Guest Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 The California Ballroom , Dunstable Live Act listing 1973 - 1979 In respect of the last - and final - listing of the live acts that played The Cali , it is interesting to see the " shift " from the more ' traditional ' soul artists from 1973 onwards , to include the more funkier acts / artists up until its' closure in 1979 . As stated in previous posts , many of the acts played several times in the same year , but I have only listed the respective names once . 1973 The Real Thing Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon Roy C Jimmy Ruffin Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Sam & Dave The Detroit Emeralds Jr Walker & The All Stars Major Lance The Fantastics Arthur Conley Millie Jackson The Flirtations Edwin Starr Oscar Toney Jr The Drifters First Choice Chairmen Of The Board Limmie & The Family Cookin' The Chi - Lites Guy Darrell Ben E King J J Barnes The Philly Revue ........The O'Jays , Billy Paul , The Intruders and MFSB 1974 BT Express Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon The Coasters Robert Knight The Delfonics New York City The Drifters Limmie & The Family Cookin' Mel & Tim Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes Jimmy Ruffin Jr Walker & Edwin Starr - together on the same night The Detroit Emeralds The Three Degrees R Dean Taylor The Ronettes Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Ben E King The Exciters KC & The Sunshine Band the Four Tops Gwen & George McCrae Chairmen Of The Board The Tymes Edwin Starr & Eddie Holman - together on the same night 1975 Arthur Conley The Fantastics Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Kool & The Gang Jimmy Helms The Chi - Lites The Hues Corperation Rufus & Chaka Khan The Tymes Chairmen Of The Board New York City The Drifters The Three Degrees Jimmy Ruffin Edwin Starr The Detroit Emeralds Major Lance Rufus Thomas The Flirtations Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Jr Walker & The All Stars Hamilton Bohannon Disco Tex & The Sex - O - Lettes The Fatback Band The Temptations George McCrae BT Express The Tymes The Four Tops The Exciters Dee Clark Donald Byrd & The BlackByrds 1976 Donald Byrd & The BlackByrds James Brown People's Choice Trammps Chairmen Of The Board The Fatback Band Bobby Womack The Miracles Brass Construction The Drifters Jimmy Ruffin Jr Walker & The All Stars Jimmy James & The Vagabonds War Ohio Players 1977 The Manhattans The Moments & The Rimshots ...... together on the same night Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Edwin Starr The Fantastics The Commodores Detroit Spinners & Brass Construction ...... together on the same night The Four Tops Jr Walker & The All Stars Archie Bell & The Drells The Ritchie Family 1978 The Crusaders Brass Construction Ramsey Lewis Eddie Kendricks T Connection Donald Byrd Tavares Rose Royce Lenny Williams The Four Tops Isaac Hayes & Edwin Starr ......... together on the same night Third World Platinum Hook Sylvester 1979 Roy Ayers Manu Dibango Players Association Brass Construction McFadden & Whitehead Grover Washington Jr Rick James had been booked to appear in early 1980 , but due to the closure of The Cali , this obviously did not happen . The California Ballroom : worthy of a place in the annals of soul music history ? Definately . Malc Burton Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Fazzman Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 This is only one man's memory of one hot night in the legendary Cali in Dunstable hundreds of years ago..in fact, in 1976. I was a tall, lean 18yr-old chap and I'd taken my then-girlfriend Roz to see The Fatback Band, who were supported by a better (in my opinion) unknown band by the name of Heatwave! To say that particular night sticks in my mind after 42 years is an understatement! In my mind's eye I can still see the flashing ultraviolet strobe light illuminating Roy's snow-white bra from underneath her dark blue shirt! Heatwave had just released their superb funk hit 'Ain't No Half-stepping', and I was well into them! Obviously, Heatwave went onto bigger things and released many singles and albums...mostly penned by their superb keyboardist Rod Temperton, in amongst the multinational bandmembers. But I'll never forget that boiling night in 1976 where I discovered one of my favourite bands! Was anyone else there in Dunstable that hot 1976 summer's night? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Britishbarry Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 9 hours ago, Fazzman said: This is only one man's memory of one hot night in the legendary Cali in Dunstable hundreds of years ago..in fact, in 1976. I was a tall, lean 18yr-old chap and I'd taken my then-girlfriend Roz to see The Fatback Band, who were supported by a better (in my opinion) unknown band by the name of Heatwave! To say that particular night sticks in my mind after 42 years is an understatement! In my mind's eye I can still see the flashing ultraviolet strobe light illuminating Roy's snow-white bra from underneath her dark blue shirt! Heatwave had just released their superb funk hit 'Ain't No Half-stepping', and I was well into them! Obviously, Heatwave went onto bigger things and released many singles and albums...mostly penned by their superb keyboardist Rod Temperton, in amongst the multinational bandmembers. But I'll never forget that boiling night in 1976 where I discovered one of my favourite bands! Was anyone else there in Dunstable that hot 1976 summer's night? I wasn’t there that night but went there a lot. I remember seeing Roy Ayers, The Crusaders, Crown Heights Affair and more. We spent a lot of time in the nightclub, Dido’s. I remember the last night of the Calli, we were told we could rip any of the fittings off the wall because it was being demolished the next day. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Kegsy Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 I was there in 75 when Kool & The Gang appeared, they were brilliant. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Spain pete Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Went there a few times in my youth , anyone remember the downstairs? , devils den, ? disco ,? snooker tables? and swimming pool ? ? All very sketchy now , the pub at the top of the hill ? Fecking great getting old innit . 😱 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Britishbarry Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 The club was called Dido’s in my day and the pub you are referring to was probably the Windsock. It was a funny shape. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Spain pete Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 That's the one overlooking the downs, seem to remember a flying club at the bottom of the hill, sure the disco downstairs was the devil's den back in my day . 4 minutes ago, britishbarry said: The club was called Dido’s in my day and the pub you are referring to was probably the Windsock. It was a funny shape. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 It was Devils Den when I used to go there around 75... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
stomper45 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 .....2 years later, Was googling California/O'Jays and good to see the "Calais" getting a mention here, went to many of those listed, great spot, we used to try sneak back home to Bedford on "Paper" train and once walked home along rail line Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Steve Foran Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I saw Gloria Gayner there maybe 1975??? Not listed though unless I have missed it! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
stomper45 Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Yeah she was on, I would have started going to All-nighters sooner tho took ages to get home. The best live band events I ever seen, were at the Calais...1) Tymes 2) Chairmen Of The Board Just ahead of Brass Construction at St Ive's (which was the hottest) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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