Over from Oz earlier this month and decided to go to the much closer Blackpool Wintergardens allnighter instead of my preferred venue the Rugby Allnighter (due to the shite weather).

First impression - fantastic venue and dancefloor and, how refreshing, there's a couple of cameras over each deck to demonstrate the OVO policy. Great opening set by Richard Searling, although no surprises whatsoever, then on comes Colin Curtis. Leaving it a bit late to cue up I thought but then realised he was pressing buttons on a CD deck - and proceeded to do a full 90 minute Mecca set from CDs!

So what's the crack, has he sold up? And how come he still gets invited to DJ? Is this common at these "handbag" type of venues? If anybody other than me gave a shit, they certainly weren't showing it.

Cheers......Pete

Yep, that's right. Serves 'em right for flogging off £250K worth of originals when they could have sat on 'em for 35 years to play a couple of gigs a year in 2011. Bloody amateurs........

Ian D

A great 2 hour mecca set will cost ''ya bugger all'' in real collecting terms or are the old boys now setting up a soul revival marathon lasting a few days ??!!!! All this money talk is bollocks if you just have a 1/2 hour set!!! It's a silly circus and like watching a cover band in a pub or any original artist singing playback !!!

A great 2 hour mecca set will cost ''ya bugger all'' in real collecting terms or are the old boys now setting up a soul revival marathon lasting a few days ??!!!! All this money talk is bollocks if you just have a 1/2 hour set!!! It's a silly circus and like watching a cover band in a pub or any original artist singing playback !!!

But a 'true' Mecca set would be unaffordable nowadays as it would include the likes of Cheatin' Kind and so on...some of the scenes very rarest classic Northern sides were first played there

A great 2 hour mecca set will cost ''ya bugger all''

Oh ye of little knowledge, try getting a copy of Foster & Stevens on Jerri or The Crow on Inner Ear

for "buggar all" they were both first played at the Mecca. You would be very surprised how difficult,

some of the records played as "new releases" at the Mecca by Colin, are to get these days.

You would also be surprised how many remained virtually unknown after Colin packed in the Northern scene.

Kegsy

Oh ye of little knowledge, try getting a copy of Foster & Stevens on Jerri or The Crow on Inner Ear

for "buggar all" they were both first played at the Mecca. You would be very surprised how difficult,

some of the records played as "new releases" at the Mecca by Colin, are to get these days.

You would also be surprised how many remained virtually unknown after Colin packed in the Northern scene.

Kegsy

Oh jesus I know the tunes and the prices and if you want to start from scratch and just want to play the biggies for one hour it may cost you a few grant but not the mentioned 250K .... As I said it's a silly circus and one mecca track which cost ya just 20 quit is by Denise Keeble .....''Before It Falls Apart'' but I am afraid the revival circus already is falling apart....

btw. it's not all about the big expensive tunes and never should be even for a revival set!!! Sooooo, many top tunes were played at the Mecca but a ''cheating kind'' may not have to be on the turn table but also certainly not in the air

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by viphitman

Sooooo, many top tunes were played at the Mecca but a ''cheating kind'' may not have to be on the turn table but also certainly not in the air

I'm having a hard time this week, got to admit it. So, for fear of being reprimanded and told to stand in the corner. What does this actually mean, please? No comprendo, mucho years in Spain, sabe?

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by macca

Oh jesus I know the tunes and the prices and if you want to start from scratch and just want to play the biggies for one hour it may cost you a few grant but not the mentioned 250K .... As I said it's a silly circus and one mecca track which cost ya just 20 quit is by Denise Keeble .....''Before It Falls Apart'' but I am afraid the revival circus already is falling apart....

btw. it's not all about the big expensive tunes and never should be even for a revival set!!! Sooooo, many top tunes were played at the Mecca but a ''cheating kind'' may not have to be on the turn table but also certainly not in the air

Denise Keeble - nice bit of xover..add into that Deniece Chandler - mama i wish i'd stayed at home,Lynn Vernado anyone? This isnt about listing records of the past though is it.

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by KevH

I'm having a hard time this week, got to admit it. So, for fear of being reprimanded and told to stand in the corner. What does this actually mean, please? No comprendo, mucho years in Spain, sabe?

I take the inference to be there would be no need for 'cheating kind' to be played to replicate the mecca, and that the playing of CDs is ''cheating'' and also not representative of the mecca

To save you from another religious rant, I'd just like to say this 'rule for all' business is nonsense. The scene's never been like that, nor should it be. People will hoe their own patch and reputations will be made and broken, depending on how they carry themselves as bonafide purveyors of this music. It's a karma thing for me. Some of the disc jockeys that have been villified on here and beyond will have their hoed their cumber patch according to their own moral compasses, and will have garnered either contempt or praise in the process. For me, Colin Curtis, as former high priest (Pope was a bit over the top, I know) of the veritable temple of soul music that was the Blackpool Mecca, will have nobody to answer to but himself. His integrity and credibility were intact in 1976 when the club radically changed musical direction and continues to be intact today, which can't be said of some of the figures of notoriety that have populated this scene. The man has absolutely nothing to be reproached for, full stop. Any other consideration is pointless farting in the wind. Nobody gave Jimmy Saville this crap.

To save you from another religious rant, I'd just like to say this 'rule for all' business is nonsense. The scene's never been like that, nor should it be. People will hoe their own patch and reputations will be made and broken, depending on how they carry themselves as bonafide purveyors of this music. It's a karma thing for me. Some of the disc jockeys that have been villified on here and beyond will have their hoed their cumber patch according to their own moral compasses, and will have garnered either contempt or praise in the process. For me, Colin Curtis, as former high priest (Pope was a bit over the top, I know) of the veritable temple of soul music that was the Blackpool Mecca, will have nobody to answer to but himself. His integrity and credibility were intact in 1976 when the club radically changed musical direction and continues to be intact today, which can't be said of some of the figures of notoriety that have populated this scene. The man has absolutely nothing to be reproached for, full stop. Any other consideration is pointless farting in the wind. Nobody gave Jimmy Saville this crap.

But he gave us ''jingle jangle jewellery'' and fixed loads............

Nobody gave Jimmy Saville this crap.

oh they almost did, recently the bbc pulled a newsnight story to protect the bbcs name

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by ric-tic

oh they almost did, recently the bbc pulled a newsnight story to protect the bbcs name

Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?

Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?

https://www.dailymail...ogram-axed.html

appears to be not much to it

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by Pete S

https://www.dailymail...ogram-axed.html

appears to be not much to it

Aye that's it, been hearing those rumours for 30 years.

https://www.dailymail...ogram-axed.html

appears to be not much to it

Bloody hell I hope nobody reveals that he

played CD's or he will be right in the brown n smelly.

Kegsy

I'm told that Sir Jimmy taught Kegsy all his moves !!

(well they were near neighbors).

Colin Curtis played off cd in Leeds back end of last year, also Winstanley at same venue on a previous night played vinyl but all re-issues or pressings/boots..Telling stories of how he through Soul Sam off the Casino stage, he opened his set with Judy Street on Grapevine followed by Casualeers and Frankie & Classicals on PyeDD. demo..wow..

then went on to be very rude to a girl called Ali who had opened the night with a good set , whilst throwing Casino beermats and bartowels to the people on the dancefloor.

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%!

But he gave us ''jingle jangle jewellery'' and fixed loads............

He took my mum out to tea when she was a young nurse at 'Jimmys' (St James) hospital in the 60s

A great 2 hour mecca set will cost ''ya bugger all'' in real collecting terms or are the old boys now setting up a soul revival marathon lasting a few days ??!!!! All this money talk is bollocks if you just have a 1/2 hour set!!! It's a silly circus and like watching a cover band in a pub or any original artist singing playback !!!

The money talk was relating to the complete value of Colin's old Mecca records between '72-'76 at todays prices had he been able to retain them for 35 years.

I could list all the rare as hen's teeth originals Colin had including the Inspirations, Don Gardner, Joe Mathews, Eula Cooper, Bernie Williams, Del-Larks, The Crow plus the other few hundred knowns, semi-knowns and still virtually unknowns which still command ridiculous prices but I fear it'll go over your head.......plus the last couple of Mecca slots I've seen Colin do have been 90-120 minutes apiece.........

Ian D

I couldn't care less if the music was played out of the rear end of a dead hyena, so long as I can hear and possibly dance to some northern soul tunes. Honestly, on the one hand some people don't want the dj to play the original vinyl and on the other a perfectly decent and possibly rare track on a cd re-issue remains unplayed! Sometimes you got to hold your hands up and move with the times. It's not that bad. I went to a wedding once and the dj sat behind a laptop and just played tunes from his computer! Now what do people think of that!!?

But he gave us ''jingle jangle jewellery'' and fixed loads............

You're really getting arcane now. I've no idea what that means.

Colin Curtis played off cd in Leeds back end of last year, also Winstanley at same venue on a previous night played vinyl but all re-issues or pressings/boots..Telling stories of how he through Soul Sam off the Casino stage, he opened his set with Judy Street on Grapevine followed by Casualeers and Frankie & Classicals on PyeDD. demo..wow..

then went on to be very rude to a girl called Ali who had opened the night with a good set , whilst throwing Casino beermats and bartowels to the people on the dancefloor.

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%!

That's what I mean about hoeing one's own cumber patch.

Bloody hell, five pages over this? Almost all who care about format know what you get with most DJ's and venues these. Those that dont couldnt care less if vinyl, cd or mp3.

Colin Curtis played off cd in Leeds back end of last year, also Winstanley at same venue on a previous night played vinyl but all re-issues or pressings/boots..Telling stories of how he through Soul Sam off the Casino stage, he opened his set with Judy Street on Grapevine followed by Casualeers and Frankie & Classicals on PyeDD. demo..wow..

then went on to be very rude to a girl called Ali who had opened the night with a good set , whilst throwing Casino beermats and bartowels to the people on the dancefloor.

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%!

Sounds like Russ is ready for the funny farm 1

I have said this before , when someone nicked his records from the Casino back in the 70,s they appealed and said he would have to give up DJing if not returned , a phone call to Mike Walker said the records were underneath Russ's car outside

Someone in the record bar said "They probably dumped his records and Nicked the box "So maybe he's still playing the same ones LoL

if it states on the flyer colin c playing a mecca set mostly of cds i think thats fine

This has ended up being the same old OVO debate we've had so many times before.

The thing is a lot of people seem to think soul fan = vinyl collector as opposed to soul fan = love of the music.

A lot of people were probably happy enough to go a long to a Mecca revival and hear an original Mecca DJ play the tunes they used to love so much at the Mecca, not to rush up to the decks when every tune came on to make sure it was the exact same copy the DJ played all those years ago, I think the majority of people would have been too busy reminiscing and dancing.

The Mecca was at the forefront of the northern drift towards more 'modern' music, so whats wrong with them using modern technology?

Aside from the thread starter, did anyone else give the slightest shit at this event? I bet he had the floor rammed to a really good set.

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by daved

The Ministry of (Soul) Sounds has recently become aware of a rather disturbing dispute that has broken out, all over the country, regarding the playing or non playing of tunes from their original vinyl format.

This dispute seems to have stemmed from an event held, at a famous venue, in a northern seaside town, but has spread at an alarming rate across the country and the rest of the world via the Internet.

A moderator for one of the sites involved has said and I quote "Bloody hell, five pages over this? Almost all who care about format know what you get with most DJ's and venues these days. Those that don't couldn't care less if vinyl, cd or mp3."

We at the Ministry feel, that this rather concerning outbreak of hysteria, cannot be allowed to go unchecked. We have therefore formed a select committee (OVOCOM) to investigate the matter.

After an emergency (OVOCOM) meeting on Friday Feb. 24^th the following actions have been proposed.

1. Since most Original Vinyl comes from the U.S., we intend to petition the treasury for funding of £10million. This will be used to set up offices in the U.S., preferred locations are Beverley Hills and Las Vegas. These offices will be primarily used to verify what Original Vinyl actually is. They will operate under the title Original Vinyl Only Research Institute (OVORI), not to be confused with OVARY where many OVO fanatics believe dissenters should have stayed.

2. In order that The Ministry can properly police this issue we will need to recruit and train the necessary personnel. Therefore we will petition for further funding of £50million for a brand new purpose built complex which will be known as O-VOT-TOP (Original Vinyl Technical Training Opportunities Program).Once properly trained the personnel will then attend venues and issue Original Vinyl Only Certificates Of Proficiency (OVOCOP).

3. We will also be liaising with equipment suppliers, turntables Amps etc.to ascertain whether any technical measures can be used to verify OVO policies. A new subcommittee will be formed for these consultations. This subcommittee will be called Original Vinyl Only General Electrical Equipment (OVOGEEQ).

Until we can bring all these new resources on stream we would like to ask all citizens, who may be tempted to engage in this fracas, to remain calm at all times.

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by Kegsy

Nice one Kegsy.

Obviously you're sober for a change!!!

Nice one Kegsy.

Obviously you're sober for a change!!!

here, here!!, how good are they when he's " indisposed" jules? im completely astonished now, that this has gone into 5 pages, same as chalkx, infact, this tree has sprouted a number of branches that have entirely nothing to do with what the debate is about anyway...and anyway, hasn't everything been said that needs to be said?, its a rehash of a recurring arguement, just using someone else's name as an excuse....IF WE ALL KEEP THIS UP, THERE WONT BE ANY PUNTERS AT ANY EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!!!

IMO the music should be played on the original format of release, whether that be vinyl, CD or MP3. Promoters should ensure that the equipment is available at their promotions. In the past I have cut carvers of unissued tracks only available on CD, I have done this because you cant guarantee a CD player at NS gigs, if there was I would play the CD.

With regard to the CC gig in question, what do you expect, personally I never attend these events for that & many other reasons, these events have no relevance musically anyway & just serve to ensure the promoters continue to make their living from the NS brand.

Lastly, there is another side to the OVO saga, one that the wannabees have a vested interest in promoting/continuing, that is the old chestnut that people dont care what format & many other such lies that ensure they have a good excuse for not playing the originals they cant or wont search out, but allowing them to continue with what they think others believe is a legitimate promotion or 15 mins of fame as a local yokel DJ...these people will always be seen for what they are, by the genuine hard core soul fans & they can bang on forever, but we all know the truth......

Keep it real & dont sweat the $$$$ promoters or wannabees, we'll be around doing the right thing long after they have disappeared again.

Best Russ

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by Russ Vickers

IMO the music should be played on the original format of release, whether that be vinyl, CD or MP3.

Exactly Russ.

Northern events no matter how you want to dress them up - Original Vinyl Only.

Modern events - legitimate format only be it vinyl, cd or even legitimate download transferred to a playable format.

Said before on here & other places, thats how it's been for as long as I can remember.

Except the original format of an mp3 is a computer file, so why the need to burn onto cd? Thats the same as cutting a vinyl carver from a cd. Either you believe in original format only, or you don't surely? It's what's in the 1's and 0's that counts nowadays ;)

On cd?

This is the same as Dustbin Stanley playing a cd set at Crossfire.

The magnitude of my northern soul fame allows me to play cd's as I discovered most of these tracks in the first place. That's bollocks, you play real one's - you are real. Play copies and you're a shadow of your former self, whoever you think you used to be!

Oi, Russ didn't play a CD set, we didn't have one set up.

Oi, Russ didn't play a CD set, we didn't have one set up.

OT i know but when did Russ become Dustbin Stanley LoL

and why ?

Oh ye of little knowledge, try getting a copy of Foster & Stevens on Jerri or The Crow on Inner Ear

for "buggar all" they were both first played at the Mecca. You would be very surprised how difficult,

some of the records played as "new releases" at the Mecca by Colin, are to get these days.

You would also be surprised how many remained virtually unknown after Colin packed in the Northern scene.

Kegsy

And the Crow was first played on acetate!

Sounds like Russ is ready for the funny farm 1

I have said this before , when someone nicked his records from the Casino back in the 70,s they appealed and said he would have to give up DJing if not returned , a phone call to Mike Walker said the records were underneath Russ's car outside

Someone in the record bar said "They probably dumped his records and Nicked the box "So maybe he's still playing the same ones LoL

Who is Russ?

To save you from another religious rant, I'd just like to say this 'rule for all' business is nonsense. The scene's never been like that, nor should it be. People will hoe their own patch and reputations will be made and broken, depending on how they carry themselves as bonafide purveyors of this music. It's a karma thing for me. Some of the disc jockeys that have been villified on here and beyond will have their hoed their cumber patch according to their own moral compasses, and will have garnered either contempt or praise in the process. For me, Colin Curtis, as former high priest (Pope was a bit over the top, I know) of the veritable temple of soul music that was the Blackpool Mecca, will have nobody to answer to but himself. His integrity and credibility were intact in 1976 when the club radically changed musical direction and continues to be intact today, which can't be said of some of the figures of notoriety that have populated this scene. The man has absolutely nothing to be reproached for, full stop. Any other consideration is pointless farting in the wind. Nobody gave Jimmy Saville this crap.

Well, said - the man- always wil be

Who is Russ?

Colin Curtis played off cd in Leeds back end of last year, also Winstanley at same venue on a previous night played vinyl but all re-issues or pressings/boots..Telling stories of how he through Soul Sam off the Casino stage, he opened his set with Judy Street on Grapevine followed by Casualeers and Frankie & Classicals on PyeDD. demo..wow..

then went on to be very rude to a girl called Ali who had opened the night with a good set , whilst throwing Casino beermats and bartowels to the people on the dancefloor.

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%

! Please read this bit aswell I DID NOT WRITE THIS , I COPIED IT TO ANSWER A QUESTION Post no 218

Andy !

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by allnightandy

Colin Curtis played off cd in Leeds back end of last year, also Winstanley at same venue on a previous night played vinyl but all re-issues or pressings/boots..Telling stories of how he through Soul Sam off the Casino stage, he opened his set with Judy Street on Grapevine followed by Casualeers and Frankie & Classicals on PyeDD. demo..wow..

then went on to be very rude to a girl called Ali who had opened the night with a good set , whilst throwing Casino beermats and bartowels to the people on the dancefloor.

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%!

Andy !

OMO

Original media only

Cannot wait for someone to play an 8 track original !

Martyn

OMO

Original media only

Cannot wait for someone to play an 8 track original !

Martyn

Although an advocate of OVO i didn't write that post

i copied it as a reply to the one above

Andy

Nice one Kegsy.

Obviously you're sober for a change!!!

But I will pissed ASAP.

Kegsy

At that point I vacated the stage and left him to it..thing is the dancefloor was full so...!*?%!

Andy !

OMG ! People were dancing and enjoying themselves, whilst reissues were being played !!! How could this possibly happen ???

The northern scene is so lucky to have guys like you policing it. KTF

is this thread about the value of ov and keeping it in demand and sort after or the music. Im off

Just bought a nice Kirk Franklin original cd promo will be massive in 2020 and will you be able to buy a copy on original media

no chance

And yes i prefer vinyl

always does it 4 me

Love this thread

Martyn

OMG ! People were dancing and enjoying themselves, whilst reissues were being played !!! How could this possibly happen ???

The northern scene is so lucky to have guys like you policing it. KTF

As i said to the last guy who quoted it

I did not write it i copied it because he asked a question ! The original post no is 218

Andy

Edited February 24, 201213 yr by allnightandy

Just to stir up the OVO debate again !

This thought has just occurred to me !

Nearly all DJ's have played Frank Wilson at some point in their career , yet there are still only two known copies

as this was at one point the biggest n/s record ever , how could that be ? LoL

Just to stir up the OVO debate again !

This thought has just occurred to me !

Nearly all DJ's have played Frank Wilson at some point in their career , yet there are still only two known copies

as this was at one point the biggest n/s record ever , how could that be ? LoL

Are you for real....???

Are you for real....???

Why what is your problem ? it's a question thats all

Why what is your problem ? it's a question thats all

It's not your question that bothers me, however tired that may be....

It's your statement.... nearly all DJs will have played Frank Wilson.... that bothers me.