On Tuesday I took a look at the "Story of the Supremes" exhibition which is now on in Birmingham.

I found the exhibition very interesting - although the sound system is a bit of a mess. Too much going on in one room IMHO!!

There was inevitably some info. about the visit of the Motown Revue to the U.K. in 1965. One of the information boards acknowledged the low attendances at the concerts but regarding the Sound of Motown T.V. special it said:

"It spawned a fanatical following in the North of England, known as Northern Soul, which is still going strong today."

So you now know the very day, indeed the very hour, when Northern Soul was born!!

MB

On Tuesday I took a look at the "Story of the Supremes" exhibition which is now on in Birmingham.

I found the exhibition very interesting - although the sound system is a bit of a mess. Too much going on in one room IMHO!!

There was inevitably some info. about the visit of the Motown Revue to the U.K. in 1965. One of the information boards acknowledged the low attendances at the concerts but regarding the Sound of Motown T.V. special it said:

"It spawned a fanatical following in the North of England, known as Northern Soul, which is still going strong today."

So you now know the very day, indeed the very hour, when Northern Soul was born!!

MB

I deejayed at the opening night at the V&A and Mary Wilson was a BABE....she sang beautifully and from where I was standing (which was directly to the left of her) she had the best pair of pins I've seen - years of dancing On an even spookier note - I was going round the exhibition a couple of weeks later with my mate who works at Motown NY. His mobile rang and he was saying 'Yes, yes, I am, will do, love you'....I asked who it was and he said 'Mary'...'Mary Who'...'No, Mary Wilson' He said she'd rung him to tell him to go to the exhibition as she knew he was in London...I asked how he knew Mary...'Oh, I was her dresser for 5 years'... How very cool....he then told me how much each dress weighed!!! Those beaded numbers are not easy to wear x

Just interested - was it all in one room at the V & A?

In Birmingham it is.

They have a big screen with looping performances of the Supremes. But also 3 T.V. screens with various stuff going - including audio. A bit too much IMO!!

Some absolutely stunning outfits on show.

I was a bit sad that they didn't have one of the red dresses from the 1965 U.K. tour - as here:

But I suppose you can't have everything!!!

MB

Edited February 26, 200916 yr by MBarrett

I deejayed at the opening night at the V&A and Mary Wilson was a BABE....she sang beautifully and from where I was standing (which was directly to the left of her) she had the best pair of pins I've seen - years of dancing On an even spookier note - I was going round the exhibition a couple of weeks later with my mate who works at Motown NY. His mobile rang and he was saying 'Yes, yes, I am, will do, love you'....I asked who it was and he said 'Mary'...'Mary Who'...'No, Mary Wilson' He said she'd rung him to tell him to go to the exhibition as she knew he was in London...I asked how he knew Mary...'Oh, I was her dresser for 5 years'... How very cool....he then told me how much each dress weighed!!! Those beaded numbers are not easy to wear x

It was a good day, loved the bit where the kids were getting their hair done 60s style

It was a good day, loved the bit where the kids were getting their hair done 60s style

Ahh Binsy - what a day that was...that was the Supremes Face Painting Day and Chinese Buffet for Soul Fans The opening night was a shindig with no face painting

MB, I think the exhibition was in one very big space but divided into different areas with clever use of display cases, staircases and 'stuff'...it took about 30-40 minutes to get round. Those red dresses are fab - my sister made a black one with material from the market and lampshade fringing...and when she twisted, it flicked up. I thought it was so cool back in '64 that I wanted one when I was 'grown up'....I'm still waiting

Ahh Binsy - what a day that was...that was the Supremes Face Painting Day and Chinese Buffet for Soul Fans The opening night was a shindig with no face painting

MB, I think the exhibition was in one very big space but divided into different areas with clever use of display cases, staircases and 'stuff'...it took about 30-40 minutes to get round. Those red dresses are fab - my sister made a black one with material from the market and lampshade fringing...and when she twisted, it flicked up. I thought it was so cool back in '64 that I wanted one when I was 'grown up'....I'm still waiting

OOO shimmy fringing love the way it moves when you dance

I was out in notts yesterday rooting around the vintage clothing warehouses...get yourself out looking in those they have clothes for every era...

I found M and S 60s stuff

But opted for a very smart mint fitted jacket 12 quid!

Mand

Edited February 27, 200916 yr by Madmandy

We saw the exhibition in Blackpool, it was in 3 rooms there but all fairly small.

Apart from all the outfits, I loved the exhibit with the Dansette & all the records lying around.

If only I'd had a bigger bag with me

OOO shimmy fringing love the way it moves when you dance

I was out in notts yesterday rooting around the vintage clothing warehouses...get yourself out looking in those they have clothes for every era...

I found M and S 60s stuff

But opted for a very smart mint fitted jacket 12 quid!

Mand

Mand, you can never go wrong with a fitted jacket....always smart on any occasion :-) You'll have to let me know where these places are in Notts as I'm often up in Notts Town - every couple of months. It would make a groovy change to look at clothes instead of vinyl

We saw the exhibition in Blackpool, it was in 3 rooms there but all fairly small.

Apart from all the outfits, I loved the exhibit with the Dansette & all the records lying around.

If only I'd had a bigger bag with me

I did have my beady eye on the Frances Nero....but those alarmed exhibition cases are a barsteward to break into...trust me, I know

Mand, you can never go wrong with a fitted jacket....always smart on any occasion :-) You'll have to let me know where these places are in Notts as I'm often up in Notts Town - every couple of months. It would make a groovy change to look at clothes instead of vinyl

Jo

Ones an upstairs room very nice clean and tidy Looks like helter skelter but down a back alley lace market /hockley flashback vintage clothing I think it was called the others just off the slab square close to where the steak house is at the bottom of one of those street ..I dont know street names

The others a bit of a junk shop type place on parliament street just down on the right from the palais (ocenana) massive warehouse a bit funky in smell as well as stock but Thats where I bought the jacket

A nice young man called Ben works in there

Ps there won't be anywhere to look at vinyl soon selectadisc is closing ...theres a thread

Mand

heres a link to one

https://www.kathleenandlilys.co.uk/

Loving this

https://www.kathleenandlilys.co.uk/vintage/.../VW_d400030.jpg

Edited February 27, 200916 yr by Madmandy

"It spawned a fanatical following in the North of England, known as Northern Soul, which is still going strong today."

So you now know the very day, indeed the very hour, when Northern Soul was born!!

MB

I travelled over to London to check out The Supremes exhibition. The clothes are unbelievable, up there with couture, just a bit more showbiz. The black sequined mac - Oh my GOD. I have a load of pictures which I can post up - if anyone is interested? Pictures dont do the dresses justice though. I feel so sorry for whoever had to sew on all those sequins and beads...

Wendy

Did you manage to take photos in the exhibition?

There were "No Photography Allowed" signs all over in Brum - but no souvenir catalogue/brochure for sale.

What sort of bad planning is that!!??

MB

I travelled over to London to check out The Supremes exhibition. The clothes are unbelievable, up there with couture, just a bit more showbiz. The black sequined mac - Oh my GOD. I have a load of pictures which I can post up - if anyone is interested? Pictures dont do the dresses justice though. I feel so sorry for whoever had to sew on all those sequins and beads...

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I agree Wendy myself & Jane went to the ex when it was on in Blackpool it was brilliant the dresses / outfits from the 60,s/70,s where awesome , anyone whos not seen it i cant recommend it enough ..top stuff

Quite a bit about the civil rights movement has well

x Ian Cunliffe