Agentsmith

Hi Paul, If this is off the back of the well debated dance championship thread thats fine...personally...observation, attending a function having been egged on/goaded to come along to a mobile disco in a pub, as is where this music recieved most input jn the early days, not old enough to be in there still actively attending secondary school, it was obvious we were among folk 2 or 3 years older than us who were already enlightened, were dressing in a manner, and were more than likely aware of the Wheel and Torch, as were the mobile djs....they did commercial bookings as a sideline, had day jobs anyway, but were by and large, just as fascinated with this brand of music and went to these venues to find out for theirselves, and acquire the tunes if they could. My first proper experience was at The Longacres pub in Dilloways Lane, Willenhall. From Friday through to monday night there were discos, and all the djs were playing this music...in a housing estate as well, and it was fairly loud...the pub would be pretty much packed...smallish dance floor, L- shaped lounge room, carpeted round the sides...i just stood and watched.....Billy Butler, Johnny Jones, Cooperettes, Travis Wammack, Archie Bell, Robert Knight, O'Jays, Shakers, Guy Darrell etc....the latter was so loud the windows reverberated...thought they were going to shatter!. I cant honestly say if it was there or the Cats whe. I attempted to dance, but at the Cats i certainly did...in the privilaged company of Jethro, Jacko, Darby and many others....that club was really my springboard. I think my dancing is more reserved now, the acrobatics have long gone, my body told me it was time to stop, the emphasis is on style and feel for the music....you gave to understand the lyrics, love the song, feel the arrangement and express your feelings, npt just with your feet, legs and hips, but with your arms and hands....almost like semaphor!.

Just seen another video on fb....at sn age now where at quarter to midnight folk are just going through the motions...the natural ageing progression, no one has the viltality to show the exuberance they were capable of, even just 20 years ago....id say 40 years of age the vast majority would still have that energy level, a watershed age...mind over matter still didnt come into the equation then.

Underlying analysis here is: the feel for the music, its a constant. You have to know, love learn the words, express everything in the dance....and if youre going to add the pyrotechnics in your arsenal, they have to be timed for those influential moments like machine gun drum rolls. Ive actually judged this competition a number of times, 10 years since i last attended the event tbh, but did so mostly the earlier events when, it was evocative to watch....there were even then, a lot of good dancers around ( 2006/7 )....theres no real comparison to the life our age Group has lived though, the 70's encompassed the spirit of Northern soul, we all came from different walks of life and ' discovered/pioneered ' the music that the discovering/pioneering djs put in front of us. Yes the analogy of World and World series certainly rings with hypocracy....you just dont see other countries doing it anyway. Remember the ' World Disco Dance Championships?, Keb Darge?, that was probably more representative yes? I honestly didnt think the winner of the 2023 comp was any better than the previous 5 or 6, no real dynamism, girls will almost indefinitely give a good account of theirselves, competition or no....remember: The Casino held dance comps, i witnessed one in....75 i think and it was a girl who won it.....possibly Kim?, no airs and graces, just danced whilst the two lads flung theirselves about and didnt fall off the stage! If anyone feels inclined to get their high velocity sniper rifle out with silencer attached and take me down, please feel free to do so!, i intend no offence and consider i havent made any.....just sort of observational.

I can vouch for the fact that it would take Tim a considerable amount of time to sell his own collection.....it is vast. But.....none of us are here forever and the fact is, in this day and age ( and has been the case for a number of years now ) these records are antiques and as such, a collection is an invaluable nest egg...he told me in 2018, the tipping point is coming very soon where more people start to sell up...that was nearly 6 years ago, and theres been a steady trickle. Does the market eventually implode?, he dosnt see it happening yet, its dependant on what it does globally, people abroad are still buying...as for the scene that these records created?...the next 5 years is realistically the summit....its stretching the imagination to say 10, particularly for our generation/age group....that would be entirely dependant on the generations we've brought up.

https://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/albrighton.htm A little reminder of THIS......why the Lea Manor was at the forefront of cutting edge tunes!😉👍

So.....was the mystery of September Jones solved as well? I'm no expert/sherlock holmes but, ive been asked this question just now.

Paul, wasnt he a rock dj originally, just jumped on the bandwagon when he saw an opportunity?

No one could ever devalue or underestimate the importance of the 100 club, i went...it was, and still is, as relevant and important as its always been...its place in our history is guaranteed.