Thinking over the weekend or should I say  reminiscing about the first couple of times I went to wigan, somehow remembering quite a few tunes played here's a few

bobby diamond stop

jd Martin by yourself 

joey heatherton when you call me baby

lynne randell stranger in my arms

andre brassuer the kid

marva jones I got your number

samantha jones surrounded by a ray of sunshine

jackie deshannon find me love

happy and great memories but then I got thinking which djs played which tunes because I'm scratching me head with this one

Thinking over the weekend or should I say  reminiscing about the first couple of times I went to wigan, somehow remembering quite a few tunes played here's a few

bobby diamond stop ALAN RHODES then RUSS

jd Martin by yourself RICHARD

joey heatherton when you call me baby RICHARD

lynne randell stranger in my arms MINSHULL / RICHARD

andre brassuer the kid 

marva jones I got your number PEP / ALAN RHODES

samantha jones surrounded by a ray of sunshine ALAN RHODES / KM / also played way back

jackie deshannon find me love RUSS / KM

happy and great memories but then I got thinking which djs played which tunes because I'm scratching me head with this one

Correction on the Jay D Martin. I first played it the night I found the Jewels. Both purchased from Max Millward in late 1973. To my ears they were unknowns.

The Kid was a huge seller as a youth club song way before Wigan.

Lynn Randell started at the Mecca with Ian L.

Edited March 30, 201510 yr by The Golden 101

This is what I like to a good healthy yes he did no he didn't debate ?

Correction on the Jay D Martin. I first played it the night I found the Jewels. Both purchased from Max Millward in late 1973. To my ears they were unknowns.

The Kid was a huge seller as a youth club song way before Wigan.

Lynn Randell started at the Mecca with Ian L.

Yes l have to agree with you Kev on this, l have or had a tape with you playing JD Martin, ages before it became a big sound.

Edited March 30, 201510 yr by davetay

its all still a blur... Best times ever, sorry cant help

Correction on the Jay D Martin. I first played it the night I found the Jewels. Both purchased from Max Millward in late 1973. To my ears they were unknowns.

The Kid was a huge seller as a youth club song way before Wigan.

Lynn Randell started at the Mecca with Ian L.

 

No doubt but he was asking who was playing them at Wigan when he first started going late 77

marva jones - i got your number ,,,,cracking oldie...hello

Edited March 30, 201510 yr by wiganer1

No doubt but he was asking who was playing them at Wigan when he first started going late 77

blimey Pete you've even worked out when I started going I was sure if I went in 76 or 77 so late 77 it is ?

Think Pete is spot on for the period in question , think Andre Brausseur was a Mr M's oldie , may have been played in main hall by Dave Evison though .Think Lynn Randell was big at VA VA's too ...

Think Pete is spot on for the period in question , think Andre Brausseur was a Mr M's oldie , may have been played in main hall by Dave Evison though .Think Lynn Randell was big at VA VA's too ...

 

Not in 1977 mate.

Think Pete is spot on for the period in question , think Andre Brausseur was a Mr M's oldie , may have been played in main hall by Dave Evison though .Think Lynn Randell was big at VA VA's too ...

Eddie think your spot on with Evison remember it being played around 6ish the kid was deffo played main room a fair few times I can remember it vividly being a debutant hearing it pounding out of them speakers and everyone clapping I was in total awe , bit disappointed when I got hold of a copy some weeks later and played it on my little stereo definately not the same

Edited March 30, 201510 yr by sheldonsoul

Not in 1977 mate.

was deffo 77 I was born in 61 and first went when I was 16

Not in 1977 mate.

I realise that , was just saying ....

its a difficult one, some stuff got played once or twice  ,if no dance floor re action,. got dropped.. then re appaered later

Kev i had a tape with you on it introducing the jewels as "The Rubies"also on it Tee Fletcher thank you baby(which i never recall hearing again back then) was the night of the first dancing competition,so would have been ´74

was actually going to disagree with Pete then scrolled down and realised the year that was being talked about,good job really because i would have made an arse of myself i actually never heard Alan Rhodes(to my knowledge ) dj at Wigan as i had moved on to better venues (not a slur on him i may add) many on the list had been played pre Wigan,

Steve

The Rubies eh.....I rarely covered up my finds back in the day.

On my 1 spot in the  main room late 79 or early 80 i played bits like Deltours, William Powell, Greater Experience, Detroit Sounds of Friction, Bobby Wisdom & some disco 

On my 1 spot in the  main room late 79 or early 80 i played bits like Deltours, William Powell, Greater Experience, Detroit Sounds of Friction, Bobby Wisdom & some disco 

shock - horror!!... ....not sylvester??...  

think it was the likes of Bileo, Pretenders ( yrself ) etc 

think it was the likes of Bileo, Pretenders ( yrself ) etc 

never doubted your credibility for a minute!  top bloke!

hehe, like a few others, i've  been guilty of playing some lemons 

Ok who played the shite stuff Muriel day , night watch , James coit etc

Ok who played the shite stuff Muriel day , night watch , James coit etc

 

Keith mainly

Keith mainly

 

Is that due to Wigan DJs being under pressure to 'play to the floor' rather than being a bit more adventurous, because his sets at early Stafford seem to be pretty good judging by playlists - a matter of opinion of course. 

Is that due to Wigan DJs being under pressure to 'play to the floor' rather than being a bit more adventurous, because his sets at early Stafford seem to be pretty good judging by playlists - a matter of opinion of course. 

 

It was just that period in time - before the flood of great new discoveries, there was some barrel scraping going on.  I remember the first time Muriel Day was played, it went down really well so it was played again in the same spot.  I think everyone was surprised that Black Power went big.  Same with Tim Tam, I think he may have played that as a joke to start with but people danced to it.  A year later, Keith's back with the Howard Guyton's etc.

Just reading over the "Who Played What At Wigan" thread I think that Russ does deserve a bit of credit for records like Detroit Soul, Tobi Legend, Keanya Collins " Love Bandit", Larry Santos, Smoky and The Fabulous Blades, Billy Prophet, Yvonne Baker, Teen Turbans, Jeannette Williams "All Of A Sudden", Starfires, Dean Parrish "I'm On My Way", Four Perfections...........I am not saying that he discovered them, but he persisted with them from my early recollections of Wigan and although much of the stuff was fed to him by Simon Soussan he had to make an effort to build them up, and some of the few above did turn out to become classics.

Just my humble opinion of a bloke who so often gets forgotten or ridiculed. 

Just reading over the "Who Played What At Wigan" thread I think that Russ does deserve a bit of credit for records like Detroit Soul, Tobi Legend, Keanya Collins " Love Bandit", Larry Santos, Smoky and The Fabulous Blades, Billy Prophet, Yvonne Baker, Teen Turbans, Jeannette Williams "All Of A Sudden", Starfires, Dean Parrish "I'm On My Way", Four Perfections...........I am not saying that he discovered them, but he persisted with them from my early recollections of Wigan and although much of the stuff was fed to him by Simon Soussan he had to make an effort to build them up, and some of the few above did turn out to become classics.

Just my humble opinion of a bloke who so often gets forgotten or ridiculed. 

 

Credit where credit is due.  Trouble is, Russ hasn't managed to move on since, and is very much living on past glories.

I don't know about who played what first, but I remember Russ at a Rose room alldayer anouncing a record and saying "apparently Ian Levine has the only copy of this in the country" and he played All Of A Sudden.

 

Paul

Think Pete is spot on for the period in question , think Andre Brausseur was a Mr M's oldie , may have been played in main hall by Dave Evison though .Think Lynn Randell was big at VA VA's too ...

 

I did a swap with Richard around April/May '73 for a Randell I'd picked up in London couple of months earlier so I'm sure he did play it at Va Va's

 

ROD

Ok who played the shite stuff Muriel day , night watch , James coit etc

 Night Watch was definitely Richard first. Sold him that and Peter Jarrett at same time.

 

ROD

Heard Lynne Randell at Va Va's in 73.

Heard Lynne Randell at Va Va's in 73.

 

Just listening to Richard Searling's Va Va's tribute on Sunday's Cellar Full of Soul.  According to him, he managed to get hold of a copy of Lynne Randell to play at the last all nighter there, so August '73.

What's wrong with Black Power? I've always liked it.

Just listening to Richard Searling's Va Va's tribute on Sunday's Cellar Full of Soul.  According to him, he managed to get hold of a copy of Lynne Randell to play at the last all ni

 

 

Not quite right there Scal.....Detroit Soul was sent to RW, Me and Richard on acetate. I may have been one of the first to find it on Music Town during a US trip in Feb 1975. Keanya Collins was a Mecca play before we had it at Wigan, discovered by IL. Billy Prophet was being played by Pep at the Whitchurch Civic...again before Wigan. The Four Perfections was sent by SS to all of us on the customary Allen Zentz acetates, before finally being uncovered on Party Time.

He did however run hard with Yvonne Baker, playing it off acetate and not the Parkway original as none of us knew the identity in those early days.

Wasn't Yvonne Baker originally a Mecca spin?

Not quite right there Scal.....Detroit Soul was sent to RW, Me and Richard on acetate. I may have been one of the first to find it on Music Town during a US trip in Feb 1975. Keanya Collins was a Mecca play before we had it at Wigan, discovered by IL. Billy Prophet was being played by Pep at the Whitchurch Civic...again before Wigan. The Four Perfections was sent by SS to all of us on the customary Allen Zentz acetates, before finally being uncovered on Party Time.

He did however run hard with Yvonne Baker, playing it off acetate and not the Parkway original as none of us knew the identity in those early days.

Yes,but Kev-he didn`t say Russ discovered them,just persisted with them.

Yes,but Kev-he didn`t say Russ discovered them,just persisted with them.

I think he persisted with Cats Eyes, Hawaii 5-0, Joe 90 too 

Wasn't Yvonne Baker originally a Mecca spin?

I don't think so. I remember when we were serviced the acetate from Soussan, it was another strong exclusive against the might of the Mecca. 

Just reading over the "Who Played What At Wigan" thread I think that Russ does deserve a bit of credit for records like Detroit Soul, Tobi Legend, Keanya Collins " Love Bandit", Larry Santos, Smoky and The Fabulous Blades, Billy Prophet, Yvonne Baker, Teen Turbans, Jeannette Williams "All Of A Sudden", Starfires, Dean Parrish "I'm On My Way", Four Perfections...........I am not saying that he discovered them, but he persisted with them from my early recollections of Wigan and although much of the stuff was fed to him by Simon Soussan he had to make an effort to build them up, and some of the few above did turn out to become classics.

Just my humble opinion of a bloke who so often gets forgotten or ridiculed. 

If by credit you mean credit for selling boots from his little kiosk on the balcony then fair play to the fella

Wasn't Yvonne Baker originally a Mecca spin?

I seem to recall that Ian doubted it existed at first. As Kev has said it was a big WC tune first. My all time fave as it happens as well.

I seem to recall that Ian doubted it existed at first. As Kev has said it was a big WC tune first. My all time fave as it happens as well.

 

 

Hmmm....  I was just a kid and going to both venues.  I could be wrong, but I could have sworn I heard it at Mecca first.  But I will bow to those with superior knowledge and hands on decks experience at the time...

Just reading over the "Who Played What At Wigan" thread I think that Russ does deserve a bit of credit for records like Detroit Soul, Tobi Legend, Keanya Collins " Love Bandit", Larry Santos, Smoky and The Fabulous Blades, Billy Prophet, Yvonne Baker, Teen Turbans, Jeannette Williams "All Of A Sudden", Starfires, Dean Parrish "I'm On My Way", Four Perfections...........I am not saying that he discovered them, but he persisted with them from my early recollections of Wigan and although much of the stuff was fed to him by Simon Soussan he had to make an effort to build them up, and some of the few above did turn out to become classics.

Just my humble opinion of a bloke who so often gets forgotten or ridiculed. 

 

So right, and so many more as well, dead easy to look back and take the mick but up until I'd say mid 77 Russ's spots were as good as anyone else's - he was first to play things like The Ellusions, Servicemen 'Sweet Magic' as well....

I just - literally - received a Wigan tape from March 1974 - will post track listing up soon as I've copied it

Hmmm....  I was just a kid and going to both venues.  I could be wrong, but I could have sworn I heard it at Mecca first.  But I will bow to those with superior knowledge and hands on decks experience at the time...

Didn`t levine come down to Wigan,to hear the tune?

Didn`t levine come down to Wigan,to hear the tune?

 

 

May have done.  My memory is playing all kinds of cruel tricks these days, but in my head I've got this audio-picture of hearing it on those gorgeous speakers at Blackpool some time before the lads at Wigan were all in a froth over "that James Bond record".  Maybe someone lent it to Ian Levine to play. Or then again I could be quite wrong and I'll get my coat....

I'm more concerned about what's  gonna be played next week.

God Bless Mick L

I'm more concerned about what's  gonna be played next week.

God Bless Mick L

Good point, well made - but this is our history and it's not just any old record....

 

I'm certain some older and wiser heads know the answer...

sure there was a similar thread on who discovered which record at which venue a while a go the golden 101 gave some great informative answers. just cant remember what heading it was under. was a great thread for those  who reminisce and fact find 

Good point, well made - but this is our history and it's not just any old record....

 

I'm certain some older and wiser heads know the answer...

 

hi Dayo here's some information from an old wise head Yvonne Baker was first played at Wigan casino not the Mecca. keep on Trucking. ML

Heard Lynne Randell at Va Va's in 73.

I heard it back in the day that when the DS closed va va's and the lights went on and they walked across the floor crushing pills that had been thrown the last record played was Lynne Randell

sure there was a similar thread on who discovered which record at which venue a while a go the golden 101 gave some great informative answers. just cant remember what heading it was under. was a great thread for those  who reminisce and fact find 

Yeah it was a thread I started on a similar thing called who discovered what, I love it when the  guys come out with bygone stories of rare vinyl finds etc