All The Wigan Casino Live Tapes In One Go

[Pete S]

AS PEOPLE KEEP ASKING ME ABOUT DOWNLOADING THE VARIOUS WIGAN CASINO TAPES, I'VE COMPILED ALL OF THE ONES I'VE POSTED UP TO MIXCLOUD ON ONE DISC IF ANYONE WANTS THEM.  IT CONTAINS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING AND A BONUS:

 

 

EARLIEST RECORDING OCTOBER 73

This tape is from October 1973, the earliest Wigan tape in existence as far as I know, just a month into the Casino's lifespan. The playlist is pretty much as to be expected, mainly comprising records from The Cats, The Torch and places like Va Va's. Much of the tape was cut to pieces where the original taper started recording then changed his mind. Tracks I had to cut off this tape included Terrible Tom, Jr Walker (I Ain't Goin' Nowhere), Morris Chestnut, Freddie Chavez and Lou Ragland (I Travel Alone). Very interesting to see LOU RAGLAND in there though, I had no idea until today that this was spun and then dropped for 3 or 4 years.

It's a fabulous tape, usual mono quality, great atmosphere and the clapping during Mike Post Coalition is spine tingling. You'll wish you were there - I did!

DJ's are cut from the tape mainly but I can definitely hear Martyn Ellis

 

SEPTEMBER 74

Probably the most exciting Casino tape I ever uploaded, of course it's been downloaded and split up by people posting it on youtube but this is the full original.  You can touch the atmosphere. 

 

7TH JUNE 1975

this was recorded in the main room at Wigan casino on June 7th 1975 and features Richard Searling and Russ Winstanley. I made two edits in this one, cutting out Pain It Black by Love Sitars and Run Baby by Dalton James & Sutton from Russ's spot, otherwise it's as it was recorded - blimey it was 38 years ago! Starts off quietly but sound improves by the second track.

 

23RD SEPT 1975 2ND ANNIVERSARY

Just nearly one side of a C90 cassette, this is a fantastic snapshot of Wigan Casino in late 1975. The DJ for the first track is Alan Rhodes. His handover to John Vincent at 18:20 on the recording is one of the greatest, most thrilling bits of DJing many of us had ever heard at the time. And still is to this day

 

9TH OCTOBER 1976

This late 1976 period was fantastic and I’m really sad that this is my only remaining tape from that period, I did have others but they were lent out and never returned. Two things that I enjoyed about this, listen to The Champion and you can really hear the sound of feet on that dancefloor, what an atmosphere (this is a little cheat as I actually recorded that 2 weeks earlier at the 4th Anniversary but left it on the tape) and even better, Danse A La Musique — it sounds like people clapping but that is the sound of feet ‘stomping’, not clapping. I remember recording that sat on the balcony overlooking the dancefloor and watching the packed dancefloor in sheer awe. DJ's here are Richard Searling, Keith Minshull and (mainly) Pep, who was of course a hero to most of the Wolverhampton crowd. Nice of him to play my request right at the end...

 

12TH FEB 1977

This was a fantastic night at what was my favourite period of Wigan late 76 to early 77. I recorded this from the back of the room with the recorder sat on a table so it's not digital quality but the atmosphere is, of course, second to none. DJ's are keith Minshull and Richard Searling.

 

24TH SEPT 1977 4TH ANNIVERSARY

This is the last 30 minutes of the 4th Anniversary at Wigan casino, 24th September 1977. I taped this from the back left of the room. It's notable for featuring the late Martyn Ellis doing one of his rare Wigan spots, he's the first DJ on, followed by Russ Winstanley ending the night with an awesome, atmospheric 3 Before 8 (well 4 before 8 if you include Gerri Granger). Sound quality is as you would expect from a cheap cassette deck but if you love the Wigan atmosphere you'll enjoy this.

 

15TH OCTOBER 1977

I remember this was a really quiet night for some reason so I sat on the stage and recorded this with the tape recorder placed on top of one of the speakers - hence it's great quality. I prefer my Wigan tapes with more atmosphere and clapping but today's generation seem to prefer the music, so here's the first part of Richard Searling's spot from 15th October 1977.

 

25TH SEPT 1980 7TH ANNIVERSARY

This is a phenomenal quality recording of the 7th anniversary (taped by an old friend Rich Simner) and the highlight is undoubtedly a sensational spot from Richard Searling, playing many of his then cover ups and top sounds. Although the sound quality is fantastic, you can also hear the clapping, so good stuff all round. This track listing may not be exactly right as I know I cut out a few of the Modern sounds when I originally edited the tape, I've not listened to it before posting it. I know you'll enjoy this one, it's definitely one of the best I've got.

 

MR. M'S STUNNING QUALITY RECORDING

Northern Oldies lovers, get ready, this one will blow your socks off. This is a typical hour spent in Mr. M's which was of course the offshoot or overspill room to the main room at Wigan Casino. I have to admit that I didn't frequent it much - the whole reason for doing the 160 mile round trip was to hear exclusive records, not stuff they used to play at our local youth club, but of course thousands of people did enjoy M's so this one goes out to you lot. The sound quality is outstanding, so good that it sounds like a 'line in' recording. The DJ is Brian Rae (I think - sounds like him anyway). It's a really good spot and I'd date it to some time in late 1977.

 

END OF AN ERA THE LAST ALLNIGHTER SEPT 19th 1981

This is an edited down document of the last ever 2 hours at Wigan casino, this was the 'real' end of an era allnighter (the hastily arranged second one doesn't count), this was obviously my last ever visit and it was a fantastic night, as you'll hear from this very emotional recording. If you were ever a Casino regular, I wouldn't be surprised if this has you in tears, not only at the end, but also listening to the atmosphere on tracks like A Little Bit Hurt, Move On Up and Tainted Love - it has never been equalled and it never will be. This isn't the best quality tape I've put up by a long chalk but it's priceless as a historical document.

 

ALSO

 

CLEETHORPES 1975 LIVE TAPE (FANTASTIC)

This is the only live recording I have from Cleethorpes Pier, and it’s from it’s peak really, when it’s playlist matched or even surpassed that of any other venue in the country, late 1975 going into 1976. What I love about live tapes is the atmosphere, the clapping which sadly seems to have disappeared over the last two decades, but what makes this Cleethorpes tape special is that you think you are hearing clapping, when in fact it’s the sound of FEET stomping in unison — just listen to So Is The Sun for proof of this…it sounds like their going to stomp the pier into the sea!

Anyway, Cleethorpes 75, the DJ is Pep apart from on the last three tracks, not sure who it is that takes over.

 

 

SO ALL THESE  NIGHTER RECORDINGS ALTOGETHER, THAT'S AROUND 14 HOURS WORTH OF MEMORIES, SOMEWHERE I HAVE A BLACKPOOL MECCA RECORDING IF I CAN FIND IT I'LL INCLUDE THAT AND ANY OTHERS I CAN FIND

 

DROP ME A LINE IF INTERESTED - JUST TO CONFIRM, IT'S ALL OF THESE RECORDINGS ON ONE DISC, YOU CAN PLAY IT ON YOUR PC OR IMPORT IT INTO ITUNES OR WHATEVER - I COULDN'T DO 16 SEPARATE CD'S AS THE WEIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO MUCH FOR ME TO DO FREE POSTAGE.

 

£20

 

pete.smith@freeuk.com

 

* ALSO ADDED RICHARD SEARLING MID 1980 TAPE 

Edited August 1, 2013 by Pete S

[Greety]

pm'd you Pete