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Northern Soul - The Casino Years 1975 - 1977


Pete S

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Welcome to part 3 of my version of “The Wigan Casino Years”.  Last weekend, we kicked off in late 1973 and four hours later, we were at the tail and of 1975, which is where this episode kicks off.  This is prime time stuff for me because not long after this, I became a Casino regular so I did actually hear all of these records played there.  And anyone who claims Wigan only played pop stompers is in for a rude awakening.  True, there were some low points, and I don’t shy away from these, that’s why in the next part you’ll hear the likes of Tim Tam & The Turn Ons — but it’s an accurate record of what was played, and when.  Things like Lynne Randell and Gene Chandler were oldies undergoing a massive revival. It is not strictly chronological but it’s not far off.  On this episode, Little Anthony is a year too late but that’s only because I couldn’t find it last week and it was too good to exclude.  The tracks are all records I own and I mixed them live.  I apologise for any glaring omissions, but I just didn’t have the records. 

 

THE MATTA BABY — DO THE PEARL GIRL

EARL JACKSON — SOUL SELF SATISFACTION

YVONNE BAKER — YOU DIDN’T SAY A WORD

JOE HICKS — DON’T IT MAKE YOU FEEL FUNKY

DETROIT LAND APPLES — I NEED HELP

THE EMBERS — WATCH OUT GIRL

THE INSTIGATIONS — I DON’T WANT TO DISCUSS IT

DETROIT EXECUTIVES — COOL OFF

BERNIE WILLIAMS — EVER AGAIN

NANCY WILSON — THE END OF OUR LOVE

G. DAVIS & R. TYLER — HOLD ON, HELP IS ON THE WAY

BABE RUTH — ELUSIVE

MOMENTS — NINE TIMES

THE MOODS — RAINMAKER

JAMES BYNUM — TIME PASSES BY

TODAYS PEOPLE — S.O.S.

JOEY DEE — HOW CAN I FORGET

RONNIE McNEIR — SITTING IN MY CLASS

MATT LUCAS — YOU BETTER GO GO

THE FRENCH FRIES — DANSE A LA MUSIQUE

BOBBY HUTTON — LEND A HAND

THE YUM YUMS — GONNA BE A BIG THING

THE POPPIES — THERE’S A PAIN IN MY HEART

ADAM’S APPLES — DON’T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD

THE REFLECTIONS — LIKE ADAM AND EVE

BARBARA PENNINGTON — TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY

THE TIFFANIES — IT’S GOT TO BE A GREAT SONG

THE ROTATIONS — A CHANGED MAN

DETROIT SOUL — ALL OF MY LIFE

THE FLIRTATIONS — STRONGER THAN HER LOVE

GEORGE BLACKWELL — CAN’T LOSE MY HEAD

POOKIE HUDSON — THIS GETS TO ME

TONY MIDDLETON — PARIS BLUES

LILLIE BRYANT — MEET ME HALFWAY

JIMMIE RAYE — PHILLY DOG AROUND THE WORLD

JEANETTE HARPER — PUT ME IN YOUR POCKET

AL DE LORY — RIGHT ON

LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS — BETTER USE YOUR HEAD

LESLIE UGGAMS — DON’T YOU EVEN CARE

THE INSPIRATIONS — NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE

MARGARET MANDOLPH — SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

LOU EDWARDS — TALKIN’ BOUT POOR FOLKS

SHANE MARTIN — I NEED YOU

PAULA PARFITT — LOVE IS WONDERFUL

LYNNE RANDELL — STRANGER IN MY ARMS

JOHN E. PAUL — I WANNA KNOW

LEE ROYE — TEARS (NOTHING BUT TEARS)

BILLY WATKINS — THE ICE MAN

GENE CHANDLER — I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/mayfairmenthol/northern-soul-the-casino-years-1975-1977/

Not quite as bad as some would have you believe then ??

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Proof's in the pudding - last part is coming up, be interested to see what people think of it.

I don't think anyone's made as complete an audio history as this though.

 

I'll be saving the whole lot somewhere as a definitive list of what was played at Wigan.

Sterling work Pete :thumbup:

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I'll be saving the whole lot somewhere as a definitive list of what was played at Wigan.

Sterling work Pete :thumbup:

 

What I'll do is, go through everything again and do a follow up containing some of the stuff I forgot or didn't have, things like Tavares, The Human Zoo, The Night, Herbert Hunter, Footsee etc.

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What I'll do is, go through everything again and do a follow up containing some of the stuff I forgot or didn't have, things like Tavares, The Human Zoo, The Night, Herbert Hunter, Footsee etc.

Pete do you have Flame n King - Fast Steppin by any chance?.......not heard that for donkeys and at one point it was my favorite sound.........to think I could have danced to that baffles me  :lol:

Cant find it on YouTube either.

:thumbsup:

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Pete do you have Flame n King - Fast Steppin by any chance?.......not heard that for donkeys and at one point it was my favorite sound.........to think I could have danced to that baffles me  :lol:

Cant find it on YouTube either.

:thumbsup:

 

Orange label?  Instrumental?  Might have, did have...have honestly never heard that played out

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Orange label?  Instrumental?  Might have, did have...have honestly never heard that played out

Bloody hell that was quick :yes:

That`s the one, never had it myself for no apparent reason, it`s mental to dance to nowadays so no wonder it`s not getting played but i`m sure it could be slowed down, just as some were speeded up to fit in with the 100 MPH dancers of the time. The A side vocal "The Love Man" is on the tube but not the instro.  :thumbsup:

 

And what the F*** are we boring ba$tards doing on here Saturday night?  :lol:

Edited by Guest
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Bloody hell that was quick :yes:

That`s the one, never had it myself for no apparent reason, it`s mental to dance to nowadays so no wonder it`s not getting played but i`m sure it could be slowed down, just as some were speeded up to fit in with the 100 MPH dancers of the time. The A side vocal "The Love Man" is on the tube but not the instro.  :thumbsup:

 

And what the F*** are we boring ba$tards doing on here Saturday night?  :lol:

 

Well I'm looking after one ill kid and one too wide awake kid while Missus is at hospital then in 10 minutes I'm going to put them to bed and watch the match I recorded, MOTD, drink 6 pints of cider and smoke 20 fags while celebrating a rare Wolves win

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Well I'm looking after one ill kid and one too wide awake kid while Missus is at hospital then in 10 minutes I'm going to put them to bed and watch the match I recorded, MOTD, drink 6 pints of cider and smoke 20 fags while celebrating a rare Wolves win

Similar here apart from the sick kids. Linda`s working till 10 and let`s face it, tellys shite till MOTD and ive got a few lagers, gin & tonics and if we`re still awake I just downloaded The Equalizer with Denzel Washington so I may see if it`s any good, nowt to get up for in the morning.

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Guest UPTITE U250A

Welcome to part 3 of my version of “The Wigan Casino Years”.  Last weekend, we kicked off in late 1973 and four hours later, we were at the tail and of 1975, which is where this episode kicks off.  This is prime time stuff for me because not long after this, I became a Casino regular so I did actually hear all of these records played there.  And anyone who claims Wigan only played pop stompers is in for a rude awakening.  True, there were some low points, and I don’t shy away from these, that’s why in the next part you’ll hear the likes of Tim Tam & The Turn Ons — but it’s an accurate record of what was played, and when.  Things like Lynne Randell and Gene Chandler were oldies undergoing a massive revival. It is not strictly chronological but it’s not far off.  On this episode, Little Anthony is a year too late but that’s only because I couldn’t find it last week and it was too good to exclude.  The tracks are all records I own and I mixed them live.  I apologise for any glaring omissions, but I just didn’t have the records. 

 

THE MATTA BABY — DO THE PEARL GIRL

EARL JACKSON — SOUL SELF SATISFACTION

YVONNE BAKER — YOU DIDN’T SAY A WORD

JOE HICKS — DON’T IT MAKE YOU FEEL FUNKY

DETROIT LAND APPLES — I NEED HELP

THE EMBERS — WATCH OUT GIRL

THE INSTIGATIONS — I DON’T WANT TO DISCUSS IT

DETROIT EXECUTIVES — COOL OFF

BERNIE WILLIAMS — EVER AGAIN

NANCY WILSON — THE END OF OUR LOVE

G. DAVIS & R. TYLER — HOLD ON, HELP IS ON THE WAY

BABE RUTH — ELUSIVE

MOMENTS — NINE TIMES

THE MOODS — RAINMAKER

JAMES BYNUM — TIME PASSES BY

TODAYS PEOPLE — S.O.S.

JOEY DEE — HOW CAN I FORGET

RONNIE McNEIR — SITTING IN MY CLASS

MATT LUCAS — YOU BETTER GO GO

THE FRENCH FRIES — DANSE A LA MUSIQUE

BOBBY HUTTON — LEND A HAND

THE YUM YUMS — GONNA BE A BIG THING

THE POPPIES — THERE’S A PAIN IN MY HEART

ADAM’S APPLES — DON’T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD

THE REFLECTIONS — LIKE ADAM AND EVE

BARBARA PENNINGTON — TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY

THE TIFFANIES — IT’S GOT TO BE A GREAT SONG

THE ROTATIONS — A CHANGED MAN

DETROIT SOUL — ALL OF MY LIFE

THE FLIRTATIONS — STRONGER THAN HER LOVE

GEORGE BLACKWELL — CAN’T LOSE MY HEAD

POOKIE HUDSON — THIS GETS TO ME

TONY MIDDLETON — PARIS BLUES

LILLIE BRYANT — MEET ME HALFWAY

JIMMIE RAYE — PHILLY DOG AROUND THE WORLD

JEANETTE HARPER — PUT ME IN YOUR POCKET

AL DE LORY — RIGHT ON

LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS — BETTER USE YOUR HEAD

LESLIE UGGAMS — DON’T YOU EVEN CARE

THE INSPIRATIONS — NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE

MARGARET MANDOLPH — SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

LOU EDWARDS — TALKIN’ BOUT POOR FOLKS

SHANE MARTIN — I NEED YOU

PAULA PARFITT — LOVE IS WONDERFUL

LYNNE RANDELL — STRANGER IN MY ARMS

JOHN E. PAUL — I WANNA KNOW

LEE ROYE — TEARS (NOTHING BUT TEARS)

BILLY WATKINS — THE ICE MAN

GENE CHANDLER — I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/mayfairmenthol/northern-soul-the-casino-years-1975-1977/

 

Nice selection Pete,as usual from you :yes:

especially all those nice Mecca tunes -you know,the ones played in that Highland Room...first... :lol: that are now said to be Wigan tunes...!

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Nice selection Pete,as usual from you :yes:

especially all those nice Mecca tunes -you know,the ones played in that Highland Room...first... :lol: that are now said to be Wigan tunes...!

 

Went by personal experience though - if I heard them at Wigan, they made the list - but I did say that many records had been discovered and played elsewhere first.

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Went by personal experience though - if I heard them at Wigan, they made the list - but I did say that many records had been discovered and played elsewhere first.

correct again pete, catacombs, va-va's, mecca...people like blue max & pep in our neck of the woods were responsible for a lot of stuff that went on to go stellar at the casino, before it gained it's own identity via richard and john anderson.

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Nice selection Pete,as usual from you :yes:

especially all those nice Mecca tunes -you know,the ones played in that Highland Room...first... :lol: that are now said to be Wigan tunes...!

 

You not wrong Uptite.

Colin Curtis did a set @ Lowton, was surprised to hear MVP's was first spun at Blackpool?? Is that right?

Quite a lot of others in his set surprised me too, the highlight for me being The Moment's Nine TImes, which has Blackpool stamped all over it, great tune IMO.

Not to worry though, the list of tunes that WERE broke at Wigan is longer than the Magna Carta.

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You not wrong Uptite.

Colin Curtis did a set @ Lowton, was surprised to hear MVP's was first spun at Blackpool?? Is that right?

Quite a lot of others in his set surprised me too, the highlight for me being The Moment's Nine TImes, which has Blackpool stamped all over it, great tune IMO.

Not to worry though, the list of tunes that WERE broke at Wigan is longer than the Magna Carta.

 

These records were played everywhere though mate - things like The Moments I mean - MVP's was definitely Mecca, as was Lou Edwards, but as I say, if I heard them in the main room at Wigan as a 'top sound', I included them

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These records were played everywhere though mate - things like The Moments I mean - MVP's was definitely Mecca, as was Lou Edwards, but as I say, if I heard them in the main room at Wigan as a 'top sound', I included them

 

I never doubt you Pete.

Just always thought MVP's a Wigan tune, suppose that'd be down to the This England thing maybe I just wrongly presumed.

Shane Martin Mecca too?

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I never doubt you Pete.

Just always thought MVP's a Wigan tune, suppose that'd be down to the This England thing maybe I just wrongly presumed.

Shane Martin Mecca too?

 

I always thought Shane Martin was Wigan but it could just have easily been Va Va's or somewhere like that.

MVP's was massive before it was on this England, in fact it had been reissued and dropped by the time the show was broadcast.

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I always thought Shane Martin was Wigan but it could just have easily been Va Va's or somewhere like that.

MVP's was massive before it was on this England, in fact it had been reissued and dropped by the time the show was broadcast.

 

When's someone gonna do a definitive guide as to who broke what and where records were first played?

Suppose that would divide a lot of opinions too, but that'd be really good.

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One things for sure Shane Martin was played off an import first(if it was a mecca thing) because when i took my CBS Issue(brand spanking new .also from Picton, st.Pete) to the Mecca, Levine was jumping around saying "Colin ,look a British Shane Martin!" Colin was more interested in the copy of Robert Thomas _Salvation that i had also found that week.as it was still Ians exclusive!

Traded the Robert Thomas to Colin and sold the Shane Martin at Wigan for twelve quid! it had also got around about the Robert Thomas because Richard said to me he would have given me Twenty-quid! for it,lot of money in those days!

 

Steve

 

Same night at the Mecca Levine had played a version of Rescue me  i had ,By the Reynettes? on Singaporian Atlantic

I think we mentioned it before, I bought a US Epic copy of Shane Martin within minutes of you selling the UK issue for £12. I remember it as if it were yesterday.  Apart from the fact I can't actually remember what happened yesterday!!!!!

 

Paul

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When's someone gonna do a definitive guide as to who broke what and where records were first played?

Suppose that would divide a lot of opinions too, but that'd be really good.

 

That would be brilliant, maybe the mods could do some sort of "matrix box thingyo" where people could type in a tune and others could confirm where it was first played, there would then be no need for an ongoing thread on said subject!

Anyway anything that would stop "dr watson" on You Tube from nearly self combusting  every time someone mistakenly called a record a Wigan sound when it had been played elsewhere first has got to be worth a go surely! :lol:

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