So, who would have thought that on that warm summer Sunday evening in June 1980, as I packed my sweat-soaked shirt into my canvas toolbag and walked into the clear Nottingham evening that this would be the last time I danced to rare soul in public.......    ...until now!

 

Nearly 34 years later I'm out tomorrow night, largely thanks to Soul Source to be honest (all that enthusiasm is catching!):  Black short sleeve shirt - check. Levi's, check. Bedded in shoes - check. Dance moves...hmmm unchanged since last time out. Hope I don't look out of place - could be a dream or a disaster....

 

Reading the Fiona dance lessons thread people are pretty much saying that you just feel the music and everything else doesn't matter - that's how I'm going to approach it (as I used to to be honest).

 

Which brings me to the point - what's the longest gap anyone has had between soul nights? Will I hold the record? If so, it'd be the only decent record I own  .

 

Any stories about first nights back after a long gap would be good.

 

Stu

Have a great night

Da boys got soul.. Just steer clear of World Champion floor-workers and you'll be Okeh.

Good point - do people still chuck themselves about as much these days? Obviously the 'world champion' and the same old young telly faces do, but what about people of my generation, of the, ahem, 'hefty' persuasion!

Have a great night Stu.

 

I haven't really answered your question - but hey ho. You need to gently ease yersen back in with some really soulful 70's.

 

Peter

 

Stu mate - I'm just about to PM you with a link to lots of videos of people of all ages, sizes etc. dancing at venues 

 

Break a leg mate ... erm ... don't break a leg 

 

Cheers

 

Richard

Edited April 4, 201411 yr by Premium Stuff

Fair play stu just go for it but please report back and give us your take on things as they are now 34 years later! I would love to hear your thoughts.

All the best mark.

Thanks for the posts everyone! I'll let you know how I get on.

 

Mr Nice - that's just what I was thinking - sweet and mellow 70s all the way.............not.

Thanks for the posts everyone! I'll let you know how I get on.

 

Mr Nice - that's just what I was thinking - sweet and mellow 70s all the way.............not.

Stu you didn't say where you were going or is that intentional. People on here might be there and will want to say hello. Have a good night  anyway. Steve

have a brilliant night mate,just enjoy yourself

jason

Oh... not intentional - I'm going to the Soul Over Easy night at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield - thought it might be a good one to ease myself in with - then I'll be looking for somewhere that plays 'newer' sounds.

 

If anybody's going I'll be the one who's pushing 50, balding, wearing dark clothes - can't miss me!

I think I  went about six or seven weeks without going a nighter or a soul night. Think that's the longest I ever been away. Steve

Probably about 10 years away from the scene 94 till 2004 , only get out a few times a year as my shifts permit but enjoy myself

Edited April 4, 201411 yr by Mark S

You'd be surprised at the some of the top dancers on the floor in their fifties.  Huge respect.

 

You'll be at the bar - and naturally get chatting with other punters; old/ new, some have never been away, or like yourself, possibly back after a long absence.  What I would say is, tek it in your stride, don't pull too many muscles or strain yerself with acrobatics on the floor - believe me, if the musics right, you'll think you've never been away! - but you haven't been on a floor in 30 years, so ease into it.

 

At the end, you'll ask yourself ' Do I want to go again?' 

 

A re-sounding yes, I hope is the answer. 

 

I'd also mention, if you don't enjoy it for what ever reason, don't be put off.  There are, on average, 50 odd venues running in the UK every week.  It takes time, literally years to find your favourite venues - which is also part of the excitement.

 

Have a great night!

 

atb

Dave          

Word of warning Stu, if you used to be handy with the spins take it easy, two full revolutions after so long out and you'll need somebody on each arm guiding you back to your seat and then it will be the room spinning for the rest of the night not you!

 

Have a great night.

Just don't try this Stu   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good un matey 

 

Swifty

at the moment every time i get on the dance floor it feelslike 34yrs since the last time

adopting a rab c nesbit persona

"an i will tell you this boy i have never had a dance lesson isnt that true mary doll"

Edited April 5, 201411 yr by scottie

Have a great night Stu, two minutes on the floor and you will feel like you have never been away and regretting you were.

Call me an old cynic, but give it 12 months and you will be tutting at every tune that comes on and thinking, these Dj's are s**t, I could do loads better.......I'll buy some proper records and show 'em how it should be done. 12 months later, t***ers won't give me a spot. I'll show 'em, I'll start my own night..............  

 

Sorry mate. Enjoy yourself and don't get involved in the politics. 

I've used all my likes so here's a big like for everyone who's posted - some brilliant advice. 

 

Thanks everyone I wish you could all come with me!

Hi Stu have a great night. Never been to the Winding Wheel but have heard good reports .

 

If you are ever thinking of coming over to Nottingham send me a pm and we could probably meet up for a soul night out.

Just don't try this Stu   

After watching that feel turned on by the nurse and the maid girls.

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good un matey 

 

Swifty

Well I’m back - what a night!! I had a blast.

 

I won’t bang on about the venue or the DJs and all that because that would be a review and belong in the events forum, so thought it would be better to let you guys know how it felt.

 

After a few people warmed up on the floor Earl Jackson came on and I had no choice but to get up and drag my 49 (and 51 weeks) year old ass on to the floor.

 

The feel of the floor under my shoes, the sound of the record at the volume it’s SUPPOSED to be played at, the like-minded people around me, my own piece of dance floor, suddenly realising my dancing was good enough….. fantastic - I finally found ‘congress’!!! (I'm sure that's the correct term)  .

 

…and that’s how the night panned out - danced to one, then two in a row, then three etc... freakin' excellent - felt part of the scene at last - the missing jigsaw piece is in place.

 

A big shout must go out to the wonderful and fragrant Mrs SoulStu who gave me the kick up the backside I sorely needed, and who danced northern in public for the first time ever but looks like she’s done it all her life (her current favourite is Breakaway by the Valentines).

 

I spent some time gassing to Dave and Marlene, veterans of the Torch(!!!) and Pete, a scooterist who hasn’t been out since the mid 8Ts.

 

The night finished too soon I could have carried on all night - in fact for two pins I could leave the house now and go to a do. Just need to keep an eye on the left knee - started playing up a bit around midnight - maybe next time I’ll dose up with  ibuprofen, and maybe adapt my dancing style a bit.

 

Looks like the Grange, Rotherham on the 19th is the next one.

 

…and when (WHEN) I go down to a do in Notts I’m going to drag Dave Callard and that 70s smoothie Peter Nice out, whether he likes it or not!!!

 

…and you’re right Quinvy, I could have done with dancing to something I haven’t heard before, or something off the beaten track!

 

SoulStu is back!!!!! Thanks all for the encouragement everyone - I love you all.

 

Stu

Edited April 6, 201411 yr by SoulStu

Nice one Stu!

Really glad it went well.  See you on floor, as they say. 

 

atb

Dave

Nice one Stu!

Really glad it went well.  See you on floor, as they say. 

 

atb

Dave

Ta Dave, You gave me some cracking advice - I'll now begin my quest to find the ultimate soul night that suits me!

Cracking you had a great night mate, welcome back. Even better you want to hear something off the beaten track. If only more who's returned had your open mind.

Good on you Stu.

Glad you enjoyed it and have an open mind musically. Only 4 more days to the weekend And do it all again!

I'm so glad you enjoyed your outing the timing is really good as you build up the stamina,  possibly suffering occasional cramp, muscle or tendon strains as a price paid for a bloody good night out.  

Who knows, the next thing you know you will be out both Friday & Saturday nights; then comes the Bridlington, Whitby, Scarborough or Skegness weekenders, Keele or Stoke allnighter and then Prestatyn weekender.

Does it ever stop? ....... Phew I get excited just thinkin about the great events to come this year and early next year.

KTF