Ian Parker

I totally understand what you are saying Dont get me wrong.....................many years ago i was more aggressive in my way of thinking..................but i never thought it would happen to me...........i had a life threatening illness that changed things & the way i thought............when you think that your going to die & then get another chance at life, you just want to make the most of it & do things better than you did before, so perhaps it is through rose tinted specs But now i only see life in a good & positive way, because life is too short! :thumbup p.s Sorry chaps!...............but men do always think that they are right! There you go, im not that innocent! Debbie x

YES we have. I had the unfortunate event of having to DJ with Binstanley and complained to the organiser about his crap bootlegs and his choice of shit records for a dance competition. He wanted (of course): Frank Wilson - Do I love You (bootleg obviously ) Flirtations - Little Darlin and some other inane hammered crap on a bootleg. So, YES, i do say if i see it. I had to stop him bringing a cd player into a post show event to dj from and at the Wigan 30th anniverasy he used almost entirely cds and when i turned up with vinyl he had to link the decks up...

This i want to see! Debbie x

On offence taken James Im not big on the group hug thing myself, but i have met some lovely people on the scene, so i dont mind if they give me a small squeeze! Debbie x

I understand what your saying ............Northern Soul does mean alot to all of us on here, that is why we are so passionate about what we do, but its also a bonus to have a few laughs & some fun whilst doing it If you ever see myself & my friends at a venue..........you can't miss us! ..............come over & join us, we are a friendly bunch & even if you dont have anything interesting to say, you will be made welcome Debbie x

Yes i agree with some of what you are saying, but this thread is about those dance classes, But for some people on here its just another chance to have a dig at people & some folk get a bit too personal about people's apperance which has nothing to do with Northern Soul or this thread. Debbie x

Well done that man for talking sense.

If you dont like the venue's play lists, or boot playing dj's, or even what other folk are wearing, or want to go to these dodgy dance classes etc etc............Then its simple.............just dont go! At the end of the day.........its a night out with friends, to have a dance, listen to music & enjoy yourself I dont like modern music or modern clothes, so i dont listen to it & i dont wear them! P.s Fancy Dress is a Batman or Robin costume that you hire for an evening out, & i have not seen anyone wearing that! Myself & my friends are wearing our own clothes, which can be very exspensive so dont be rude! Debbie x

My picks : Nev Wherry - enthusiasm Brian Rae - Mr oldies room Dave Evison - Still loves the scene Ian Gee - Mr white demo Gus(newark) - plays some great underplayed oldies Soul Sam - still discovering and still enjoying it I also used to love watching martyn ellis leapin around , also still like to see the legend that is Rob smith manning the decks IAN

That doll has my hairstyle, i thought i could not find my fav set of ribbons! Where can i get one! Debbie x

northern soul to me means : 60's & early 70's music of med/fast tempo that gets me off my arse .... these days though i tend to stay on it a bit more when i first got into the 'scene' (78), there were no modern/crossover/oldies events. they were all quite literally 'across the board' (not counting casino monthly oldies niters). we had a 60's stomper, then a 70's shuffler, then a 60's mid tempo, then another stomper. I loved it because of the diversity!! these days though, as much as i love soul of all genres, be it philly 70's, 60's motown, classic/club soul etc etc, when it comes to 'northern' nights, i do enjoy a night of classic oldies, especially forgotten tunes that don't get aired much nowadays , with a sprinkling of rarer stuff to keep me doin this for me: its definitley the MUSIC !!! IAN

oh Mr Weekend Warrior. maybe you should go along to one of the events that play host to a LOT of ladies who wear vintage clothing and say that to their faces ! . you should be ashamed mate, these girls' love the scene and have been a part of it for a long time.... longer than you in many cases. Enough with the slagging off. if they want to wear circle skirts its their choice, not the choice of a guy who only has the imagination to post countless photo's of trainers on the gallery section. blimey, give up with the tiresome and disrespecting behaviour towards folk who do something they feel passionate about. IAN

Sorry Mr. Warrior, but come dancing is not embarrasing, my dance teacher was on this programme representing England & i have danced competition for Ballroom & Latin American & designed some of the costumes, someone as narrow minded probably won't see the skill involved for this style of dancing. Dont see your opnion on what Northern Soul does really mean to you??????? ..........as thats what the thread is about! ( The only sign thats really understood by the looks of things!) Quote from Weekend Warrior - (or a younger woman who dresses like that because she thinks that's how we used to dress back in the day) Are you a man??????............As i have never seen a man wearing a skirt, even back in the day! Debbie x

great photo's martyn. they were around the time i was going (79-81). amazing to see how fashions had changed from a couple of yrs earlier. keep em coming ! Ian

There are alot of great dj's But my fav's would have to be........................ Ian G - A man that can fill any dance floor with a great selection of oldies Pete & Liz - There clubs "For Dancers" was superb & now "Follow Your Heart"......60s Underplayed oldies Brooksey - Always a superb selection of rare & underplayed with a bit of early R n B Cressy - Always an interesting selection of oldies & underplayed........I love that Cashmeres-Showstopper Ian P - My very own Ian.........I know im bias but he is great on the decks & can fill a floor playing, his fav oldies, & a bit of rare & underplayed........The Antellects-Love Slave & The Deadbeats No Second Chance...........my fav's! Debbie x

That was a great venue But yes.......i know what you mean Joan Debbie x

Hi Joan, Nick used to be my teacher for Latin American & Ballroom, he is a really lovely bloke & a first class teacher, he won medals when representing England in his younger years This is only my opinion..............But i dont really agree with Northern Soul dance classes, because its more of a social night out & there is no set steps, so nothing to learn not like Latin & Ballroom, where you have Cuban Breaks, Reverse Cortays, Alamar Turns, Vulta pogos, etc etc............there are hundreds of steps to learn, all with various names, so you have to go to classes The basic steps in Lindy is really easy to pick up, but if you want to add the Charleston steps, you need to take the classes But Northern Soul Debbie x

Spot On! Yes i have seen you, & your a lovely man Some styles are not everybodys cup of tea, but there is a nice way of saying it Some of those 50+ ladies could get offended! Debbie x

Alot of folk seem to think its about the clothes & a good chance to take the mick out of the bags or 50 year old women wearing circle skirts i wear my own version of the skirts, but im not 50 yet, but if a woman in her 50s wants to wear them, then go for it ladies! ........No one has the right to tell you what you should or should not be wearing! One of the main reasons that i got into Northern Soul was for the music, my all time fav track is The Antellects-Love Slave , i tend to listen to 60s rare & underplayed, oldies, & i like the sounds from The Tourch Era, (but i was too young to remember it first time around), plus early 60s R n b (carried over from my mod days in the 80s). I also love to talk to like minded people about the music & some of the record labels, (which are pure Art), I know Ian .......Anorak! So i would say that this is what Northern Soul would mean to me Another part of Northern Soul for me would be the dancing.......I have always enjoyed dancing, & i started when i was 5 years old with Ballroom, Latin American, Ballet, Lindy & Jive, Tap & Jazz, so seeing some of those early Northern Soul dancers gave me the passion for this style......i could watch a good dancer for hours! I dont like the modern side of this music scene, as i just dont feel the music .........I studied classical music & i do listen to other very early styles of music from the 1920s to the 1960s, especially Bix Biderbex, Jelly Roll Morton, Little Joe Turner & Lead Belly because early music has more of a raw sound, alot of the 60s bands, (that we now call Northern Soul) got inspiration from these earlier styles of music In my opinion, i just find modern music very over produced, so i dont feel like im getting the real thing! If you ask my partner Ian.......I have not listened to the radio since the late 70s Some folk may not like it & say im stuck in a time warp of music, dancing & dress but i have been doing it now for 20 odd years & i like what i like So for the narrow minded of you ........i still have my 24" waist so i will wear what i like, whilst listening & dancing to what i like! Debbie x

Tony Clayton was a local legend to us Granthamites..... many sunday afternoons spent at his vicarage talkin nonsense and playin a few tunes. i even remember us setting up his PA and having an impromptu afternoon session in a tiny village hall . Also lugging his gear up them bloody stairs at Oddfellows in Leicester before (and after) a niter ! He's a nice chap, always has a chat to me about old friends on or off the scene. those mid 80's clips are ace, don't we all wish we still had 30" waists and hair . thanks for posting, great stuff . IAN

a few quids worth there Harry Mike, in answer to your question : we'd certainly love the idea

yes i remember all of those. not heard Billy Purcell since those times, still hear Holly StJames and Lynne Randell quite regular.... i even played Eddie Regan at an event nr Wigan two weekends ago thankfully , not heard Lou Roberts for ages

yes Mick, the 'theatre' or oldies room... i can see it now, pitch dark, gym equipment?? , just light from the DJ corner. i always thought the light was from a door into an adjecent room (long time ago). that room used to be heavin with grantham folk. wonderful place The main room was the first place i heard things like the burning bush, the ellingtons, billy watkins, billy prophet etc. they may have been played at other venues, but St Ives is the place i heard em first

wow I'd forgotten how that place looked inside. over 30 yrs since i set foot in the St Ivo recreation centre !! . i could only dream (around 76/77) as my peers went along to those niters at that time. the Rice brothers, Paul Sadot, Kev Doughty etc etc were just a tad older than me and were goin places. Late 78 i first went there. thumbed a lift and managed to get a lift back in someones car. one of my fave venues ever, i loved it there. IAN