Jez Jones

Yes Nick quite a 'hefty sum ' for 1968 Mate of mine told me years and years ago that he reckoned he paid £5 and ten shillings!!!!! for Lee Dorsey --Ride your Pony from the Wheel in 1967

Yes yes Dalton Boys--I've been cheated Nice one mate. Maybe goes under the category of underplayed nowadays? Top tune I remember and very rare at the time. Jimmy Thomas, was that on the green and white parlophone demo perchance? Very nice and collectable at the time! Shame his other outing at the time 'where there's a will' didn't reach those dizzy heights---or did it?

This is related to another thread and a thought offered by another member on the subject of Leon Haywood---Baby Reconsider. I seem to remember it around 1970 (give or take a bit) that it was a £25+ sound. Also just after wasn't Queen of Fools--barbara Mills a £20 sound ? Come on chaps what can you remember? What were your memories of what were the 'big hitters' back in the day. Fuller bros---times a wasting, what did that go for after its first play? Eddie Parker---Love you baby--£15er ? What was the first £50 sound?

Don't know about that mate, better memories than mine could possibly tell ya As for one of his faves, yes didn't he sing it . Now 'probably the start of big money rarities' as you say--- i think its up there I seem to remember at the time it was around 25-30 quid ,same time or just after was Queen of fools--Barbara Mills 20-25 quid. tell yer what mate--that would make a good thread ---bring some of the more mature members out and with thier experiences

Oh yes and probably(late wheel era) one of the country's most sought after and rare sounds. Never a 'played to death' oldie IMHO

Ah yes! Seem to remember Jimmy ruffin on there circa 1970. Few others as well. Must get to Winsford allnighter before it shuts. .Real good 'Cheshire' allnighter. Hope we get another Steve (winsford soul) ?

Classified as 70's and probably best known as northern stompers?

Add to those lj reynolds ---Penguin Breakdown Millie jackson --My mans a sweet man Archie Bell----Here I go again etc Was this the crossover(not in that sense ) Not a definitive date more a sound change which wasn't analysed at the time. Just a continuing trend of 'stompers'. Who were the dj's that broke these did they think at the time they were not traditional northern fayre Us punters weren't that bothered . At that time everyone was like a sponge for more of the like and dj's had to satisfy that craving. If you go into things to deeply(you go up your own arse but seriously) These type of northern /new northern/ classic stompers what ever you want to call them were lapped up and not judged. People had no time /inclination to judge----just got on with it

Classic Now theres an idea for a thread. Farting at Northern soul events! Longest fart at a soul do replacing a hand clap with a fart on the dance floor Farting in an RnB room and no one notices best anal rendition of 'Bari Track' Cover ups with a whoopee cushion instead of an original Anyway must get a life -----Bloody toilet humour ---it stinks

Thats what I remember it was like wasn't it? Well one of them anyway

just caught it mate they had Mary fox on and she had to play guess what.................Frank Wilson. Was waiting for his brother Al to kick in but it went off

Yes probably the innocence of youth and all that!! Not seen the Sam and Kitty so I cant comment mate. Hold on though I did have it (1973ish?) but can't remember if it was a boot. Could 've been ,as you say very hard to distinguish from the 'real'. Black label wasn't it.... I dunno....been ages mate Any way the EMI discs I was referring to may have been a tad earlier and were quite distinctive(to me anyway and hopefully to others). They were thicker than the 'normal' vinyl and were like a metal and dead heavy. They just had a white label and typed or sometimes just written on the label Artist and title on both sides. I 've mentioned this before but they were as lethal as Oddjobs bowler hat. There were quite a few about of that desciption though. Maybe as techonology got better in the early 70's pressings became more and more similar to the 'real' thing. Dunno just pontificating(woops there are creams ) Come on chaps can someone give us a definitive history/guide to pressings on the soul scene probably covers late Wheel onwards dunnit?

Good post mate can't comment on current re-issues/boots etc cos i aint seen any(may have inadvertently heard em out though ) I had a few of the EMI discs back in those days and you are right some did have lesser known tracks on the b side. Also some if you were lucky were double a sides(for want of a better description). They would have 2 top sounds on. These were quite acceptable until the 'real deal' came into your possession. they weren't frowned upon quite so much in them days. You could often see them in sales boxes circa 1970+ along side american imports and british originals.No one seemed at the time to mind selling them and folks would buy it appeared.However (correct me if I'm wrong) but these were one of the first, if not the first pressings to hit the scene and were easily recognisable so everyone knew what they were getting , so there was no risk involved in buying,you pay yer money yer get what yer pay for --a pressing. Nowadays ,i suppose the more discerning /knowleadgeable collector has to check matrix numbers etc etc etc

yeah I noticed that Up to the rest to step up to the plate and deliver a good un then hey

Thats about right Not too sure about this A-Z list thingy. Bit too much like celebrity worship to me. There already is a grading system in place ---its called the dancefloor Moving from dj's there seems to be an increasing trend to the grading of punters From upfront and knowledgeable crowd down to handbagger/baggies brigade . With all this talk of diminishing attendances would all 'types of punters be welcome regardless. After all they all pays their money just a thought....

Some valid points there Ian Especially the concept of the 'skilled dj' . A dj is only as good as he can make his dancefloor react ie if its full he is doing his/her job . Takes time to learn your trade also

Certainly was

Makes ya wonder what ever happened to all those discarded left hand gloves dunnit?

Or even chewing gum of the dance floor. Popular little accessory ,way back , were the singular black driving glove with the knuckles cut out

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. Steve Jones formerly of Congleton in Cheshire passed away last week just 3months short of his 56th birthday. Steve was a avid Wheel goer and don't think he missed one in the last 2years till it closed. Steve was a very close friend and the gang that went the wheel with him included Al Barnett, Johnny Dale, Tony Smith, Oscar, Rasper Morris, Flynny from stoke, Pemmy now on Merseyside,Galli ,the Probert twins and the list goes on. He dabbled on and off with the scene a couple years after the wheel and went the Torch,Ambassedeur (Bradford) and did a couple of very early forays to the Casino. He left Britain in the ealy 90's and went to live in California with his wife and daughter,and really enjoyed the lifestyle across there. He only made a handful of trips back over here but on those (Oh too few) trips back he would always ask us about northern soul and we would get together,play a few tunes, and generally ' chew the cud' over days gone by. His favourite record was 'scratchy' by Travis Wammack and that would always remind him of 100mph dancing at the wheel. Steve was a person who never seemed 'down' and even when you were feeling p*ssed off he could always seem to lift ya. Maybe or maybe not some ex Wheelites on here will remember Steve ,but as many on here can testify ,to lose a lifelong friend is like losing a piece of your own jigsaw of life. My first experiences in Northern Soul were with Steve and the gang and shall never forget them. My thoughts go out to his wife and family at this time. Always a pleasure to be in your company Steve. Rest in peace mate. Dead but not forgotten

Tell you what Barry, that wouldn't be as easy as what it appears on the surface! Different strokes for different folks and all that

Haven't collected in a zillion years, but still retain a passing interest in labels and stuff . lenis Guess was on this wasn't it?

Tell you what matey, see if you can get hold of a Platters cd---Don't hear ,speak ,see no evil Sweet sweet lovin I love you a 1000 times etc. finished off with the ultimate seasidey song Washed ashore sublime soulful voices. Should keep you amused ps If you get hold of one give us a shout i aint got one Have a good time Jez

Yes i know mate . British vs US originals that sounds like an interesting thread...I wonder... american atlantic, red atlantic, black atlantic............................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!!!!!!!!!!!