Jez Jones

Fantastic !!...great work indeed

Great memories Michael... we were blessed at the time ,with UTJ, Torch etc carrying on and giving us more great sounds..from where the Wheel left off

Further reflections on our past 10years of CO72.....remembering when we were 'evifcted' from Ryan Hall (due to its closure)...we had to frantically find another venue at 2 or 3 weeks notice..we wanted to keep it in S-o-T to minimise disruption ....therefore we ended up at the Queens at Basford .....yes the very same (for locals of a certain age) that hosted the infamous 'grab a granny' nights in the 70;s 🙂 Well Paul Donnelly had organised a coach load of CO72 revellers from over there in the Fens..... All good so far..until we realised ..mmm Pauls a bit late with his coachload.. After several phone calls ..trying to determine where the f==k are you?... It transpires that him,coach driver and said revellers are LOST !! Picture the scene..me trying to explain where the Queens is......as he drives round and round and round Newcastle u Lyme...for those that know 'Castle is a pain to negotiate and get your bearings...one ways, bit of a ring road...and all roads either lead to Hanley or M6 !!!....organised chaos comes to mind......!!!...eventually they arrive about an hr late....with me virtually going out to middle of the road to flag em down !! before they end up on the A500 again !!...phew it aint easy lol !!

Just came across this...I think it was penned by the late Dave Turner (RIP) from Lincolnshire......a top lad and staunch enthusiast of CO72 from the get go... Brings a lump to lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. In a place called Tunstall, near Stoke-on-Trent A very special club, that I did frequent By road or rail, we all made our way there How we got home well we just didn't care Because to dance all night, was our thing To Sam and Kitty, or "Shingaling" The Kingspinners played, the whole night through Eddie Parker, The Shakers and "I Still Love You" One week there would be, a brand new sound The next it was yours, for just a pound Hoagy Lands, Rose Battiste, and Nolan Chance Roy Hamilton and Little Caesar, made everybody dance The Torch fans danced, the night away Showing off the steps, they practiced each day Some sliding and spinning, others seemed to flaot around These were the very best dancers, there were to be found I've Been Hurt "Landslide", and "He Who Picks a Rose" "Rat Race" "Thumb a Ride", the list just grows "Personally" "I'm Standing", "Crying Over You" "Angel Baby" "One in a Million", and "What Would I do" Junior Walker, Bob and Earl, and Doris Troy Fontella Bass, Edwin Starr, they were all a joy But When "Live at the Torch", was recorded by Major Lance It was one night there wasn't, any room to dance Each morning all too soon, when it was time to go Jimmy Radcliffe rang out loud, to finish off the show As the soul fans made, their way out of the door They all knew that they, would be back for sure When I look back on the Torch, the thing that stands out I feel honoured to have been, of this I have no doubt The Golden Torch may be, 35 years gone But in my heart, The Torch lives Right On!!

Another memory from one of the early CO72's was the inimitable 'Barmy Barry' with his rather impromptu and rsique greeting over the mic to Doris. Doris was one of the original 'cloakroom' girls at the Torch !!

Of course Julian...I believe you ! 🙂 What I do remember is 5 or 6 CO72ers lifting Nogger's wheelchair carefully up those flight of stairs at Ryan Hall...very much in 'Chuckle brother' mode...'from me to you...you to me' etc etc

Some great memories there, from our humble beginnings......as the weeks go on....feel free to share your memories of the event...from what has been a great 10 yr journey

Should be easy enough to pick up mate..its not particularly rare.... 10 quid should nab you one I would think ----on US Law-ton vocal and inst

Pm sent mate

Please please can you play some bootlegs

Just to say...tunes on the 'left field' side of things have been around since the early days.....here's a Wheel oddity..love it or hate it 🙂

Well just flip that for a start...not leftfield as such..but an e.g.of a really good 2 sider

Just using one or two points from this to debate. IF the dreaded OVO is so 'passe' and its only the 'sound' that is important...that concept doesn't seem to have been picked up in the promotion of the myriad of events every weekend. I can't be arsed to check the events section on here.. but I would wager that a high proportion of them display in their 'ads' a vinyl policy or 100% vinyl only policy...some even add 'original vinyl only 🙂 . So the promoters out there do seem to think that punters care about format and not JUST the 'sound'. I have yet to see an event advertised as 'bootlegs' played here or 'Laptops r us'......SO..maybe it IS that the punters DO care about format...ALL those promoters out there can't be wrong ..can they ?..or maybe that it makes them feel 'part of it' ..far be it from comments on here dictate where people go ! Hoagy Land's on Stateside !...mmm......or even your Leon Haywood on Fat Fish (in acknowledgment of the OP 🙂 ) possibly in 1970 along with ya gear and money and smart leather coat.. it may be at risk.......I'm not sure you gonna get 'rolled for it in 2018 everyone is 'loved up', happy clappy' and keeping the Faith..nowadays.... I think the point that Mr Bentley has raised is the almost 'throwaway ' attitude that I KNOW its a boot but its ok to DJ with !!.......

..maybe in the 'wrong forum'...this is for Record Sales

It is still about the music to some nowadays............HOWEVER the environment we listened to it in the 60's/70's etc...has changed completely.One thing that can't be understated is that 90% of a steamy,sweaty, smelly and on occasion bloody venue was made up of under25's. ...and THAT feeling you got when you first heard Eddie Parker 'Love you Baby (insert classic oldie of choice)...can never be replicated again.....we can't turn the clock back...despite attempts to do so...some admirable, some not so admirable ! THE BAR HAS BEEN SET HIGH on this 'obi wan' We can all wish we were 16 again but that aint never gonna happen. We can all wish the influx of 'rules' would disappear, that aint gonna happen whilst everyone has social media to air the opinions Those that 'fawn' over events/sounds using words like 'awesome and monster ( i'm guilty on occasion myself) may well be describing current environments quite well in their opinions....however don't forget THE BAR HAS BEEN SET HIGH Can ANYONE really say that 'bar' has been surpassed ??...Maybe its rose tinted glasses or convenient selective memory loss...but good luck to the individual that claims that 'bar' has been surpassed in the 21st century..it must be a great feeling for you AND am jealous It seems that attending an allnighter is still a 'badge of honour' that some wear proudly...........but ffs 'fings aint like what they used to be'...because THE BAR HAS BEEN SET HIGH That BAR has got a lot to answer for.......and somehow needs to be laid to rest somehow (dont ask me how) !! herein lies the problem............. The current 'youngsters that are active on the nighter scene..ARE fantastic and as has been mentioned are avid collectors/dancers and enthusiasts and its great to see. One who shall remain nameless....said to me. The nighters nowadays are OUR wheel,Torch, Wigan etc...and THAT is how it should be, they're making their own memories to take into THEIR dotage..just like we did So..its up to 'old men' to gradually erode memories of that BAR and consign it to history books. Whether there is that apetite to do so amongst the scene now.... that is liberally dotted with Koko and Ktf advocates...is another question Some may argue that it is 'memories' of that BAR....that keeps the scene going commercially...whether thats right or wrong is another question......... Don't blame Zappa...don't blame it on the boogie...blame it on the BAR btw here's something thats dawned on me...Eddie Parker LYB...isn't that great a record when I hear it now....... right I'm off to the BAR ..Im spitting feathers....cheers

Are ALL the 'Boot's cases sold !!

Yep ....ruuning alongside the football terrace culture of the late 60's early 70's..........bit difficult trying to put on a cockney accent down at the 'Bridge lol :-)

Annie Braithwaites older sister............phwoooaarr !!! :-)

Power of social media lol..we 'll al dig it out and play it this weekend..could be the next biggie lol hehehe

Dells at Trentham.................unforgetable !!!

Are there any prices for these ??

pm sent Des

great idea Mike....travelling in these arctic conditions is difficult..so updates are essential

very tempted Mick ...mmmmm