The latter part 1978 continues in the same vein as the previous months with white stompers like ‘Stop Girl’ and Wakefield Sun dominating proceedings.  However, come late 78 and turning over into 79, the seeds of a revival had begun.  John Anderson discovered some of the scene’s greatest records of all time and Richard Searling promoted these at the Casino.  The famous Joe Matthews cover up ‘I Don’t Like To Lose’ saw people travelling miles just to hear that one record for the first time in ages.  Suddenly it was like someone had pulled the stopper out of the barrel and the ‘newies’ appeared with alarming frequency, making the latter Casino period one of the best times ever for quality music.  The only downside being the introduction of many Modern Soul records, but I haven’t got them anyway…so I hope you enjoy the last chapter in the history of Wigan Casino, when it eventually closed at the end of 1981, the scene had seemingly nowhere to go — but almost 35 years later, we’re still here, Northern Soul is still here, and those fantastic records are still being discovered. (Obvious respect goes out to all theCasino DJ’s, John Vincent, Brian Rae, Pep, Keith Minshull, Alan Rhodes, Russ, Gary, Pat, Sam, Kev etc)
(The last few tracks are out of sequence as I had to dub from LP’s and I also found a couple of missing 45’s, they still represent the final 2 years though)

 

7 DWARFS — STOP GIRL

JOE TEX — YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT BABY

DAWN — BABY’S GONE AWAY

AD LIBS — NEW YORK IN THE DARK

LARRY CLINTON — SHE’S WANTED

BILLY HAMBRIC — SHE SAID GOODBYE

JIMMY BURNS — I REALLY LOVE YOU

THE CHANDLERS — YOUR LOVE MAKES ME LONELY

ROBERT WALKER & THE NIGHT RIDERS — EVERYTHING’S ALL RIGHT

GENERAL ASSEMBLY — SENSITIVE MIND

THE SHARPETTS — LOST IN A WORLD OF DREAM

THE 7^TH AVENUE AVIATORS — YOU SHOULD ‘O’ HELD ON

THE NOMADS — SOMETHIN’S BAD

LESTER TIPTON — THIS WON’T CHANGE

LITTLE ANN — WHAT SHOULD I DO

THE GROUP FEAT. CECIL WASHINGTON — I DON’T LIKE TO LOSE

MR. SOUL — WHAT HAPPENED TO YESTERDAY

AL WILLIAMS — I AM NOTHING

THE DEADBEATS — NO SECOND CHANCE

THE GENERATION — HOLD ON

WILLIAM POWELL — HEARTACHE SOUVENIRS

JACKEY BEAVERS — I NEED MY BABY

THE Q — THAT’S THE WAY

ARIN DEMAIN — SILENT TREATMENT

PARIS — SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

COURT DAVIS — TRY TO THINK (WHAT YOU’RE DOING)

RAMONA COLLINS — YOU’VE BEEN CHEATING

JOHN & THE WEIRDEST — CAN’T GET OVER THESE MEMORIES

THE AGENTS — TROUBLE

JAY TRAYNOR — UP AND OVER

THE NEW WANDERERS — THIS MAN IN LOVE

RUFUS LUMLEY — STRONGER THAN ME

TOJO — BROKEN HEARTED LOVER

LES CHANSONETTES — DON’T LET HIM HURT YOU

RAY AGEE — I’M LOSING AGAIN

EDDIE DAYE — GUESS WHO LOVES YOU

THE VOLUMES — I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF

FLUFFY FALANA — MY LITTLE COTTAGE

MOSES DILLARD — I’LL PAY THE PRICE

GIL BLANDING — RULES

HERB WARD — STRANGE CHANGE

THE DELITES - LOVER

FRIENDLY PEOPLE — I AIN’T GOT NOTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES

FLAME N KING & THE BOLD ONES — HO HAPPY DAY

 

https://www.mixcloud.com/mayfairmenthol/northern-soul-the-casino-years-1978-to-1981/

Edited December 13, 201410 yr by Pete S

Arguably the best of the lot Pete.

Arguably the best of the lot Pete.

 

Yeah I was wondering what people would think of this, I stopped going at the end of 78 and I missed the likes of Cecil Washington but I certainly am of the opinion that the music improved massively.  I think I prefer part 2 myself, or end of part 2, start of part 3...

Pete

This is the one for me some of Searling's incredible records that crossed over to my time in the early 80s venues after the Casino.Records that are still today revered as the greatest sounds the scene produced.All these pod casts have been fantastic to hear thanks for putting them out

Yeah I was wondering what people would think of this, I stopped going at the end of 78 and I missed the likes of Cecil Washington but I certainly am of the opinion that the music improved massively.  I think I prefer part 2 myself, or end of part 2, start of part 3...

 

S'pose we all would say our time was the best. I went 77-80, but 79 for me easily the best as can be seen on your list with some of the finest Northern Soul records ever played.

The soundtrack of my time at Wigan, scandalous that most of these records have been neglected by the oldies scene over the last 20 years - I'd love have a night out with the records played based on this period

Yes 78 onwards hardly feature even at that Kings hall 30th I must have counted approx 25 in eight hours

Yes 78 onwards hardly feature even at that Kings hall 30th I must have counted approx 25 in eight hours

 

Tell you why I think that is, after I stopped I know you kept going but loads of people stopped going to the nighters around that time - not necessarily going off the scene, but the nighters had gotten too much for some lightweights like me - so anyway, the majority of those people consider anything that came after 1978 as newies still, so your Al Williams and Court Davis's are newies to them...

Tell you why I think that is, after I stopped I know you kept going but loads of people stopped going to the nighters around that time - not necessarily going off the scene, but the nighters had gotten too much for some lightweights like me - so anyway, the majority of those people consider anything that came after 1978 as newies still, so your Al Williams and Court Davis's are newies to them...

 

Exactly, many people returned in the 90s or later with no knowledge of the records that were played after the mid-70s.

Nearly 20 years later and most of them are still unaware……. apologies though - don't want to deflect the thread. We've been around that tree enough times in the past

Edited December 13, 201410 yr by Steve L

Pete. It just gets better. Late 78 thru 79 was as you say the rebirth of the casino.

Stunning simply stunning pod cast thank you

Steve

Blinding period in Northerns history. But overlooked by many on the nostalgia scene. Unfathomable really.

Cheers for this

Bonus track Pete,Professionals after Arin Demain..? Good stuff.!!

Agree Pete. But that should a good thing, imagine hearing Al Williams as a Newie, how lucky are they. But they switch off as it doesn't fall into the 50 tracks of their couple of years at nighters. I'll never get these types. 

 

Tell you why I think that is, after I stopped I know you kept going but loads of people stopped going to the nighters around that time - not necessarily going off the scene, but the nighters had gotten too much for some lightweights like me - so anyway, the majority of those people consider anything that came after 1978 as newies still, so your Al Williams and Court Davis's are newies to them...

Bonus track Pete,Professionals after Arin Demain..? Good stuff.!!

 

Oops, towards the end I was dubbing off lp's so I wrote each title on a scrap of paper and put them on top of the singles pile, that must have fallen off...

Agree Pete. But that should a good thing, imagine hearing Al Williams as a Newie, how lucky are they. But they switch off as it doesn't fall into the 50 tracks of their couple of years at nighters. I'll never get these types. 

 

You are spot on, and I've admitted I stopped going and these records came after my favourite period but in many instances they are as good as or better, I may be blinkered towards certain types of NS but not when it comes to quality 60's, I mean I'm not that mad keen on Lester Tipton but when I cued it up and pressed play I got shivers while doing it

 many people returned in the 90s or later with no knowledge of the records that were played after the mid-70s.

Nearly 20 years later and most of them are still unaware

 

I'd include a lot of Promoters and DJ's who are completely ignorant of this period in that as well. Been to several supposed Wigan Anniversary type events thinking I might hear some of the lesser played stuff like above, only to suffer the usual parody type night of Frank Wilson and The Snake, one DJ even introducing Ruby Andrews as a 'Massive Wigan Anthem'....

Edited December 14, 201410 yr by Zed1