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Mid Tempo, Will It Ever Return?

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I suppose it depends where you go still to an extent, but these days if you hear a half dozen mid tempo numbers all night, you're doing well.

 

So what happened to this wonderful genre that played such a big part at Stafford and the 100 Club in earlier years? And of course, would folk like to hear more of that sort of thing again these days?

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  • Len
    Len

    .....here's my contribution sample......If Kitch will lend me it that is!     Simply beautiful 'MID' Tempo - NOW DANCE!   Len   'Sandy Golden - Your Love Is Every

  • arnie j
    arnie j

    aaah stafford midtempo tunes,some of the most soulful records i ever heardhttps://youtu.be/0No4DA8UPQI jason

  • jocko
    jocko

    Surely the question should be has it really gone away, and if so why did you let it if you are still on scene. This p*sh about people not liking it at nighters was proved wrong for many years accordin

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At home I've mostly got me soul ears on listening to Deep & Ballads

 

Mid-tempo for me when I'm out though and probably giving it the odd shuffle.

 

F**k me, this is virtually a stomper compared to what I'm mostly listening to   :lol:

 

At home I've mostly got me soul ears on listening to Deep & Ballads

 

Mid-tempo for me when I'm out though and probably giving it the odd shuffle.

 

F**k me, this is virtually a stomper compared to what I'm mostly listening to   :lol:

 

 

 

class Dave..

Bernard Drake "I've been untrue" went down well at the 100 Club on Saturday. Surprised me how many were dancing.....but generally Niters do need to keep the tempo up. 

 

I agree with this, some people seem to think some of us would want a whole night of Mid-tempo - of course not! If it's played correctly (spliced in right) it can add something to a night, and it can be done at 4.00am......and no one would notice! :D 

 

Len :thumbsup: 

At home I've mostly got me soul ears on listening to Deep & Ballads

 

Mid-tempo for me when I'm out though and probably giving it the odd shuffle.

 

F**k me, this is virtually a stomper compared to what I'm mostly listening to   :lol:

 

Yep, that's absolutely fecking awesome soul music Dave.

 

Pickd up on that from a playlist.

 

Peter

I agree with this, some people seem to think some of us would want a whole night of Mid-tempo - of course not! If it's played correctly (spliced in right) it can add something to a night, and it can be done at 4.00am......and no one would notice! :D 

 

Len :thumbsup: 

 

Terry would notice....his metronome would immediately flash up a meter reading of less that 150 bpm :lol:

 

PS: Wasn't Johnny Gilliam the Velvellettes manager too? All his records are pretty good.

Edited by Steve G

Terry would notice....his metronome would immediately flash up a meter reading of less that 150 bpm :lol:

 

Who? :D.....You're right of course :wink:.......In saying this Terry ain't stupid - he's actually a regular at 'The Den' (well he's been twice!) and says so himself, that he likes some of the stuff played in their - Terry's main point is that nighters NEED to be 'kept going', and I agree with this heartily - But, as I said Mid-tempo doesn't need to kill a night, it's just got to be played when right for 'the moment'

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN

I ain't got through this thread yet, but one point I'd like to make - is that I (and others that like Mid-tempo Soul ) also do like to dance, and wouldn't play a tune 'out' if dancing to it was like 'walking through treacle'. Another thing that gets said to me  quite often is "The thing is Len, I like to dance"......I feel like saying "Oh really? Sorry - you should have said"....Jeese.....(They wouldn't get my irony)

 

Len :thumbsup: 

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Despite what some think, mid tempo is played at virtually every venue. As Bazza said, some can't distinguish between beat ballads and mid tempo. Beat ballads however do seem to be a forgotten genre.

 

I think at a lot of nighters at least, the emphasis is too much towards up tempo. Nothing against uptempo, but some more mid tempo magic, underplayed stuff and the beat ballads you speak of.

 

You would think the more hours to fill at a nighter would allow less uptempo stuff.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOqCxEIPBCY

I'm slightly confused here I thought mid tempo tunes had always been around from the early days with things like Gene Chandler - Nothing can stop me , Brooks & Jerry I got what it takes , Willie Tee Walking up a one way street and moving on to stuff like Nolan Chance Just like the Weather and later things like Eloise Laws Love Factory , Bobby Hutton Lend a Hand and loads more.

 

Even a lot of the "bad "records played over the years were mid tempo Barbara Mills , Carmel Strings , Peggy March etc

 

Some great Soulful records posted on this thread by the way.

 

Exactly! Strange ain't it?

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Yep, that's absolutely fecking awesome soul music Dave.

 

Pickd up on that from a playlist.

 

Peter

I nearly sold my copy for a tenner until Andy Basket informed me it was worth a lot more, still have NO idea of it's price, maybe @ £75??

I'm being allowed out on Friday and so am planning to play these two which I hope fit the bill as regards mid-tempo.

 

If they turn out to be beat ballads I'm playing 'em anyway  :D 

 

Cheers

 

Richard

 

They're 'Crossover Mid-Tempo' mate......confused? - You will be! :D 

 

Great sounds btw :wink:

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN

I think at a lot of nighters at least, the emphasis is too much towards up tempo. Nothing against uptempo, but some more mid tempo magic, underplayed stuff and the beat ballads you speak of.

 

You would think the more hours to fill at a nighter would allow less uptempo stuff.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOqCxEIPBCY

 

Hi K  :D

 

Great record - love it - you have taste

 

Richard

Loads of Mid tempo played at RnB123 in London

We use the term RnB as it was used in the sixties for Black American Dance music

Things like this

 

 

PS: Wasn't Johnny Gilliam the Velvellettes manager too? All his records are pretty good.

 

Sorry, I missed this bit Steve......Although I would love to show you my 'wealth of knowledge' - I dunno :D 

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Mid-Tempo v Beat Ballard is the question imho.

 

Mid tempo can be, should be and generally is still played at every venue on any given weekend, there are a vast amount of quality good mid tempo "dance" tunes around but ffs!! don't get me started on fucking beat ballad shittttte. IT'S a dance scene!! and whilst i may appreciate other peoples ideas on whether or not Sam Fletcher / Troy Dodds / Wade Kin' Flemmons "Other Place" are good northern tunes,i will never agree or understand this opinion, i have always and always will believe they have no place being played at 02:00am on a Sun morning at ANY venue. Absolutely fine and dandy on the way home in your car or whilst pottering about doing the ironing.

 

My tin hat is on as i also know that the view i hold today not seen as very forward thinking, i'm not forward thinking.

 

dazz

Love mid tempo and defo a place for it on the scene just needs to be mixed in right, more at soul nights than nighters I would say

As played at the 100 club saturday to a packed Dancefloor

Mid-Tempo v Beat Ballard is the question imho.

 

Mid tempo can be, should be and generally is still played at every venue on any given weekend, there are a vast amount of quality good mid tempo "dance" tunes around but ffs!! don't get me started on fucking beat ballad shittttte. IT'S a dance scene!! and whilst i may appreciate other peoples ideas on whether or not Sam Fletcher / Troy Dodds / Wade Kin' Flemmons "Other Place" are good northern tunes,i will never agree or understand this opinion, i have always and always will believe they have no place being played at 02:00am on a Sun morning at ANY venue. Absolutely fine and dandy on the way home in your car or whilst pottering about doing the ironing.

 

My tin hat is on as i also know that the view i hold today not seen as very forward thinking, i'm not forward thinking.

 

dazz

 

No 'Tin Hat' needed as far as I'm concerned mate. You're right, it is a dance scene, and this is where the 'line' gets blurred, I play records that I would dance to - It ain't Rocket Science.......but I would dance to some of the ones you mentioned :D

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN

 doing the ironing.

 

My tin hat is on as i also know that the view i hold today not seen as very forward thinking, i'm not forward thinking.

 

dazz

 Fcuk me Dazz - you are way ahead of your time matey. Doing the fecking ironing? Go stick a beat ballad on and put yer feet up old lad.

 

Peter

 

:)

Troy Dodds and Sam Fletcher are Dancefloor Bombs

Will the fill the floor every time BUT everyone to their own taste

Al H

As played at the 100 club saturday to a packed Dancefloor

 

I may be wrong here (I can be! lol) I would say this would work well at The 100 Club, but not so well at some other nighters - Maybe because of the mod influence? I like the tune, and that's probably because of my own 'history'.

 

All the best,

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Troy Dodds and Sam Fletcher are Dancefloor Bombs

Will the fill the floor every time BUT everyone to their own taste

Al H

 

I know they were bitd, i had to endure them at every nighter i went, got right on my tits, but each to their own and all the power to em'.........still dont get it though.

 

dazz

june jackson-youre welcome ,stafford heaven

Edited by arnie j

Steve G played this at the 100 club on saturday night

now if he followed it with the C.O.DS id be in stompy heaven

just like in the 80s

Edited by CapitolSC

need to get your selves down to

 

                            DENTON INDEPENDENT CLUB

                       

                          MIDTEMPO--BEAT BALLADS DELIGHT

 

 

CODY BLACK--SANDY GOLDEN --RONNIE WEST--GWEN OWENS--CAROL WOODS

JOHNNY GILLIAM--DEBONAIRS--AND MORE  ALL O.V.O

Edited by sid jones

Steve G played this at the 100 club on saturday nightnow if he followed it with the C.O.DS id be in stompy heavenjust like in the 80shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XtB2rQVN_I

What a friggin great tune

Right time for bed Is it a beat ballad ? Mid tempo?

Fab Pat Brady spin from the 80s

I may be wrong here (I can be! lol) I would say this would work well at The 100 Club, but not so well at some other nighters - Maybe because of the mod influence? I like the tune, and that's probably because of my own 'history'.

 

All the best,

 

Len :thumbsup: 

 

Stewart Ames - King For A Day (J&W)

 

What about the other side 'Angelina' - is that a dancefloor reviver these days or a dancefloor killer?  :g:

 

Cheers

 

Richard

Edited by Premium Stuff

Right time for bed Is it a beat ballad ? Mid tempo?

Fab Pat Brady spin from the 80s

 

Beat Ballad....I'll sit next to Dazz, and watch ya dance :D

 

Night night :wink: 

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN

Stewart Ames - King For A Day (J&W)

 

What about the other side 'Angelina' - is that a dancefloor reviver these days or a dancefloor killer?  :g:

 

Cheers

 

Richard

 

That is a record that is 'ripe' for reactivation - Great tune :thumbsup:

 

.......but what do I know? You really shouldn't refer to me if you have 'dancefloor reviver' in your question - I'm the man that put 'Empty dance floors rule ok' on a flyer - It upset a few people, they thought I meant it literally! :D

 

All the best,

 

Len :thumbsup: 

Edited by LEN

Yep, that's absolutely fecking awesome soul music Dave.

 

Pickd up on that from a playlist.

 

Peter

tune

Another great midtempo dancer with huge production that makes its way into every night I play!

 

Celestrals - Keep Your Hands Off My Baby

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4OUOqxdahQ

Right time for bed Is it a beat ballad ? Mid tempo?

Fab Pat Brady spin from the 80s

What is it?

I'm with Dazdakin..I remember whole sets of midtempo in the 90s.At around 3 or 4 oclock its just not on..people putting both hands on their heart whilst barely moving.You were happy as a baby child......ddddddd d kept on dancin..I just kept on dancin....don't you need someone..do do do do do do...hey lonely eyes....you're just.plain nice...hey girl your just plain.nice.All should have stayed tapeswappers stuff.I was glad when the born agains came back and the stompers came back....but you've got to he so be careful what you wish for as they won't move past 1981...the odd one but whole sets of it.!!

Mid-Tempo v Beat Ballard is the question imho.

 

Mid tempo can be, should be and generally is still played at every venue on any given weekend, there are a vast amount of quality good mid tempo "dance" tunes around but ffs!! don't get me started on fucking beat ballad shittttte. IT'S a dance scene!! and whilst i may appreciate other peoples ideas on whether or not Sam Fletcher / Troy Dodds / Wade Kin' Flemmons "Other Place" are good northern tunes,i will never agree or understand this opinion, i have always and always will believe they have no place being played at 02:00am on a Sun morning at ANY venue. Absolutely fine and dandy on the way home in your car or whilst pottering about doing the ironing.

 

My tin hat is on as i also know that the view i hold today not seen as very forward thinking, i'm not forward thinking.

 

dazz

 

I think you're right up the point, though calling beat ballads shite is madness!  As this thread proved, there are countless brilliant beat ballads - they just have to be used in the right context.  There were very few of these beat ballads played in the 70's apart from the odd one or two which actually ended the night (Gene McDaniels, Ray Pollard, Gerri Granger for example) and thats where they belong, to usher in the end of the night, not to kill off the flow half way through.  Imagine what they'd do to a few hundred people full of gear  :lol:

for me the best ever was  ;- Joe Phillips - I just can't stop thinking about you, pure class, pure soul

I'm much rather listen to 100 'mid tempo magic' tracks than just one stompershite cut, but we're all different I guess.

I think people forget ( and some people are clueless as to what a mid tempo record is) that records like Ronnie McNeir Sitting in my Class were seen as midtempo particulary when following a tune like Jimmy Raye or something similar. I think there's some great records been posted on this thread and I'd more than happily spend the night dancing to them but I'd much rather listen to a Soul record of any tempo than a record that is played simply because it's fast.

Edited by manus

 

 

The best of the best - I personally am against substantial amounts of very slow stuff like Romance Watson (I utterly detest that record) being played at nighters as I feel it kills the atmosphere, however there are some that hold their own like Nooney Rickett and Garland Green if played as part of the musical texture of the night. I really love Johnny Gilliam (have had it for many years but it poleaxes me to play it as it's brings me right down) but wouldn't wish to hear it often at a nighter.

 

That said I find a lot of headbanger stompers rather nasty - in the pop shite sense of the word.

 

Dx

Edited by DaveNPete

Never got my head around the fascination there is these days with the 100mph label. Events promising 100% 100mph - Like it used to be ???  Not from what I recall but then again I am getting on a bit. Its all about the mix and a good DJ can satisfy most peoples need and wants in a night. Some quality stuff chucked out on this thread that would and should be welcome anywhere.

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