Starr

Tommy Hunt

Major Lance

P P Arnold (worst of the lot)

Martha Reeves

cant think of any more at all nighters, but ive seen many many acts inc Four Tops, Stevie, Temps, Maze, Bobby Womack etc

Only act I really didnt enjoy vocally was at one of the Hinckley revues. I think the main act didnt show (Could have been Lou Ragland?) and the Flirtations?????? did.

Rather than being old enough to actually be the original group, it was a few very pretty young black ladies wearing very short skirts with braces selotaped to their breasts to prevent nipples being exposed for the first 30 seconds of their set.

Visually very nice. But very disappointing.

Have to say that Spencer Wiggins at this years Cleethorpes will live long in the memory, along with Lorraine Chandler at Stafford and Sandy Sheldon at the Rocket.

Edit. Not at an allnighter. But a great night I recall was seeing the Drifters at Gloucester Leisure Centre. By about the 3rd song, the temporary seating had been (ahem) re-arranged and a full on dance floor created. Superb night. I seem to remember Hippo being the DJ, am I right Jerry?

Edited June 21, 201014 yr by in town Mikey

Only act I really didnt enjoy vocally was at one of the Hinckley revues. I think the main act didnt show (Could have been Lou Ragland?) and the Flirtations?????? did.

Rather than being old enough to actually be the original group, it was a few very pretty young black ladies wearing very short skirts with braces selotaped to their breasts to prevent nipples being exposed for the first 30 seconds of their set.

Visually very nice. But very disappointing.

Have to say that Spencer Wiggins at this years Cleethorpes will live long in the memory, along with Lorraine Chandler at Stafford and Sandy Sheldon at the Rocket.

Edit. Not at an allnighter. But a great night I recall was seeing the Drifters at Gloucester Leisure Centre. By about the 3rd song, the temporary seating had been (ahem) re-arranged and a full on dance floor created. Superb night. I seem to remember Hippo being the DJ, am I right Jerry?

Isnt there a story about Rob Messer shaking some artists hand who was playing live and pulling his prosthetic limb off!!!.Sandi Sheldon was great and she gave me some unpublished photos of her and Van Mccoy from back in the sixties(Vans sister Mattie Taylor came over as well) .Saw Eddie Holman at Newcastle Tiffanies. He was great and Iv'e a radio interview of him and Chris King on radio Tees by ex Casino dj Alan Rhodes.You can't beat Edwin Starr though for a show although I always preferred him with a band (usually Snake Davis suspicions) than when he had his backing tapes.

Isnt there a story about Rob Messer shaking some artists hand who was playing live and pulling his prosthetic limb off!!!.Sandi Sheldon was great and she gave me some unpublished photos of her and Van Mccoy from back in the sixties(Vans sister Mattie Taylor came over as well) .Saw Eddie Holman at Newcastle Tiffanies. He was great and Iv'e a radio interview of him and Chris King on radio Tees by ex Casino dj Alan Rhodes.You can't beat Edwin Starr though for a show although I always preferred him with a band (usually Snake Davis suspicions) than when he had his backing tapes.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Mattie on the Thursday before at These Old Shoes.

So when she came over for a chat on the Saturday night, it gave me the chance to large it with my mates about us two being old friends, and how nice it was to catch up with her again

The Rocket had some cracking acts on (Orlons were another stand out).

Only act I really didnt enjoy vocally was at one of the Hinckley revues. I think the main act didnt show (Could have been Lou Ragland?) and the Flirtations?????? did.

Rather than being old enough to actually be the original group, it was a few very pretty young black ladies wearing very short skirts with braces selotaped to their breasts to prevent nipples being exposed for the first 30 seconds of their set.

I've always been led to believe that The Flirtations are (still) the original line up apart from one of the 'Gypsies' ?? anyway, i saw them once, could'nt wait for them to finish

IAN

Alvin Cash

Edwin Starr

Jnr Walker

Major Lance

Detroit Emeralds

Tommy Hunt

Jimmy Ruffin

Coasters

Ric Tic Review

Best: A Cash cos it was my first nighter @ Wheel

Jnr Walker - performance and a half

M Lance - cos everyone was there LOL

Happy Daze

I've always been led to believe that The Flirtations are (still) the original line up apart from one of the 'Gypsies' ?? anyway, i saw them once, could'nt wait for them to finish

IAN

There are two of The Gypsies in the current Flirtations line up : sisters Earnestine Pearce and Shirley Pearce , who formed the group in 1962 with their sister Betty Pearce and Lestine Johnson .

The Gypsies became The Flirtations in 1966 when Earnestine and Shirley formed the group .

Malc

Edited June 22, 201014 yr by Malc Burton

ive seen Kim Weston but where ? was it Hinkley Leasure Centre - Ric -Tic Revue:g:

Best live act i,ve ever seen was Betty Wright at Wigan (1976 -i think) always enjoyed seeing Jimmy Ruffin --about 15 times,Junioe Walker,Edwin Starr always gave 120%,Major Lance,J.J Barnes,Martha Reeves,Elgins,Marv Johnson,Barbara Lynn,Al Green,Willie Mitchell,Ann Peebles,Otis Clay,Bobby Womack,Tommy Hunt,Jesse James,Alexander Patton,Exciters,Gloria Jones,Pat Lewis,Lou RaglandBobby Patterson---can,t remember any more off the top of my head

T.C.

Gene Chandler -Morcambe Pier

Seen that many over the years i can't remember all of them.

But here is a few i do remember.

Edwin Starr

Four Tops

Supremes

Drifters

Mary Wells

Eddie Holman

Tommy Hunt

Pat Lewis

Al Kent

Geno Washington

Jimmy James

Loads more but i can't remember.

I think Edwin Starr was probably the best.

I don't think anybody i saw i was really dissapointed with except maybe the Drifters a little.

They did more of there 70s stuff than there 60s stuff.

Stu.

Seen loads of artists over the years and it would be a difficult task to rate any one of them as THE top act for me. There are however a few that really stand out:

Del Larks - New Jersey: The rehearsal/sound check in the afternoon. FANTASTIC. Their appearance a couple of years later at Prestatyn pales. (Sammy was ill).

Impressions - Tampa Bay: Fantastic! Never thought I'd ever see them live but saw them in an auditorium with 1500 black people of a similar age all dressed up in their 'finery'. (3 Whites in the audience). Was like sitting in Row B of The Apollo 1966! FANTASTIC!

Jr Walker - RAF Brize Norton: Wet Sunday Night, early 80s, only about 20 people in, most of whom had no idea who he was. Spent a couple of hours with the great man and he played the entire set directly at me! FANTASTIC!

Brenda Holloway - Ritz Manchester 1998: From the moment she appeared in that blue satin dress she had us in the palm of her hand. Man...the lady could belt out a tune too! FANTASTIC!

Many others too but I'll leave it at that. Let someone else have a go.

Regards,

Dave

Sorry had to include 1 more:

Little Anthony and The Imperials: Little Darlin's, Kissimmee: Completely blew away! "Hurt So Bad?!" Oh Yeah!

Edited June 23, 201014 yr by Dave Moore

Doris Troy

O Jays

Robert knight

Elgins

J J Barnes

Junior Walker

Major Lance

Exciters

Edwin Starr

Tommy Hunt

Ronnie Walker

Best: A Cash cos it was my first nighter @ Wheel

Jnr Walker - performance and a half

M Lance - cos everyone was there LOL

Happy Daze

Saw Jr at Wigan. superb

Betty Wright is right,mate!! Best ever...the worst was some fella called O.V, Wright or am l mixing him up with Otis Leavill who was also sh**e.....l really can't remember now...

MISSED THIS NIGHT , BUT MOST OF ME MATES AGREE ABOUT BETTY WRIGHT. AND QUITE A FEW SAID THE CASINO WAS PACKED TO THE RAFTERS

Not at an allnighter. But a great night I recall was seeing the Drifters at Gloucester Leisure Centre. By about the 3rd song, the temporary seating had been (ahem) re-arranged and a full on dance floor created. Superb night. I seem to remember Hippo being the DJ, am I right Jerry?

Can't remember the Drifters (doen't mean it didn't happen though! )...but deffo remember Edwin there with Chris King pushing me out onto the stage...and on another night compering Jr Walker, Marv Johnson and Jimmy Ruffin on the same bill...still got the backstage pass stuck on the lid of my big record box!

Can't remember the Drifters (doen't mean it didn't happen though! )...but deffo remember Edwin there with Chris King pushing me out onto the stage...and on another night compering Jr Walker, Marv Johnson and Jimmy Ruffin on the same bill...still got the backstage pass stuck on the lid of my big record box!

Mind probably playing tricks Jerry. Perhaps it was the Jr Walker show. Another fantastic evening at the Leisure Centre.

Betty Wright is right,mate!! Best ever...the worst was some fella called O.V, Wright or am l mixing him up with Otis Leavill who was also sh**e.....l really can't remember now...

some fella called O.V, Wright

I'm gutted Webby, that's on a par with saying ---

some fella called Isaac Newton

some fella called Winston Churchill

some fella called Horatio Nelson

Would give me right stump to see O V Wright (well not now 'cause he's dead)

Oscar Tony Junior at the wheel must have been late 60.s still got membership card

Sam & Dave Intercon Nottingham, or was it Tiffanys??

Four Tops with Levi, may have been Nottingham Odean i have the programme somewhere

Junior Walker Nottingham Palais

They are the acts i remember well, did see a few turns at the Britt & Union Trentside Nottingham,

In fact when i read the list of acts that appeared at the Union Boat Club well it's amazing who we had on at our venue always worth a read if you are in the club,

In fact anybody remember who they saw on Trentside Nottingham at the Union & Britt....????

Regards Mall...........Co-Promoter Federation & Central Union Soul Clubs

Remember Edwin Starr at Wigan, taped it (taped!!) wish I still had it. Went to Leeds all dayer once, saw lots, kindof.

Kim Weston @ Smokeys niter in Arbroath - absolutely fantastic - it was a friday niter and i believe she was on at Hinckley the following night.

Curtis Mayfield @ Hinckley

stand out for me as well as a host of live acts @ the early Southport Weekender

Derek

Kim Weston @ Smokeys niter in Arbroath - absolutely fantastic - it was a friday niter and i believe she was on at Hinckley the following night.

Curtis Mayfield @ Hinckley

stand out for me as well as a host of live acts @ the early Southport Weekender

Derek

Over the years I have seen far too many to list but the stand out nighter performance for me was Harold Melvin at Stafford , But the best act that I've seen was Bobby Womack back in 84ish . What a voice .

Best Edwin Starr, worst James Brown (not at an all nighter tho)!! Saw Betty Wright twice the same week - Reading Top Rank on Tuesday, Wigan on Sat. Saw Jackie Wilson at Wigan, bit disappointing, but good to see live!! Alan

Edited July 27, 201014 yr by eamesy

Best live act i,ve ever seen was Betty Wright at Wigan (1976 -i think) always enjoyed seeing Jimmy Ruffin --about 15 times,Junioe Walker,Edwin Starr always gave 120%,Major Lance,J.J Barnes,Martha Reeves,Elgins,Marv Johnson,Barbara Lynn,Al Green,Willie Mitchell,Ann Peebles,Otis Clay,Bobby Womack,Tommy Hunt,Jesse James,Alexander Patton,Exciters,Gloria Jones,Pat Lewis,Lou RaglandBobby Patterson---can,t remember any more off the top of my head

T.C.

Spot on - Betty Wright was fantastic at Wigan (1975) - it was one of the best nights I had there - and great to see Southern tunes like Clean up woman get such a great reception as well as Where is the love - great days.

Great list of live acts you've seen

Cheers

Manus

Edited July 27, 201014 yr by manus

Can't remember because I never really enjoyed live acts at nighters but seem to remember seeing Edwin Starr (more than once), The Elgins, Tommy Hunt and Ann Peebles (who wasn't very good).

Can't remember because I never really enjoyed live acts at nighters but seem to remember seeing Edwin Starr (more than once), The Elgins, Tommy Hunt and Ann Peebles (who wasn't very good).

Mac and Katie Kissoon ........ now that is a name from the past .

Not going to state where , as I will appear to be boring meentioning the name again

Malc

Mac and Katie Kissoon ........ now that is a name from the past .

Not going to state where , as I will appear to be boring meentioning the name again

Malc

filppin 'eck, forgot all about them, blast from the past indeed

Saw loads of acts at nighters & can honestly say that I would rather have not .

Although some of them were very good , (Edwin Starr & Gloria Jones take a bow) , I always felt that it killed the atmosphere .Also , I was wanting to hear records & dance to records that I could only hear played at the nighters , as opposed to some token bloke crooning 'My Girl ' to an empty dance floor .....................Where do I hand in my resignation then

Saw Donnie Elbert and Gene Latter at Up the Junction, Crewe. One of my favourites was seeing Junior Walker at the Torch

Don,t want to name the failures except I wish I could properly remember and appreciate moments and whatnaughts at st ives.successes include betty wright,jo armstead,sounds of blackness,tina marie and the obvious juniors walkers eddie holmans ric tic revue etc.bobby womack was superb in london when everone said he was crap in b,ham.

Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band - 1967 - at Nelson Imp. He was brilliant. Saw him a couple of years ago at Kendall Brewery Centre - truly awful. Voice had gone - couldn't seem to remember the words.

Four Tops - twice - they were superb each time - Blightys in Farnworth and Apollo Manchester.

Drifters - early seventies - brilliant. Again in 2008 - different line up - okay.

Impressions with Curtis Mayfield - brilliant.

Johnny Johnson - Blightys - he was drunk and fell over twice - awful.

Watson T Brown, Foundations - both very good.

Harlem Jonns Reshuffle - brilliant.

Soul Brothers Band (with Stuart Widdall from Harlem Jonns) - three times - best of the lot.

And many more.

Hi all.Eddie Holman,Tiffanies,Newcastle upon Tyne.Junior Walker,Eldon Square leisure centre(as before).Bunny Sigler,Morcambe pier(avec bombers and Tres vitesse!)The worst.Marvin Gaye at Manchester Apollo and Major Lance at Jollies in Stoke in the early 80,s.Sorry back to the best,Edwin Starr at the Casino probably 78?Regards Tim.

willie t at cleethorpes

originals and the dells both at the ritz manchester

willie t at cleethorpes

originals and the dells both at the ritz manchester

the dells at trentham, the show stoppers wigan, rosie o,brian tenerife

the dells at trentham, the show stoppers wigan, rosie o,brian tenerife

[/quote

yes correction.......it was trentham gardens, memory playing tricks again.

Seen some great acts over the years Edwin Starr, Major Lance, etc in the early days but over the later years some great acts at Prestatyn and Fleetwood but listening to Rose Batiste (not an all nighter) was pretty good!!

Edited August 30, 201014 yr by mrtag

JUNIOR WALKER AT THE CASINO -- SUPERB

REMEMBER SEEING BETTY WRIGHT AT WOLVES CIVIC,TRULY BRILLIANT,THEN CAUGHT HER AT THE CASINO,AWESOME.

REMEMBER SEEING BETTY WRIGHT AT WOLVES CIVIC,TRULY BRILLIANT,THEN CAUGHT HER AT THE CASINO,AWESOME.

HI ALL....OVER THE YEARS ..THAT I ATTENDED SOUL CLUBS, WE HAVE ALL SEEN Jr WALKER, EDWIN STARR, DRIFTERS AND THE OTHERS WHO DID THE CIRCET, AND EVERY PREFORMANCE WAS GOOD. MAJOR LANCE, TOP OF THE WORLD, STAFFORD, 1973, BRILLIANT HIS BEST, MARVIN GAYE BINGLEY HALL DIRMINGHAM 1976(WORKED AS LITEING CREW ROADIE) THE NIGHT THE BUILDING WAS ON FIRE, BRILLIANT, MAJOR LANCE & TOMMY HUNT TOGETHER, WIGAN CASINO, UNPLANNED EVENT IT JUST HAPPEND! BRILL, THERE ARE SO MANY, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WOLVES 82 AS A SPECIAL GUEST OF HIM BACK STAGE, BILL, THE FAT MAN BILLY STEWART 1968 THE FLAMINGO, WHAT A NIGHT!

TOP FAVS LEEDS SOUL FESTIVAL 1974, THE TRAM SHED THIS WAS AN AMAZING NIGHT (GOT ROCKY ROBERTS UK PRESSING, GAVE TO MICK SMITH, HE HAS STILL GOT IT RARE!!) THE MIGHTY DELLS AT STOKE, IF EVERY NIGHT WAS LIKE THIS NIGHT, BY FAR THE BEST LIVE ACT I HAVESEEN, THE KOOL AND THE GANG UK TOUR 1976, BEST TOUR EVER, APART FROM THE WORK WITH ALEXIS KORNER, JIMMY HELMS AND A FEW BOTTLES OF RED WINE? DAVE KIL ;

Edwin Starr (76) and Jr. Walker (77) at the Wirrina P'boro were the most memorable. Billy Butler was a let down, but very often it's not the artist's fault. The pillheads only wanted to hear Right Track and not the gut wrenching ballads that most Soul singers love to get their teeth into. The most forgettable by far were Limmie & The Family Cookin', also at the Wirrina in 1976. What on earth was on Ken Cox's mind when he booked them? I also saw Eddie Holman at the Wirrina, 1982 perhaps?

My recollection of the night is zero, sadly. Don't recall doing any other live acts away from Peterborough, not even St.Ives, as I missed Gloria Jones due to tonsilitis.

Legend has it that Bolan was on drums and mingling with the crowd before, but I think it was speed talk. No pics have surfaced, as far as I'm aware.

Edwin Starr (76) and Jr. Walker (77) at the Wirrina P'boro were the most memorable. Billy Butler was a let down, but very often it's not the artist's fault. The pillheads only wanted to hear Right Track and not the gut wrenching ballads that most Soul singers love to get their teeth into. The most forgettable by far were Limmie & The Family Cookin', also at the Wirrina in 1976. What on earth was on Ken Cox's mind when he booked them? I also saw Eddie Holman at the Wirrina, 1982 perhaps?

My recollection of the night is zero, sadly. Don't recall doing any other live acts away from Peterborough, not even St.Ives, as I missed Gloria Jones due to tonsilitis.

Legend has it that Bolan was on drums and mingling with the crowd before, but I think it was speed talk. No pics have surfaced, as far as I'm aware.

The B -Side to L&TFC's 1973 chart hit ( " You Can Do Magic " ) called " Spider " , receieved plays on the scene following the release of the 45 in the UK .

Why KC booked them , could have been a combination of his recollection of the side , and that they were cheap .

Malc

Edited August 31, 201014 yr by Malc Burton

The B -Side to L&TFC's 1973 chart hit ( " You Can Do Magic " ) called " Spider " , receieved plays on the scene following the release of the 45 in the UK .

Why KC booked them , could have been a combination of his recollection of the side , and that they were cheap .

Malc

Hi Malc, L &TFC did an early doors appearance at Wigan Casino round about 74/5 and they where brilliant and as you say "you can do magic" was probabley why they got the booking!! Atb John

You Can Do Magic was a chart sound thoroughly rejected in Peterborough, and it showed in the audience's attitude, which bordered on rude. Ken Cox, as far as I'm aware, would have acted on recommendation, 'cos he was pretty clueless about NS, at least that's what I remember. I could be wrong of course.

Phil Perry in the modern room, Saturday afternoon at Prestatyn 2004 was very special, Womack in Manchester in 1984, saw David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards and Eddie Kendricks at Sunderland in 1991, all brilliant, Sam Dees at Thorne was fantastic, all the aforementioned were brilliant and rememberable, unwatered down, and leaving a "sound as good live as on record" feeling.

Kev

eddie parker darlington night before he played stafford-this was very special as it was a small club and he was very personable as was lorraine chandler-popcorn wylie at the dolphin centre so vastly underrated as was eddie holman at newcastle tiffanies,have to say however none came close to the DELLS at stoke -a life affirming experience oh marva whitney was bloody great last year at leeds also!!

BAZ A

Edited August 31, 201014 yr by baz atkinson

You Can Do Magic was a chart sound thoroughly rejected in Peterborough, and it showed in the audience's attitude, which bordered on rude. Ken Cox, as far as I'm aware, would have acted on recommendation, 'cos he was pretty clueless about NS, at least that's what I remember. I could be wrong of course.

The sad thing about " YCDM " , is that the writer / producer - Sandy Linzer - , and its' arranger - Charles Callello - , should have known better , given their background / credentials .......

Thank god its' B - Side " Spider " is more creditable .

Malc

Edited August 31, 201014 yr by Malc Burton

JUNIOR WALKER AT THE CASINO -- SUPERB

Mate.I would love a copy of that Junior Walker photograph.Regards Tim.

not even St.Ives, as I missed Gloria Jones due to tonsilitis.

Legend has it that Bolan was on drums and mingling with the crowd before, but I think it was speed talk. No pics have surfaced, as far as I'm aware.

He certainly wasn't on drums , the backing band were Gonzalez ( who had'nt even started dancing yet ) . Pretty sure he was there in the background though