Alan Walls

Wasn't it the case that the Motown machine kiboshed JJ Barnes' career when they bought Ric Tic as he sounded "too much' like Marvin Gaye?

Dunno what's funnier, the patch or the 'spectacularly-missing-the-point' tangent...

Cheers Ian

Where can a chap buy a copy? I used to love Tim's column in Shades of Soul, he has such an enjoyable, funny writing style.

'New York Disco', Malc. Dusty Bin Stanley lifted the fatwah on that style during the halcyon 81-85 era...

Indeed. I, for one, shall never remember this truly Golden Era, which produced such fantastic sounds as...er...um...ahem, and those legendary DJ's Whatshsname, Thingy and The Other Fella. The memories are sure to come flooding away to a drought with this wonderful gaming patch. It'll be just like doing the Footsee in Mr N's all over again! Wigon shall never die! God bless Dusty Bin Stanley and Pritchard Starling. GTF!

'kinell, I was just gonna mention Cecil Washington, Mr Soul and Larry Houston off the top of my herad then I read that list. That's a roll call of excellence! Phenomenal tunage, good ol' Dickie.

I had a patch with 'Soul Warwickshire' and weird image that vaguely resembled a bear wrestling a tree. WTF was that all about? And how did it find it's way into my home in Fife?

The particular appeal of reading about an era you have personnally experienced is a really good point and one I'd not thought of. Food for thought, that is. There really is an interesting story to be told, from the exodus of Old Timers after the Casino closed, to the jockeying of various clubs trying to fill the void; the rise of the 60's Newies Mafia (!) and the drive to re-establish the scene's original ethos of promoting new discoveries; the effects of rave culture - another exodus of bodies, youths suddenly having a more exciting, alternative scene to dive into, legislative changes making it harder for promoters to gain niter licences; the scene in Scotland transforming from localised events to producing clubs with UK-wide appeal and importance. Hell, even the gear changed - bath tub sulphate taking over from clean pharmaceuticals ( I never heard of anyone successfully screwing a chemist as the 80's progressed. The rogues would come back to the niter with tails between their legs, brandishing nothing more potent than a crate of milk and a dozen rolls), the appearance of E...and that's just off the top of my head.

Guy used to play a real Spector-eque soundalike covered up as Bill Medley and the Wall of Sound*. Buggered if I can remember who it really by but I'm sure other Stafford heads will remember. Don & Juan's 'Heartbreaking Truth' on Mala (I think) is another, may have been covered up as The Righteous Brothers by Keb. * edit: title was "Baby Please Don't Go"

Nothing boring about that Mate, there's many old Stafford head who'd love to make that claim!

Was Billy Arnell's bird really so hard?

Ian, that's astonishing. Bizarre! A great idea, of course. Were there enterprising collectors in the 60's from these shores doing that? Apart from industry people like John Abbey abd Dave Godin, I mean?

Credit your source, Young Man!

"Fancy a Manifesto"?

Hello mate, chances are it was me playing it on your tapes! It is a right old growler of track, isn't it? Typical 60's newies tackle, ie rough as a badger's arse! edit: Hi Andy. Yep, a powerhouse badger's arse!

Ha, good man yourself! ps: love your Flowered Up sig, btw!

Might be totally off on one here due to premature aging and a stonking hangover, but I'm pretty damn sure this came to light following a review by Ion Tsakalis in a fanzine whose name escapes me, around late 80's. Got mine from Soul Bowl for something daft like £5, bought blind on the strength of the big chap's glowing recommendation! £150? Jeeeeeeez!

I know it's a different club, sport and country, but the opening lines do it for me! "People have you heard The news today The Celts are back on top This time they're to stay" I hope to be singing this on Sunday afternoon...

Many thanks Joan, hope you're all good and well! Without wishing to sound cliquey, we knew our fellow Stafford/60's Newies/Messhead/open-minded types 'got it', it was more organisational problems that tended to cloud our memories. So glad it's just Steve and I traumatised by the nightly hassles!

Many thanks Joan, hope you're all good and well! Without wishing to sound cliquey, we knew our fellow Stafford/60's Newies/Messhead/open-minded types 'got it', it was more organisational problems that tended to cloud our memories. So glad it's just Steve and I traumatised by the nightly hassles!

Like 'dis:

Gary, it never ceases to pleasantly surprise me when I see such praise for the YM nighters. We look back and think it was helluva hard work - trying to black-out the windows on the Saturday afternoon, hiring and assembling portable staging, the innevitable problems with terrible decks, hassle with the local fannies who tried to get in, trying to keep the more 'chemically refreshed' (me included) out of the way from YM staff - looking back my immediate impression is that we didn't have the chance to enjoy it, but when I put my mind to it there are loads of great memories. Really delighted to know so many folk rated it.

Forgive me Mr B, may I colour this one in? The scene in full: a modest family home in he former mining village of Allanton. A telephone in the hall rings, answered by Mrs O'Hara (matriarch) Mrs O'Hara : "Hello"? Speed Addled English Oaf : "Is that Rough Cut"? Mrs O'Hara : "No, it's his Mum" Speed Addled English Oaf : "A'riiight Rough Cut! When's next Scotland on"? Mrs O'Hara : "it's the last Saturday of the month" Speed Addled English Oaf : "Crackin mate. See ya then"! In those days, Scotland only got switched on in the last Saturday of the month. I blame Thatcher....

It was indeed. 'Shotts' used to get referenced because Allanton was nothing more than a one-road village and no bugger would ever find it without heading for nearby Shotts first. It's no bustling metropolis either, but has the dubious benefit of being home to HMP Shotts, which at least means the town appears on road signs!