I view the end of a function as one of the most important parts of the night to get right. If a few mistakes are made earlier in the evening at least they can be smoothed over and forgotten about if all goes well later. Those final tracks have to have the crowd sent home eagerly awaiting the next function. Here's my thoughts on the subject.

It's not the tempo of a track at the end of the night that is the most important factor, but the lyrics. 

Are they relevant to the function itself and the atmosphere of the crowd? 

Whilst there is no need to play love songs at the end of a birthday party, failing to do so at a wedding is hardly good practice! If we take a soul night where there might be a number of couples (or to be, at least for that one night!) on the dance floor, then ending with 3 consecutive tracks with titles such as "I'm leaving you,""You had your chance and blew it," and "Another Woman's Man," doesn't seem right to me no matter how wonderful the tracks might sound in a different environment. 

Here's the final 4 tracks that I would end a soul and funk function with. The track titles of the first 2 need no explaining. The Starpoint track is geared towards a play on the lyrics suggesting you "bring your sweet loving (of music) back" to the next function. It has an "impact" start that stamps it's authority instantly and then allows just enough time before the vocal comes in to make a brief first of two, closing and thank you announcements. We end with the wonderful mid tempo instrumental that I've used as the final track of almost every function I've DJ'ed at since it's release, over which I thank the crowd for attending and wish them a safe journey home.

World Premiere - Share The Night - 1983

Change - Keep You Warm - 1984

Starpoint - Bring Your Sweet Loving Back - 1982

Total Contrast - Sunshine Instrumental - 1986

 

What would be the final 4 tracks you'd play at the end of a function and why? 

 

Edited December 13, 20186 yr by Guest

For the last 15 years the last three at Rugby allnighter have been these three: 

The Fantastic Four -Cant Stop Looking For Mt Baby - Ric-Tic

Johnnie Mae Matthews - I Have No Choice - Big Hit

Ray Pollard - The Drifter - United Artists

They turn the lights on during The Drifter, and there’s always a full dance floor at 6am. 

Edited December 15, 20186 yr by Dave Rimmer

1 hour ago, Dave Rimmer said:

For the last 15 years the last three at Rugby allnighter have been these three: 

The Fantastic Four -Cant Stop Looking For Mt Baby - Ric-Tic

Johnnie Mae Matthews - I Have No Choice - Big Hit

Ray Pollard - The Drifter - United Artists

They turn the lights on during The Drifter, and there’s always a full dance floor at 6am. 

Brilliant, but great as ‘the drifter’ is, what can really follow ‘I have no choice’ ?

The greatest end record since the Casino closed has got to be 

Terry Callier.  Ordinary Joe.  It was played to end the night at probably the best soul night ever. Saints. It was dedicated to the people that are not around anymore including my Mum who passed away on the Friday 20 th December night that Saints was on. Ironically 23 years ago next Thursday. Barry. Flanny.  Mark & Annette take a bow.  

Steve 

 

There is no rule about what, if any, the last few tunes of a night should be. Forget all that "three before eight" crap instigated during the last years of the Casino. (Those three particular records are certainly NOT crap, but the whole premise is!). Surely the final records of the night should reflect what the previous four have done to the dance floor? If you have any function, soul night, all-nighter, whatever, the aim should be to satisfy the paying punters, who, after all, are paying the DJs wages. If you been playing uptempo stuff and the floor is still rammed ten to fifteen minutes prior to closing, why on earth would anyone choose to slow things down to a crawl, and in turn, completely deflate the atmosphere? This would quite possibly lead to recollections along the lines of "Great night last night eh? Shame about the last ten minutes though". Fifty years or so ago it would probably have led to something far more physical!

DJs should ascertain the mood in the place, the actions (or inaction) of the people on the floor, and then tailor their discs as appropriate, surely? OK, an "ender" is always played when the lights go on, (Butler and Everett "Let it be me" hat tip Barry Tasker at the Pendulum for that one), but this really shouldn't be about what the DJ, his missus, the bloke behind the bar, HIS missus, and the doorman busily looking at his watch want. Its all about the punters, and always has been. DJs, KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!

So, if you have a crowd which is obviously tiring, then of course play the Ray Pollard, Jimmy Radcliffe type tunes. If they're all off their tits burning up the floor to "Look Looky" and "Exus Trek", then dive in head first and give 'em "Devil with a blue dress" and "6 x 6"

Keep the punters happy. Simples!!!!!!

Edited December 15, 20186 yr by Guest

 

lyrics wise, and sound, tempo, this (it's always amazed me this has been ignored just becuase the A side sold so well)

 

How about:-Benny Troy (R.I.P.) I Wanna Give You Tomorrow.                                      Young Holt Unlimited:- California Montage.  Taken from the one and only Leeds Central Soul Club nights.                  Syl Johnson:- We did it                                Jimmy James & The Vagabonds :- A man like me. Taken from The Frobisher Suite  Wakefield Soul nights.

Regards Fred.   

I would assume that the type of function, would dictate more than anything else what the last four songs would be. 

Let's for arguments sake assume it's a Motown function, in which case, my last four songs would be preceded by, The Four Tops - I'm Grateful, then in order;

The Spinners - We're Gonna Be More Than Friends

Edwin Starr - If My Heart Could Tell The Story 

The Temptations - (Loneliness Makes Me Realise) It's You That I Need

Kim Weston - After The Rain

If it was a Northern Soul function, then maybe it would be these four songs, in this order.

Jack Montgomery - Dearly Beloved 

Jackie Wilson - Because Of You

Darrell Banks - I'm The One Who Loves You.

Chuck Jackson - Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird) 

On ‎15‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 11:45, Rob Moss said:

 

Rob - what about "Last Goodbye", corker of a track