Mark Bicknell

Brett, I got your message mate, no need to worry all is cool, i just need to get a few things into perspective mate will talk soon i hope. Big sorry to Mace at Bidds, Mark Ethridge at Ponds Ford, Sheffield, Pete Kelross and Derek Mead at Bisley Pavillion, Rich and Jamie at Soulsville, Leeds, Johnny Timlin at The Valatone,London and a few others who have taken the trouble to book me over the next few months, i've sent you all an email and my original post should explain why i am unable to show. Like i say will still be doing my thing on Solar www.solarradio.com every Sunday 8pm - 10pm. Thanks again - Mark Bicknell.

Wow, thanks for all your beautiful kind comments etc. it's not only a health issue as i say one or two people will know where i am coming from, i'm fine just need a change of direction and a more normal way off life, no temptation of beer and other things that take my fancy. You are all brilliant and yes Taffy it is in our blood...always. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Due to recent personal and private circumstances, work and family commitments and a total U-turn by myself in life style and several other factors which one or two people know about (and before you say it yes i know i have mentioned this a couple of times in the past) but i really need some time out from the scene, DJ'ing etc. which even means i will be unable to honour several bookings coming up, at this moment in time my heart just ain't in it anymore, too many far more important issues and things to deal with, i love the music with a passion, will continue to collect and present my Solar show but as for covering all points of the compass around the country DJ'ing my own peace of mind, family and work has suffered big time, due to outside pressure and my latest diabetic check up i have no choice but to change a few things in my life, a big sorry to a few promoters who i am about to let down and a big thank you to everyone out there. I hope to be able to still contribute to the scene via my Solar show on Sunday's which i can do at my own pace but i hope to still maintain a standard, i wish everyone well on the scene and i hope to be able to get back in the swing of things somewhere down the line. When, where who knows.I just need some time out, need to do something else as i value a little more than a box of records, everything else has slipped down the pecking order and i'm not prepared to risk all the good things in my life anymore, and finally no the collection is not for sale although thirty grand would come in very useful right now. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

On a more serious note rather than my 'Mud' comments...lol i think the best two live shows i've seen have to be both on their home turf in a couple of small Blues clubs in Chicago were Jimmy Burns and Otis Clay, must have been about 100 people at the Otis Gig and a few more at Jimmy's show, not on the same night i might add. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Inspirational Alan...how about Garland Green - Ain't That Good Enough - Revue Mark Bicknell.

Oh yes Dave you certainly can Mark Bicknell.

Hard one this but how about these..... Rhonda Davis - Can You Remember - Duke Minnie Jones - Shadow Of A Memory - Sugar Natural Four - I Thought You Were Mine - ABC Betty Moorer - Speed Up - Wand Regards - Mark Bicknell. P.s - hope to see a few of you at Bury Soul night tomorow...gonna do one of them there spots upstairs room from 10pm.....i.e. a few from the wall kid of a spot Brett...lol

Love getting home if i've got a few new tunes. no matter what time it is they get played...lol Mark Bicknell.

Without question Mud....original line up of course sadly legendary front man Les Grey is no longer with us, so even if Rob Davis, Dave Mount and Ray Styles reformed it would not be the same, saw them in around 1973/4 at The Lewisham ABC Cinama...what a night that was, Tiger Feet, Dynamite etc. ... well it was simply Dynamite to watch. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Ok Stevie then a taxi home.....lol Mark Bicknell.

Getting the bus home mate...lol Mark Bicknell.

Mark Bicknell.

Good points Chalky but i'll ask again if allnighters stop or struggle will this dilute the passion and interest in the music? I don't think it will personally. Mark Bicknell.

Eddie Hill - You Got The Best Of Me - Thelma, Robert Ward - Cry Me A River - Thelma, Jimmy Gilford - Nobody Loves Me Like My Baby - Thelma, Emanuel Lasky - I Got To Run For My Life - Thelma etc. etc. generic dross? I have no comment or personal opinion on Philadelphia International to be honest but if you are gonna site Thelma as generic dross, Motown sound-a-likes etc. then add Ric -Tic, Golden World, Arctic, Okeh etc. and a thousand other labels into the mix. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thank you. Mark Bicknell.

Me...lol not really DJ'ing that much at present, started playing it on the show on Sunday nights, thanks for all the feedback, i thought the Uptowners was a hard record to find and a couple of hundred quid in the bargain...nice one. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Hi Andy, Yes nice yellow label mate, i've asked around on this and those who know it seem to rate it, needs a few plays and would i'm sure become a popular tune.......thanks for your comments. Mark Bicknell.

Dig it out Phil, needs a spin i think...lol Mark Bicknell.

Had these two for a number of years sitting on one of the shelves and just wondering if anyone knows anything about them....... The Uptowners - Such A Love - Captown CTN 4030 - I'm sure this is listed in one of the price guides, a really nice but little messy in places male group record that takes a couple of plays but has that something extra.....anyone know if it's been played anywhere? The International Five - I Need You - Starway - ST-110 - This is a nice little record again not sure if it's been played out anywhere, not rare but another quality track, needs a few spins i think......comments and feedback welcome. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I remember DJ'ing at The Scala a few times way back, i think Danny Everard had something to do with running this event, pretty sure Guy Hennigan, Keb Darge played there, very strange nights i seem to remember with a very mixed crowd students, London in - crowd types and a solid support from the scene of the day, played movies allnight, cans of beer at £2.00 a go i seem to remember...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Another weekend upon us and another night in, work, work bloody work but it pays the bills just and buys a few tunes, just had a good sought out and changed the DJ boxes around for Bury next Friday and just had to play a few, great fun, here's a quick top twenty which i hoped bugged the neighbours...lol Always interesting to see what we all play behind closed doors, nice to just sit down sink a few cold ones and please yourself what you play. The Tempos - Don't Leave Me - Riley's The International Five - I Need You - Starway The Four Gent's - Young Girls Beware - Oncore Little Bob - My Hearts On Fire - La Louisianne Little Milton - I Know What I Want - Checker Vi Campbell - Seven Doors - Peacock Johnny Newbag - Little Samson - Port Billy Keen - I Finally Got Wise - Galaxy Harold Burrage - Master Key - M-Pac Singing Sam - Move It Baby - Dan-Dy Crown Four - Birth Of A Playboy - Le John The M-M And The Peanuts - The Phillie - Money Eddie Hill - You Got The Best Of Me - Thelma Little Charles And The Sidewinders - It's A Heartache - Decca The Cavaliers - Dance Little Girl - RCA Victor Sterling McGee - I Still Believe In You - ABC/TRC The Ikettes - What'cha Gonna Do - PhI - Dan Fred Hughes - Don't Let Me Down - Vee Jay Claude Huey - Feel Good All Over - Early Bird The Monclairs - Wait For Me Baby - Sunburst Jimmy Norman - Family Tree - Mercury. and a few others....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Joan that was me i'll think you will find, deffo me.....lol Mark Bicknell.

One of Steve Cato's favorite records..........fantastic and well worth £95.00, i bet this has gone already. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Perhaps i was mixing up the record thing with the longevity of the scene, i guess i meant enloy it to the full as time does pass us by far too quickly, also i do think this is music of a generation rather than future generations if you undestand what i mean......house partys thats the future...lol Mark Bicknell.