I appreciate 2004 is not over yet, but maybe its time for a brief reflection

Highs - The people I've met and friendships made on the scene.

A bunch of wonderful & diverse people!

Particularly enjoyed the weekenders Prestatyn, Fleetwood & Rimini.

Lows - Just found out that Nathan Heatman has died. Saw him earlier in the year, I think he was musical director/part of the Philly Tour with Dexter Wansell, Jean Carn & Billy Paul. He did a couple of numbers with Jean Carn earlier this year & completely blew her off the stage. I was awestruck. Sad loss.

i agree with prestatyn as a high point

low point definately the loss of derek allen

other lows was the soulvation dvd.

that belongs on channel 4 with the other crap

Highs.... new friends, old friends & Prestatyn, Sharon Jones & the whole Daptone record output, Keb Darge`s spot at the 100 club 25th.

The 100 club 25th (great nite)

Lows........ The death`s of Dave Godin & Derek Allen, the politics that continue to dog the scene.

Garv.

hmmmm highs .......not enough

lows ........too many ...BUT 2005 is already looking good for me so a lot to look forward to

Davie

Regret missed 100 club 25th anniv. Went to the nighter the previous month where there wasn't room to swing a cat. Assumed anniv. nite would have been worse, but I believe i was wrong! Live & learn........maybe I'll be around for the 50th. Maybe not.

Best live acts this year -

Garland Green

Phil Perry

Baby Washington

Most disappointing live acts this year -

Bobby Womack (Hammersmith) lost in the mix - couldn't hear a word

Jean Carn (Cranleigh) - bad cold - couldn't hold the notes

Lows........ The death`s of Dave Godin & Derek Allen, the politics that continue to dog the scene.

Garv.

link

Aww Garv yeah we lost many mighty good people this year something likely to continue for a while. Regards the politics that's always been there, but b boring if we all agreed and the scene overall benefits with the help of our passionate exchanges.

Happy & peaceful new year hope to see some of you at Carl Willingham's tribute niter, Middleton Civic Center 14th Jan, a top bloke whose helped Dublin find it's feet on the NS scene and (more politics) contrary to reports elsewhere on here he does the business everytime and we are gonna miss him and Maria big time.

KTF everyone

Regret missed 100 club 25th anniv. Went to the nighter the previous month where there wasn't room to swing a cat. Assumed anniv. nite would have been worse, but I believe i was wrong! Live & learn........maybe I'll be around for the 50th.  Maybe not.

Best live acts this year -

Garland Green

Phil Perry

Baby Washington

Most disappointing live acts this year -

Bobby Womack (Hammersmith) lost in the mix - couldn't hear a word

Jean Carn (Cranleigh) - bad cold - couldn't hold the notes

link

100 anniversary, I missed alot of - if that helps? found too hard! But think all enjoyed it, nice tributes from all for Randy - incl. Dean which I thought was nice. You could dance. So you liked his pic, didnt he look good?! Placed at his ususal spot - by the bar!

Of course my high must be that I met some new people/made new friends! Went to some new places! Also good to go back out again regularly with my mates who have been there for me, which I so appreciate - they know who they are!

I appreciate 2004 is not over yet, but maybe its time for a brief reflection

Highs - The people I've met and friendships made on the scene.

A bunch of wonderful & diverse people!

Particularly enjoyed the weekenders Prestatyn, Fleetwood & Rimini.

Lows - Just found out that Nathan Heatman has died. Saw him earlier in the year, I think he was musical director/part of the Philly Tour with Dexter Wansell, Jean Carn & Billy Paul. He did a couple of numbers with Jean Carn earlier this year & completely blew her off the stage. I was awestruck. Sad loss.

link

Highs - I' d go for the Prestatyn W/ender - good atmosphere and a real mix of good dj's - for my low point i'll go for the death of Nina Simone

High points...

Met some real nice people on my travels to soul nights...Great crowd in Australia for the weekender,they made me feel so welcome...

Dublin all-dayer...Over on the ferry with a good crowd straight after New Century all-niter..I just love that crowd over there and its great to see a much younger crowd who really love the scene...Kissed Carl Willingham a few times(that must be his low point)...

Ongoing contact with the Sweden soul boys and good to see them over here a few times..Also good contact with soulies in Italy,Spain etc...European crowd are much younger and new blood needed over here....

New tunes to my ears with the crossover scene...

Soul-source...Met some good folk on here..Brett..Soulville,Richie,Shane,John May,Stamford,Barry Vardie and many more..Really nice people who talk with affection about the scene and the music..

Low points...Far too many soul nights now and lots of politics with every man and his dog pitching nights against each other..Crowds don't seem to travel as much because they have options closer to home...

Wigan wigan..That name is still being talked about and used by some to put on commercial nights and just try and cash in...We never here as much said about Stafford and all the quality from there.....Some new blood come onto the scene with this Wigan stomper thing in there heads and then find it hard to adapt to all the other tunes being spun around the country...

All the talk this year is about the price of a record and not its quality...Don't give a flying fu"k about prices...Many djs are playing tunes for there price and not there quality,i think more of a dj who can still find great records on the cheap and spin them..

Happy new year to all the real people,you know who you are...

steve...

Highs would be prestatyn cleethorpes and aug bank holiday allniter at sheridans.Lows all the bullshit.

Highs would be prestatyn cleethorpes and aug bank holiday allniter at sheridans.Lows all the bullshit.

link

bloody hell that makes an awful lot of lows

would need a whole herd to keep up

lolol

Thats why i didnt list em m8.

Its been only highs for me. I've got into a brilliant scene and met loads of really nice people. Been lucky enough to get to cleethorpes and hemsby weekenders and been a regular at the new century nights and got over to sheridans a few times.

And just to top it off, got an ipod for christmas so im currently busy trying to fill 10,000 tracks on it.

Have a good new year everyone.

Highlights started with the Funk Brothers in London(Jan) then the Dome same night (Carla Benson's voice had me in tears),all the Ducie Bridge sessions, the NCS, 100 Club,Prestatyn,Cleethorpes (enjoying a wonderful early evening tea in the Hinckley caravan, with the late great Derek Allen) Ponds Forge (and having the chance to play a few records ) Solar radio with Mr Mark Bicknell,The Seriously Soulful nights and the Brixton all nighter (drinking beer with Mr Rimmer at 7.30 am) and finally Soulsville Leeds. Great people i met at all those above venues.(you all know who you are )

The Lows........the passing of real people from the scene......

highs ,loads of brilliant soul nite/ allniters we have done this year and looking forward to another year,meeting new people all the time ,lows , gotta be the politics ,i steer clear of it and would hate to get caught up in it all like some,.

Going to try and positive on this one, 2004 was a mega year for the scene IMO, at the end of last year I was a bit fed up with it all, but this year i'm feeling a lot more postive.

Getting into soul source of course has been fun, lot's of new friends made, and lot's more to make hopefully . We are all such a deverse bunch, it's great that this site can bring us all together.

I think soul source for me brings all the so called politics into perspective, so many different opinions, and attitudes towards the music, and without all the debate there wouldn't be a scene, and I'm convinced of that, so long live the debates / politics.

Venues.....best still the 100club (when I can get down there ), Rugby soulnight i've discovered to be very good, everything to do with Manchester at the moment is brilliant ( Ducie Bridge,Greatstone hotel, NCSC ), Soulsville Leeds ( keep up the good work lads ), ponds forge, Sheffield ( smart venue, friendly crowd )

Music......Heard some great tracks this year, and I don't mean £500 + either, nearly all the best stuff i'm hearing at the moment is all in the £10 - £100 bracket, big name D.j's take note.......It's quality that counts not price tags !.

10 Favourites of the moment :

Dynamics....You make me feel good...RCA

Abraham & his sons...Mother understood...Revue

Mandells....How to love a woman....Trans world sound

Chosen Few...Birth of a playboy....Canyon

Magnificent 7....Never will I...Dial

Leon Haywood...It's got to be mellow...Decca

Soul Survivors...Mama soul...Atco

Magnificent men...Forever together...Capitol

Robert Parker..I caught you in a lie...Nola

Tammy Wayne...Have a good time ...Boom

Weekenders.........I went to Rhyl back in April which was superb, a real connosiuers weekend, great music all the way, one of my fav' memories of 2004. Prestatyn.......Well I went but came home sunday morning wondering what all the fuss was about Too many people for me, when the artists came on in the main hall, I went into the modern room.

Lows .....Of course the sad loss of Derek Allen, I can still see him bopping up and down beind the decks.........a great man.

Hopes for 2005.........Small venus will continue to survive, I'm going to champion the cause this year, and also lets hope the lesser name D.J's will get more of a chance.

JM

High points...

We never here as much said about Stafford and all the quality from there.....

link

Yep Steve, Agree about Stafford, Ive still got my membership card, how sad! They were the days!

Chosen Few...Birth of a playboy....Canyon

superb tune mate , bought it at a weekender in leeds ....b-side is superb as well

Davie

Chosen Few...Birth of a playboy....Canyon

superb tune mate , bought it at a weekender in leeds ....b-side is superb as well

Davie

link

Yes it is a superb track, but it ain't worth over £500, so the top boy's don't play it.....

Yes it is a superb track, but it ain't worth over £500, so the top boy's don't play it.....

link

thats crap

Whats crap.......the track, the price or the statement?

Whats crap.......the track, the price or the statement?

link

the statement!

Whats crap.......the track, the price or the statement?

link

think they mean the big boys dont play a tune under £500

the high of 2004 was mischiefs feet

lolololol

the low...the person wat nicked the last roast spud from my dinner plate

The best bit of 2004 for me was Rhyl rare soul weekender. We spent loads of time listening to really wonderful music, with great people, for the whole weekend. Discovering the Ducie in Manchester comes close.

A notable low was me trying to dance to my favourite tunes at some packed venue, next to a beer swigging beauty half my age and weight, looking gorgeous and me looking totally sweaty and beetroot red but hey she didn't go to Wigan and I did! neh neh

Happy New year soulies.......

The high for me was the start of the Lifeline all-nighter, the best upfront all-nighter in the country. After that the England vs. Scotland alldayer one of the best events I've been to this year, great music again all day long.

Rhyl was indeed a brilliant weekend, wish I had plucked up the courage now to play a few tunes myself now but im shy dont ya know

Not going to even think about the low's of 2004, their in the past now, although friends which we have lost will never be forgotten, going to waste my time looking forward to the highs to come next year

Highs

1) Lots and lots of great music. Certainly the Lifeline has added impetus to a scene which (IMHO) going a bit stale. Great atmosphere and plenty of characters.

2) 30th Birthday party with Kitch and Colin Law DJing

3) The Scotland vs England alldayer - just a great laugh really. Especially when the mic blew up.

Lows

1) Politics and especially shit stirrers. Personally, the playground antics of the few can spoil it for the many. IMHO, one or two can't handle the gear and should be checked into the Priory for some of the horseshite they come out with.

2) Nostalgia. So much of it around in 2004. I hate it in all walks of life - especially music. Keep the scene fresh and looking forward and most of all chill out and have a laugh. This scene lacks a bit of f**king humour at times. If you can't piss yourself at middle aged men whacking their wallets and nuts over 40 year old bits of plastic, then you don't belong on the scene. Some of it is walking hilarity so take it in good humour and enjoy it - it's meant to be entertainment.

3) People who think you can buy status or cred - you can't so don't bother. Give credit where it's due. So many examples i've seen of losers shelling out huge money and not crediting the source of the DJ or collector who first had the balls the play the thing. It's not about being a trainspotter - it's simple good manners. If you lack the class to do this, then f**k off and play somewhere else.

Hammy

been thinking ,when first on the scene never really got into debates about stuff , main concern dancin ,waiting for that tune to be spun ,and half the time its being played whilst queing ,never noticed politics or anything like that,just absoloutly loving every minute of it and thinking the djs were gods (well i was only 16) its a shame ther is lows with n/s exluding people passing on , i mean politics , ive learnt that now ,anyway we will continue to travel ,dance and say ,I DONT KNOW WHO THAT DJ IS BUT WHAT A RECORD. have a good new year!

been thinking ,when first on the scene never really got into debates about stuff , main concern dancin ,waiting for that tune to be spun ,and half the time its being played whilst queing ,never noticed politics or anything like that,just absoloutly loving every minute of it and thinking the djs were gods (well i was only 16) its a shame ther is lows with n/s exluding people passing on , i mean politics , ive learnt that now ,anyway we will continue to travel ,dance and say ,I DONT KNOW WHO THAT DJ IS BUT WHAT A RECORD. have a good new year!

link

Good post that, very true, it ain't the D.j it's the record

Really enjoyed the live acts at Prestatyn, especially Melvin Davis who seemed genuinely appreciative of the UK crowd, also other highs Lou Pride, Isley Bros in concert. Lows the end of Soul 24-7.com, loss of Johnny Bristol & Rick James.................overall a great year for soul music old & new

thats crap

link

Apology for the comment, hope it didn't offend anyone.......

JM

I found Mikes comments more offensive.

They were also lacking in structure

Good post that, very true, it ain't the D.j it's the record 

link

Dunno about that, I've heard Dj's make very good records sound crap by the way they put their set together. If it don't flow it don't work IMO and some DJ's even with a box of big money records haven't a clue about making a set flow

High...prestatyn weekender

Low...missing the rhyl weekender

and finding out that the one a few months back had been cancelled when i was all ready and raring to go

Just back tracking a bit here 'cos there's been a couple of good posts.

Esp liked Kid Mohairs comments. Can relate to that - most of the time I'm either socialising or dancing. I get a real lift from n/soul. I may get crucified here, but the fact is I generally can't tell 1DJ from another - I'm just too busy having a good time.

"I DONT KNOW WHO THAT DJ IS BUT WHAT A RECORD." sums it up for me.

Also appreciated Hammy's heartfelt comments. On a lighter note would agree with Hammy - ref. Nostalgia: It Ain't What It Was!

I found Mikes comments more offensive.

They were also lacking in structure

link

Posted comment as thats what I thought

Apoligies for tone and lack of structure, but find this knocking very tiresome nowadays

There are many djs and promoters members on here, from all levels and backgrounds. Sure if got criticism about any dj or soul related matter post it up, but posts like "big boys" wont play my fav record cause its not rare, all smacks of the playground to me

hmmmm highs .......not enough

lows ........too many ...BUT 2005 is already looking good for me so a lot to look forward to

Davie

link

Agree about 2005- Off to New York for first time so that should be fun.

Highs- Seeing my baby daughter growing up

Lows- Having to fight a custody battle just to get to see her

The Ritz on Boxing Day- dissapointed!

Mike, you can say whatever you like - its your program.

Me, I just like to liven it up a bit sometimes

Mike, you can say whatever you like - its your program.

Me, I just like to liven it up a bit sometimes

link

I understand what your saying soulsmith, and at the time, i didn't intend the comment to offend anyone........however when someone does object to a comment, it is sometimes better to make the peace.

Tis the season of goodwill and all that.

JM