Russ Vickers

Anthing from any decade, so long as it is soulful, & has that certain something that you can never quite pin down, that makes it so appealing to us & you can dance to it, gets my thumbs up...................that's why I prefer the term 'Rare Soul', 'Rare' as in that certain something that makes a good soul disc great, not monetary value. Russ

The whole scene was about the All-Night sessions & we really would be abandoning the basics for them not to be the heart of our scene in the 21st Century. I've been to some banging Dayers & some great Soul nights too, but to me & many others its got to be about an All-Nighter. Russ

Its all part of the fun innit, Russ

Yeah, & you cant beat messy Sunday's either. Russ

Having lived down souf for over 20 yrs, 5 hours is about right (other than the 100 Club of course) for a Saturday nights road trip. Russ

Paul No offence mate, but if you wanna be tucked up in bed early on Saturday nights with a hot milky drink, your on the wrong scene, even as a silly old bugger I still wanna feel a little cutting edge & slightly unique. Sure, there's room for all kinds of promotions & if this is your bag, go ahead mate, knock yourself out, but I reckon I've got a few more years of self - abuse & being up all night left in me yet. What's the world of Rare Soul coming to, I can hear the likes of Pete Lawson spinning in thier grave. I can listen to the sounds any time I like at home, but you can never recreate the sheer atmosphere of a good all-nighter & haring across the length & breadth of the country to do it is all part of the excitement, yes, excitement, remember that, the fact that the rest of the world (mostly) are tucked up asleep having had thier milky drinks, makes it all that much more enjoyable...................if Saturday All-Dayers were all I had to look forward to I think I will die laughing now. Its not just about listening to the sounds, its were your listening to them & who with that counts too....................................hey, I know, lets have a Saturday NS tea dance..........now that would be nice & sedate wouldn't it.............be carefeful tho' you dont want to consume too much of that nasty cafeine & be careful with the talc, you might fall & hurt yourself.............................lets get a grip shall we, up all-night is were its at & were it should stay IMVHO. Old, but not dead yet Russ

Does any one have the full list of releases for these Tidewater VA, labels. Russ

Well done. Wheres Wigan??? Russ PS TOP OFFER IS NOW £180.........HIGHEST AT MIDNIGHT GMT mONDAY GETS DISC.

Hey Kenny How ya doin mate, looking for a better offer pal, but nice try . Hope all is well with you, I'll write you a proper email shortly. Best Russ

Some one some where must need this Chicago fave..go on make me an offer. Russ

For Sale: Ringleaders - Baby What Has Happened to Our Love - Mpac VG++ Pse contact off forum at: russvuptownsoul@msn.com best reasonable offer gets disc............any stupid offers will be ignored. Russ

Judy Clay is awesome & I'm suprised that this didn't reach monster proportions country wide, not just on the hallowed floor of 100 Oxford Street. Uncanny that I have been giving the Kent CD with this on some hammer in the car recently & altho' I have alway's loved it, I had forgotten just how spine tinglingly, hairs on the back of the neck, good this is......powerhouse proppa soul & then some........come on you lot, every one that has a copy & gets behind the decks, give it some heavey plays & let the rest of the world benefit from a true 100 club gem. Peggy Gaines/SFTKO'S Russ

Yeah, well I know the tune & have loved it since Greg used to play it covered up as Little Helen & the Ladies @ least 10 yrs ago, its just that I have this little niggle that the Canadian release is a different take. I dont think its massively different, but given a choice I would prefer the US release. can any one else confirm this, or am I just making it up ???. Russ

I have very fond memories of Yate & I reckon it was one of the most underated Nighters ever, always had a large contingent from the Portsmouth & Southampton areas & a guy named Dinks ran coaches from Pompey to Yate & if I remember correctly had something to do with the promotion at some stage too. Tracked this guy down a few years ago in the vain hope that he had some tunes left, he was a steward at Pompey & no he had no records either !!!. You need to speak to Shay from Southampton, Tony Ellis & Pete Wid too, they should help fill some gaps. Few that remind me of Yate: Soul Communicaors on Fee Bee Ohio Players superior version of LSTMF Bernie Williams - ever Again Also any one remember the dance floor football games Top venue..........top tunes BTW I always thought that Yate helped me a great deal in my open mindedness towards Rare Soul, alltho' tunes over lapped between North & South Yate had its own distinct sound & the DJ's were always adventurous not like some of the other sheep who just chased the bigguns from Wigan. Also, I beleive there is a strong connection between Yate, Stafford & the 100 Club, not only with quality soul music of course, but many people attended all three venues & as such helped influence the sounds played. Russ

Beware - I beleive the Canadian Issue of this is a different mix & IMO inferior. Russ

Talking of Rare Soul Herasy......................still we're all entitled to our opinion.....wonder if the guy on ebay will except my wife, child & right bollock as a trade Russ

You think the Futures is pants you wanna hear this pile of poo, its a Carolinas Beach effort that you pick up here quite frequently.................any one want one & I'll see ya off for a tenner Russ

John My comments on the DN & SG are based on the fact that they were new releases when played therefore must be Modern as they were not recorded using the techniques in recording studios between 68-78, yes they sound retro, but they are new recordings. I have just read that back & even I think that it sounds like a load of waffle, but hopefully you get the point. waddoya think John ???

The Stan Martin exists as both an LP track- from the album 'Stan Martin is DR Cool' & was also released as a 45 Shatta: Sha 001, do not know the flip. I f any one has either the LP or 45 for sale pse contact me off forum. Darrell Nulisch & Sven G are Modern sounds, Sven G is a white Blues singer the Modern boys arn't the only people to look beyond the obvious in the seach for new & interesting sounds, Sven is just an imitation of a 7ts soul record, they're both obviously retro sounding as many new soul releases are, but they're not crossover sounds in the true sense. Russ

Thanks Chalky mate I thought this was alright & would dance mi tits off to it at a Nighter, but better than the Mello Souls...............I think not. Any one have any info on availability ????? Russ

What would your last record ever played, at the last ever All-Nighter be: Discuss Russ

Richard Searling circa 1978 Butch Ian Clark Soul Sam Terry Jones Guy & Keb Ciff Steel Arthur Fenn Nikki Golding Carl fortnum & Spenna Andy Davies Mick 'n' Ady Randy Cozens Gary Rushbrook Rob Marriott David Flynne Bob Cosby Adam Phewwwwwwwwww gonna have to be a weekender Russ

Gray, can you send an RA ???. Russ

Please can some one attempt to descibe this record & give more info, presumeably a cover up, but is it traditional Northern, mid-tempo or what, as i now cannot attend All-Nighters in the UK I would appreciate a proper review from some one on what sounds like a good new discovery. Thanks in advance Russ

I beleive Ion was the first person to play Clarence Townsend, it was covered up as Charles Brandy. Any one confirm this ??? Russ