Ian Levine, Motorcity, Centre City, Blackpool Mecca, And Swons

[Guest]

It began with rhythm & blues not Dean Barlow style pop crap, don't hold that up as some kind of beacon cos that record and all of it's ilk are a huge stain on the northern scene.

Jumping up and down in fierce agreement

[Guest Nik Mak]

Logic

But we store whole sequences, so it's live, not just regurgitate notes like we did ten years ago.

Are you ever tempted to use the miriad of plug ins available or do you go to outboard (Gates/reverbs/compression etc) gear to mix down? Also is any of the track coming from Tape or is it all in the BOX? I had a Soundcraft 24 track 2" for many years still can't quite get that space it offered between the frequencies. Had Dolby NR on each track too so the warmth & clarity was touchable! I've sussed out that part when mixing but the space is still not quite there.

[Guest]

Who you asking? Me, Ian or Cheggers?

Please, as has been said before, please keep this on topic and keep chit chat like this to the PMs. That's what they are there for.

You really are a trip.

I have a few friends who could spend a whole year psychoanalysing a mind like that.

If you weren't a DJ you might have chosen a much darker profession ... like a serial killer or something.

[Guest]

No, he is just a mischeviously naughty misguided youngun..................ah what a wag that 12 yr old JT is

QoFxx

Misguided is most certainly the operative word.

[Guest]

No, I'm intersted in your character. It facinates me. I think the drive you have is remarkable, super human infact. Where does this come from? Ian, I'm just asking you a question, about what it is that has driven you to your achievements.

I havn't posted it in the wrong section have I? No it's the Ian Levine thread, I can see it at the top of the page.

Whatever.

If you think my fascination for athletic guys in white gym shorts is the underlying reason for me being who I am, then who am I to disagree with you.

To think we used to joke about this subject on ANS all the time, and now here you are dissecting the psychoanalysis of it.

I've a good mind to post up some pics, but then I WOULD get banned.

[Guest]

So in fact Dave Godin thought the soul scene oooooooop north was "so good he named it twice" and he coined not one but two phrases

QoFxx

yes Chrissie.

[Guest]

Hmm a bit like House music you mean

House Music didn't exist in 1970.

[Guest inspirations001]

Since this started I have been warned about you.

I have been warned you see yourself in the role of the young buck challenging the old stag for leadership.

But the reality is that I pose no threat to you, as I have no wish to go back to DJing.

But your deep rooted problem is that you can't bear that, no matter how successful a DJ you may become, your name will never be linked as much in history in connection with Northern Soul, as the names Ian Levine, Colin Curtis, Richard Searling, Kev Roberts, and Russ Winstanley.

And that wrankles you, so you're trying to attack me by using my own recollections to demonstrate how insecure you see me.

But I'm not. I'm perfectly happy with my life and I love the records that I make. A few more chart hits would be nice, but I have sold millions in the past, and I'm much much happier making the music that I love than wasting my talent on some hopeless boy band who don't deserve it.

Enjoy your current DJing role, and show some respect for those who paved the way for you.

well said ian, no matter what people think of you personally,NO-ONE can take away what you have done for this fantastic scene of ours. like i've said before, i don't know you(i know peolpe who do tho) so i have no thought of you as a person, just a leader in the field of northern soul. i find these jibes about you personally, a tad tedious and akin to a victorian freak show. now it's getting boring! having said that the names of butch, soul sam, john manship should have been mentioned in your list of great dj's. also agree with pete,s records like dean barlow and all of that ilk are white pop shite and have no place whatsoever on our scene. i always thought dj's were scraping the barrell playing shit like that.it may be rare(ish) but it certainly aint fookin soul!

[Dave Fleming]

Ian,do you remember this 45,one of your better finds

Dave f.............

[Guest]

Are you ever tempted to use the miriad of plug ins available or do you go to outboard (Gates/reverbs/compression etc) gear to mix down? Also is any of the track coming from Tape or is it all in the BOX? I had a Soundcraft 24 track 2" for many years still can't quite get that space it offered between the frequencies. Had Dolby NR on each track too so the warmth & clarity was touchable! I've sussed out that part when mixing but the space is still not quite there.

We have two studios.

Here I maintain my old analogue desk, a DDA which I bought off Hans Zimmer, and my MTR 90 24 track machine, all in working order, and a huge shelved room with nearly two thousand two inch tapes, so we can take original strings, brass, vocals, backing vocals, whatever we want anytime we want.

My production partner is in Ascot with state of the art digital, so I can bring analogue sounds from my studio to his and we have access to more soul music vocals and instruments than anyone else in the world outside of Motown itself.

It's perfect symbiosis. Plus after fifteen years he knows every chord I want to use like telepathic empathy.

[Guest]

House Music didn't exist in 1970.

The name maybe but the 4/4 beat certainly did.. You should know!

Names come and go but the music remaines the same. House music is the Northern Soul of today.

[chrissie]

Whatever.

If you think my fascination for athletic guys in white gym shorts is the underlying reason for me being who I am, then who am I to disagree with you.

To think we used to joke about this subject on ANS all the time, and now here you are dissecting the psychoanalysis of it.

I've a good mind to post up some pics, but then I WOULD get banned.

You should try the SS LAAS (Soul Source Ladies Art Appreciation Society) thread we had months of semi naked male pinups until we had to tame it down

QoFxx

[Guest Nik Mak]

The name maybe but the 4/4 beat certainly did.. You should know!

Names come and go but the music remaines the same. House music is the Northern Soul of today.

TOTALLY AGREE! You watch this lot slag you off now!

[Guest]

Ian,do you remember this 45,one of your better finds

Dave f.............

Now that is a story and a half.

The summer of 1973 - the glory year at the Mecca.

Dave Rivers and Dave Burton covered the bottom half over and left the Kama Sutra logo showing. This was the same time we were playing "Hey Little Girl" by the Del-Capris.

They claimed it was another even better Del-Capris record on the same label.

We had no headphones at that time in the Mecca, so they nagged me to play it, nagged and nagged and nagged. I didn't trust them as far as I could throw them, so I utterly refused.

So they gave in and let me in on the joke.

With my urging, they got Colin Curtis to play it.

Everyone stood on the floor looking around saying "what the.."

Colin went to take it off and I quick wittedly yelled, "No no don't take it off, it's just got a long silly beginning, a bit like Sidra's Theme."

So it carried on.

I rolled on the floor laughing with tears in my eyes.

Even funnier was Les Cokell rolling on thr floor, crying with laughter, trying to get the words out, through the giggles, "I think I've pissed myself".

The funniest moment EVER in the history of The Mecca.

[SteveM]

Whatever.

If you think my fascination for athletic guys in white gym shorts is the underlying reason for me being who I am, then who am I to disagree with you.

To think we used to joke about this subject on ANS all the time, and now here you are dissecting the psychoanalysis of it.

I've a good mind to post up some pics, but then I WOULD get banned.

I may be oversimplifying this Ian, but isn't James's (or whoevers working him) "joke" that whatever he asks, you'll eventually answer because your ego is such that you cant help yourself even though he's taking the p*ss ? Many people will find it tiresome. Don't you ?

Pat Brady went to the Mecca as well didn't he ?

[Guest]

Who you asking? Me, Ian or Cheggers?

Please, as has been said before, please keep this on topic and keep chit chat like this to the PMs. That's what they are there for.

James

You're make an arse of yourself fella

Derek

[Prophonics 2029]

well said ian, no matter what people think of you personally,NO-ONE can take away what you have done for this fantastic scene of ours. like i've said before, i don't know you(i know peolpe who do tho) so i have no thought of you as a person, just a leader in the field of northern soul. i find these jibes about you personally, a tad tedious and akin to a victorian freak show. now it's getting boring! having said that the names of butch, soul sam, john manship should have been mentioned in your list of great dj's. also agree with pete,s records like dean barlow and all of that ilk are white pop shite and have no place whatsoever on our scene. i always thought dj's were scraping the barrell playing shit like that.it may be rare(ish) but it certainly aint fookin soul!

Are you bonkers Dean Barlow ain't white.

[Guest]

I may be oversimplifying this Ian, but isn't James's (or whoevers working him) "joke" that whatever he asks, you'll eventually answer because your ego is such that you cant help yourself even though he's taking the p*ss ?

But people can already see the joke's on him, because I have tried to answer honestly and fairly.

[Guest]

Are you bonkers Dean Barlow ain't white.

That's as maybe - it's a f*cking horrible record though

Derek

[Guest]

Pat Brady went to the Mecca as well didn't he ?

Yes of course he did.

[Dave Fleming]

Now that is a story and a half.

The summer of 1973 - the glory year at the Mecca.

Dave Rivers and Dave Burton covered the bottom half over and left the Kama Sutra logo showing. This was the same time we were playing "Hey Little Girl" by the Del-Capris.

They claimed it was another even better Del-Capris record on the same label.

We had no headphones at that time in the Mecca, so they nagged me to play it, nagged and nagged and nagged. I didn't trust them as far as I could throw them, so I utterly refused.

So they gave in and let me in on the joke.

With my urging, they got Colin Curtis to play it.

Everyone stood on the floor looking around saying "what the.."

Colin went to take it off and I quick wittedly yelled, "No no don't take it off, it's just got a long silly beginning, a bit like Sidra's Theme."

So it carried on.

I rolled on the floor laughing with tears in my eyes.

Even funnier was Les Cokell rolling on thr floor, crying with laughter, trying to get the words out, through the giggles, "I think I've pissed myself".

The funniest moment EVER in the history of The Mecca.

I thought you would like it,glad you could share that story with the other members on SS,

Dave f..........

[Guest]

That's as maybe - it's a f*cking horrible record though

Derek

It is indeed. I got a bit of a shock when I first heard it, in fact I think it first came out of my old rejects, from Bernie Golding's barn.

[Guest]

I thought you would like it,glad you could share that story with the other members on SS,

Dave f..........

Were you there, Dave ????

[Prophonics 2029]

That's as maybe - it's a f*cking horrible record though

Derek

Which Dean Barlow record is Oribble.

[Guest]

TOTALLY AGREE! You watch this lot slag you off now!

Who ever doesn't realise that knows nothing about Northern Soul.

[Prophonics 2029]

I remember an alldayer when Wigan casino DJ's all played at the Mecca, Sylvester and Light of The World played in the main room.

[Guest Hunnymon]

Ian,

Can I ask you about Steve Brooksteins version of "Walk Away And Never Look Back"?

Any plans to release it?

[Guest]

Which Dean Barlow record is Oribble.

"Third window" i put it in the same league as Della Reese "A clock with no hands" another crime against music.

Derek

[Guest]

I remember an alldayer when Wigan casino DJ's all played at the Mecca, Sylvester and Light of The World played in the main room.

I had left by then.

Colin left in early 1979. I left in July 1979.

This was after that date.

[Guest]

Ian,

Can I ask you about Steve Brooksteins version of "Walk Away And Never Look Back"?

Any plans to release it?

How do you know about that ??

It was going to be a single till Simon Cowell decided he only wanted covers and no new songs.

It has never been released to this day.

[Tomangoes]

Is this topic going to win the prize for most replies and most views, or are we quite a bit away yet?

Ian, should you not be in a studio producing or something?

I think it should develop into simple questions and answers from now on, with no opinions unless relevant.

Here goes my first question.

Is it true that you (not all the other DJs) only played Lou Edwards - Talkin bout poor folks, just the once at the Mecca?

Ed

[Prophonics 2029]

The Northern side was great but the absolute mess of the barb up funkatiers was astounding to see, must have been at least 30 OD passed out all over the building.

Edited August 25, 2008 by Prophonics 2029

[Pete S]

Who ever doesn't realise that knows nothing about Northern Soul.

That's all of us except you two Northern Soul professors then.

[chrissie]

yes Chrissie.

Well that makes it all clear

James

You're make an arse of yourself fella

Derek

.......but he is being quite funny, for once

QoFxx

[Guest]

Ian,

Can I ask you about Steve Brooksteins version of "Walk Away And Never Look Back"?

Any plans to release it?

I would like to play you this, however. And those of you who like more Modern stuff can hear an Ian Levine record with much more modern drums, because that's what it was meant to be, and that was the intention.

It won't appeal to a lot of you, so please bypass it, as it's more Modern than Northern. And Pete Smith, you really won't like it I promise you.

But I love the song.

">

[Guest]

FANTASTIC Vocal, badly produced backing track. Horribley out of date. Shame.

So didn't this one ever appeal to you ???

">

[Guest]

Is it true that you (not all the other DJs) only played Lou Edwards - Talkin bout poor folks, just the once at the Mecca?

Ed

No - it was my record and my discovery. Colin hardly played it at all.

[Guest Nik Mak]

We have two studios.

Here I maintain my old analogue desk, a DDA which I bought off Hans Zimmer, and my MTR 90 24 track machine, all in working order, and a huge shelved room with nearly two thousand two inch tapes, so we can take original strings, brass, vocals, backing vocals, whatever we want anytime we want.

My production partner is in Ascot with state of the art digital, so I can bring analogue sounds from my studio to his and we have access to more soul music vocals and instruments than anyone else in the world outside of Motown itself.

It's perfect symbiosis. Plus after fifteen years he knows every chord I want to use like telepathic empathy.

Sounds ideal. Then why is the production so pedestrian & dated? Listen to these two examples and then tell me that your stuff is more relevant.

Raphael Saadiq 'The way I see it' Columbia LP/CD or Sam Bostic 'Soul Supreme' Expansion LP/CD. Both artists have emulated music from different eras one 60's one 70's but both offerings are so now in the production department. Your stuff sounds so stagnated and dated with no width depth or energy except from the vocals. People have compaired some of your offerings to Dionne Warwick (Ebony) which to me beggars belief! With the talent at your disposal and the equipment at your fingertips your output should be oustanding. Having listened to ALL the stuff you have posted here sorry your so far off the mark it's laughable. I feel sorry for the artists your hoodwinking into working with you. All I'm seeing & hearing here is self promotion to up the mechanical royalty cheques you hope to get on the cover numbers and the production credits for the 'original' stuff. Write an original song that is relevant to the present day & you might get some of the respect you so obviously crave. Then some of the artists you are useing might get the recognition they so rightly deserve. I don't expect you to answer this post with anything other than pithy sarcasm because that is your way of avoiding explaining yourself. If you do that you and I know you will be caught out and this thread will die very quickly. & you don't want that do you?

[Pete S]

this thread will die very quickly

this thread will still be going in 2 months time...

[Pete S]

50 users are watching this topic

[Guest BigPaul]

There are only two rules on this thread James sweetie, that is that you can only post if you are going to say nice things to massage his Levinesses ego and you must NOT ask him questions that may in any way make it awkward for him to answer openly and honestly

QoFxx

Thanx Chrissie

You saved me the trouble

[Guest BigPaul]

Thanx Chrissie

You saved me the trouble

Not you of course James

[Prophonics 2029]

50 users are watching this topic

A lot of people read the Sun news paper its not a crime to read threads is it.

[Pete S]

A lot of people read the Sun news paper its not a crime to read threads is it.

Didn't say it was did I, I was commenting on the large amount of people involved in it, you see I don't know if you know this but 50 is a number which is larger than the usual 5 people who watch normal threads

[Guest]

Sounds ideal. Then why is the production so pedestrian & dated? Listen to these two examples and then tell me that your stuff is more relevant.

Raphael Saadiq 'The way I see it' Columbia LP/CD or Sam Bostic 'Soul Supreme' Expansion LP/CD. Both artists have emulated music from different eras one 60's one 70's but both offerings are so now in the production department.

I'm glad you mentioned Raphael Saadiq.

The music is great, and the funk Brothers were involved but the songs are just so bland, just nonentities.

A total waste of such resources.

When we spent that kind of money on Ebony, every single song was a winner.

I just posted up Steve Brookstein and Voices With Soul. Both of those used much more modern sounds, because I WANTED TO.

Accept that when I make Northern Soul, I want to keep it retro, just accept it.

[Guest]

this thread will still be going in 2 months time...

As long as an overzealous Mod doesn't ban me for not toeing the line.

[Guest]

Write an original song that is relevant to the present day & you might get some of the respect you so obviously crave. Then some of the artists you are useing might get the recognition they so rightly deserve. I don't expect you to answer this post with anything other than pithy sarcasm because that is your way of avoiding explaining yourself. If you do that you and I know you will be caught out and this thread will die very quickly. & you don't want that do you?

I was starting to like you, or at least respect you, till this post.

[Guest Nik Mak]

this thread will still be going in 2 months time...

Only if he avoids certain questions that are put to him. If he comes out all guns blazing you'll get to see the REAL reason he's on here and the bubble will burst. I joined this thread because I thought this guy had something to offer still and i respected his past output (Still do). But his stubborn attitude to anything other than his own opinion can't be that of a sensible person living in this day & age. Not in the industry he works in not unless there is a hidden agenda. It took a while but the only conclusion I can come to is the same as others sussed out earlier than me. He's here for one thing and one thing only to sell more of his crap. Don't have a problem with that just would like that posted up front so everyone can see for themselves. All the shenanigans avoiding this is down right wrong.

[Guest]

Having listened to ALL the stuff you have posted here sorry your so far off the mark it's laughable.

Why are you so determined to stop me from making the music that I want to make ???

It's not hurting you in any way.

And if I'm so far off the mark, how come Expansion Records, who created their YouTube page around the same time as I did mine, had sixteen thousand views at the same time as I reached three million, and they released your precious Sam Bostic record.

I think it's YOU who is so far off the mark, I'm afraid.

[Guest]

Didn't say it was did I, I was commenting on the large amount of people involved in it, you see I don't know if you know this but 50 is a number which is larger than the usual 5 people who watch normal threads

Crying with laughter.

Brilliant.

You ARE on top form today, Smiffie.