Agentsmith

correct, stylus wear contributes...most djs who put in their own equipment will look after their gear, especially stylus & cartridge, afterall, other djs play their records on the gear and naturally assume it's up to scratch. cueing up is part & parcel of the dj art...but like has been said here as well, poor quality vinyl simply isn't going to prevent cue burn or hiss, and styrene has always been notorious for this. i did worry about tobi ledgend when i first bought an issue copy, but upon inspection it is good quality despite being styrene and has not suffered the same fate as johnny bartel, for instance, which after a few plays, now has a two second hiss. so, if you do backtrack, as opposed to just dropping the needle on the record and hoping for the best, rest it gently and wind back slowly, treat the gear and the records with respect...simples!

a good many still to make up their minds then....assuming a good proportion of the u.k. watched it?, i think anyone who takes on this most hallowed of subjects, deserves the maximum for the effort, it most certainly wasn't over-subjective, at the same time it had an air of disaffection from the media hype we would all imagine it would be threatened with.....we begrudge with perpetual consistency, anything of this nature for fear of it perverting the course of justice, that in, telling it like it is and not belittling the scene and its congregation. this, however, was respectful and as if to hammer the point of longevity home, managed to portray a few of our well known brothers and sisters as proof that this genre, once scoffed at as being another fad, simply hasn't gone away and that the mantle is passing faultlessly, from one generation to the next...slowly but surely, the youth of this country are realizing that REAL music begins at home, that it never went away. just like "the pen is mightier than the sword", so the stylus is mightier than i-tunes

remembrance is a great thing.......in the right context..such as november 11th. where anniversaries of long departed venues, is concerned, the music and the enjoyment of youthful abandon is, or should be the foremost reason for respective "attendees" to celebrate. it's inconsequential that the hub of those rebellious activities is not the same place that now holds these annual festivals. whilst it may be considered nothing less than blinkered, that an excuse for intense hammering of previously hammered oldies is in order,...the inescapable fact is....these records ( in the main ) are to be associated with the said venue...and if the latest generation of inductees to the cause, feel it is a duty to pay respect to their parents ideology by also liking the same tunes ( which in overwhelming cases, they do ) and dancing to them, applauding them and calling them brilliant ( though we've all heard them a million times over ) then so be it. the scene has always been about the masses and their undying love common bond for the music...without people to head up the promotion of this style, the catalysts who we call dj's and who through their own vocation, saw a niche in the market to put on a good "do" and make a living out of it ( no shame in that ) exactly where would we stand now?...perhaps a different shape & form?....no scene of any significance?, that hasn't left the indelible footprint, we acknowledge universally? we haven't, after 40 years, actually surrendered to the burden of commercial exploitation, though we have come uncomfortably close, as to stiffen our resolution, that weather above or below ground, our scene and it's music, it's ethic of genuine originality of style simply cannot have a candle held to it. no genre before or after, has had such a deft ability to open people's minds to the reality that great music dosn't have to be formulaic and beholden to the fancy of the media. 40-50 year old grooves resonate with a freshness and vitality that has outlasted warhole's 15 minute theory...our mantra is famed for it's survival where other musical tastes are quickly forgotten...washed away by the tide of change.....northern soul is still holding back that tide, because people accept it's relevance in this day & age, lyrically these forgotten gems display the true artistry of folk trying to eek out a living, simple to sing but displaying unerring truth in their statements and backed by sublimnal orchestration. so....no, we can't, in the spirit of things, celebrate the anniversary of the venue, it's music, it's atmophere, it's camaraderie ( it's solvent abuse..to please the minority! ) within the bricks & mortar...and yes, naturally it's earning somebody a few bob....well, when you pay for avenue, you invariably are going to want to get your overheads back, aren't you?? as i said in my first line....remembrance is important...like the soldier who passes on his memories to his grandchildren, so the spirit of what they did & saw is kept alive, so should it be for the scene we created...be thankful a good many youngsters see it the same way....the spirit of northern soul will endure and the anniversary will always be an integral part of it's appeal.

derek allen? god rest his soul

wont say no to that pete,...paypal?

just started listening....the belles band - don't pretend...THE ORIGINAL BACKING TRACK...NOT THE SOUSSAN MASH UP!.....so has anyone out there got an acetate of it??...think mr. smith and i remember the late bryn lane having this in his collection many years ago, though how he came by it and off whom, i do not know...but if that were played now,...it would be HUGE!, yes, an instrumental, every bit a part of the secne today, as it was back then.

ive always felt that the common denominator amongst djs was about putting yourself across, a voice that grabs attention...of course equipment helps,a good system & microphone, then crystal clear clarity & pronunciation......some folk like to know about the ins and outs of the tunes being played e.g. writers, production, studio...but generally in the main, who the artist is, what the tunes called and is it up or down tempo, 60's 0r 70's. having an intuitive collection is important as well, plus, if you're lucky enough and have the money, a reasonable selection of unknowns or semi-knowns....and finally, you're not billy no mates, that the people at the function you intend to play at actually know you and have a modicum of respect for you...and believe you are capable of playing a good set.. this is what has set the leaders apart, they started as attention seekers but happened to be in the right place at the right time....and they were, and still are very good at getting people's attention...and they still play records that work...because people have always trusted that they would. for the generations of hopefuls coming up behind them, its about buying into that mentality...and yes,...it isnt as easy as people think....and yes, its too easy to ignore that mantra and just chuck anything on a turntable, be it blatantly counterfeit and think youve made it and not even bother to announce the records. perhaps we, the first two generations have closeted ourselves, not wanting to let others in ( i refer to it as "white collar" ),,. but so many folk now see the northern soul scene as genuinely, inspirational, alternative and escapist ( much in the same way we did ), the next step from their introduction is their education and that means wanting to do it theirselves...dj and promote...thus the scene has expanded beyond anyone's horizon & belief.....so, shouldn't this debate be about weather thats a good thing or a bad?......or do we still want to keep the masses as just that...and still hold court as the djs to listen to......well, we are born, we live a span, then we die....and for the scene to endure, we have to embrace change....our scene evolves and changes, just like dynasties and empires...music, like time will last eternally...we don't.....too many djs?.....the cows will have come home long before there's ever answer.

another version by shirley eikhard on capitol, slightly better and did get played for a brief period on the scene.

of course dave, but a nice thought...that perhaps when he was recording house party for the label, that this track may have been lined up at the same time....probably out by the timeline,..i'm sure you will put me right

the wheel came full circle when carl sang "houseparty" at prestatyn.....if only they had rehearsed i'm not strong enough as well...that WOULD have bought the house down!

the last tune played is calvin grayson - "you've got to be willing"...mega bucks tune on IN records...also a brilliant double-a side " love's just begun" check em out on youtube

i have this as well, great doc, lots on there like keb, pat, simon hunt, mick.h, john poole, chris ( trickster ) even sir paul smith and adey of course...well put together though not meant to be concise ( lets face it........northern soul would have to be given the status of "the world at war" in 20 episodes to do it justice ) but bristling with great anecdotes and a selection of tunes, both iconic and memory jogging at the same time...thought it would be easy to acquire most on ovo.....yeah right!

without doubt, adey croasdell has been, is and always will be probably the greatest exponent of twisting record companies around his little finger, to extract from them every last shred of evidence hidden in their vaults, amidst their ineptitude and reluctance that anything possibly of value has been overlooked. for his sizemic efforts, almost into 4 decades now, we will be eternally grateful and indebted...his sleuthing has proved sherlockesque, no stone unturned, born out nonemoreso, than his persistance with the dave hamilton catalogue which has stretched into 10 years but has resulted in finds of such gravitas...patience of a saint is somewhat understated here. it has taken equally as long to see a further installment in the pied piper story come to fruition, when for many years both he, and us, despaired that ( sony i believe? ) would ever give up the treasures we knew still existed, to be given a fitting release.....only adey croasdell could possibly accomplish the impossible. i know we can eulogize about what achievements richard has had, with a little help from john anderson, exposing previously unheard material ( little ann, betty boo etc ) but you can well imagine the esteem in which adey would have been held at the casino, had maxine brown or melba moore received exposure there, courtesy of this architect of the unexpectedly brilliant...all those wonderful tunes on the same playlist under one roof?. it still brings a shiver of expectancy when adey announces something new on the horizon...because he's always looked beyond it.

it's one of 4 tracks never released, that appear on a u.s. only double cd, entitled "iceman - the mercury years" issued in 1990, long since deleted, but i got mine online, so now you have the info, have a trawl and you may come across a copy, let me know how you get on.

jerry butler's version of brother billy's, "the right track" ( unissued ) is outstanding......with a staggering mike terry sax break.

CORRECT!...and, apparently, it was on an acetate and speeded up.

just a teaser whilst we're on the subject, but what whispers track was covered up as the carstairs and played by pep at the cats?

up to the sun......brilliant turn-of-the-decade detroit offering from this distinguished vocalist, on bumpshop.....bought this a few years ago off henry atkinson having heard it decades before...no one knew it then,...and virtually no one knows it now...thats the intrigue, must be the most sought after of that catalogue, i paid £150 i think...almost a gospel style...would have been huge at the mecca, such was their liking for the off-the-wall.

right kev, see there's the thought.....would everyone agree...perhaps events playlists and refosoul should merge?,...so then all those unknown ( well, to me anyway ) tunes could be heard as well....or is that just too time consuming?......YES, I KNOW THERE'S YOUTUBE BUT YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING ON THERE, DO YOU?...IT'S NOT FLAWLESS....

COME ON PEOPLE,......WHAT'S GOING ON??.....i'm viewing the playlists all the time and for some inconceivable reason they've dried up........HAVE YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN DEVELOPED INFERIORITY COMPLEXES ABOUT WHATS IN YOUR BOXES??.....COME ON,....FRESHEN UP THE SOURCE!!

if it's his inclination.....personally i find it utterly selfish...it's denying people the opportunity to get a REAL glimpse of the past, filmed independantly and with no interference from a commercial perspective..that guy needs to search his soul and his conscience...he's whistling dixie whilst sitting on something unique...is he waiting for someone gullible enough to come along and start a bidding war then??...how does he, or anyone know for a fact, that after 36 years, it hasn't deteriorated?, rendering it bloody useless?.....he's says he's got it.....then SHOW US THE MONEY!!,...to quote a phrase.

we never did get to the bottom of that legend, did we bro?, to quote the "x-files"...the truth is out there...... must get this book, not a ditchwater remark yet, proof that real soul people don't just judge by the cover.

too right macca, even more spine tingling as you're just about to pull off the drive on a saturday morning, to do the shopping and you see the postie go to your door...you pip your horn,...he looks around....you motion through your windscreen with two fingers making a square,...he nods his head...you grin and give him the thumbs up and he laughs!! never mind the women ( sorry ladies ) men are married to vinyl!

i've gone up and down the monetary scale in the last 10 years..i was collecting cds from about 2000 and swore i would never buy another record ever again...a short lived statement!. first time i set foot in lowton and saw all the dealers i couldnt resist,...i bought 30 records, all dirt cheap and from then on it escalated, particularly when i met des parker...a genuine genial bloke, ended up buying loads of cheap stuff off him..and the collection was started, and very soon after the prices started to creep up and the purchases became less prolific and more selective...before i knew it, it was £200-300-400-500-950 in the persuit of a reasonable dj box. updated, ive gone back to buying 25-30-40 pound records because there is still so much good stuff at those sort of prices which, to be honest, ought to be worth a lot more if a sufficient amount of djs were playing them, but by the same token i realise that could ultimately price the average punter out of the market...a bit of a vicious circle then...one thing is right though, as stated here....we are the eternal fishermen, dangling the rod in the vinyl pool...til eventually we land the prize,...that really is the name of the game isn't it?

WAY to kick off a set gerry, totally raucous white guy tune, shakin' the foundations...great set mate, look forward to more of this at lowton fingers crossed