Ian Parker

Debbie, the coloured guy with specs is mentioned in the comments below the video. the late Pete Ricketts from Dudley.... yes he's a cool mover, very much reminds me of 'Coco' and Pete Brown from Grantham. both moved much the same way as that guy. IAN x

Byrney, we have all been having some fun over the merchandise available, & my comment about the hoodie was a joke, "NOT SERIOUS", if you read it! But im sorry if it offended you, and if you have one of those tops yourself, you wear it, sod what people think! Myself & my friends buy the original records if we can afford them...........if not, we tend to by the later re-issues, some friends are dj's & some are not. But again!, i get a bit fed up with people using every thread as a personal dig about the vintage clothing that is worn on the Soul scene I have friends that wear it & they look very nice dressed in it..........i have been wearing vintage clothing for 30 odd years now, from 1910 to 1970s & i love it..........being a historian for vintage clothing & textiles, its my work as well as my pleasure, that's why i always defend it, i have a passion for it, just like you do for your music Debbie x

Over 20 years for me, only being a youngster The Butlers - She Tried To Kiss Me Bobby Long - Jersey City Soul Bros Inc - Teardrops Plus Betty Brooks - Funky Funky These are all great tunes Debbie x

odd you should mention those two. I played them both at 'follow your heart' Horwich a couple of weeks back. got a great response , especially for lonely man (help me) by the Outsiders I also heard 'first round knockout' Joe Frazier at the Federation club last year.

heard 'The Zoo' at Rock city Nottm about 25 yrs ago whilst at a Jnr Walker gig. not heard it since. not heard the following played out for years : Steve Alaimo - everyday i have to cry Candi Staton - upper hand (unless i play it) The three Degrees - Contact Wolfman - Strange Ann D'andrea - Don't stop looking Hank Diamond - soul source (thankfully ) Just thought of another stinker Barnaby Bye Ian

Does anyone know who the first chap dancing with the glasses is on this video??? What an amazing dancer He looks really natural without trying too hard I would say he was one of the best Debbie x

The worst bit of clothing i have ever seen, apart from Action Slacks (yes, i have spotted you gents!)....................... Has to be the Hoodie How many Northern Soul Chav's have you seen??? Debbie x

You think that's rude? You should see me face to face. NS is more than a night out for some. Its been and for some still is a big chunk of who we are. Its helped to form a bit of me (which bit would be telling), its coloured some of my views of the world, helped to shape my bizzaare sense of humour and is a big slab of my history. Therefore you can expect some frustrations from my corner when I see what I perceive as the Northern Soul scene become dominated by something which, again in my view, is quite different and in many cases, such as these dance lessons an embarrassment. For example Boot Playing Dj's playing the same 100 records till the end of time. If all the scene was like this, and I guess from your comments you're OK with Boots DJs, what would be the driver for say Butch to turn up /break your beloved Antellects? The ahem.. uniform. I've been told I shouldn't wear trainers, off the peg shirts and modern clothing. I read on here from some that only real soulies wear the uniform, that real northern dancing only includes floor work, that "rare sh!te" is not proper northern, oh and that we're soul police (like that one). They're opinions - that's all, my head doesn't drop off because they differ with mine. Northern for me was about an eye on the past but looking to the future (you end up looking like Marty Feldmen though), the next big northern monster, the underplayed side and the odd class oldie. It was about turning to your mates like you've been hit with a bat asking "what the f00k is this?? For me it was never about listening to the same old tunes, as boots, dressing in a style that was only relevant for a few years of the scene. But what pains me to say is that now is the dominant image of NS. Now we have dance lessons so you can 'get out on the floor'... As for saying this to anyone's face, well those who know me know that given the appropriate situation I would back everything up in person. Of course I wouldn't walk up to someone and comment on their dress, but in the real world, like on here if it cropped up or was relevant to a conversation I wouldn't waste a beat in voicing my opinion. As for Djs playing boots - again I wouldn't waste my time strolling up to the decks but again I'd have no problem debating it face to face if the situation required it. I've done it before and would do so again. Byrney

Im not saying this will happen with this scene, but this does happen alot................. I have some friends on the 40's-50's scene, who are very much as passionate about that style of music as we are about ours, they could do all the dance's from the era, they dressed only in 40's-50's vintage clothing & had there homes dedicated to the period that they were into..........they called themselves purist's But when dance classes became available for this style of dancing, a new breed of people started attending the nights out & the weekenders, they would get in the way on the dance floor, they even started to dress in the clothing, just to try & fit in more, but they did look like they were wearing fancy dress , it was almost like they were bored & were just looking for a new passtime When this happened it did put the real purist's off, because the music & the way of life was there life & they felt that it was being ruined by some part timers Im probably only a youngster on here , but i have been with my music that i love for over 20 years now And what i believe is this...............The passionate people will last forever & the faker's will get bored & move onto something else :thumbsup Debbie x

I was going to get a Night Owl Thong to wear under my Circle Skirt But Ian said no! Debbie x

But i would not fancy those dance classes James Like i said im not that innocent.................i would probably punch the woman Debbie x

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