As a few of you know I'm playing "catch-up" havin' returned to the scene early last year. Anyway, I had a mini-allnighter on Saturday by myself when I sat up all night and read David Nowells book "Too Darn Soulful" for the first time. So this has propbably bin done a lot in the past

I thought his stuff on The Wheel, Torch and Casino were the "dogs" but then what happened? Did Dave run out of time? I mean Stafford was sketched and so much more just...totally ignored! The 80s, such an important time on the scene just left out....can anyone shed any light on why?

Edited January 16, 200619 yr by Jim.

As a few of you know I'm playing "catch-up" havin' returned to the scene early last year. Anyway, I had a mini-allnighter on Saturday by myself when I sat up all night and read David Nowells book "Too Darn Soulful" for the first time. So this has propbably bin done a lot in the past

I thought his stuff on The Wheel, Torch and Casino were the "dogs" but then what happened? Did Dave run out of time? I mean Stafford was sketched and so much more just...totally ignored! The 80s, such an important time on the scene just left out....can anyone shed any light on why?

Stafford was just sketched over because it didnt contribute that much and anyway the book title was too darn soulful which implies to me it was about earlier times on our scene not the stafford ( over rated ) era.

Steve

Stafford was just sketched over because it didnt contribute that much and anyway the book title was too darn soulful which implies to me it was about earlier times on our scene not the stafford ( over rated ) era.

Steve

The only comment i will make is that you have just created a hornets nest

The only comment i will make is that you have just created a hornets nest

Me as if i would

Steve

The only comment i will make is that you have just created a hornets nest

No one wants to play then

Steve

After reading Too Darn Soulful, I simply got the feeling that Nowell simply wasn't interested in the post-Wigan era since it had no personal relevance to him. Probably a bit too slow and too much R'n'B as well. Much preferred the book 'The In-Crowd' anyway...

No one wants to play then

Steve

i also think the various books should be brought up to date after all `the in crowd`has volume 1 on the cover.its now over 20 years since staffords heyday but i suppose its a lot more complicated to document the last two decades.sorry steve i´m not really creating a brawl here am i.

i also think the various books should be brought up to date after all `the in crowd`has volume 1 on the cover.its now over 20 years since staffords heyday but i suppose its a lot more complicated to document the last two decades.sorry steve i´m not really creating a brawl here am i.

Couldn't agree more Pete, I was going to make the same piont about "The In Crowd", When are we going to see Volume 2 ?

i also think the various books should be brought up to date after all `the in crowd`has volume 1 on the cover.its now over 20 years since staffords heyday but i suppose its a lot more complicated to document the last two decades.sorry steve i´m not really creating a brawl here am i.

I think your right . the books need bringing up to date but as there hasnt been a venue that can and did make a lasting impressions on peoples lives since Wigan Casino .i dont think it would be financially viable to undertake such a task. But that is my own thoughts. :tomato2:

Steve

Stafford was just sketched over because it didnt contribute that much and anyway the book title was too darn soulful which implies to me it was about earlier times on our scene not the stafford ( over rated ) era.

Steve

....yep, that must be it. Your not gonna get me to bite this time Stevie

....yep, that must be it. Your not gonna get me to bite this time Stevie

Note to myself... Must try harder Shouldnt have made it so obvious

Steve

So does nobody fancy tackling Daves "missing chapter"?

Edited January 17, 200619 yr by Jim.

It has been said that messers Withers,Thorley,Hennigan and Darge saved Northern soul from dissapearing up its own arse

It has been said that messers Withers,Thorley,Hennigan and Darge saved Northern soul from dissapearing up its own arse

Yep. I was suprised that at least Keb didn't get more of a mention if nothing else...

Edited January 17, 200619 yr by Jim.

Its not been done for one simple reason........................not enough money in it

Its not been done for one simple reason........................not enough money in it

Perhaps your right...thats one of the reasons it becomes frustrating when an author doesn't take the chance when he's already got it!

Perhaps your right...thats one of the reasons it becomes frustrating when an author doesn't take the chance when he's already got it!

Maybe you could enlighten us all about the ABBA TECNO SOUL SCENE Jim

HB

Stafford was just sketched over because it didnt contribute that much and anyway the book title was too darn soulful which implies to me it was about earlier times on our scene not the stafford ( over rated ) era.

Steve

Depends on wot era from Stafford your all on about here cus inbetween the Torch closing and Wigan opening Stafford Top Of The World had a monday nite soul nite ran by The International Soul Club used to get 500 or more in not bad for a monday nite

HB

Maybe you could enlighten us all about the ABBA TECNO SOUL SCENE Jim

HB

Depends on wot era from Stafford your all on about here cus inbetween the Torch closing and Wigan opening Stafford Top Of The World had a monday nite soul nite ran by The International Soul Club used to get 500 or more in not bad for a monday nite

80s. Not just Stafford though, Leicester, Yate, Buzzard, Peterborough, Market Harborough....

Edited January 17, 200619 yr by Jim.

I'll have a go...

I reckon it all depends what age you are. If you were 16 in 1982 (which i was) then after Wigan closed Stafford, Leceister Oddfellows, Hinckley Leisure Centre etc.. were a whole new scene and a breath of fresh air, we dressed differently than when we went to Wigan, the music was different, there seemed to be a whole new group of people around, it was a new decade. Wigan was great but for the young'uns in '82 Stafford was 'ours'. That's why it still has fond memories. I'd never say Stafford was perfect, it was half empty most of the time, but it felt good.

M.

I'll have a go...

I reckon it all depends what age you are. If you were 16 in 1982 (which i was) then after Wigan closed Stafford, Leceister Oddfellows, Hinckley Leisure Centre etc.. were a whole new scene and a breath of fresh air, we dressed differently than when we went to Wigan, the music was different, there seemed to be a whole new group of people around, it was a new decade. Wigan was great but for the young'uns in '82 Stafford was 'ours'. That's why it still has fond memories. I'd never say Stafford was perfect, it was half empty most of the time, but it felt good.

M.

I should know you Matt...Who did you know in the Hinckley crowd? Brett Henry, Stu Wileman....any of that lot?

Edited January 17, 200619 yr by Jim.

80s. Not just Stafford though, Leicester, Yate, Buzzard, Peterborough, Market Harborough....

I thought you must be on about 80s

HB

Perhaps your right...thats one of the reasons it becomes frustrating when an author doesn't take the chance when he's already got it!

We'd find it interesting, but I'm not sure how much of a wider appeal such a book would have The ones on the 70s I would imagine are read by people outside of the soul scene, as it was the scene's most 'public' era, it had fashions associated with it, and was influential on the club scene after it. Do think a book on the 80s venues could be fascinating if done right but I'm not sure it would be easy to sell to a wider audience, and hence to persuade publishers to go for it.

We'd find it interesting, but I'm not sure how much of a wider appeal such a book would have The ones on the 70s I would imagine are read by people outside of the soul scene, as it was the scene's most 'public' era, it had fashions associated with it, and was influential on the club scene after it. Do think a book on the 80s venues could be fascinating if done right but I'm not sure it would be easy to sell to a wider audience, and hence to persuade publishers to go for it.

i agree with that rachel

cant see the need for a book on this subject. just sit next to the guy with the big eyes at a nighter and ask him 'what was it like in the 80s?'

you will have much more fun and hear stuff that wouldnt even make the print.

Shane

I'll have a go...

I reckon it all depends what age you are. If you were 16 in 1982 (which i was) then after Wigan closed Stafford, Leceister Oddfellows, Hinckley Leisure Centre etc.. were a whole new scene and a breath of fresh air, we dressed differently than when we went to Wigan, the music was different, there seemed to be a whole new group of people around, it was a new decade. Wigan was great but for the young'uns in '82 Stafford was 'ours'. That's why it still has fond memories. I'd never say Stafford was perfect, it was half empty most of the time, but it felt good.

M.

Thats a bit rude matt the people of Stafford think its perfect

HB

i agree with that rachel

cant see the need for a book on this subject. just sit next to the guy with the big eyes at a nighter and ask him 'what was it like in the 80s?'

you will have much more fun and hear stuff that wouldnt even make the print.

Shane

I agree with Rachel too! She's only to right in what she says...and as for you Shane, I havn't got a clue what your talkin' about

Edited January 18, 200619 yr by Jim.

i agree with that rachel

cant see the need for a book on this subject. just sit next to the guy with the big eyes at a nighter and ask him 'what was it like in the 80s?'

you will have much more fun and hear stuff that wouldnt even make the print.

Shane

Ive got big eyes but didn,t go to stafford very often bringing up the kids in the 80s so wot do you mean Shane

HB

Ive got big eyes but didn,t go to stafford very often bringing up the kids in the 80s so wot do you mean Shane

HB

Good line-up for the 6th May by the way...gonna try n get over for that

Good line-up for the 6th May by the way...gonna try n get over for that

More than welcome Jim would love to see you for this one you never know i mite be tempted to open my own play box but with all the talanted DJs i got i dont need to

HB

More than welcome Jim would love to see you for this one you never know i mite be tempted to open my own play box but with all the talanted DJs i got i dont need to

HB

I've heard rumours about that play box of yours...only rumours mind .

I've heard rumours about that play box of yours...only rumours mind .

Yea there all true NO ABBA TECNO

HB

i agree with that rachel

cant see the need for a book on this subject. just sit next to the guy with the big eyes at a nighter and ask him 'what was it like in the 80s?'

you will have much more fun and hear stuff that wouldnt even make the print.

Shane

Good line-up for the 6th May by the way...gonna try n get over for that

Think I might too

Think I might too

You better be there YOUNG LADY YOUR THE STAR OF MY SHOW

HB

I'll have a go...

I reckon it all depends what age you are. If you were 16 in 1982 (which i was) then after Wigan closed Stafford, Leceister Oddfellows, Hinckley Leisure Centre etc.. were a whole new scene and a breath of fresh air, we dressed differently than when we went to Wigan, the music was different, there seemed to be a whole new group of people around, it was a new decade. Wigan was great but for the young'uns in '82 Stafford was 'ours'. That's why it still has fond memories. I'd never say Stafford was perfect, it was half empty most of the time, but it felt good.

M.

Agree 100% Matt. I feel completly nonplussed by the books that wax lyrical about the Torch and Wigan etc, but flip over Stafford, Hinkley, Blackburn, Morecombe, early 100 club etc. Dont get me wrong, I love reading about the Casino etc,but for these authors to miss out on 'MY' Northern Soul youth results in my chucking it to one side, and filing it in the 'never to be read, OR recommended' pile.

Having said that, there is no way I could do any better

Edited January 17, 200619 yr by in town Mikey

Stafford was just sketched over because it didnt contribute that much and anyway the book title was too darn soulful which implies to me it was about earlier times on our scene not the stafford ( over rated ) era.

Steve

So the club that proved mid tempo numbers in a big way wasn't such a bad thing. And widened the music spectrum from loads of 100mph stompers didn't contribute much?

Beg to differ ...

So the club that proved mid tempo numbers in a big way wasn't such a bad thing. And widened the music spectrum from loads of 100mph stompers didn't contribute much?

Beg to differ ...

YES. Finally got someone to BITE .God that was hard work.

Steve

You better be there YOUNG LADY YOUR THE STAR OF MY SHOW

HB

Rach, dont fall for the charms of a smoothie, he only wants you for your tunes

Steve

YES. Finally got someone to BITE .God that was hard work.

Steve

Not as hard as it was for me not to bite Steve!

When I read that yesterday morning I went apoplectic, coughed and spluttered, and yelled out loud.

If you added a yuk yuk, or a dag nambit or two I would have been doing a pretty mean impression of a narked Roscoe P Coltraine

Not as hard as it was for me not to bite Steve!

When I read that yesterday morning I went apoplectic, coughed and spluttered, and yelled out loud.

If you added a yuk yuk, or a dag nambit or two I would have been doing a pretty mean impression of a narked Roscoe P Coltraine

Class pure class. Was just feeling very good after Winsford and i thought i would throw a spanner in the works just for a bit of fun.

Steve

YES. Finally got someone to BITE .God that was hard work.

Steve

how long did stafford run for? someone told me the other day it was only a year

Well one of my fave nights was the two and a half year anniversarry. I think it made just over the three best years Northern Soul has ever had.

Of course anyone who knows anything about Northern Soul, knows Wigan was a pop music club filled with journo's, wanna be's and non soul boys. And Stafford put the Soul back into Northern

We'd find it interesting, but I'm not sure how much of a wider appeal such a book would have The ones on the 70s I would imagine are read by people outside of the soul scene, as it was the scene's most 'public' era, it had fashions associated with it, and was influential on the club scene after it. Do think a book on the 80s venues could be fascinating if done right but I'm not sure it would be easy to sell to a wider audience, and hence to persuade publishers to go for it.

I fancy having a crack at it myself.

Edited January 18, 200619 yr by Jim.

Agree 100% Matt. I feel completly nonplussed by the books that wax lyrical about the Torch and Wigan etc, but flip over Stafford, Hinkley, Blackburn, Morecombe, early 100 club etc. Dont get me wrong, I love reading about the Casino etc,but for these authors to miss out on 'MY' Northern Soul youth results in my chucking it to one side, and filing it in the 'never to be read, OR recommended' pile.

Having said that, there is no way I could do any better

I Dj'd at Pier in Morecambe and it was the business, easily on par with more well known venue's, just ask the scottish crowd who use to come down on mass every month, and it has had little acknowledgment over the years.

Edited January 18, 200619 yr by Netspeaky

YES. Finally got someone to BITE .God that was hard work.

Steve

OK I'll go for it.

I suppose northern pretty much died in the 80s, so you'd have to say that Stafford was one of the larger nails in the coffin.

Col.

Edited January 18, 200619 yr by Soulsmith

It has been said that messers Withers,Thorley,Hennigan and Darge saved Northern soul from dissapearing up its own arse

In your dreams. They took a fully loaded, healthy, functioning scene & led it up a blind alley.

I fancy having a crack at it myself.

Yea but it would be full of ABBA TECNO IF YOU WROTE IT JIM

HB

YES. Finally got someone to BITE .God that was hard work.

Steve

You part time Soul Sources are all the same got to work stir up a hornets nest then dont come back till ypur back in work

HB

In your dreams. They took a fully loaded, healthy, functioning scene & led it up a blind alley.

Touchy

Good line-up for the 6th May by the way...gonna try n get over for that

By the way Jim if you do come over for 6th May bring 2 shirts then we can spend 4 hours deciding which one looks GOD

HB

Touchy

I was actually laughing when I wrote it........but also looking fwd to a good argument.

Your reply has temporarily taken the wind out of my sails