Soulsmith

Its really fashionable to attack the Futures & Gayle Adams. I'm not sure if its either jumping on the bandwagon or a sort of pack mentality. 2 years ago they were absolute floor packers & appealed to the once a month crowd. Whoever introduced them made a lot of people happy. Surely you don't begrudge people that? Personally they are not favourites of mine, but I don't think they are bad records either. They both have strong lyrics and are surely 10 times better than any instrumental ever played. I await the onslaught. Col.

Formed in late 70s by a bald headed geezer who looked a bit like Kojak. He DJ'd under the not truly original name of err.....Kojak. I think the aim was similar to one of Soul Sources - putting people in touch. "Networking" - thats 2 things I've said tonite that I regret ! Does any one have any info on the club? Any stories? Did it actually work? Col.

Masters At Work 12" They do a lot of remixes & veer towards soulful garage. Generally more garage than soulful.

Whoa........I'm not gonna argue with that! I simply dont know enough to start telling people whats northern soul and whats not. So my post was generalised. However, when the dance floor empties & people start complaining loudly I know something is a miss. Dave Rimmers post above illustrates the point well. Col.

I'm not sure there's any real need to draw lines. If you're DJing in the northern room at Plinston stick to northern soul. When you're getting in right the dance floor will fill up, when you start going 'off message' the dance floor will clear. I dont agree with your earlier views but I respect your love for the scene. And you're a damn fine DJ. Can't believe I said that in public. Col.

"If they only get played upstairs, peoples knowledge will never expand." When I want to expand my mind I will pop upstairs & mix with all the other expanded mind people. Which is why I enjoy & frequent 2 room nites. But, sometimes I just I want to spend some quality time with my mates downstairs who don't like modern. They came and paid to listen to northern soul. Lots of them are 40ish and have decided that they do not wish to have their minds expanded further. You only get 1 saturday nite a week & lots of people want to just enjoy their time in a specific way. Having tracks verging on disco played in the northern room is wrong plain & simple. TheBigO, I applaud you. Now if I can only persuade Kev Roberts to employ a few more DJs this year & start his Fleetwood weekenders earlier in the evenings, I'll have achieved this years limited agenda. Col.

I like it. Keep 'em coming Pete. Any story behind it / how did you come by it? Col.

Pete - Do modern northern oldies also get better when they are broken?

Towana & The Total Destruction on Romark (silver text on blue background) A side Wear Your Natural, Baby B side Help Me Get That Feeling Back Again Anyone know if its an orig or boot? Thanks Col.

"On the recent Prestatyn thread somebody mentioned a DJ playing a tune in both the northern and modern rooms and couldn't understand why any DJ would do that. Employ northern soul DJ's to play northern soul and modern soul DJ's to play modern soul, it's a fairly simple scenario isn't it?" It was me, & it really gets on my pip. Didn't do Desborough last nite as was helping out at Lightwater. Check out the Lightwater thread - 3 x playlists posted. Pretty much northern in the northern room and no complaints about the music. Its that simple. Col.

Just do your best. We are all still working class. Although 1 or 2 may be retired! Northern Soul was always a working class scene. I like to think it still is. Granted lots of people have down well for themselves. Which is to be applauded. I really don't know what I'm going on about here. Its just a load of sanctimonious crap. Its saturday nite, see you later guys.......

"Man Alive and i thought the English scene had it's problems. " Never occured to me to make the trip north of the border. Quite frankly I cant wait now guys. Such entertainment...........and we're all in it for the music! Changing subject, & back on thread went to Russ W 30 th anniv nite in Wigan. I know the politics of it all & sorta knew it was gonn a be a questionable nite. f*** me was I right. Located in a disco palace with more tinsel than santas grotto. Every knowing soulie within 100 miles had blacked the event & it died on its arse. Ist time I'd been back to wigan since the glory days! As we never leave until the last knockings we had to persuade Russ to wind it up early. Apparently it was worse the following nite when the BBC recorded bits and bobs. Would appreciate somebody telling me different

"Something that winds me up? People not putting their names at the bottom of posts, just think it's polite to do so." Sorry matey, will do something about it someday soon. Best regards Brian

"the banning of viewpoints/topics/persons?-does this not show deeply-held intolerance" No, its just funny. Like banning people with under 10 posts.

What do I think? I think I'm going soft. Its taken me 2 weeks to recover from the viruses that I picked up at Prestatyn. No matter what I think northern souls is in the blood now. Even if I wanted to give it up I couldn't. I'm addicted to the music & the people. PS still looking fwd to getting up to your do later in the year! I'll give you a bit of notice to prepare a nice welcome........get Bicknell to put the kettle on. Col.

'Footsteps Following Me - Frances Nero' In the 80s she came over for a promo tour & i caught her in Woking. She sang the above song to me. Now i know that the pub was packed. But she was singing it to me. Just thought you might like to know!

Melodie Sexton - New Beginning

Has northern soul ever been fashionable? Have I ever been a style icon?

Shirley Jones - Do you get enough love?

I wonder what ans I'd have got if the thread had been titled - 'how heavy is the northern scene?' I'm also convinced there's an element of the scene that I've completely missed "Depends how much you have paid for the black plastic thingies" Less all-niters & more weekenders?

Think you need to track down Trixter (not sure if thats how the name is spelt) Chatted to him at 100 club a few months back - he'd recently been DJing in Japan Col.

Guy called Andy does an unofficial dvd. Will get his e-mail address over the week-end & pm you. Col.

Oh well, thought I'd ask anyway. You know my nearest soulie - Moldie. so you know i HAVE to get on with him

Have been reading your thread on & off for a couple of days. There's a faiir bit of animosity. Is this a general thing north of the border?....or is this thread totally unrepresentative? Now I know you guys are gonna assume i'm some smart ass southerner on a wind up. BUT, the scene in my neck of the woods is really quite small. Generally every body makes an effort to get on. I'm Surrey/Hampshire way.