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

[Guest moggy]

Tony Cummings must have been having his ringpiece tickled with a feather

As always

[Steve G]

But then you can throw Mr M's into the equation that played Mecca, Torch, Wheel and Casino tunes back to back so for a night out at the time M's.

Mr M's???? You are kidding n'est pas?

The bloody place should have been barricaded up with everyone in it.

Mr M's - The place that gave birth to the oldies scene and closed so many ears to hearing new sounds.

[Epic]

Mr M's???? You are kidding n'est pas?

The bloody place should have been barricaded up with everyone in it.

Mr M's - The place that gave birth to the oldies scene and closed so many ears to hearing new sounds.

In fairness - it was quite novel & very enjoyable in the early days to spend an hour in M's - the rot set in when people decided to spend all night in there.

They should have had a system like the swimming baths - give each person a band of a certain colour & when it was your time up (1 hour) out you came.

You see - for the sake of a rubber band the Northern scene could have been "saved"

[Guest]

Lenny Gamble

Edited September 3, 2008 by Ian Levine

[Guest]

thanks for the 2 liner reply to someone elses request for more info on him, about as much use as fart in a space suit.

How rude.

[Guest]

I think there is some ( a lot) of truth in that statement, but would add the rather obvious proviso that it applied to certain dj's only. RS rarely played a bad record from 76 to the end, while certain others played dross for a good few years. Brady and Rushbrooke stand out as others with excellent playlists.

The comment about the more melodic sound is certainly correct. More than a few Mecca tunes were reactivated with great success in the early mid eighties, which had not received widespread acclaim when Ian and Colin first played them.

Tobi Legend was the kind of melodic record played at The Mecca as early as 1972, to later gain mass acceptance at Wigan. It was first acquired by Phil Ash in 1971, who sold it to me, and Les Cokell went bananas over it.

Phil also went to my school.

Ian Levine, Stuart Bremner, Phil Ash, Neil McAndrews, all went to Arnold, the Northern Soul breeding ground.

[Guest]

Wonder what this was?

Detroit Soul Masters-Stirrin' Up Some Soul (Jacklyn) (reported from a Black Music article - he says that he is 'yet to hear it')

It was The Marketts on Warner Brothers.

[Davetay]

Yep not a straightforward comparison I grant you.

I was thinking more of groundbreaking as opposed to actual audio quality.

I know some fab tunes were broken at Wigan and could take nothing away from Sir Richard Searling. However I'm minded of Ritson & Russell speaking on the radio one time about ascending the stairs at the Highland Room and the tunes being played being just mind blowing. Sounded a bit special. Not that Wigan wasn't you understand..

Yes it was special, we were young and it was a exciting time.

I wish i could put in words the feeling of walking down the corridor (at the top of the stairs) to the Highroom Room.

Hearing new records week in week out, it was magic.

[Davetay]

Was aware of the differences/times etc between the two, as stated not a straightforward comparison.

Thanks for that posting though.

So Wigan for atmos - Highland Room for groundbreaking?

That sums it up well.

[Guest]

Hearing new records week in week out, it was magic.

Yes, and we got paid the princely sum of £3 to bring them to you, new sounds EVERY week.

[SteveM]

Tobi Legend was the kind of melodic record played at The Mecca as early as 1972, to later gain mass acceptance at Wigan. It was first acquired by Phil Ash in 1971, who sold it to me, and Les Cokell went bananas over it.

Phil also went to my school.

Ian Levine, Stuart Bremner, Phil Ash, Neil McAndrews, all went to Arnold, the Northern Soul breeding ground.

That "melodic" sound was always there though wasn't it? Even with the faster stuff. Did you play Lynn Varnado first at the Mecca ?

[Pete S]

It was The Marketts on Warner Brothers.

Don't think so Ian, solely because that had already been bootlegged on the first design Out Of The Past label.

[Pete S]

That "melodic" sound was always there though wasn't it? Even with the faster stuff. Did you play Lynn Varnado first at the Mecca ?

F*cking crap record, precursor to most of these dire crossover records

[Paul-s]

I think there is some ( a lot) of truth in that statement, but would add the rather obvious proviso that it applied to certain dj's only. RS rarely played a bad record from 76 to the end, while certain others played dross for a good few years. Brady and Rushbrooke stand out as others with excellent playlists.

The comment about the more melodic sound is certainly correct. More than a few Mecca tunes were reactivated with great success in the early mid eighties, which had not received widespread acclaim when Ian and Colin first played them.

So, back to now, much as I ABSOLUTELY love all this old time reminiscing. There is so much talk on Soul Source about attracting new people to the scene and records getting stale etc. Yet here are the 'old fellas' putting in 40 odd pages of 'the way we were'....very exciting stuff im sure . In fact, I was there, but choose to get more excited about TODAY and TOMORROW! Both of which have absolutely NOTHING to do with the 'EMPOROR' and this ''New Clothes' tribute thread. so please....let it go.

If you want to get back into or more aptly 'ON TO' the scene, its simple Ian, stop the talking and do the walking. Get out and show us how much you love it. Stop all this arm chair reminiscing and back slapping. I mean, you old guys are kinda cute, with your comparisons and memories. But, you have already tortured us with them via video and dvd. SO, we dont, as Gil Scott Heron put it, "need no re-run".

This thread is the soul source equivalent of 'Last Of The Summer Wine'.....you can decide whos who, but can we please make it the LAST SERIES.

Many Thanks

A Very Bored Viewer.

[SteveM]

F*cking crap record, precursor to most of these dire crossover records

Theres something seriously wrong with you Pete.

[Epic]

So, back to now, much as I ABSOLUTELY love all this old time reminiscing. There is so much talk on Soul Source about attracting new people to the scene and records getting stale etc. Yet here are the 'old fellas' putting in 40 odd pages of 'the way we were'....very exciting stuff im sure . In fact, I was there, but choose to get more excited about TODAY and TOMORROW! Both of which have absolutely NOTHING to do with the 'EMPOROR' and this ''New Clothes' tribute thread. so please....let it go.

If you want to get back into or more aptly 'ON TO' the scene, its simple Ian, stop the talking and do the walking. Get out and show us how much you love it. Stop all this arm chair reminiscing and back slapping. I mean, you old guys are kinda cute, with your comparisons and memories. But, you have already tortured us with them via video and dvd. SO, we dont, as Gil Scott Heron put it, "need no re-run".

This thread is the soul source equivalent of 'Last Of The Summer Wine'.....you can decide whos who, but can we please make it the LAST SERIES.

Many Thanks

A Very Bored Viewer.

I still go out regularly DJing, listening & dancing in the main to brand new dance music with a trip to the odd revival night thrown in now and again.

If you are a very bored viewer I suggest like watching the TV, you head for the "OFF" switch - not hard is it ?

[Pete S]

In fact, I was there, but choose to get more excited about TODAY and TOMORROW! Both of which have absolutely NOTHING to do with the 'EMPOROR' and this ''New Clothes' tribute thread. so please....let it go.

Most of us like looking back because it makes us a) comfortable and happy. Much more than the bleak future does.

[Pete S]

Theres something seriously wrong with you Pete.

Tell me one redeeming feature of the Lynn Varnardo record Steve. Oh yes, the label design is pretty cool.

Edited September 3, 2008 by Pete S

[Simsy]

Thats a misleading and impossible to answer question.

That's why I prefaced it with 'sweeping statement' and 'on the whole' etc...

That said I think there have been some interesting answers thus far. So not that impossible eh?

Personally, I never went to either, ( too young ) but if Stephen Hawking could crack on and invent a time machine and you could go back for one night only, I think I'd be erring on the side of the Mecca. But what year?

[Peter99]

How rude.

[Guest moggy]

How rude.

Well I have taken the time to read the whole thread, over 2000 post's which has taken me a good few hours, so as not to repeat any questions you have been asked etc.

I know very little about Mel Britt, except to say, SCRB is my number 1 all time choice of Northern Record, and I was kind of hoping you would have given him a little more post time than you did, as you to my knowledge (me Moggy) are the only person I know who has spent time with the man, so I was very much looking forward to finding out about him, maybe another time then

[SteveM]

That's why I prefaced it with 'sweeping statement' and 'on the whole' etc...

That said I think there have been some interesting answers thus far. So not that impossible eh?

Personally, I never went to either, ( too young ) but if Stephen Hawking could crack on and invent a time machine and you could go back for one night only, I think I'd be erring on the side of the Mecca. But what year?

Not Dallas in November 63 then Ian ?

Sorry for another boring post about the past Paul.

[Paul-s]

Most of us like looking back because it makes us a) comfortable and happy. Much more than the bleak future does.

See Pete, thats a good answer.

[Guest moggy]

Theres something seriously wrong with you Pete.

Of all of the slander and abusive remarks that have been on this whole 2000+ thread so far !

This is the most accurate

[Pete S]

Of all of the slander and abusive remarks that have been on this whole 2000+ thread so far !

This is the most accurate

You're all horrible bastards

Edited September 3, 2008 by Pete S

[Paul-s]

I still go out regularly DJing, listening & dancing in the main to brand new dance music with a trip to the odd revival night thrown in now and again.

well done. Pity Ian cant manage it. Hes the one your ALL promoting on this thread.....

If you are a very bored viewer I suggest like watching the TV, you head for the "OFF" switch - not hard is it ?

Difficult when it a state sponsored production (lots of old 'soul' tories chipping in!) and supported so fully by their efforts to keep it 'top of the charts'. Think of me as a campaigner for progress and 'soul'....not regress and droll.

Edited September 3, 2008 by paul-s

[Simsy]

Not Dallas in November 63 then Ian ?

Oh for sure, but the grassy knoll is a bastard to dance on!

[Guest moggy]

To be quite honest I'm getting pretty fooking bored of your tiresome, one mad crusade against Ian Levine. It's bordering on obsessive.

If you're so bored with it why keep posting up your tedious fookin posts? Go and bore someone else.

Hey Davey you fookin old fart who keeps living in the past

Dont hold back when it comes to airing your point of view

Pauls

Why so much anger towards him blimey most of us who post on here are always rambling on about the past, to some it's all we/they have.

[Peter99]

You're all horrible bastards

[Peter99]

Hey Davey you fookin old fart who keeps living in the past

Dont hold back when it comes to airing your point of view

I might be a fart Moggy - but less of the old. I'm a young man!

You know me - I like to be gracious and subtle.

[Billy Freemantle]

Ian: There was a discussion a while back on whether Love, Love, Love, Bobby Hebb was first played at The Mecca or The Wheel. What does your memory tell you on this?

[Koolkat]

Yes it was special, we were young and it was a exciting time.

I wish i could put in words the feeling of walking down the corridor (at the top of the stairs) to the Highroom Room.

Hearing new records week in week out, it was magic.

Totally totally agree. I can smell it. Although Ive got to say most of the exitement was just cos you actually got in the place. Them bouncers were tight bastards some weeks. I mean you get in the place one week and then a couple weeks later for no good reason youve no chance of getting to the fookin pay counter. What the foooook was all that about. We use too hide behind each other until we were actually on the escalator . Then...... when you walked into the Highland room....WHOOOOOOSH off you went. Dont drink too much though cos we are off down The Casino later. I would pay good money for one saturday night again, circa dec 73. Yes sir indeed.

[Simsy]

They certainly were a well turned out bunch ..

[Guest moggy]

We got to stop all this re-living our past's talk

Makes me depressed, It's like when I look at old photographs of when I was a yoot, at differing venues, longish hair, orrible clobber, fresh faced thin little bastard, fookin great day's

Wheres that time machine

[Koolkat]

We got to stop all this re-living our past's talk

Makes me depressed, It's like when I look at old photographs of when I was a yoot, at differing venues, longish hair, orrible clobber, fresh faced thin little bastard, fookin great day's

Wheres that time machine

Whats a yoot when its at home?

[Simsy]

Whats a yoot when its at home?

You'll have to watch My Cousin Vinny.

[Guest]

That "melodic" sound was always there though wasn't it? Even with the faster stuff. Did you play Lynn Varnado first at the Mecca ?

No, that was Colin.

[Guest]

So, back to now, much as I ABSOLUTELY love all this old time reminiscing. There is so much talk on Soul Source about attracting new people to the scene and records getting stale etc. Yet here are the 'old fellas' putting in 40 odd pages of 'the way we were'....very exciting stuff im sure . In fact, I was there, but choose to get more excited about TODAY and TOMORROW! Both of which have absolutely NOTHING to do with the 'EMPOROR' and this ''New Clothes' tribute thread. so please....let it go.

If you want to get back into or more aptly 'ON TO' the scene, its simple Ian, stop the talking and do the walking. Get out and show us how much you love it. Stop all this arm chair reminiscing and back slapping. I mean, you old guys are kinda cute, with your comparisons and memories. But, you have already tortured us with them via video and dvd. SO, we dont, as Gil Scott Heron put it, "need no re-run".

This thread is the soul source equivalent of 'Last Of The Summer Wine'.....you can decide whos who, but can we please make it the LAST SERIES.

Many Thanks

A Very Bored Viewer.

Please go and read all the other threads on Soul Source, and bypass this one.

[Koolkat]

You'll have to watch My Cousin Vinny.

[Guest]

Well I have taken the time to read the whole thread, over 2000 post's which has taken me a good few hours, so as not to repeat any questions you have been asked etc.

I know very little about Mel Britt, except to say, SCRB is my number 1 all time choice of Northern Record, and I was kind of hoping you would have given him a little more post time than you did, as you to my knowledge (me Moggy) are the only person I know who has spent time with the man, so I was very much looking forward to finding out about him, maybe another time then

I tracked him down, discussed it all with him, but it was my assistant, Adi, who actually met and filmed him, for me.

[Peter99]

What a boring reply. At least make an attempt at articulating your 'Oh so tedious point'!

[Guest]

Of all of the slander and abusive remarks that have been on this whole 2000+ thread so far !

This is the most accurate

I find that quite offensive, to be honest.

After the vicious hounding and relentless lynch mob mentality of those like Paul-S, James Trouble, Sister Dawn, etc etc, you find Pete's harmless and innocent and amusing quips to be the ones to single out.

After the sick rubbish I keep reading on here, some of you should be ashamed to the core.

[Guest moggy]

What a boring reply. At least make an attempt at articulating your 'Oh so tedious point'!

Paul

It's OK and correct to say we should be bringing in fresh new people and ideas to the scene

but there are some out there, even the new comers, who want hear what it was like back then, even at the expense of boring some people.

Me, I am a bit of a boring fart, who just loves hearing/reading the stories from numerous people not just Ian Levine of who played/ discovered what etc etc.

Tedious to some, but not to me, but hey were all different and we all have an opinion, lifes too short to be to bitter my friend.

In the words of my mad old Wolves supporting friend Ricky Lee "Peace Man"

[Guest]

To be quite honest I'm getting pretty fooking bored of your tiresome, one man crusade against Ian Levine. It's bordering on obsessive.

If you're so bored with it why keep posting up your tedious fookin posts? Go and bore someone else.

I like you, Peter99.

Good man.

[Pete S]

I find that quite offensive, to be honest.

After the vicious hounding and relentless lynch mob mentality of those like Paul-S, James Trouble, Sister Dawn, etc etc, you find Pete's harmless and innocent and amusing quips to be the ones to single out.

After the sick rubbish I keep reading on here, some of you should be ashamed to the core.

I'm not certain but I think Moggy was taking the piss out of me rather than being nasty Ian, I think him and I are quite pally. I say 'think'

[Guest]

Ian: There was a discussion a while back on whether Love, Love, Love, Bobby Hebb was first played at The Mecca or The Wheel. What does your memory tell you on this?

It was never played at The Wheel nor discovered then. That's categorical.

I discovered it in 1971 and lent it to Les Cokell to play first at The Mecca. He had never heard it when the Wheel was open. It was one of my big early records, which I carried on playing when I started DJing myself in November 1971.

[Pete S]

This thread has one aim...to promote Levine.

No shit Sherlock. That's why the thread is called IAN LEVINE. We know this. We choose to read it.

[Koolkat]

Totally totally agree. I can smell it. Although Ive got to say most of the exitement was just cos you actually got in the place. Them bouncers were tight bastards some weeks. I mean you get in the place one week and then a couple weeks later for no good reason youve no chance of getting to the fookin pay counter. What the foooook was all that about. We use too hide behind each other until we were actually on the escalator . Then...... when you walked into the Highland room....WHOOOOOOSH off you went. Dont drink too much though cos we are off down The Casino later. I would pay good money for one saturday night again, circa dec 73. Yes sir indeed.

And I,ll tell you something else. If you went on the coach and you didnt get in..........well what a shit night in Blackpool it was. Dickheads wanting to fight in all the pubs. Hey mate which town you from?...........it didnt matter if you were from Little Boystown in Boystownshire............SMACK!!!!!

[Peter99]

I'm not certain but I think Moggy was taking the piss out of me rather than being nasty Ian, I think him and I are quite pally. I say 'think'

Hey Smiffy - Moggy said you were a right fooker!

[Guest moggy]

I find that quite offensive, to be honest.

After the vicious hounding and relentless lynch mob mentality of those like Paul-S, James Trouble, Sister Dawn, etc etc, you find Pete's harmless and innocent and amusing quips to be the ones to single out.

After the sick rubbish I keep reading on here, some of you should be ashamed to the core.

Ian

You obviously have no idea on what West Midlands humour is about if I thought for a minute pete would take offense then it wouldn't get posted, plus if he would have taken it out of it's context, I'm sure his reply would have been a lot tastier than the one he put up.

It's called having a laff tiss allowed you know