hope this doesnt bore u too much...something i wrote a few years back on the first live wigan tape i got...
here goes......
What Wigan means to me
If not going to Wigan Casino didnt change my life which it did ,the day my mate Bof gave me my first taste of how Wigan Casino used to sounds like ,wow what would i be doing now if not.
Anyway heres a run down of my favourite live tape at Wigan Casino
Its 1978,its the 5th Anniversary its a lock out and Russ is on the decks and here is what he played on that night ..
Adlibs - New York in the dark
AGP rarity that is still hard to find today. Nice oldie to start off with. Was booted on a white label then also released on UK Inferno ,popular with the crowd.
Tommy Bush - I dont like it - Just been pressed came the annoucement
This is a great oldie that rarely gets played today maybe cause originals are again difficult to trace.Will have its day again no doubt.
Charlie Gracie - He'll never love you like I do next on Stomp,stomp, stomp, huge applause at the end,nice forgotten oldie on Diamond
Dana Valery - Backtracking as Russ puts it,,that thunderous beat pounds out of the speakers.Going for big money now on Colombia (glad i got mine cheap) also booted on CSP and Pusseycat which I'm told is one the very first Wigan pressings.
Barry Gray Orchestra - Joe 90 Theme
Alot would say the worst of Wigan and Russ sounds embarrassed by announcing it but you get the impression by the atmosphere and the claps in all the right places that people are dancing to it and enjoying it
Lou Roberts - Ten to one - Back to the Classic Wigan tracks and maybe a classic Wigan artist ,Ten to one being one of his best gets the place going yet again.
Stemmons Express - Woman Love thief - Wow this wakes the place up immediate handclaps to the opening beats to this Wand/Karma rarity This is classic Wigan Atmosphere. One clap then a hundred then five hundred ,fantastic.
Honeybees - She dont deserve you - Think a Russ exclusive a super mid tempo floater on Fontana that would probably go down great today.
Bobby Paris - Night Owl - Although a torch record I think this is one that Wigan adopted and certainly the crowd on this night go wild and is again fantastic to listen to
Sergio Mendes - Love Music - One of my all time favourite Wigan sounds and one I spun at my spot at Lowton. The reaction to this record is superb with everyone it seems , cruelly forgotten 45 but I try to play every time i Dj.
Paul Anka - I cant help loving you - the next to come thundering through the speakers and this classic uptempo track just belts out no wonder its remained a favourite many years later.
Peggy March - If you love me - I gather this was massive for quite a few months,,massive reaction and instant clapping greet this tune,,poppy vocals and you see why it was big but would probably be frowned upon if played today.
Tobi Legend - Time will pass you by - Again super reaction to this Wigan anthem although I have heard it was first played at the mecca - who knows and who cares.Uplifting just listening to it,Handclaps galore just utterly fantastic!
Carmel Strings - I hear a symphony - One of Russ's faves as he plays this in 76 too, Instrumental to the Supremes motown vocal.Sounds great live but one of those thats a bit flat on your record player!
Esko Affair - Salt and Pepper - 'Right up to date' Russ announces and this very poppy but catchy tune from Mercury that I personally love but again would not find many fans these days.Sounds good though and goes down well with the crowd in that night.
Teddy Vann - Colouredman
Again a monster from this period ,not classy but a 'right for the time' sound I suppose.Anyway the clapping on this is superb with the last part of the record a crescendo of atmosphere and handclaps.
Royal Vibes - The joker
One of many versions of this instrumental and this is one certainly get the wigan treatment. Pressed on Bee and is very uptempo
Casusaleers - Dance Dance Dance - This brilliant oldie carries on in the same previous sounds ,uptempo,atmospheric and 100% northern soul.Quite hard to pick up on Roulette.
Diane Newby - Everythings wrong - Three versions of this and for me this is easily the best.On the US Kapp label this is more upbeat than the other two.I think itd be safe to say not played at all since the Wigan days. Revival time methinks!
Lesley Gore - We know we're in love - Pure 100% uptempo pop which seems popular but well disappeared long ago,there were a few sounds from this lady but all in the same vein,not regarded as classics
Dean Courtney - I'll always need you - Classic 45,sounds great on this tape...superb!
Paulbearers - Music with soul - This is one of my favourite uptempo Wigan oldies .Fast ,frantic and forgotten , On fontana (also on Delphi) this too could have its day once again.
Ambassadors - Too much of a good thing - This Pee Vee rarity still sounds good today as it does on this tape.Those horns immediately hit you and youre off ,great stuff
Mystic Moods - Astral Trip - Instrumentals again and this is one of my all time favourite Wigan sounds,If this came on these days I'd probably be the only one the floor but I love it as I do with all the tracks on this tape
Libra - Appollo 11 - This was covered as the mystic moods - out of this world and I suspect didn't do alot but is quite an atmospheric tune and extremely difficult to find and is on Ranwood ,picked mine up from Dave Raistrick about 84.
Karen Young - Too much of a good thing
This a UK item on Major Minor and one popular enough to be booted on US Soul Fox and this again very poppy and very Wigan I suppose,price is shooting up again ,one I think for future revival
Holly St James - Thats not love
This record seems to have been big forever ,,it certainly was in 1978.I know this was big for Richard but obviously Russ a copy too or he may have been playing of the Soul Fox pressing,Either way this record brings the house down
Buckinghams - Dont you care
One of my favourite Wigan sounds,poppy but catchy and moody vocals make it a winner for me. They had a few sounds played at Wigan (You misunderstand me is good too) but this has it for me and its still a cheapie on Colombia and UK CBS
Reflections - Like adam and eve
Wow it sounds like the whole place is in its element here superb handclaps and atmosphere.You can just close your eyes and you think you were there.Superb!! Black ABC issues are quite scarce
Johnny Hampton - Not my girl
What Russ playing detroit!! Yes this monster on Dottys is next on the turntable and sounds great. Again this was pressed about this time but the original has remained rare.
Edward Hamilton - Baby dont you weep
No introduction need for this baby jane and UK grapevine rarity. Im not sure if this was a Wigan sound or discovered at the Torch
Danny Monday - Baby without you
This one a Wigan Discovery announces Russ and how brilliant it sounds too.I havent played this for years.One lucky things is that the boots are near perfect
Deena Johnson - Im a sad girl
I once had Gary Rushbrooke and Steve Whittle in the car outside stafford trying to identify this 45 on US Simpson(im still doing this 20 years on!!).Great little tune and not too expensive.
Linda Elliot - I fell in love with you baby
One of my ALL TIME favourites this ,same as the Charts on Wand but more soulful and midtempo and one I just had to get and I obtained mine at stafford for 3 quid. Its on US Josie. Superb
Dena Barnes - If you ever walked out of my life
Another classic and also a difficult Grapevine 45 to pick up
Barry Gray Orch. - Joe 90
2nd time around for this and again no boos either!Someone must have liked it,Im glad I was too young you cant blame me
Ral Donner - Dont let it slip away
Another one of those 'right time at the right place' records which was big enough to be issued on Inferno. Probably would never see a turntable nowadays but still sounds great.
Lee Roye - Tears
Fabulous oldie that gets the Wigan treatment here. The clapping at the first chorus has to be heard to be believed.Superb
there you go 20 years later and 101 live wigan tapes on,,still collecting the tapes and then the records from them,,,
if u have any im always interested in buying ..selling or swapping for more
hope this doesnt bore u too much...something i wrote a few years back on the first live wigan tape i got...
here goes......
What Wigan means to me
If not going to Wigan Casino didnt change my life which it did ,the day my mate Bof gave me my first taste of how Wigan Casino used to sounds like ,wow what would i be doing now if not.
Anyway heres a run down of my favourite live tape at Wigan Casino
Its 1978,its the 5th Anniversary its a lock out and Russ is on the decks and here is what he played on that night ..
Adlibs - New York in the dark
AGP rarity that is still hard to find today. Nice oldie to start off with. Was booted on a white label then also released on UK Inferno ,popular with the crowd.
Tommy Bush - I dont like it - Just been pressed came the annoucement
This is a great oldie that rarely gets played today maybe cause originals are again difficult to trace.Will have its day again no doubt.
Charlie Gracie - He'll never love you like I do next on Stomp,stomp, stomp, huge applause at the end,nice forgotten oldie on Diamond
Dana Valery - Backtracking as Russ puts it,,that thunderous beat pounds out of the speakers.Going for big money now on Colombia (glad i got mine cheap) also booted on CSP and Pusseycat which I'm told is one the very first Wigan pressings.
Barry Gray Orchestra - Joe 90 Theme
Alot would say the worst of Wigan and Russ sounds embarrassed by announcing it but you get the impression by the atmosphere and the claps in all the right places that people are dancing to it and enjoying it
Lou Roberts - Ten to one - Back to the Classic Wigan tracks and maybe a classic Wigan artist ,Ten to one being one of his best gets the place going yet again.
Stemmons Express - Woman Love thief - Wow this wakes the place up immediate handclaps to the opening beats to this Wand/Karma rarity This is classic Wigan Atmosphere. One clap then a hundred then five hundred ,fantastic.
Honeybees - She dont deserve you - Think a Russ exclusive a super mid tempo floater on Fontana that would probably go down great today.
Bobby Paris - Night Owl - Although a torch record I think this is one that Wigan adopted and certainly the crowd on this night go wild and is again fantastic to listen to
Sergio Mendes - Love Music - One of my all time favourite Wigan sounds and one I spun at my spot at Lowton. The reaction to this record is superb with everyone it seems , cruelly forgotten 45 but I try to play every time i Dj.
Paul Anka - I cant help loving you - the next to come thundering through the speakers and this classic uptempo track just belts out no wonder its remained a favourite many years later.
Peggy March - If you love me - I gather this was massive for quite a few months,,massive reaction and instant clapping greet this tune,,poppy vocals and you see why it was big but would probably be frowned upon if played today.
Tobi Legend - Time will pass you by - Again super reaction to this Wigan anthem although I have heard it was first played at the mecca - who knows and who cares.Uplifting just listening to it,Handclaps galore just utterly fantastic!
Carmel Strings - I hear a symphony - One of Russ's faves as he plays this in 76 too, Instrumental to the Supremes motown vocal.Sounds great live but one of those thats a bit flat on your record player!
Esko Affair - Salt and Pepper - 'Right up to date' Russ announces and this very poppy but catchy tune from Mercury that I personally love but again would not find many fans these days.Sounds good though and goes down well with the crowd in that night.
Teddy Vann - Colouredman
Again a monster from this period ,not classy but a 'right for the time' sound I suppose.Anyway the clapping on this is superb with the last part of the record a crescendo of atmosphere and handclaps.
Royal Vibes - The joker
One of many versions of this instrumental and this is one certainly get the wigan treatment. Pressed on Bee and is very uptempo
Casusaleers - Dance Dance Dance - This brilliant oldie carries on in the same previous sounds ,uptempo,atmospheric and 100% northern soul.Quite hard to pick up on Roulette.
Diane Newby - Everythings wrong - Three versions of this and for me this is easily the best.On the US Kapp label this is more upbeat than the other two.I think itd be safe to say not played at all since the Wigan days. Revival time methinks!
Lesley Gore - We know we're in love - Pure 100% uptempo pop which seems popular but well disappeared long ago,there were a few sounds from this lady but all in the same vein,not regarded as classics
Dean Courtney - I'll always need you - Classic 45,sounds great on this tape...superb!
Paulbearers - Music with soul - This is one of my favourite uptempo Wigan oldies .Fast ,frantic and forgotten , On fontana (also on Delphi) this too could have its day once again.
Ambassadors - Too much of a good thing - This Pee Vee rarity still sounds good today as it does on this tape.Those horns immediately hit you and youre off ,great stuff
Mystic Moods - Astral Trip - Instrumentals again and this is one of my all time favourite Wigan sounds,If this came on these days I'd probably be the only one the floor but I love it as I do with all the tracks on this tape
Libra - Appollo 11 - This was covered as the mystic moods - out of this world and I suspect didn't do alot but is quite an atmospheric tune and extremely difficult to find and is on Ranwood ,picked mine up from Dave Raistrick about 84.
Karen Young - Too much of a good thing
This a UK item on Major Minor and one popular enough to be booted on US Soul Fox and this again very poppy and very Wigan I suppose,price is shooting up again ,one I think for future revival
Holly St James - Thats not love
This record seems to have been big forever ,,it certainly was in 1978.I know this was big for Richard but obviously Russ a copy too or he may have been playing of the Soul Fox pressing,Either way this record brings the house down
Buckinghams - Dont you care
One of my favourite Wigan sounds,poppy but catchy and moody vocals make it a winner for me. They had a few sounds played at Wigan (You misunderstand me is good too) but this has it for me and its still a cheapie on Colombia and UK CBS
Reflections - Like adam and eve
Wow it sounds like the whole place is in its element here superb handclaps and atmosphere.You can just close your eyes and you think you were there.Superb!! Black ABC issues are quite scarce
Johnny Hampton - Not my girl
What Russ playing detroit!! Yes this monster on Dottys is next on the turntable and sounds great. Again this was pressed about this time but the original has remained rare.
Edward Hamilton - Baby dont you weep
No introduction need for this baby jane and UK grapevine rarity. Im not sure if this was a Wigan sound or discovered at the Torch
Danny Monday - Baby without you
This one a Wigan Discovery announces Russ and how brilliant it sounds too.I havent played this for years.One lucky things is that the boots are near perfect
Deena Johnson - Im a sad girl
I once had Gary Rushbrooke and Steve Whittle in the car outside stafford trying to identify this 45 on US Simpson(im still doing this 20 years on!!).Great little tune and not too expensive.
Linda Elliot - I fell in love with you baby
One of my ALL TIME favourites this ,same as the Charts on Wand but more soulful and midtempo and one I just had to get and I obtained mine at stafford for 3 quid. Its on US Josie. Superb
Dena Barnes - If you ever walked out of my life
Another classic and also a difficult Grapevine 45 to pick up
Barry Gray Orch. - Joe 90
2nd time around for this and again no boos either!Someone must have liked it,Im glad I was too young you cant blame me
Ral Donner - Dont let it slip away
Another one of those 'right time at the right place' records which was big enough to be issued on Inferno. Probably would never see a turntable nowadays but still sounds great.
Lee Roye - Tears
Fabulous oldie that gets the Wigan treatment here. The clapping at the first chorus has to be heard to be believed.Superb
there you go 20 years later and 101 live wigan tapes on,,still collecting the tapes and then the records from them,,,
if u have any im always interested in buying ..selling or swapping for more
regards
mark 'fluff' freeman
Edited by wiganer1