The Torch

[Bleep]

just a quick ask could anybody post up a list of records that was first played at the torch or only played their thanks in advance phil

[Tomangoes]

I'm 59 and too young to offer an official reply...but a couple of cds came out a while back that offered a starter for ten.

 

Ed

[Solidsoul]

These are some of The Torch favourites. Late 1972 into 1973. 

Evergreen classic Northern Soul.

Edited September 20, 2021 by D9 Ktf

[Kev John]

3 hours ago, D9 Ktf said:

These are some of The Torch favourites. Late 1972 into 1973. 

Evergreen classic Northern Soul.

D9 these images don't open up sorry to say

[Rick Cooper]

On 18/09/2021 at 18:13, Bleep said:

just a quick ask could anybody post up a list of records that was first played at the torch or only played their thanks in advance phil

Phil

It's a bit tricky claiming that a record was played first, or only, at The Torch as back then there was only a handful of top DJs and they would travel all over the place. In particular many top sounds were first played at the Catacombs but if you never went there you wouldn't know. Also the records weren't that rare compared to some today. Once a title was known it didn't take long for other copies to turn up. There weren't any unreleased acetates or "only one known copy", like there are today.

Some I remember as first played at The Torch are-

Lenis Guess -Just Ask Me

Chubby Checker -Just Don't Know

Jimmy Thomas- Beautiful Night

Pearlean Gray- I Don't Want To Cry

Earl Wright- Thumb a Ride

However, I'm sure someone will claim to have heard them somewhere else first.

There is a live recording from then, which although the sound is a bit rough it has the atmosphere of the club oozing from it, especially the DJ chat. I can't get the link to copy and paste but if you go on mixcloud ,search The Torch it comes up as the top result.

 

[Bo Diddley]

1 hour ago, Rick Cooper said:

Phil

It's a bit tricky claiming that a record was played first, or only, at The Torch as back then there was only a handful of top DJs and they would travel all over the place. In particular many top sounds were first played at the Catacombs but if you never went there you wouldn't know. Also the records weren't that rare compared to some today. Once a title was known it didn't take long for other copies to turn up. There weren't any unreleased acetates or "only one known copy", like there are today.

Some I remember as first played at The Torch are-

Lenis Guess -Just Ask Me

Chubby Checker -Just Don't Know

Jimmy Thomas- Beautiful Night

Pearlean Gray- I Don't Want To Cry

Earl Wright- Thumb a Ride

However, I'm sure someone will claim to have heard them somewhere else first.

There is a live recording from then, which although the sound is a bit rough it has the atmosphere of the club oozing from it, especially the DJ chat. I can't get the link to copy and paste but if you go on mixcloud ,search The Torch it comes up as the top result.

 

 

[Pat]

I was lucky enough to attend The Torch , the Cat's & The Wheel in the early days & must admit i would find it hard to say where any record was heard first at any of the venues(must be an age thing 69) n Alan C

[Petesi]

Went a few times late 72 , well sneaked in to be more precise as I was too young to get in .

As other posters have said many records were played and claimed to be first play`s equally by the Wheel, The Torch and the Cat`s but one I am almost 100% that was first played at the Torch is  " Sliced Tomatoes". Other top plays were.. I still Love you, Exus Trek, 6by6, A little togetherness, These chains of love and You don`t want me no more.

Edited September 19, 2021 by Petesi
added content

[Amsterdam Russ]

<Deleted - doh!>

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by Amsterdam Russ

[Geeselad]

You can here plenty this weekend at the class of 72, reunion this weekend. 

[Bus Pass Dancer]

As someone has already said, individuals can say I first heard that at ? But nobody knew who first played something. 

I know one person who had a massive record collection and somehow got copies from who knows where but never DJ’d until very recently.

 I think a lot of local clubs played the odd northern record, or what the uninitiated thought was northern...... I personally started going ‘up North ‘ in 73.... never knew who artists were but knew what I liked (nearly 50 years on and still the same)!!

Early recollections were ‘Ghost in my House’, Ski-ing in the Snow’, ‘Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie’, ‘Personally’ ‘Joker’ and numerous other what later became ‘cheesy’ stuff.... but could still listen to them now. Plus a bunch of instrumental foot stompers that I still dance to. Anything under a hundred miles per hour was played at the all-dayers on a Sunday when you were ‘winding down’!!!

The weekend started at 7 on Friday and lasted pretty much till 7 Sunday night. Anyone that went to work on the Monday had obviously lied about going to the all-nighter on Saturday!!! And getting to a do was never a problem whether you had transport or not, you would find a way!

No-one wore labels or made to measure clothes, you wore whatever felt right - and sewed a badge on it!!

 And not that many people danced at the all-nighters.  Only the talented minority would, whilst the rest looked on in awe wishing they could do that!! Then going home to practice in private or at the local club until they got up the courage (with a little chemical help) to actually have a go!!

 I never knew anyone’s name, just faces. That’s just how it was. 

It was, is and for me always will be A Way of Life

 

 

[Bus Pass Dancer]

I’m replying to my own topic here!! 

Talking about old clubs, does anyone out there remember the ‘Steam Machine ‘????

[Geeselad]

Never attended but have always tried to collect oldies from the club, it's local and part of my heritage. So here's a list, I've been told were played, and I think most torchites will associate with Hose street in tunstall. 

 

Fuller brothers- time's a waisting

Patti and the emblems- gonna love you a long long time

James bounty- prove yourself a lady

Patti Austin music to you heart

Jimmy soul Clarke- come on and be my sweet sweet darling

Lee David- temptation- is calling...

Major lance- you don't want me no more

First choice- this is the house

Cooperettes- shingling

Fred Hughes- baby boy

Duke browner- crying over you

Rose Batiste- hit and run

 

It's by no means exhaustive but it's a start. 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by Geeselad

[Petesi]

3 hours ago, Bus Pass Dancer said:

I’m replying to my own topic here!! 

Talking about old clubs, does anyone out there remember the ‘Steam Machine ‘????

The Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley Stoke on Trent, downstairs below the cinema?

[Bus Pass Dancer]

Yeah!!!! Someone remembers!!! I seem to recall a 70’s disco floor?

 

[Bus Pass Dancer]

Can’t remember if we went before Wigan or the Sunday for the all-dayer? I was a little sheep and just followed the crowd

[Petesi]

4 hours ago, Bus Pass Dancer said:

 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by Petesi

[Petesi]

Not sure on the days but I think maybe Wed, Friday or Sat nights. Pretty dark with tracks of lights running around the roof and bloody great mirrored pillars dotted around the dance floor. I do remember on one night they played plenty of Motown stuff and one of the DJ`s would throw in numbers like Breaking down the walls of heartache, Tell me its just a rumour, Bok to Bak and Seven days is too long etc so it was a good practice night for Tiffs and Wigan.

[Petered]

6 hours ago, Bus Pass Dancer said:

I’m replying to my own topic here!! 

Talking about old clubs, does anyone out there remember the ‘Steam Machine ‘????

Had a few good nights at the Steam Machine in 74/75.  Saw Ann Peebles and The Tymes.

[nrc]

Not sure if it was first played at Torch , but i remember Soul Sam playing Let Here Go - Otis Smith . Only a few danced to it , most likely like me they had never heard it before, but one of those tracks that grew into a biggie.