Stafford Rangers Fc Saturday 5 April

[Ficklefingers]

After my non-stop self promotion of the past few months, with endless copies of my 4 CD set handed out to umpteen promoters and interested soulies, the first weekend of my bookings kicked off big style - with three spots over two nights. The first of these up at the Soulful Shack in Culcheth (near Warrington) on the Friday 4th. A night in spent in a hotel, a jaunt the next day, back down the M6, to visit Sian & Dean at Rugby before we all had to make headway to our respective 'next stops'.

Mine - was about 70 miles, again, northward. This time to the fantastic 'perfect' venue of Stafford Rangers FC a promotion by the top team behind The Soul Academy.

This spot had been booked since the beginning of the year - very kindly offered by Shute.. without even knowing me, or knowing the content of my collection! Instead his 'gut feeling' based on the musical Ethos of The Soul Academy promotions and only what he had read on SS via my postings prostituting my aspirations for regular turntable action.

I'd attended, as a punter - and to show my intended support, the previous month's Stafford Rangers FC nite & was well impressed by everything about it.. except the attendance !! A crime initself as the venue, people, dee jays, music were all fantastic. With the gusts that night of Ally Mc & Max, ably assisted by the regular spinners of Shute Jellybean & Kerby, we had a brilliant time.. and I was even more eagre than before to get behind the decks and offer my contribution to what is, essentially, an all round 'top nite' venue.

Arrived quite timely for the 8pm start (NO WAY !! was I gonna miss, even one minute, of what promised to be an astounding evening of super soul music). Greeted on arrival by the smiling faces of Shute & Gaz, promptly plonked my boxes of vinyl on the stage.. did the rounds of the tables with flyers of future venues I'm booked at - then up to the bar for my glass of water (teetotal, me - too many other bad habits to have drinking as one !! Biting me nails, for instance.. ) Martin & Jellybean were already settled, at what appears to be, their preferred table - right at the front !! A pleasure to see these two wonderful soulies again.. and a joy to listen to their vinyl offerings over the last hour of the evening's entertainment (C'mon guy's... get that playlist posted up !!).

I quickly became aware of a plethoria of class, mid-tempo, tunes eminating from the sound system - courtesy of one 'Dude'. WOW !! One after the other, of simple, effective, but most of all -'Sheer Class' 45's !! My immediate thought being one of 'this guy needs to be on later!' Most of Dude's selections were known to me.. but others were a joy for me to witness for the first time (even thing's I'd 'seen' in sales boxes but not known, so not bothered with, a certain Dee Dee Warwick on Blue Rock being an example.. how could I have not heard a tune like this before !??!). When speaking to Dude later in the night, as to why he doesn't aspire to 'better time' spots, he replied that he has no confidence with a microphone - and believes it is prerequisite to being a DJ. We left that topic there.. but not until after me planting the seed that, personally, I though it was more about the music/artists than the people playing them.

Shute, also, span some fantastic gems. He is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to what he has available in his play box. Again and again he would put on discs that were nothing but 100% quality (the main theme of the entire night's musical entertainment) and have me running back & forth to the stage to look on in awe (and envy, in a nice way of course) at some of the more 'scarce' 45's he offered the dancefloor.

It continued to get better - Tony Foster allowing the punters to appreciate his hour of brilliance. Again, nothing but out & out quality - with the Ambers 'Potion Of Love' (Smash) being my favourite spin of his. A fine example (as were the relevant selections of all the other jocks) of a tune known by the masses- one who's details are firmly ensconced within the pages of the 'Bible' of Soul Music.. but one that we forget how good it actually sounds !! until someone like Tony comes along and allows us that privelage once more. Well done geezer!!

By the time my spot had arrived I was more than ready to 'do my thang' & was pleased that the minibus of soulies from my local area of Cambs/Beds borders were already long in attendance to show support (to both me and the venue). In particular my bruv in-law Dean, who organised the transport and arrangements for his fellow passengers: Marion (Deans lovely wife) Barry & Dave (of St Neot's Soul Club fame) along with Dave's wife Moira, Les & spouse plus Cheryl. They put to shame the soulies (who live a lot closer than the hour and a half it took these guys to travel on the night) who, despite it being a night they would derive great pleasure from, didn't bother to offer support for this function. A function that deserves nothing less than an instant association with offering 'Rare, Quality, & Class' Soul Music.

On discussion with the guy's at The Soul Academy I voiced my willingness (through the enjoyment of Stafford Rangers FC) to attend all possible future dates - so long as not clashing with other bookings, which quickly extended in to the mutually agreed decision of my playing sounds on each of those occassions !! Which I am pleased to be able to offer an ongoing contribution in attempting to lift this excellent soul nite to it's rightful place. If I can assist, in any way, in promoting & maintaining it's identified music policy, with the contents of my collection, it would be an honour and privelage !!

A reminder for the other DJ's to post up their playlists - another way of showing those who, for whatever reason, were not in attendance.. what they missed out on !! My playlist is below.

Cheers !! Fingers..

Larry Clinton She's Wanted (Dynamo)

Devotions Do Do De Dop (Nation)

Pentagons Gonna Wait For You (Sutter)

Carstairs Stick By Me Baby (Test)

Tina Mason What (Capitol LP)

Tranells Blessed With A Love (Flo-Jo)

Al Williams I Am Nothing (La-Beat)

Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby (Alt.Take P-Vine LP)

Chubby & Turnpikes I Didn't Try (Capitol)

Tony Clarke The Wrong Man (M-S)

Dean Parrish Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks (Musicor)

Mr Soul What Happened To Yesterday (Genuine)

Sam Williams Love Slipped Through My Fingers (Tower)

Mill Evans Things Won't Be The Same (Constellation)

Cookie Jackson Find me A Lover (Uptown)

Lonnie Russ Say Girl (Kerwood)

Anthony & Delsonics Everytime (Emerge)

Jimmy Phillips She Belongs To Me (Bumps)

Otis Lee Hard Road To Hoe (Quaint)

Jimmy McCracklin That's The way It Goes (Imperial)

Flash McKinley I'll Rescue You (Bombay)

Johnny Mae Mathews I Have No Choice (Big Hit)

Esther Phillips Just Say Goodbye (Atlantic)

Edited April 9, 2008 by FickleFingers

[Tony Foster]

After my non-stop self promotion of the past few months, with endless copies of my 4 CD set handed out to umpteen promoters and interested soulies, the first weekend of my bookings kicked off big style - with three spots over two nights. The first of these up at the Soulful Shack in Culcheth (near Warrington) on the Friday 4th. A night in spent in a hotel, a jaunt the next day, back down the M6, to visit Sian & Dean at Rugby before we all had to make headway to our respective 'next stops'.

Mine - was about 70 miles, again, northward. This time to the fantastic 'perfect' venue of Stafford Rangers FC a promotion by the top team behind The Soul Academy.

This spot had been booked since the beginning of the year - very kindly offered by Shute.. without even knowing me, or knowing the content of my collection! Instead his 'gut feeling' based on the musical Ethos of The Soul Academy promotions and only what he had read on SS via my postings prostituting my aspirations for regular turntable action.

I'd attended, as a punter - and to show my intended support, the previous month's Stafford Rangers FC nite & was well impressed by everything about it.. except the attendance !! A crime initself as the venue, people, dee jays, music were all fantastic. With the gusts that night of Ally Mc & Max, ably assisted by the regular spinners of Shute Jellybean & Kerby, we had a brilliant time.. and I was even more eagre than before to get behind the decks and offer my contribution to what is, essentially, an all round 'top nite' venue.

Arrived quite timely for the 8pm start (NO WAY !! was I gonna miss, even one minute, of what promised to be an astounding evening of super soul music). Greeted on arrival by the smiling faces of Shute & Gaz, promptly plonked my boxes of vinyl on the stage.. did the rounds of the tables with flyers of future venues I'm booked at - then up to the bar for my glass of water (teetotal, me - too many other bad habits to have drinking as one !! Biting me nails, for instance.. ) Martin & Jellybean were already settled, at what appears to be, their preferred table - right at the front !! A pleasure to see these two wonderful soulies again.. and a joy to listen to their vinyl offerings over the last hour of the evening's entertainment (C'mon guy's... get that playlist posted up !!).

I quickly became aware of a plethoria of class, mid-tempo, tunes eminating from the sound system - courtesy of one 'Dude'. WOW !! One after the other, of simple, effective, but most of all -'Sheer Class' 45's !! My immediate thought being one of 'this guy needs to be on later!' Most of Dude's selections were known to me.. but others were a joy for me to witness for the first time (even thing's I'd 'seen' in sales boxes but not known, so not bothered with, a certain Dee Dee Warwick on Blue Rock being an example.. how could I have not heard a tune like this before !??!). When speaking to Dude later in the night, as to why he doesn't aspire to 'better time' spots, he replied that he has no confidence with a microphone - and believes it is prerequisite to being a DJ. We left that topic there.. but not until after me planting the seed that, personally, I though it was more about the music/artists than the people playing them.

Shute, also, span some fantastic gems. He is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to what he has available in his play box. Again and again he would put on discs that were nothing but 100% quality (the main theme of the entire night's musical entertainment) and have me running back & forth to the stage to look on in awe (and envy, in a nice way of course) at some of the more 'scarce' 45's he offered the dancefloor.

It continued to get better - Tony Foster allowing the punters to appreciate his hour of brilliance. Again, nothing but out & out quality - with the Ambers 'Potion Of Love' (Smash) being my favourite spin of his. A fine example (as were the relevant selections of all the other jocks) of a tune known by the masses- one who's details are firmly ensconced within the pages of the 'Bible' of Soul Music.. but one that we forget how good it actually sounds !! until someone like Tony comes along and allows us that privelage once more. Well done geezer!!

By the time my spot had arrived I was more than ready to 'do my thang' & was pleased that the minibus of soulies from my local area of Cambs/Beds borders were already long in attendance to show support (to both me and the venue). In particular my bruv in-law Dean, who organised the transport and arrangements for his fellow passengers: Marion (Deans lovely wife) Barry & Dave (of St Neot's Soul Club fame) along with Dave's wife Moira, Les & spouse plus Cheryl. They put to shame the soulies (who live a lot closer than the hour and a half it took these guys to travel on the night) who, despite it being a night they would derive great pleasure from, didn't bother to offer support for this function. A function that deserves nothing less than an instant association with offering 'Rare, Quality, & Class' Soul Music.

On discussion with the guy's at The Soul Academy I voiced my willingness (through the enjoyment of Stafford Rangers FC) to attend all possible future dates - so long as not clashing with other bookings, which quickly extended in to the mutually agreed decision of my playing sounds on each of those occassions !! Which I am pleased to be able to offer an ongoing contribution in attempting to lift this excellent soul nite to it's rightful place. If I can assist, in any way, in promoting & maintaining it's identified music policy, with the contents of my collection, it would be an honour and privelage !!

A reminder for the other DJ's to post up their playlists - another way of showing those who, for whatever reason, were not in attendance.. what they missed out on !! My playlist is below.

Cheers !! Fingers..

Larry Clinton She's Wanted (Dynamo)

Devotions Do Do De Dop (Nation)

Pentagons Gonna Wait For You (Sutter)

Carstairs Stick By Me Baby (Test)

Tina Mason What (Capitol LP)

Tranells Blessed With A Love (Flo-Jo)

Al Williams I Am Nothing (La-Beat)

Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby (Alt.Take P-Vine LP)

Chubby & Turnpikes I Didn't Try (Capitol)

Tony Clarke The Wrong Man (M-S)

Dean Parrish Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks (Musicor)

Mr Soul What Happened To Yesterday (Genuine)

Sam Williams Love Slipped Through My Fingers (Tower)

Mill Evans Things Won't Be The Same (Constellation)

Cookie Jackson Find me A Lover (Uptown)

Lonnie Russ Say Girl (Kerwood)

Anthony & Delsonics Everytime (Emerge)

Jimmy Phillips She Belongs To Me (Bumps)

Otis Lee Hard Road To Hoe (Quaint)

Jimmy McCracklin That's The way It Goes (Imperial)

Flash McKinley I'll Rescue You (Bombay)

Johnny Mae Mathews I Have No Choice (Big Hit)

Esther Phillips Just Say Goodbye (Atlantic)

It's the first time I had the pleasure of meeting the guest DJ "Johnny Fingers" and might I say he's a really nice genuine character. He has an outstanding collection of 45's and his enthusiasm for the music really comes over when talking to him. He started his spot with Larry Clinton - She's Wanted, an all time favourite of mine from way back, then he went on to play in his set The Tranells, Al Williams, Jimmy Phillips, Cookie Jackson, Dean Parrish, Mill Evans etc. Top notch! It was an education being in his company, his knowledge of the music is fantastic. One of those people you listen to and respect, he's been there, done it and got the T shirt, a real credit to the soul scene.

It may have been cold outside but inside it was really hot, not only atmospherically but musically. All the DJ's on the night were excellent, playing a mixture of oldies, newies, R&B etc. Top stuff!!!

My own spot, 10 till 11 went as follows

BOBBY WILLIAMS - I'VE ONLY GOT MYSELF TO BLAME - SURE SHOT

METROS - SINCE I FOUND MY BABY - RCA

SOUL BROTHERS SIX - I'LL BE LOVING YOU - ATLANTIC

LEVI JACKSON - THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY - COLUMBIA

LAVERN BAKER - WRAPPED, TIED AND TANGLED - BRUNSWICK

RINGLEADERS - BABY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY LOVE - M-PAC

MARY WELLS - CAN'T YOU SEE (YOU'RE LOSING ME) - ATLANTIC

YOUNGHEARTS - A LITTLE TOGETHERNESS - CANTERBURY

VIBRATIONS - CAUSE YOU'RE MINE - EPIC

KAREN SUE - SOMETHING ON MY MIND - UNITED ARTISTS

LEON THOMAS - L.O.V.E - PHILIPS

TERRY CALLIER - LOOK AT ME NOW - CADET

AMBERS - POTION OF LOVE - SMASH

KENNY CARLTON - LOST AND FOUND - BLUE ROCK

TURLEY RICHARDS - I FEEL ALRIGHT - COLUMBIA

BALLAD'S - I CAN'T SEE YOUR LOVE - VEE JAY

BILLY DAVIS - STANKY - COBBLESTONE

SHANE MARTIN - I NEED YOU - EPIC

GEORGE CAMERON - MY HEART TELLS ME SO - PORTRAIT

GARNET MIMMS - LOOKING FOR YOU - UNITED ARTISTS

PETE WARNER - I JUST WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU - POLYDOR

PHILHARMONICS - I NEED, I NEED YOUR LOVE - SOULIN

TOMMY NEAL - GOING TO HAPPENING - VOCALION

CHANTS - BABY I DON'T NEED YOUR LOVE - RCA

CLAUDE HUEY - WHY WOULD YOU BLOW IT - GALAXY

BERNARD WILLIAMS - FOCUSED ON YOU - HARTHON

Next month May 3^rd "DAVE RIMMER" will be the guest DJ. Let's make it a packer !!!!!!!

Edited April 9, 2008 by Tony Foster

[shute]

Well Johnny you did us proud on the night with such fantastic tunes

my play list in no particular order

Joyce Kennedy - Im a good girl

Deanna Brewer - Ive gotta know

Bill Sampson - Stronger and Longer

T J Williams - Baby I need you

The Escorts - You can even be my friend

Lonnie Lester - You cant go

Pat/Blenders - Just Because

Joe Douglas - Crazy Things

Eskew Reeder - Undivided Love

Guitar Ray - Youre gonna wreck my life

Soulful Twins - I cant let you go

John/Wiedest - Cant get over these memories

" No Time

Jean Wells - with my love and what youve got

Jesse Davis - Gonna hang on in there girl

Deon Jackson - Someday the sune will shine

Joe Jama - My Life

[Jellybean]

After my non-stop self promotion of the past few months, with endless copies of my 4 CD set handed out to umpteen promoters and interested soulies, the first weekend of my bookings kicked off big style - with three spots over two nights. The first of these up at the Soulful Shack in Culcheth (near Warrington) on the Friday 4th. A night in spent in a hotel, a jaunt the next day, back down the M6, to visit Sian & Dean at Rugby before we all had to make headway to our respective 'next stops'.

Mine - was about 70 miles, again, northward. This time to the fantastic 'perfect' venue of Stafford Rangers FC a promotion by the top team behind The Soul Academy.

This spot had been booked since the beginning of the year - very kindly offered by Shute.. without even knowing me, or knowing the content of my collection! Instead his 'gut feeling' based on the musical Ethos of The Soul Academy promotions and only what he had read on SS via my postings prostituting my aspirations for regular turntable action.

I'd attended, as a punter - and to show my intended support, the previous month's Stafford Rangers FC nite & was well impressed by everything about it.. except the attendance !! A crime initself as the venue, people, dee jays, music were all fantastic. With the gusts that night of Ally Mc & Max, ably assisted by the regular spinners of Shute Jellybean & Kerby, we had a brilliant time.. and I was even more eagre than before to get behind the decks and offer my contribution to what is, essentially, an all round 'top nite' venue.

Arrived quite timely for the 8pm start (NO WAY !! was I gonna miss, even one minute, of what promised to be an astounding evening of super soul music). Greeted on arrival by the smiling faces of Shute & Gaz, promptly plonked my boxes of vinyl on the stage.. did the rounds of the tables with flyers of future venues I'm booked at - then up to the bar for my glass of water (teetotal, me - too many other bad habits to have drinking as one !! Biting me nails, for instance.. ) Martin & Jellybean were already settled, at what appears to be, their preferred table - right at the front !! A pleasure to see these two wonderful soulies again.. and a joy to listen to their vinyl offerings over the last hour of the evening's entertainment (C'mon guy's... get that playlist posted up !!).

I quickly became aware of a plethoria of class, mid-tempo, tunes eminating from the sound system - courtesy of one 'Dude'. WOW !! One after the other, of simple, effective, but most of all -'Sheer Class' 45's !! My immediate thought being one of 'this guy needs to be on later!' Most of Dude's selections were known to me.. but others were a joy for me to witness for the first time (even thing's I'd 'seen' in sales boxes but not known, so not bothered with, a certain Dee Dee Warwick on Blue Rock being an example.. how could I have not heard a tune like this before !??!). When speaking to Dude later in the night, as to why he doesn't aspire to 'better time' spots, he replied that he has no confidence with a microphone - and believes it is prerequisite to being a DJ. We left that topic there.. but not until after me planting the seed that, personally, I though it was more about the music/artists than the people playing them.

Shute, also, span some fantastic gems. He is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to what he has available in his play box. Again and again he would put on discs that were nothing but 100% quality (the main theme of the entire night's musical entertainment) and have me running back & forth to the stage to look on in awe (and envy, in a nice way of course) at some of the more 'scarce' 45's he offered the dancefloor.

It continued to get better - Tony Foster allowing the punters to appreciate his hour of brilliance. Again, nothing but out & out quality - with the Ambers 'Potion Of Love' (Smash) being my favourite spin of his. A fine example (as were the relevant selections of all the other jocks) of a tune known by the masses- one who's details are firmly ensconced within the pages of the 'Bible' of Soul Music.. but one that we forget how good it actually sounds !! until someone like Tony comes along and allows us that privelage once more. Well done geezer!!

By the time my spot had arrived I was more than ready to 'do my thang' & was pleased that the minibus of soulies from my local area of Cambs/Beds borders were already long in attendance to show support (to both me and the venue). In particular my bruv in-law Dean, who organised the transport and arrangements for his fellow passengers: Marion (Deans lovely wife) Barry & Dave (of St Neot's Soul Club fame) along with Dave's wife Moira, Les & spouse plus Cheryl. They put to shame the soulies (who live a lot closer than the hour and a half it took these guys to travel on the night) who, despite it being a night they would derive great pleasure from, didn't bother to offer support for this function. A function that deserves nothing less than an instant association with offering 'Rare, Quality, & Class' Soul Music.

On discussion with the guy's at The Soul Academy I voiced my willingness (through the enjoyment of Stafford Rangers FC) to attend all possible future dates - so long as not clashing with other bookings, which quickly extended in to the mutually agreed decision of my playing sounds on each of those occassions !! Which I am pleased to be able to offer an ongoing contribution in attempting to lift this excellent soul nite to it's rightful place. If I can assist, in any way, in promoting & maintaining it's identified music policy, with the contents of my collection, it would be an honour and privelage !!

A reminder for the other DJ's to post up their playlists - another way of showing those who, for whatever reason, were not in attendance.. what they missed out on !! My playlist is below.

Cheers !! Fingers..

Larry Clinton She's Wanted (Dynamo)

Devotions Do Do De Dop (Nation)

Pentagons Gonna Wait For You (Sutter)

Carstairs Stick By Me Baby (Test)

Tina Mason What (Capitol LP)

Tranells Blessed With A Love (Flo-Jo)

Al Williams I Am Nothing (La-Beat)

Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby (Alt.Take P-Vine LP)

Chubby & Turnpikes I Didn't Try (Capitol)

Tony Clarke The Wrong Man (M-S)

Dean Parrish Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks (Musicor)

Mr Soul What Happened To Yesterday (Genuine)

Sam Williams Love Slipped Through My Fingers (Tower)

Mill Evans Things Won't Be The Same (Constellation)

Cookie Jackson Find me A Lover (Uptown)

Lonnie Russ Say Girl (Kerwood)

Anthony & Delsonics Everytime (Emerge)

Jimmy Phillips She Belongs To Me (Bumps)

Otis Lee Hard Road To Hoe (Quaint)

Jimmy McCracklin That's The way It Goes (Imperial)

Flash McKinley I'll Rescue You (Bombay)

Johnny Mae Mathews I Have No Choice (Big Hit)

Esther Phillips Just Say Goodbye (Atlantic)

Here you go Mr Fingers

Mine & Martins playlist...............well if i can remember em all and they won,t be in no particular order either

Al Green - Let me help you

Little Milton - Just a little bit

Jackie Lee - Try my method.........flip side of......Your personality & current fave of mine

Jimmy Cameron - Lovin you is such a groove

Barbara Banks - River of tears

Linda Jones - Just can,t live my life

Johnny Sayles - Can,t get enough of your love

Jellybeans - You don,t mean me no good

Rhonda Davis - Can you remember

Robert John - Raindrops love and sunshine

Ben E King - Can,t break the news to myself

Maurice & The Radiants - Baby you got it

Chuck Jackson - Any day now

Carl Hall - Mean it baby

Darrell Banks - I,m the one who loves you

Garland Green - Girl i love you

The Toys - I got my heart set on you

Royal Esquires - Ain,t gonna run no more

Carla Thomas - I,ll never stop loving you

Oscar Tony Junior - Ain,t that true love

Bobby Patterson - I,m in love with you

Phew!! Think thats all of em!!

Helen & Martin xxxKTFxxx

Edited April 9, 2008 by JELLYBEAN

[Ficklefingers]

Here you go Mr Fingers

Jackie Lee - Try my method.........flip side of......Your personality & current fave of mine

Chuck Jackson - Any day now

Garland Green - Girl i love you

Jackie Lee !! That was it !! I was trying to tell some people at Middleton later that night about this Jackie Lee thing I'd heard.. & that it was the flip to something or other !! BRILLIANT !!

Garland Green just had me melting all over the place, and Chuck Jackson.. well !! He is one of 'Those Voices' 'en he !??! like Roy Hamilton, Tony Middleton & the likes. Incredible big voice that just grabs you by the proverbials and makes you take notice.

Great stuff you two.. can always count on Jellybean to give us a suprise or two (just glad, on this occassion, it was nothing she would be embarrassed about for several weeks after.. )

Fingers..

[max millward]

After my non-stop self promotion of the past few months, with endless copies of my 4 CD set handed out to umpteen promoters and interested soulies, the first weekend of my bookings kicked off big style - with three spots over two nights. The first of these up at the Soulful Shack in Culcheth (near Warrington) on the Friday 4th. A night in spent in a hotel, a jaunt the next day, back down the M6, to visit Sian & Dean at Rugby before we all had to make headway to our respective 'next stops'.

Mine - was about 70 miles, again, northward. This time to the fantastic 'perfect' venue of Stafford Rangers FC a promotion by the top team behind The Soul Academy.

This spot had been booked since the beginning of the year - very kindly offered by Shute.. without even knowing me, or knowing the content of my collection! Instead his 'gut feeling' based on the musical Ethos of The Soul Academy promotions and only what he had read on SS via my postings prostituting my aspirations for regular turntable action.

I'd attended, as a punter - and to show my intended support, the previous month's Stafford Rangers FC nite & was well impressed by everything about it.. except the attendance !! A crime initself as the venue, people, dee jays, music were all fantastic. With the gusts that night of Ally Mc & Max, ably assisted by the regular spinners of Shute Jellybean & Kerby, we had a brilliant time.. and I was even more eagre than before to get behind the decks and offer my contribution to what is, essentially, an all round 'top nite' venue.

Arrived quite timely for the 8pm start (NO WAY !! was I gonna miss, even one minute, of what promised to be an astounding evening of super soul music). Greeted on arrival by the smiling faces of Shute & Gaz, promptly plonked my boxes of vinyl on the stage.. did the rounds of the tables with flyers of future venues I'm booked at - then up to the bar for my glass of water (teetotal, me - too many other bad habits to have drinking as one !! Biting me nails, for instance.. ) Martin & Jellybean were already settled, at what appears to be, their preferred table - right at the front !! A pleasure to see these two wonderful soulies again.. and a joy to listen to their vinyl offerings over the last hour of the evening's entertainment (C'mon guy's... get that playlist posted up !!).

I quickly became aware of a plethoria of class, mid-tempo, tunes eminating from the sound system - courtesy of one 'Dude'. WOW !! One after the other, of simple, effective, but most of all -'Sheer Class' 45's !! My immediate thought being one of 'this guy needs to be on later!' Most of Dude's selections were known to me.. but others were a joy for me to witness for the first time (even thing's I'd 'seen' in sales boxes but not known, so not bothered with, a certain Dee Dee Warwick on Blue Rock being an example.. how could I have not heard a tune like this before !??!). When speaking to Dude later in the night, as to why he doesn't aspire to 'better time' spots, he replied that he has no confidence with a microphone - and believes it is prerequisite to being a DJ. We left that topic there.. but not until after me planting the seed that, personally, I though it was more about the music/artists than the people playing them.

Shute, also, span some fantastic gems. He is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to what he has available in his play box. Again and again he would put on discs that were nothing but 100% quality (the main theme of the entire night's musical entertainment) and have me running back & forth to the stage to look on in awe (and envy, in a nice way of course) at some of the more 'scarce' 45's he offered the dancefloor.

It continued to get better - Tony Foster allowing the punters to appreciate his hour of brilliance. Again, nothing but out & out quality - with the Ambers 'Potion Of Love' (Smash) being my favourite spin of his. A fine example (as were the relevant selections of all the other jocks) of a tune known by the masses- one who's details are firmly ensconced within the pages of the 'Bible' of Soul Music.. but one that we forget how good it actually sounds !! until someone like Tony comes along and allows us that privelage once more. Well done geezer!!

By the time my spot had arrived I was more than ready to 'do my thang' & was pleased that the minibus of soulies from my local area of Cambs/Beds borders were already long in attendance to show support (to both me and the venue). In particular my bruv in-law Dean, who organised the transport and arrangements for his fellow passengers: Marion (Deans lovely wife) Barry & Dave (of St Neot's Soul Club fame) along with Dave's wife Moira, Les & spouse plus Cheryl. They put to shame the soulies (who live a lot closer than the hour and a half it took these guys to travel on the night) who, despite it being a night they would derive great pleasure from, didn't bother to offer support for this function. A function that deserves nothing less than an instant association with offering 'Rare, Quality, & Class' Soul Music.

On discussion with the guy's at The Soul Academy I voiced my willingness (through the enjoyment of Stafford Rangers FC) to attend all possible future dates - so long as not clashing with other bookings, which quickly extended in to the mutually agreed decision of my playing sounds on each of those occassions !! Which I am pleased to be able to offer an ongoing contribution in attempting to lift this excellent soul nite to it's rightful place. If I can assist, in any way, in promoting & maintaining it's identified music policy, with the contents of my collection, it would be an honour and privelage !!

A reminder for the other DJ's to post up their playlists - another way of showing those who, for whatever reason, were not in attendance.. what they missed out on !! My playlist is below.

Cheers !! Fingers..

Larry Clinton She's Wanted (Dynamo)

Devotions Do Do De Dop (Nation)

Pentagons Gonna Wait For You (Sutter)

Carstairs Stick By Me Baby (Test)

Tina Mason What (Capitol LP)

Tranells Blessed With A Love (Flo-Jo)

Al Williams I Am Nothing (La-Beat)

Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby (Alt.Take P-Vine LP)

Chubby & Turnpikes I Didn't Try (Capitol)

Tony Clarke The Wrong Man (M-S)

Dean Parrish Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks (Musicor)

Mr Soul What Happened To Yesterday (Genuine)

Sam Williams Love Slipped Through My Fingers (Tower)

Mill Evans Things Won't Be The Same (Constellation)

Cookie Jackson Find me A Lover (Uptown)

Lonnie Russ Say Girl (Kerwood)

Anthony & Delsonics Everytime (Emerge)

Jimmy Phillips She Belongs To Me (Bumps)

Otis Lee Hard Road To Hoe (Quaint)

Jimmy McCracklin That's The way It Goes (Imperial)

Flash McKinley I'll Rescue You (Bombay)

Johnny Mae Mathews I Have No Choice (Big Hit)

Esther Phillips Just Say Goodbye (Atlantic)

hey fingers!! who's been a busy boy then!! hope you really enjoyed doing all those different venue spots! can i just say a big thank you! for the most exellent & interesting spot you played at stafford!! also reading that you will be there in the future whenever possible is totally fantastic news! for the venue & for all the future soulies who must surely start to turn up at this super & well run venue to help swell the crowd! once again thanks pal, super stuff!!

all the best

max..

[Jellybean]

Jackie Lee !! That was it !! I was trying to tell some people at Middleton later that night about this Jackie Lee thing I'd heard.. & that it was the flip to something or other !! BRILLIANT !!

Garland Green just had me melting all over the place, and Chuck Jackson.. well !! He is one of 'Those Voices' 'en he !??! like Roy Hamilton, Tony Middleton & the likes. Incredible big voice that just grabs you by the proverbials and makes you take notice.

Great stuff you two.. can always count on Jellybean to give us a suprise or two (just glad, on this occassion, it was nothing she would be embarrassed about for several weeks after.. )

Fingers..

Arh well!!! You see Mr Fingers.......you don,t play the flips do you??? Well i always do ......... cos majority of the time you gets "two for the price of one"

Have to say you played an outstanding spot!! Hopefully see you soon sweetheart

Oh and what could i possibly do to be embarrassed about????

JB xxxKTFxxx

Edited April 10, 2008 by JELLYBEAN

[Wulfie09]

Arh well!!! You see Mr Fingers.......you don,t play the flips do you??? Well i always do ......... cos majority of the time you gets "two for the price of one"

Have to say you played an outstanding spot!! Hopefully see you soon sweetheart

Oh and what could i possibly do to be embarrassed about????

JB xxxKTFxxx

oh I'll find out Helen and use it one night

Wulfie

[Ficklefingers]

Oh and what could i possibly do to be embarrassed about????

Oh.. I'm Certain we could think of Something..

[Ficklefingers]

hey fingers!! who's been a busy boy then!! hope you really enjoyed doing all those different venue spots! can i just say a big thank you! for the most exellent & interesting spot you played at stafford!! also reading that you will be there in the future whenever possible is totally fantastic news! for the venue & for all the future soulies who must surely start to turn up at this super & well run venue to help swell the crowd! once again thanks pal, super stuff!!

all the best

max..

Hey Max.. You, for one, was somebody I didn't want to let down on the night, & truly hoped I could, at least match your 'knack' for plucking out the 'right' things from the playbox. The excellent time you gave us the previous week at NCS was my measuring stick!! I'm glad you approved.

Certainly trying to make myself as busy as poss.. this weekend sees me DJing, first, at Maria W's 50th bash at the Oldham all-niter, then off down to Worcester for Pete Robinsons all-dayer on the Sunday. Busy, busy, busy !!

Looking forward, too, to the regular appearences at Stafford Rangers FC - I really hope that people start to take notice of this promotion.. so many are missing out !!

Hope to catch up with you very soon Max !! Top Man !!

Fingers..

[Jellybean]

Oh.. I'm Certain we could think of Something..

Hmm!!! We.ll see about that Mr Fingers.....

JB xxxKTFxxx