Mark Bicknell

Nice tune, now here on yummy vinyl. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Top tuneage for sure Kev infact all of the latest batch are quality...simply Kent as we know it. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Ace/Kent and the talents of Mr Ady Croasdell have done it again with a new batch of wonderful 'Town' and 'City' new releases this month following up from the superb batch a few months ago. The 'Town' sides are all in demand Northern Soul tracks and have never been re-released until now, the higher priced 'City' singles are all tracks only ever available on CD or LP, never having been given a release on original vinyl when originally recorded, the 'City' singles are limited to 500 copies so be quick as you may remember 45's like Tobi Lark - True, True Love from the last batch sold out very quickly indeed making it an almost instant collectable and rightly so. The 'Town' 45's retail at £5.00 with the 'City' ones coming in at £10.00 which is superb value for money As with all Kent projects Ady is as ever on the money with this little lot, producing first generation sound quality 45's with every attention to detail followed to the letter, these babies look good, sound good and by - golly they will do you good. Check these out as soon as possible. The Imaginations - Strange Neighbourhood B/W The Diplomats - Cards On The Table - Town 127 Two tracks that still cut the mustard on the dance floors, I'm pleased about this release as I sold my Fraternity and Arock stockers of these two some time ago, a stunning double header that will soon sell out so be quick adding this beauty to your collections. The Primers - How Does It Grab You B/W Minnie Jones And The Minuettes - Shadow Of A Memory - Town 128 These two would cost you a small fortune on the original Hale and Sugar originals, well a large fortune actually (Primers at least two Grand and £400/500.00 for the Minnie Jones) Both sides of this release are sublime cult records no question and destined to be another top seller, both sides are pure quality. Sugar And Spices - Have Faith In Me B/W Brilliant Corners - Three Lonley Guys - Town 129 Again two stunning sides taken from Swan and Modern records also pretty hard to find on the originals, 'Brilliant Corners' is of course Pat Brady magic from the Stafford period which still hits the spot for me at least, 'Sugar' is an oh so sweet magic moment out of Philly and makes for a wonderful double header, now two for the price of one in every sense of the word. On to the 'City' singles now with three outstanding releases which I feel will sell out even faster than Tobi Lark etc. All I can say on the following three releases,well words fail me, simply order these now otherwise you will regret it when it's too late. Charlie Rich - Don't Tear Me Down B/W Jeanette Jones - Cut Loose - City 004 Danny Cobus - The Two Of Us B/W Chico And Buddy - You Won't Miss The Water - City 005 The Tandells - Is It Love Baby B/W The Fashionettes - Losin' Control - City 006 Again instant collectables once word is out, I'm hoping to review/preview this little lot on my final 'Soul Shack' www.solarradio.com on September 2nd, pleased to do so as I'm sure you will agree that again Mr Croasdell has done it agian....Charlie Rich LP only until now is pretty much as good as it gets for me....awesome! I suggest you message Mr Croasdell ASAP to reserve a full set of these, no hype required from me here, the titles speak for themselves....cheers uncle Ady. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I know Dave way past my bedtime...lol still had a certain 'David Greet' here a few hours ago and just about come down from the delights in his 50 box....oh my soul!!!! Regards - Mark Bicknell.

New title added 21st August with more to follow this week. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

All I basically said was go where you want to, collect what you want to, select all the best bits jell it together, discover, learn, share it, have a good time but don't keep constantly milking certain cows of yesteryear if your not prepared to contribute to the scene as it is now! sure have an oldies event but promote it as a current event rather than on the back of the good old days, it easy to ride those heady days without any real commitment or passion for the music, old, new or otherwise? there again if 1200 people show up to a retro/nostalgia bash then thinking about it who's wrong and who's right? as I said I don't go to certain events for my own reasons but whatever floats your boat and all that and in no way was I suggesting don't go, we all have choices and our own ideas and views on what makes a good soul night out, as Mr Moore said soak it up and enjoy it whatever your tipple as long as it's authentic and is true to yourself I guess. I'm waiting on three new records this week and I can't wait to get the buggers in my sticky palm, that is a buzz that I'm sure we all share and keeps it alive and real for me the point being there are many aspects to the scene which people get off on so again really we can not judge others on how they enjoy this wonderful scene just be happy that we have a scene to still be part of and enjoy, like it's been said if you feel something is naff or not for you then simply don't subscribe to it, it's all about choice at the end of the day, I still stick by you should only get something out of all this if you put in and contribute to it and I'm not just talking about money here, more to do with the bigger picture, promoting, DJ'ing, collecting, running a fanzine, dancing and just turning up and paying your money to get in, Northern Soul in some cases/events has become a little commercial again and I think that upsets some people, making it no longer special and underground a little like the boom period of 1976/77 when it was massive, a bit like Northern Soul by numbers or based on numbers through the door and the content sometimes suffered, so I guess if you are running a huge nostalgia based event then you are still infact making a contribution as it would seem that 1200 plus people attending these type of events can't really be wrong can they? It would be nice to see however 1200 people at say the monthly current Northern events which are running now on a regular basis rather than the every so often or once a year blast from the past events but we all know that those days are gone for one reason or another. Lastly, I have some very happy memories of Wigan, Yate, St Ives, Stafford etc. etc. but from my own point of view they are just that memories which yes you can't get over to quote a certain tune by 'John And The Weirdest' but trying to go over old ground is not for me and again I'm not talking about the music or the records played I'm talking about doing this Soul thing at what ever level now in the present rather than in the past. My point is Sam Williams, George Blackwell, Ronnie McNeir, Duke Browner etc. etc. etc. sounded good then and guess what they sound as good now, so is it not the music that should be the real celebration rather than although very important where it was played? please I'm not dishing the memory of past venues I'm simply trying to put into perspective that the music is King rather than the venues, for me you could play them in a field and they would still hold that magic. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

If there is an all time low then you have to ask yourself why? one factor has to be too many Chiefs and not enough Indians? too many gigs, everything has reached close to bursting point, there are pockets of gigs that appeal to me around the country, the big retro nostalgia events are just not of interest to me but each to their own and all that if you want to go, basically there is very little or very few events today to really look forward to, there is something on every weekend, loads of gigs which are pretty similar, try to have a voice or say and do something about it in terms of change or progression and you get slagged off, voice an opinion which differs from other peoples point of view and you get slagged off for it, it seems to me in the main you have to conform to a certain formular these days and anything out side of that can be considered elitist well if that is the case then far better to do your own thing and enjoy it rather than simply going through the motions?, I think the very foundation, ethics and ethos of this scene has changed from it's original standpoint beyound recignition, has it not always been about moving forward and discovery? This comment has nothing really to do with music style or taste but we must be in the best possible postion to be able to select all the best bits from our forty plus years history alongside all the quality missing bits. I would wager that many people are bored, fed up and totally at a loss with this scene as it's been milked and basically f***ed up the arse, pulled every which way and manipulated into a very shallow version of it's former self, riding the back of the so called glory days is a lazy sad reflection of greed and personally ego fueled, I salute anyone and everyone who contributes to the current scene, promoters, DJ's, collectors etc. basically the people that put in rather than suck and bleed the scene dry who simply only have their own agenda and pockets to line. Retro/Oldies/nostalgia, our history of course is important and the very foundation of the scene but please don't abuse any of it, if you don't like something or have issues with certain aspects of the scene then simply don't involve yourself in that section of it, I've never been to x,y,z events never have never will, just continue to do my own thing as and when, collect and enjoy the music which was around before the birth of the scene and will still be there when it's finished, despite what anyone says without the music there would not be a scene in the first place so preserve it, cheerish it, hold on to it but for f*** sake please don't betray it. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Well two more shows to go and that's it folks, end of an era for me at least....lol can promise a top show this coming Sunday with my final guest Mr Dave Greet...awesome tuneage, thanks for all your kind comments, many Emails and phone calls, I have four A4 sheets of paper full of people to thank and name check on the final show going out on Sunday September 2nd so it should be a good final show. One or two people have asked me if there is going to still be Norhtern based show on the station after I finish? well I can't answer that one as I simply don't know?, what I will say is if someone does take it on then I wish them every success with it for future and please support them if there is a similar show lined up, embrace it, cheerish it and support it because when it ain't there it's simply too late. As for getting onto a major station like the BBC etc. well if I had to work to a playlist then to be honest I would sooner not bother doing it, mainstream means just that and playing Stax, Atlantic, Motown etc. as good as that music is has never been what 'The Soul Shack' has been about, it's always been free style and free from being told what to play, I went with the flow and tried to contribute something unique so going backwards just for the sake of being on radio simply does not interest me and I'm not claiming what I have done on Solar has been cutting edge far from it I've simply tried to play quality music every Sunday and think that sometimes I hit the spot. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Masqueraders now sold. List will be updated on Monday with some new titles. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Some prices reduced and list updated 19th August. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Richard, I have Barbara Lynn 45, same question as Dave what's on offer? Regards - Mark Bicknell.

List updated. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Tommy Tate is a bargain...every collection should have one, never seen an issue listed for sale? a fantadtic record and superb flip 'Are You From Heaven' if I did'nt have a demo Pete I would have ripped your arm off mate for this one no messing....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Neil, this sickens me mate and it's just one of the many negative aspects of the current scene, if anything is gonna put people off and stop them going or being involved it's this kind of crap, it's certainly putting me off, yet the single most important thing that keeps us all interested is the 'music' you can take away the venues, DJ's and everything else yet you will still have the tunes mate which I take great comfort in. I have never known so much bad blood,conflict and politics on this scene in my 31 years involved, it's a sad state of affairs, ego driven and has nothing to do with what most of us are about, it's evil. If this continues then it will be the 'death nail' of the scene, the cracks are starting to appear and I for one am getting to the stage that I just can't be bothered anymore and I'm sure many others feel the same, why the f**K should we be made to feel like this? as many of us do and can make a huge contribution to the enjoyment and pleasure the scene and it's music gives people, the negatives often pitched by people who contribute nothing of any constructive depth to the scene apart from bitter and twisted actions such as this, I've said it before and I'll say it again often those who shout the loudest have f**k all to say! they do nothing for the good of the scene and I'm sure they 'get off' by causing problems.Sure not everyone connected with the scene get's on or sees eye to eye but that's life, we get on with it and try to do our own thing. You pass comment, make a stand, offer a resolution and it get's pushed back in your face or worse! This is a total disgrace Neil and as already been offered here i will stand back to back with you on this mate no question, you are firstly a very good friend of mine, secondly you promote gigs for no other reason than the joy it brings others, you have a professional and detailed approach and always consider how to improve and better your events, the sender of this letter and it will be interesting to know if any other promotions have been singled out here? should be traced, confronted and totally isolated from the scene, funny that you are made to feel like this Neil by actions and events that had nothing to do with you in the first place, I would really like to know how and why this involves you? Regards and respect pal - Mark Bicknell.

Hi Brian, welcome to the mad house lol, nice to have one of the original pioneer's of the scene here at last, I don't wish to comment on this thread as it really has no interest to me but just wanted to say hello and welcome you to SS, a place where we can share the passion of everything Soulful. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

More added 17th August - prices on some titles reduced. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

More titles added, more to follow. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thanks. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Having a bit of a clear out of a few records and came across The Birds - I'd Love To on USA Sue - Orange Demo, really nice record that reminds me of like an answer record to The Miracles - 'Shop Around' backing is very similar at least, was wondering if it was that well known? pretty hard to find I would think? and is it a £100.00 record as in JM's price guide? Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Both Little Richard 45's now sold. Thanks - Mark Bicknell.

Four more titles added August 16th, loads more to follow so keep checking, sorry to keep bumping this list but easier to keep adding to it thaan posting new threads. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I did Pete.....lol cheque in the post today mate, seems like only certain titles are moving quickly I was gonna list a 'Stolen Hours' to sell but there have been two on here this week so it makes you think? as I said in my other thread there seems to be a record mountain forming as big it would seem as 'Everest'.....Roccia I hope you can turn this around and secure your want, good luck. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

My lad's just turned 11 we got him a set of decks for Christmas as he loves music, adores 'The Temptations' plus all his Hip-Hop and other stuff which he's discovered for himself but I would not let him anywhere near a Northern gig until he was old enough to make up his own mind about his musical taste, I'm all for him being interested in music and will encourage that as I think it's an important part of life to discover and have a passion for music whatever style it might be? as for young kids being influenced by the parents and turning up to gigs in baggy trousers etc. patches on shirts and so on well it's more a sad reflection of the parent/s rather than the chid to be honest, let them find their own way rather than being false fed it and kind of pushed into what will only be a fad for the child rather than anything long term. I do see the other side of the coin if the young person is a genuine convert which should be encouraged but again not directed or pushed by the parent/s. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Good luck with this Stevie, go with the flow and most of all enjoy it. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Few more records added 16th August. Regards - Mark Bicknell.