Rob Wigley

Some pictures from Newcastle Metro Arena

Hi all been very busy with Bridlington over the last few days but went up to see this show on the FIRST NIGHT at the Newcastle Metro Arena. The darling wife treated me to overnight stay in the Gateshead Hilton , where all the acts were staying. I am going to use Tabs review as a template and add in my comments to compare Well as promised a quick review of the Legends tour at the NIA. Sold out and the venue was rammed. I'd say Newcastle was about two thirds full, around 4 to 5,000 in. Running order was the Miracles, Martha, Mary then the Commodores. "Junior Walkers all-stars" were the first act , did they appear anywhere else ? More like a "Tribute band" with the exception of British Bass player Ernie Mcrone the rest were average. Miracles were vocally excellent. Spot on, we know them all personally and with the exception of Bobby Rodgers they were dancing like a bunch of teenagers ! Bobby has just had an operation on his foot and was in quite a bit of pain on Tuesday. Tee Turner is simply brilliant , new lead Mark sounds great as "Smokey" and Dave Finlay is just a total boundless ball of fun and energy-it's the Irish in him ! The crowd were up and dancing from the first note of Tears of a clown and they broke the ice. Simply fantastic ! Did the classics, inc. Tracks of my Tears, Tears of a clown and Going to a go go. Slick and well choreographed. Next up was Martha. Well as we all know her voice is shot. Also gave me the impression she couldn't't remember the words to her hits. Lots of getting the audience involved singing along to Heatwave, Dancing etc. Very poor imo. Well Tuesday she was note perfect and remembered all the words, really top notch and the voice was in fine form, we did pour 6 pints of Guinness into her after the show, but both her and The Vandellas were fab ! Mary Wilson next who was the Star of the show for me. Vocally superb doing all the classics as expected. Not only that she looked like she was really enjoying herself.. Strutting her stuff and smiling all the way through. She had people up on the stage dancing with her and just came across as a natural Particularly enjoyed her rendition of You can't Hurry love. Really up-tempo and bassy. Totally agree here Tabs, first time I've seen her, God she looks about 35, with a huge personality, I liked the way she mixed the records, Nathan Jones, Reflections, the later stuff she sang on and her own things. A real Star performer and highly recommended Next was the headline act The Commodores. Did all there hits excluding The Zoo. Really professional, vocally brilliant and well rehearsed. Got the audience involved and there act even included pyrotechnics. They set the stage monitors on fire at Newcastle "L O L Far to clever for their own good, as the other said, not one of them was an "Original" member, Brick House was appalling as was the second number, with serious major feedback from the sound system, running all over the stage, swapping instruments around. Set of tossers with their heads up their own backsides! Then came "Easy" now there is only one bloke who can sing that song and lionel Richie wasn't in the house. After 2 hours of the first set and 30 mins interval whilst the Commodores set up we'd had enough and "Walked" whilst the lead singer warbled his way through Easy. As we exited the Arena there was a steady stream of people following us out-and that's at £37.50 a Ticket ! Needless to say there were the MJ tributes. Martha just recounted the first time she saw the J5 at the Harlem Apollo. Mary was along the lines of when you think about Michael just remember his musical talent and ability. He hadn't croaked then Most cringe worthy was the Commodores tribute. They requested a 30 sec silence for a 'fallen colleague.' Fallen colleague. Not like he had been in a war, a media circus and publicity feeding frenzy yes but hardly any thing else. Told you they were a set of Tossers, they wouldn't even have known him ! So overall I enjoyed it. Yes Hit after hit once Junior tribute was out of the way, Good value for money as the show was just under 4 hours long inc a 30 min intermission. Highlights for me were Marry and sharing joint second the Commodores and Miracles. Miracles, Mary Wilson, and Martha were all brilliant and very slick and professional Such a shame about Martha. As I say she was as good as when I first saw her in 1977 (?) at the Casino and she remembered that show doing the "Northern Soul " dance as well ! The other 4 occupants of my 'taxi' also enjoyed the event. My daughter thought it was awesome and she has been to a fair few non soul concerts. And for her to say that is a testament to a good show. Hope that will help people who may be undecided about seeing this tour. Best Tabs Overall a very enjoyable and slick show & logistically a nightmare If the Commodores are acting like Superstars why on earth don't they just tour on their own ! I'd have taken them out and added The Temptations and made the show shorter! Rob Wigley

Just a final bump for this

Just a reminder on here we are holding a "Bring a box" record fair saturday afternoon at the Bridlington Weekender. Box Tax of £5 per box straight in to the collection bucket for the charity. A chance to clear out some unwanted items and raise money for a good cause. Any size box ok during the saturday afternoon session Please note due to numbers attending this weekend (2,000) we only allow 50 or 100 boxes to be carried in that you can carry arround with you during the other sessions. ALL TABLES AND STALLS ARE FULLY BOOKED. See you there ECSCSC

Still stands out as a great album after all these years ! Rob

Always suspected we were "On the outside looking in", long live The Undergound and "The Backstreet" its where we belong ! R & K

The scene will always be "There", its in your heart, your mind and your SOUL. As long as there are two people left who are into it you'll have a "scene" Its about the music, it flows through your viens like a life blood, it pulls you from pillow to post, it stops conversations dead in their tracks. However, there are other things equally or more enjoyable in life, travel-exotic new places with records shops and second hand markets, driving vintage cars,along country lanes with the top down , wind rushing through your hair, past small carboot sales with people selling-up their collections of records, eating out in resturants and having one ear on the music in the back gound, hearing a Northern track and wondering which one of the 20 year olds waiting on the tables did the CD! As the song says "Soething keeps calling me back"-We never left Rob & Karen

I'll stick to the Beach Boys stuff-reminds me of "Oh Carol" Rob

The short sleve guy ate all his stash as the squad arrived ! He looks like a young Freddie Mercury--I am still waitng for him to do a "Backdrop" In the middle of the clip, just in shot on left of the picture-Isn't that Rotherhams Bob Steer ? Rob

There was a long thread on this about a year ago-still be good to get Kebs thoughts on it now Rob & karen

There seem to be plenty of Albums for sale, but 45s pre 1985 were VERY hard to find outside of the normal outlets or collectors/specialist shops. i didn't event see any record boxes for sale this time !

Hi Boba your version of "The antiques Roadshow" is also to blame, I watched an old programme on cable that showed a guy with a small record box with about 40 45s that was valued at over $1,000, I couldn't see anything special, but the "Expert" kept prattling on about collectors items ! Rob

Mmmm interesting thread Just arrived back yesterday from a trip to the USA, which was very short notice to look up some acts, go to a wedding and have a "little" look for some sounds. Now in the space of 18 months I've noticed something serious going on, I've been going to the USA for 30 years- always found stuff (as I did this time)-but Ive always also bought "Odd ball" labels blind- in 4 days of solid hunting through plenty of records (50,000 45s plus) I haven't bought 1 local label record-60s or 70s. Now this suggest to me that record "Hunters" are buying up local stuff-as with the advent of "Funky" items now becoming "Big ticket" items as well they can't really miss out, buy them 25 cents to $3 dollar, either check Johns book or stick em on E-bay and Bobs your uncle! If its rare or in demand it sells! I also had a look through 1,000 items priced via Johns book £20, £30 £50 etc, the dealer takes $3-$5 average on them due to the fact he cant sell them ! Most stuff is at nighters for £5 to £10 max. Which may suggest the book is "Over-priced" on common stuff. Ive bought about 150 45s and spent $350 what did I pay ? most expensive was $20, cheapest 20 cents, loads to sell on to make my $350 back, a couple of "nice" items for the collection plus a load of US Motown demos- Tons of enjoyment, a couple of "Heart stoppers" (Bobby McClure on Sedrick as i split a pile it was the top record and I only saw the Sedrick !) and I just love finding them. A couple of great albums for a buck each as well. All I kept thinking is "What did we leave when i was with tats in the 80s and 90s" Condition is also another factor, anything MINT will be snapprd up regardless of genre if its cheap enough Ive probably got £3,000 to £5,000 worth of records for just over £200 so worth the effort. Best thing I saw but wasn't for sale (yet) YUM YUMs ISSUE ABC-so they are still out there ! Rob

Cheers Chalky -thought that was it--anybody want to buy one !!! Rob

I am after the sound clip Chalky-the link won't work

saw this thread and after a sound clip--link no longer works-help please ! turned up a serious rarity this week; Jesse Davis "Theres room for me" on Jaboth 001, NOT Revere or Paramount labels! So its official, there are 3 60's pressings. I think this could be the true first pressing (Dr Michael Dean owned Revere, and the Paramount label looks similar), it makes no sense for it to be repressed after a bankrolled celeberty financed it.. Record is Vg++/M-, but has playable crack (damn). But as far as I can tell, its undocumented. Trail off has the "AS" in circle, triangle64531 bn j-d1-45 (crossed out) JD-1. Any feedback? Thanks, Mike Reduced 67% 450 x 446 (47.69K)// Reduced 67% 450 x 448 (46.23K)//

Bugger! still there's always another day ---

I forgot to say a BIG THANK YOU to all those who have already taken out ad space ! It really helps a good cause ECSCSC

Wakey wakey Just a shout as I am on with putting the finishing touches to the weekender programme. Still a couple of ads I am waiting for and there is a small amount of space available for anyone who wants to advertise their Soul Nights / Record lists / shop or business. This mag will be larger than last year and ads will cover print costs-all extra revenue after costs goes to the Bluebell Wood charity at the event. www.bluebellwood.org This mag is A4 sized and FULL COLOUR PM me for ad rates-which start at just £50. Thanks Rob

Bridlington Weekenders - Press Release Plus Chance To Win Two Tickets View full article

A worthy cause kev--its true but what does he write his articles on ?? PARCHMENT with Quill and Ink sent direct by stagecoach to Mike Ritson Rob

Ok kev thanks for adding Sams article, can you add your own to which he replied please so we can have a read cheers Rob sam.doc

Hi Kev I think what you need to do is sit down and write a reply to Manifesto out lining your views and where you are coming from as a promoter on your event. Keep it short and sweet, but as like Johnny I have not seen Sams article yet, you need to answer him in a constuctive way. Its a bit rich if he has had a go at you and not even set foot in your club ! It appears you have a clear music policy-so thats what you do-good on you for staying with what you want to do Its your venue, you book the DJs and people know what to expect. As I say contact Manifesto under "Right to reply" Rob

Judy Freeman--"Hold on!"... Judy Freeman "Hold on!"....Long version when you think the above has ended and it keeps going.... (my knees have only 2min 20sec of dance in them these days and that bugger carries on)