I was just going through the Stafford Top of the World playlist that is contained on the "Soulfulkindamusic" website (and there is a guy on youtube called "soulechoes" who puts up great videos of stafford) and it struck me how many of the songs sounded like Belgian popcorn. 

 

 

I am from California, so I don't know anything about either of these scenes (except what i learn here and on youtube). was there any connection between the two scenes? why did the sound of Stafford sound so different (from what I can tell) from Wigan (stompers) and the Mecca (70s)? it just seems like such a non-obvious direction for soul DJing to take at that time.

 

anyway, i love the music! I feel like if i could go back in time and attend any past soul events - it would be Stafford.

 

Bobby Smith, Roy Roberts, Freddie North etc. awesome! 

 

 

Edited March 16, 201312 yr by ljblanken

  I imagine Valerie and Nick - It Aint Like That (Glover) are Ashford & Simpson. 

 

yes i believe they are ashford and simpson. wasn't there other Glover single "I'll find you" played on the norther scene? i know that was also a popcorn hit.

yes i believe they are ashford and simpson. wasn't there other Glover single "I'll find you" played on the norther scene? i know that was also a popcorn hit.

 

 

 

all 3 Glover singles have been played

 

m

A broad generalisation - Most of the sets in the main room contained lots of fisrt time out tunes, mixed in with loads of 2nd time out tunes, the odd 3rd time out tune, and the even fewer in number tunes that may have lasted 5 or 6 niters (So maybe a ten to twelve week period?

 

To counter Geordies very valid point. The quality of all the DJs at Stafford wasnt restricted to just the main room. The downstairs room, and the upstairs rooms roster were just as good. It wasnt like you were feeling short changed if you went to one of the other rooms (The upstairs didnt open for the first year or so I seem to remember. It was downstairs initially in a much smaller room). As you say Dave Allcock, Steve Smith, Gary Rushbrooke, Ady Pountain, so many others...the Djs in there were playing sets that would be just as exciting as the guys in the main room. Often we'd spend a whole night in the other room, just cos it was great.

 

I wonder if part of the reaon for the quick turnover, was the fact that there were more people able to 'uncover' a song in 1985, than there were in 1974? I have no idea if this is true. but I did meet so many people at Stafford who's knowldge was unbelievable. And so if Pat Brady say had a first time out tune, you could be sat close to any number of guys (Butch, Dean Anderson etc, and they'd all sagely nod and say oh this is so and so on that lable.) Then Dean would have it for sale at the next nighter, probably for twice the price it was before

sheer Madness, could you imagine half a dozen Northern folk giving it loads in the middle of that lot.... love to see that..Laughs  

 

Isn't it Fabulous Music we all share, even if it is sped up...

 

Probably already happened.  Half a dozen Northern uk soulies (on a long weekend in Brussels), just about to turn in for the night.... suddenly 'hear' mid-tempo Motown, coming from a basement of a nearby club.  They investigate further... !

I think the first half of this recent clip gives a good indication of the Popcorn dance style. It degenerates into general disco towards the end.

Thanks for posting the clips.  Quite interesting!  Footwork jive, but the upper body (inward/ outward turns) reminds me of East Coast swing (which is a Country & Western dance).  You need a certain degree of dancefloor etiquette for partner dancing, and it shows. These folks are lovin' it.

 

Popcorn backdrop @ 8:43 !

 

atb

Dave

Fancy having to dance with a woman hanging on to ya? Yuk, stop cramping my style duck  

I Like the 2nd half were it degenerates into disco.!! The first half reminds me of parties when i was young,all the family danced in that style to everything.