Tomangoes

Very deep topic. As you suggest NS is in the ear of the beholder, so to speak. I try not to tag 'soul' too much to the Northern label, as much of it is simply not soul in the broadest sense, I also think its grown into a much broader definition in the last 10 years than in the 25 years before that. Ed

So the Jazz Funk/Lofters live on. My fave at the time, and I even bought the LP, was Cleveland Eatons Bama Boogie Woogie (Similar to Brass Constructions - Movin). Seven Seas - Fight the power was another 'tune'. Come on you across the board DJs, give a couple a spin for old time sake. Ed

I'm glad there are still various underground music and style scenes, it sets the kids up to have some edge in life. Thats the good part, but. Watching most of these young pretenders, I observe that after 2 minutes of scuffling around they are fooked, actually just like me now but not like me when I was 16, so they need to get fitter. Some talc on the floor might help them. None of the music is really as fast as stuff like 'Im coming to your rescue' 'Ton of Dynamite' 'The champion' 'Tune up' 'How can I forget You' 'Manifesto' etc etc. Id love to see these 'young uns' dance through that lot at full pelt and see if they can find time for an encore at the end of it. Ed

I remember from my first allnighters at CWG in 76 a good mixture of monsters like Little Joe Cooks Falling in love with you baby, classic Northern if you like, playing alongside The Carstairs It really Hurts me girl, early modern I suppose, with a fine spectrum in between, but then about 4 years later the influx of stuff like Mike Mandells Peg and Francis Magee's Delerium, albeit in a seperate room launched a spin off scene. What direction did that end up taking? Is there another scene still specialising in that genre or have the followers come back to the Northern Soul scene via the modern route. Personally I liked most of that stuff but cant say Ive ever heard much of it back in the mainstream since its creation. Used to love hearing Sugar Hill Gangs Rappers delight and the Message, but cant see it getting plays along side todays revived oldies like Lets clean up the Ghetto etc. Come on you Jazz Funkers, where are you. Ed

I seem to remember seeing in an old mag, soul symbol I think, that she had done an albumn and they had an artists impression of her photo. Maybe your right and she was famous in other circles, although DBMD is enough to grant her star status in our world. Ed

Cant believe it, I was in NJ 10 days ago en route to Omaha and could have called in if Id have known about it!! Maybe next time. Ed

Not many starting at £1 Come on guys, take a risk. Ed

I'll start of with Roger Collins - Sexy Sugar Plum You just could not get on the dancefloor when it was at its peak, regardless of its reputation today. Any more for any more? Ed

Working in Delhi back in 95, and walked in a hotel bar to hear a group singing 'More today than Yesterday' -SS. Made my day. Ed

When Quadraphenia was made it was 10 to 15 years after the real thing. The Casino is now 30+ years on from its heyday, so finding 500 dancers who could do 10 records not stop like 'afterrnoon of the Rhino' etc may be easier said than done. Im OK for about 30 seconds of the first tune, if somebody wants to do 'tag'. I cant undsertand though why it always has to be the second tier of Northern Soul clubs that get the focus when as a historical project surely it should dwell on the origins, and especially before it was blatently commercialised. Ed

Also Try Soul Suite and Jazzimo, both run by same folks I think. Live acts, pricey drinks, but boy can those boys and girls sing. Also if you fancy some good bait, look up Sugar and Spices opposite the Patch. Quality. Ed

Not sure about celebrities, but there aint arf some characters been on it like Bub (RIP) for example. Film Star (Kes) and crazy DJ. Ed

Great bit of TV. Its amazing how its only later that you find out what was going on at these record labls with all the politics and back stabbing.(Any body gone through the unissued tapes if they still exist?) Motown followed a similar story. Lets hope someone starts a series of all the soul inclined labels to highlight the rise and fall etc. Ed

Were you buying the collection to enhance your own collection or selling them on individually to make a profit? If the latter, then be realistic it wont be the first time or last time record dealers gazump each other. On the plus side you have now got the funds to offer a quick cash deal for some other poor fellows collection down on his luck selling to pay his mortgage etc. What a way to make a living. Ed

Hi No, your right, Ive not been a soul event promoter, but there are so many these days, it must pay well. I heard that Steve 'interesting' Davis is a big time Northern Soul collector, so maybe you have to pick up the cue and start potting those balls. Seriously, there are some rich guys about who have been into collecting for years and will pay the asking price for those elusive rarities like Don Gardner and Billy Woods etc. Its part of the make up of the origins of the scene. Im told rare Reggae discs go for even more money than Northern Soul. Back in the 70s, it was common to hear the term 'Northern Soul Freak' from guys outside the scene about guys in the scene, because to say its a way of life is an understatement for quite a few. Ed

That Charades record has never set the floor on fire. Its a decent tune but not natural to dance to. Still it might have gone up in value if the Sun says so. The strange world of Northern Soul, I suppose. Ed

I used to think that back in 1978 when my mates were buying £30 records like Interplay/Ever Again/Stubborn Heart. It was more than a weeks wages. The truth is that there are collectors and then COLLECTORS, and always have been and always will be. You cant put a price limit on the record you really want, its just worth what you can pay. If your limit is £150, you are on the outside looking in. The best collections must be worth over £2 to £3 million, so get some overtime in, look for promotion, buy the lottery, become a promoter, run a soul web site, or find another way to get that kind of dosh. Otherwise, wait for the price crash, like a lot of folks did in the 80's and clean up. Ed

What about when you have sold most of those top records, lost most of the knowledge built up over the first 20 years, coz youve been away the last 10 years, cant dance as good or for as long as once could, dont look as good as one once thought, and dont even know half the records getting played???? Wish I was a 14 year old newbie again, at least I was on the up, instead of being on the down. Ed

It used to be the old second hand shops and charity shops where an odd rare record would appear, I got a black issue Adam and Eve once upon a time for a quid, but Ive not had the pleasure of looking round the multitude of car boots that have sprung up over the last ten years or so, and was wondering if any of you lot have turned anything up worth having at them? Ed

TRACK LISTING? So we can agree or disagree with your vote of confidence Ed

Must have been a fantastic place to be, the playlist is as good as it gets from that era. Anybody done a CD in its honour, Any video footage links.?? I was 12 at the time, and had to wait 2 more years before I sampled the good food and Northern Soul of Cleethorpes. Thank you for Discovering Dena Barnes more than anything else, surely the most emotional northern record ever. Ed

Does anyone know for sure if this was chosen by PW after exposure on the scene, or has it always been some kind of underground rock classic since its 70s release? Ed

Although I used to like the vocal more, today I cant stand Joey Dee's How can I forget you on Caneil, and much prefer the old Strut in time instrumental. Any other offers? Ed

Motown history should be compulsory education IMO. Actually the normal music questions are about the 'classics' and they always get answered so it just shows what those studious types listen to. The original chin strokers, I think. Ed

I think one of the differences now to 'way back then' in terms of DJs in particular was that there were not many making a living out of the scene, but fees raised payed for 'the latest sounds'. Today it seems its more possible to make a living if you are lucky. This or that DJs favouite hits CD for example. Venues open up, last a year or so, and shut down. Its always been that way. Obviously the more popular ones like the 100 Club etc buck the trend, but still on average they come and go. The other point is that 'way back when' older blokes were DJs and younger blokes were the punters. Today there are no young blokes, so its inevitable that more folks would like to DJ. The good DJ though is made up of many things, including knowledge, personality, tool box (records), etc etc. Thats why the Soul Sams are still here and at the top after all these years, because on the whole they always deliver. Nothing wrong with wannabees, but its a long drag to the top as opposed to a short sprint. (Unless you discover 100 storming rare soul tunes, nobody has heard before) then its possible. Ed