Len

Yes end of the 90's mate. There's often been folk that 'pop up', buy everything, then disappear - There's more to 'it', than owning records and they never get that. The lad on the right is Martin.......Haven't a clue who Jim Ross is, he could be a sudan name like our very own 'Dave Double' Len

‘Bring ya own’ personal cartridges? / £15,000.00 records? - That ain’t f*ckin' ‘Northern Soul’...... …….I was having a record session at my house with Gary Holyman one evening (ok, morning!) and we’re going through my shelves of records. We had a pile of about 20 picked out, which we had ‘perched’ on the corner of the shelf, when one of us (I actually can’t remember who) knocked em, and the whole pile fell to the floor after doing a summersault (like a ‘Stunt record’), they ‘crashed’ to the ground completely flat, landing on all four corners (like a Cat)…….. …...At almost that exact moment, Nina (The wife) popped her head round the door - Gary and I must have looked like a couple of naughty kids because she recognised ‘something was a foot’ straight away….”Do any of you two want another cup of Tea? What the hell’s up with you too?”…….We looked at each other; I turned to Nina, then looked at the pile of records on the floor, and just said…..”Nothing to see here Dear, tea would be lovely thanks”……and off she went (after rolling her eyes at us)…Gary and I ‘pushed’ on, I then said……"Gary, where’s ‘so and so’ record gone?”……Gary’s ‘deadpan’ reply just killed me, he looks at me in all seriousness, points to the floor at this pile of records that had crashed to the ground, and says….”It’s down there with that lot”......and with ‘not a peep’, we left them on the floor and carried on looking through the shelves….It was priceless...My point being -THAT IS F*CKIN' ‘NORTHERN SOUL!’……. …….To me anyway All the best, Len P.s - I just despair when people are ‘oh so precious’ that’s all, some of my records ain’t even got sleeves!

Yes, I remember Steve, I was round Shifty's house with him before they both played at The 100 Club that night - They were playing snap with all their really rare records, it was surreal I tell you. That night Steve played 'PROPHETS - IF I HAD ONE GOLD PIECE' (SHRINE) that he had kept a secret from Shifty......Yes, some get such an addiction, that sadly can become the wrong reason for buying records...... All the best, Len

.......and phones! Len

What a lovely statement - I'll try my best Boss Len

and recognise your limitations, meaning not everyone wants to bother with 'silly' attention to detail....there are so many factors that make a huge difference to an event, that most people are blissfully unaware of (and rightly so) It starts from how a room is 'dressed' (Where the furniture is etc) I know some may laugh at that, but it's true (It's a 'Dynamics' thing), then there's the lighting, the flow of 'people traffic'.......I could go on for hours.....don't worry I won't.........I 'released' my full list on a thread on the very subject a while back - I really enjoyed doing so as well.....god I'm sad Len ........Mmmmm, I wonder if anyone will notice that I didn't even wait until Monday, let alone Wednesday to post again......

Right must go and iron me shirt after this 'corker'.........It's now 5.53pm Sat night, and I just got this text off me best mate (He normally comes with us to local nights)....."Hello Birthday Boy. What sort of time does The Duke Finish tonight. And what time you going...... .......I f*ckin' despair!.......how he organised my Stag night I'll never know......hang on he didn't - we were an hour and a half late! Laters. Len

The Soul-source withdrawal Symptoms will kill me........maybe Tuesday then Have a good weekend guys (Wherever you go) and see some of you tonight at Stanwick for me Birthday Bash......Mmmm, I wonder what 'direction' I'll take the 'punters', maybe play a spot of Mid-tempo for a change.......No one can moan on my Birthday.......can they?!....... All the best, Len P.s - ......Or Monday 'P.M'

Was just about to answer - "Yeh, 'fate' but, not 'direction' Chalky"......then the rest of what you put sank in - Slow down Len, other people do know what are talking about! Well done, carry on ......I've had a hard week, and it's me Birthday weekend, so I'll try to stay off here until Wednesday Len

Look at Darrow Fletcher at The Wilton - I don't think they sold hardly any tickets until the last week or two - Poor Boxy, I bet that in itself added so much more stress to one of the most stressful promoting stories I've ever heard! Point being, for a live act such as Darrow Fletcher you would have thought people would buy their tickets well in advance, not just because it's Darrow Fletcher, but this event also had the 'it will probably sell out' factor - It made no difference. Organise yourselves people! Len

Yeh, good luck whoever volunteers - A few years back I suggested closing down all soul nights within a 50 mile radius, and have one big juicy event instead - I got slated for it. Silly me aye? Len

That is so important - I wish all D.J's respected this practise. Some D.J's work hard trying to be a bit creative, whether it's a new discovery, or simply reactivating a tune that hasn't been heard in a while - Don't nick their efforts! (There's no need to) All the best, Len

In other words, if you know what you're doing carry on, if not (and you will see by the event if you look at it) Stop, and that's not a bad thing. This act will let other events flourish (even more), and you can go and enjoy them with everyone else in the knowledge that your little bit of 'making room' has helped things. We're kinda going off topic here (or I am) didn't mean to - I suppose the punters will 'give the night direction' - if you change things if they're not happy, but before you do, ask yourself - do you really want to be doing it another way to please folk ?...... All the best, Len

In practise it sounds fine mate, but have you ever tried selling tickets - It's a f*ckin nightmare. Some folk are organised and keep a diary etc, but most don't arrange things until a week before. Some of my mates are that useless, they ring me at 5.00pm 'that night'......."What's happening tonight Len?".......Oooooooo, it drives me mad I tell you! Point being, I wouldn't advise selling tickets. 'Reserve in advance to save a quid', is what we do, that also gives us a good indication of how many are coming (as a percentage wise) For example, if 70 people have took the trouble to reserve, we know we can expect around 220 people (It works as a ratio, because we can go by past events).......In doing this, we can also use the "did you reserve your ticket?" angle, if we feel we don't want to let someone in. All the best, Len

P.Med ya Len

..........Sadly I can (True story this)........I was young and very skint, so (thinking nothing of it) I took sandwiches and a flask of coffee (yes a flask of coffee!) to The Fleet All-nighter at Peterborough......I was enjoying my night in that 'I'm young and scared kinda way', I went and sat down, and thought ......"Mmmmm coffee time"......so whilst still enjoying my night I decided to get me flask out........as I was pouring my coffee, two older girls looked over........then one of them said......"Tight C*nt!" with a big scowl on her face........I can't tell you how devastated I was - it completely ruined my night......and the next week (s)......not that I still think about it to this day........ Len

Beat me to it - Yes well done that man! Len P.s - Anyone for a game of Scrabble?........after the next nighter.........

Same here, but this is the result of too many events - each and every one (including the good ones) need 'whoever turns up' to make them financially viable (a sad, but true fact) We can't really blame the promoters for letting them in for that reason - All they can do, is 'go with it', but keep an eye on them.....unfortunately (as stated above) if some 'undesirables to the soul scene' do misbehave (or simply don't conduct themselves like the soulies do) the dynamics change, and it puts people off from going back. All the best, Len

Nothing wrong with Clowns!.......Just a 'chosen few' will get that Len

"Well the scene ain't as good as it was!"........'hic' .....On a serious note that you touched upon - Youth Culture (as it was) is what's missing nowadays, and I think that's a shame for the 'kids of today'.......I looked / felt great with my parka fish tail dragging along the floor behind me when I was 14.....and I had 'attitude!' Len P.s - It seems this younger generation don't / don't need to 'make an effort' to attract the opposite sex - just a pair of jogging bottoms and a hoodie seems to do the trick for them.....yes, a real shame.

Word........ .....................clever git Len

Yes, Brian Taylor the Tailor - You wouldn't know him, you're simply not cool enough Win Damn, Damn, Damn!.....Or is that Dam? Len

The difference being, that the 'high waistband pleated multi zipped Oxford bags' you were wearing, were for your time and style, not another generations'. .....I used to wear Hipsters (Taylor made)........and I'm not ignoring you........(and to save anyone the trouble - No I'm not a girl!) Len

Phew! - You do have a sense of humour! Back 'on topic' (I'm always writing that, can't think why ).........It's 'tat' to us, but definitely 'retro' to young people, and to them whatever is on the bag is 'the look', and nothing more. We all still want it to be underground, and us being the young people to boot, but we're not anymore - so I suppose it upsets us (just a little) All the best, Len

From the same shop?! Perfuse apologies, I couldn't resist - just a joke All the best, Len