Geoff

Sawdust Caesars: Original Mod Voices by Tony Beesley published by Days Like Tomorrow Books, price £19.99 plus P&P Sawdust Caesars: Original Mod Voices, which has just been published is a new book about Mods. This time it utilises the words of people who were Mods back in the day, at the start of this youth movement, and following it through to the present day. It sets the scene for the start of Mod back at the tail end of the 1950s with teenagers who were into Modern Jazz and were thus called Modernists. Quite a lot of the book focusses on the early and mid 60s which is right, that is what led to all that followed Modwise. The book's a long read and I've only just got into it but already it's bringing back many memories that had lain dormant. It covers various areas of the UK, goes on to Skinheads and the Mod revival of the late 70s and as I've said about right through to now. There is a mention of Northern Soul, but it's about Mods not soulies, although the two can be the same. As well as the words of Mods there are loads of pictures. A few years ago I wrote a short piece about the Scene club where I spent many a happy night and that has been included, although I have amended parts of it. There's even a couple of photos of me, but I look at them and ask myself where that bloke went. In fact a friend who used to attend nighters at the Scene with me didn't recognise me in the pictures, oh dear, have I really changed that much? I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in Mods and their history. It can be obtained from the author at this website: http://www.tonybeesleymodworld.co.uk/

A very hot night in London, in more ways than one. And the air conditioning in the club didn't seem to be working. Everyone was saying how hot they felt, and many including myself went up to Oxford Street to take a break for some air. I did wonder if the weather would affect the numbers attending but my concerns were needless. A good crowd in, and some new faces. I arrived as usual at 11.15, dropped off my bag at the back of the stage and bought a much needed drink. Ady was doing the first set, but passed the baton on to Keith who, in the event, did three sets during the night. Keith is a most consistent DJ, always playing good records, many lesser known, ideal for the club. James Pogson was on next for 45 minutes, playing an interesting set, most of which were new to me, but I did recognise the Sacred Four's Somebody's Watching You. Next on was the other guest Ted Massey, a man with an enviable record collection. I'd had a chat with Ted at Lifeline, he'd asked if I had any requests so I asked for three of my favourite tunes. He played all three of them in this set, kept me happy, and I think many others. Among others he played were I Saw You There and the Profs' There's A Woman. Ady was on again next, playing some of his Pied Piper tracks, more dance floor action. Joel was on next, but at this point I was so hot I had to take a break and go upstairs for some fresh air, or as fresh as it could be in central London. When I went back down the dance floor was busy so he had done the business. Then Keith again, thanks for playing Ask My Heart, a friend had asked for it. He included some Crossover records in this set including Clydene Jackson' I Need Your Love. James took over from Keith and included in his set current “biggies” the Superbs' Wind In My Sail and Ishola Muhammad's Open Up Your Heart. He played some funk influenced tunes as well. Ted then did his second set keeping things going with tunes like I'm Gone, Look At You, and Charles Johnson's I Made A Mistake, a record that to me sounds very much in the Bobby Bland mode. He ended his set with George Pep's The Feeling Is Real and George Lemon's Fascinating Girl. Joel came on for his second set and included the instrumental version of Make My Love A Hurting Thing and Billy Byrd's Lost In A Crowd. For the third time Keith took the stage, playing a nice set including Karmello Brooks' Tell Me Baby, Bob & Fred's I'm On My Way and Mel Britt's classic She'll Come Running Back. This took us up to the last 30 minutes where Ady bring things to a conclusion. He played a mix of tempos, I Can Change keeping the pace up, slowing it a bit with Sweet Temptation and Don't Bring Me Down, slowing it more with Annabelle Fox's Lonely Girl and a version of I Just Can't Wait To See My Baby's Face, can't remember who it was by, not the usual ones though, and ended the nighter with Jimmy Radcliffe's Long After Tonight Is All Over, one of the greatest enders in my opinion, and a record that has a certain meaning for me. Then the lights came on, and we began to pack up to the strains of That's What Mama Say and say farewell. I made a quick getaway as I needed to get to King's Cross to catch an early train, got me indoors at 7.30. The only criticism of the night, and it's not the fault of Ady, was that the dance floor was not in a great state, in fact it was pretty sticky. It hadn't been polished, so some talc was dropped, but not in an obtrusive way. Apart from that no worries at all. As usual nice to see so many friends there, Billy, Mark, Gary and Rolly, Paul, Yann and Kym, Trickster, Alan Edge, Liam, and many others. No doubt I'll see you at the next one, if not before. Once again thanks to Ady and the DJs and the 100 Club staff. Now for a rest.

Got back from Lifeline just a short time ago, just enough time to shower and have coffee so I thought I'd put a brief comment up. First I'd like to thank John McClure and Jen for the lift up there, and to Irish and Carrie for their company too. A really good night as usual, the only place really where I, and probably many others, hear the music we really want to hear. Superb sets from all the DJs, I did laugh when I went up to Andy to request the alternate version of Crazy Baby, and it was on the turntable, guess it was ESP or something, lol. Sam played three of my favourites, won't mention what they were as all my friends know them. I couldn't do full justice to Butch's set as by then my right foot was hurting a bit so had to take care, but still got out there to Jean Carter, United Sounds, Chuck Jackson, Hopkins Brothers, etc. Cliff was on after Butch and played some good tunes, nice to hear the California Rock Choir again and the one before it whose title has slipped my memory, 1960 something, quite a recent record, with a jazzy feel, but I couldn't dance to it to save my life, but plenty of others could. I didn't know many of the records Trev played, but I particularly liked a couple he played near the end of his set, one had an intro very similar to the Temptations' Why You Wanna Make Me Blue, and the one after it. We left about 6-ish I think, and John dropped me off at Kettering station and I got the first train back to London. As I've said above, a good night, thought there might have been a few more in but Bridlington is on and the Norfolk Village do in Bexleyheath, so these may have had some effect. But still a good crowd of aficionados. As usual nice to see so many of my friends, good to see you all. Thanks to Andy and the other DJs for a great night, roll on October's one. Geoff Read more comments on this Lifeline Allnighter photo via flickr - author eamnon http://www.flickr.com/photos/68518558@N00/

At the risk of being accused of being boring (moi?) I must say the 100 Club was excellent last night. Ady had announced that the five resident DJs would be in action together on the same night for the first time. The night was notable for the return of Mick Smith after several months away. I guess Mick is an oldies DJ, hope he doesn't mind me saying that, but to use Pete Smith's expression, he's a thinking man's oldies DJ. He certainly played quite a few records that I didn't know, not that that means anything, what do I know? Towards the end of his third set he played the Magnetics' Count The Days, a hypnotic record that always gets me up dancing. Keith Money did three sets, and as usual, kept the floor busy, playing some of my favourites including She Doesn't Love Me, Job Opening and Ask My Heart, what a beautiful love song that is! Joel did two sets and kept the action going with tunes like Lost In A Crowd, instrumental version of Make My Love A Hurting Thing and The Price by the Sherrell Brothers. Butch did his two sets as usual. Not much you can say, he's had all the accolades. But I was very pleased that he played more of my favourites, Just Like The Weather, Sha La La, Shake Cheri and the great United Sounds' It's All Over Baby. Great to hear his Chuck Jackson cover up, as he said proper Northern Soul. And of course there was Ady, doing one set in the middle of the night and his usual ending piece. One that he played was the Gerri Grainger acetate Why Can't It Be Tonight, heard that played at Prestatyn by Carl and Maria Willingham. And he played the Demures' unreleased I Wanna Be Good To You, I do hope that will be issued eventually. In his last set he included If You And I Had Never Met by Magic Night and Charlie Rich's Don't Tear Me Down and the San Francisco TKOs' Make Up Your Mind; ending of course with Baby I Need Your Loving. Next year it will be 50 years since that was originally issued, still sounds as good today. At first I found the dance floor incredibly slippery, almost went over, did anyone else have any problems with it? Might have been my leather soled shoes I suppose. Got less slippy as more danced. There were some tourists, one must be tolerant, buy why do they always seem to "dance" next to me, lol? I did notice the bouncer requesting people not to take drinks on the dance floor, and they all obeyed straight away. It began to thin out around 2.30ish, leaving the old stagers to carry on. The silver lining to that is that there was more space on the dance floor. As per normal it was good to see so many of my friends, only a week since I saw some of you at Prestatyn. It was nice of Liz to come over and introduce herself to me, hope we meet up again soon. Thanks to all the DJs and to the 100 Club staff, once again you have triumphed.