The wife always reminisces about her nights at the Charade club which was at Stag roundabout. This was in its early days in the late sixties/early seventies when Mick Bradford managed it and Dave Grownds was a DJ. She often wonders what happened to all the other regulars. Having got back into the northern scene in the last couple of years, she’s surprised she hasn’t bumped into her contemporaries. Any old Charaders out there?

Capones is my limit. 

Remember it well but the Assembly Rooms was the bees knees back in the day.

Used to be a Cleggy bus pick up in rovrum. Sure it was at Charades. Steve DJ, Leslie, Carlo, Stan, etc. Big lad who Married Wendy from Conisbrough, and a youth with black curly hair who could spin for England.

Assembly rooms bang on around 76. Derek Sheldon...Big record 'our sandi' and Jeanette white ' music'.

Happy days..

Ed

 

The lad who could spin for England used to drive a mini that we went to Wigan in and his sister ran the cafe in the old outdoor market. Spent many happy hours in that cafe on a Saturday and Sunday mornings after leaving Adam n Eve's. For the life of me I can't remember his name tho and its bugging the life out of me but boy could he spin. Carlo Naylor is a mate from my School days.  I have no idea who the Big lad is off the top of my head.

Had some great times with those lads.

Edited December 3, 20186 yr by Guest

Remember it well.....Lived in Barnsley and went to Rotherham Tech with two lads from Kimberworth. They introduced me to the Charade AND to the record shop at top end of market - Sound of Music - went their most lunchtimes to get the latest import!! Happy and carefree days.

 

@Sean Hampsey

Thanks Chalky.

Yes, I remember the Charade. It was the first proper club I ever went to. And ended up being resident DJ there for nearly 4 years during the mid 70’s.

I started going in 72 when Dave Growns was the DJ.

He was a very influential figure for me at that time.

Dave was an ex Wheelite and his taste in music was sublime, introducing us to so many great sounds.

In addition to the oldies, he was always on top of his game for what was new and upcoming.

Records I heard for the first time and that I associate with my early years there included:

Guy Darrell – I’ve Been Hurt

Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love

Dean Parrish - I'm On My Way

Cooperettes – Shing a Ling

Bobby Hebb - Love, Love, Love

Syl Johnson - We Did It

O'Jays - Time To Get Down

John Miles - One Minute Every Hour

Jimmy James - A Man Like Me

Johnny Johnson - Honeybee

Della Reese -If It Feels Good Do It

Don Downing - Lonely Days Lonely Nights

Blue Magic - Look Me Up

Mixed in with the likes of the Fascinations 'Girls Are Out To Get You' and the Impressions 'You've Been Cheating' it was a heady and enticing cocktail.

The club had a long association with the whole Mod thing, so Soul Music was its natural stock in trade. From there me and mates heard about the Mecca, Torch, etc and first started understanding ‘Northern’ soul as a genre. Made our first visit to Blackpool late ’72 and never looked back. But the Charade was always my favourite haunt.

I took up Deejaying in ’73 and proudly took up residency at The Charade in ’75.

I was resident for nearly four years, working 2-3 nights a week there and elsewhere, all over the region on other available nights. Very busy times.

The Charade became a hub for Northern and New Release Soul in South Yorkshire and the records I played would have been a mix of classic soul and oldies with a huge accent on new and recent releases:

Bill Harris – Am I Cold am I Hot

Invitations - Look On The Good Side

Brothers Guiding Light – Getting Together

Bobby Moore - Call Me Your Anything Man

Jackey Beavers - Trying To Get Back To You Girl

Notations- Think Before You Stop

Bobo Mr Soul – Hitchhike To Heartbreak

Bobby Womack – Check It Out

Grover Mitchell – What Hurts

Fantastic Puzzles – Come Back

Johnny Baker – Shy Guy

Bobby Womack - Home Is Where The Heart Is

The Crow – Your Autumn of Tomorrow

Natural Four - Love's So Wonderful

We weren’t afraid of Funk either and I would have mixed the likes of James Brown ‘Sex Machine’ with War’s ‘Me And Baby Brother’ as standard to get the floor buzzing and lure in the ‘regular’ nightclub crowd.

Finding the floor receptive to newer sounds I found a following for some of the 45’s from my British collection and I gave the likes of Bobby Patterson ‘I’m In Love With You’ and Darrel Banks ‘I’m The One Who Loves You’ their first spins at the Charade. They’ve been with me ever since.

Samanthas and Cleethorpes were in full swing mid 70’s and, along with the Mecca, we always had similar playlists to these venues as the new sounds came through the same sources.

Miracles – Love Machine & Night Life

Rodger Collins – You Sexy Sugar Plum

Johnny Baker - Operator, Operator

Eula Cooper – Let Our Love Grow Higher

Tamiko Jones – Spellbound

James Fountain – Seven Day Lover

Voices Of east Harlem – Cashing In

Juggy Jones – Inside America

LJ Johnson – Your Magic Put A Spell On Me

Bill Brandon – Streets Got My Lady

Magic Disco Machine – Control Tower

Eddie Holman – This Could Be A Night To Remember / Time Will Tell

Moments – I Got The Need

Reggie Garner – Hot Line

Jeff Perry – Love Don’t Come No Stronger

And I always mixed stacks of well established and in demand sounds into the mix to keep the floor busy:

Jackie Edwards – I Feel So Bad

Edwin Starr – I Have Faith In You

Soul Brothers Six - Thank You Baby For Loving Me

Freddie Chavez- They’ll Never Know Why

Otis Smith – Let Her Go

And always plenty to satisfy the ladies:

Eloise Laws – Love Factory

Dena Barnes – If You Ever Walked Out Of My Life

Linda Jones – Just Can’t Live My Life

Ann Sexton – You’ve Been Gone Too Long 

etc.

Fortunately, I was also working for the region’s finest record outlet, the Sound of Music (mentioned earlier in this thread) for 3-4 years during the same period. Consequently I had a standing order and always had first dibs on the new releases & imports coming through and was able to experiment with new releases such as:

Johnny Guitar Watson – I Need It

Etta James – Out On The Streets Again

The Notations – Think Before You Stop

Controllers - Is That Long Enough For You

Natural Four – Love’s So Wonderful

Boz Scaggs – Lowdown

Marvin Gaye – I Want You

Soul Children – Finders Keepers

Gwen McCrae – Damn Right It’s Good

Laura Lee – You’re Barking Up The Wrong tree

Shelbra Deane – A Man’s Got Too Much Dog In Him

Dionne Warwick – Once You Hit The Road

Gladys Knight – Make Yours A Happy Home

O’Jays – Living For The Weekend & For The Love Of Money

Brass Construction – Movin’

Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go

Fatback Band – Spanish Hustle

Otis Clay - Special Kind Of Love

Ohio Players – Who’d She Coo

Dramatics - Choosing Up On You

Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free

David Ruffin – Walk Away From Love

Some of which stayed around, while others sank without trace.

The Charade was a fabulous place to learn your trade as a DJ as the policy was so inclusive and the crowd were always up for a good time. The management were happy if people were drinking and the best way to ensure that was to keep them on the dancefloor. Nothing did that better than Soul Music and I was always happy to oblige.

By mid 1978 I upped sticks and went to do a season in Skegness, ending up living in Lincoln for a while, but by Winter of ’78 I was headhunted by Mecca and became resident at Tiffanys right in the middle of the Disco boom, and Rotherham Windmill where I was able to help keep the Rotherham Soul Scene going, pre Clifton Hall and all that followed.

The Charade was a very important club in South Yorkshire and in the development of the scene in Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley and Doncaster, so much so that a book ‘The Charade Nightclub: The Untold Story’ was written a few years ago by club regular Keith Brisland.

Worth picking up if you’re interested.

Sean Hampsey

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charade-Nightclub-Untold-Story/dp/190843113X/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

This is Keith Brisland's story of a small, unlikely corner of South Yorkshire that was at the cutting edge of the music scene for eighteen years and was the start of a multi-million pound leisure empire. The nightclub was the Charade and its owner was Dave Allen. He put his house on the line to finance the lease - it was his first ever nightclub. These days he's worth £60m and presides over an entertainment empire - that empire grew from the Charade. The book includes interviews from former DJs like Eric Dewsnap, Melvyn 'Speedy' Kaye, Sean Hampsey and Neil 'Noddy' St John and explains how the venue helped shape numerous music genres including the rise and fall of Tamla Motown, Progressive Rock, Punk Rock, Disco and the New Romantics. It explains how the the DJs learnt their trade and chronicles the rise of Rick Stuart who went on to mix three number one hit singles for Jive Bunny and worked as a Radio One producer alongside Bruno Brookes, Mark Goodier and Paul Gambaccini. There are first-hand accounts from the people who used to work for Allen at the Charade such as Mick Bradford, Dave Growns and John Rose. And we will learn about Allen's involvement with Foreign Secretary William Hague's family who used to supply the drinks to the Charade and his growing nightclub business. It is a story that describes the evolution of Northern Soul, of night time trips across the country to Wolverhampton, Manchester and Stoke on Trent, the All England Dancing Competition, drugs, jail sentences, Formula One, mayors and chief constables.

Edited March 31, 20196 yr by Sean Hampsey

On 13/02/2019 at 19:57, Martyn Hall said:

Remember it well.....Lived in Barnsley and went to Rotherham Tech with two lads from Kimberworth. They introduced me to the Charade AND to the record shop at top end of market - Sound of Music - went their most lunchtimes to get the latest import!! Happy and carefree days.

 

Do you remember the names of the Kimberworth lads Martyn?

27 minutes ago, Sean Hampsey said:

Do you remember the names of the Kimberworth lads Martyn?

Well the rovrum names that spring to mind are Matchie,  Johnny Keegan and Glyn. There would have been some Barnsley lads about too, Steve Midgley, Kev Holt,  and obviously  Bub. 

3 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Well the rovrum names that spring to mind are Matchie,  Johnny Keegan and Glyn. There would have been some Barnsley lads about too, Steve Midgley, Kev Holt,  and obviously  Bub. 

Yep, John Keenan and Glynn Olivant mate. Still see them around to this day.

Matchie was also a regular Charade goer as he only lived down the road.

54 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Well the rovrum names that spring to mind are Matchie,  Johnny Keegan and Glyn. There would have been some Barnsley lads about too, Steve Midgley, Kev Holt,  and obviously  Bub. 

Bob Holyman 'n Keith Brisland, Tommy Litherland from Barnsley......

Keith used to drive-you may recall Kegs the episode with Alan Day/hire car/Torquay!!😮

cheers Kegs

Glyn

54 minutes ago, Sean Hampsey said:

Yep, John Keenan and Glynn Olivant mate. Still see them around to this day.

Matchie was also a regular Charade goer as he only lived down the road.

one "n" & two l's Sean !!!

especially if tha signin' me a cheque !!!

12 hours ago, 25miles said:

you may recall Kegs the episode with Alan Day/hire car/Torquay!!😮

 

Most certainly do mate, he said he was going to Tamworth to get some gear, Mr Day pulled quite a few strokes in his time.

Edited March 7, 20196 yr by Kegsy

On ‎03‎/‎03‎/‎2019 at 15:44, Sean Hampsey said:

 

 

 

By mid 1978 I upped sticks and went to do a season in Skegness, ending up living in Lincoln for a while, but by Winter of ’78 I was headhunted by Mecca and became resident at Tiffanys right in the middle of the Disco boom, and Rotherham Windmill where I was able to help keep the Rotherham Soul Scene going, pre Clifton Hall and all that followed.

 

Nice to hear the Windmill mentioned. I went there a few times in my youth. We caught the train north to Rotherham one day and walked towards the venue. There was 3 of us and we were around 15 years old or so, as we wandered towards the venue a heavy rocker came running at us waving a piece of 4x2 shouting that we were part of a certain gang and we'd beat up his mate the week before. So it was fight or flight.....we chose flight knowing the old rocker wouldn't catch us. Friendly place Rotherham...😀

Andy Mac

Edited March 12, 20196 yr by Billy Jo Jim Bob

On 12/03/2019 at 12:26, Billy Jo Jim Bob said:

Nice to hear the Windmill mentioned. I went there a few times in my youth. We caught the train north to Rotherham one day and walked towards the venue. There was 3 of us and we were around 15 years old or so, as we wandered towards the venue a heavy rocker came running at us waving a piece of 4x2 shouting that we were part of a certain gang and we'd beat up his mate the week before. So it was fight or flight.....we chose flight knowing the old rocker wouldn't catch us. Friendly place Rotherham...😀

Andy Mac

Interesting that Andy, Masboro area was certainly more Rocker than Mod, so choosing flight was definitely the best option.

You'd have been made a lot more welcome in Mod Town Kimberworth, just up the road.

Sean

The ones the wife remembers were the McDonaghs, especially Bunny, and Chris McClair, who were St Bernard's boys. Incidentally, the wife's name then was Kath Dudley, later Kath Jackson and she went to Kimberworth school and later Thomas Rotherham.

2 hours ago, Magpie69 said:

The ones the wife remembers were the McDonaghs, especially Bunny, and Chris McClair, who were St Bernard's boys. Incidentally, the wife's name then was Kath Dudley, later Kath Jackson and she went to Kimberworth school and later Thomas Rotherham.

BUNNY'S OLDER BROTHER [SEAMUS] WAS GOALKEEPER FOR THE MILLERS, LATER TRANSFERRED TO EVERTON

I was a regular there from the back end of 1970 up to around probably early 1975, although I did go now and again later than that. I know a lot of the names mentioned already and still see quite a few from time to time.

I remember Dave Growns before he was the DJ there, he was bouncing on the door for a while before that.

Big Ray Slater was also a bouncer for some years as was little John (Rose?)

I spent many a night there, and can still remember a time when you had to get there early and queue to get in when it opened - not forgetting it closed at midnight!

Ray Slater was a big pal of Kath's first husband, Roger Jackson. Lived on East Bawtry Road. Apparently a lovely guy.

13 hours ago, John Benson said:

I was a regular there from the back end of 1970 up to around probably early 1975, although I did go now and again later than that. I know a lot of the names mentioned already and still see quite a few from time to time.

I remember Dave Growns before he was the DJ there, he was bouncing on the door for a while before that.

Big Ray Slater was also a bouncer for some years as was little John (Rose?)

I spent many a night there, and can still remember a time when you had to get there early and queue to get in when it opened - not forgetting it closed at midnight!

GREAT PHOTO'S JB.............

 

PLENTY OF FAMILIAR FACES, BIG GRAHAM

BIG GRAHAM & JOHNNY STANLEY, JUDITH OATS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US

 

OMG WE WERE ALL 8 STONE WET THRO' THEN !!!!!

 

SEE YOU LATER @ BAR HOSS N GROOM MATE???

Is that Gordon Trow RIP at the front on the first snap?

 

Ed

Yes Ed, it's Gordon - There's quite a few others on the photos that are no longer with us, Bub of course , Terry Lambert in the middle two with the pinky red jumper & Neil Griffiths in the last one with the jacket and tie, just right of centre.

Scary isn't it!

On 14/04/2019 at 11:20, Magpie69 said:

Ray Slater was a big pal of Kath's first husband, Roger Jackson. Lived on East Bawtry Road. Apparently a lovely guy.

Before he got working there, Ray and a few others used to go up Sheffield on a Saturday night and me and some mates used to meet up with him.

I bet I haven't seen or heard of him since the late 70's.

On 14/04/2019 at 11:20, Magpie69 said:

Ray Slater was a big pal of Kath's first husband, Roger Jackson. Lived on East Bawtry Road. Apparently a lovely guy.

First picture is my wife Karen (Linney) at the top right with Dale (Cardwell) Tony Foulds wife  next to her

Edited April 16, 20196 yr by rotherham soul

50 minutes ago, John Benson said:

Yes Ed, it's Gordon - There's quite a few others on the photos that are no longer with us, Bub of course , Terry Lambert in the middle two with the pinky red jumper & Neil Griffiths in the last one with the jacket and tie, just right of centre.

Scary isn't it!

Indeed.

Such characters....seems like yesterday we were all at Scarborough for Easter!

Scrumpy en al..

Ed