Epic

Welcome my tall & soulful friend. Now we all know who is wholly responsible for "Copacabana" being played at The Highland Room - take a bow (& the plaudits) Mr Haigh.

Used to go on a Sunday night - was up some rickety old stairs at BWFC if I remember. Good cross section of people - Richard Searling used to play Ron Holden Gwen Owens etc. alongside new releases - good memories - good club.

Carvers are "The Devil's Work" - the poor misguided creatures who use them should not be punished though - help is what they need -because until they come out from under their intoxicating spell they will never truly see the error of their ways. Why is the theme song from The Exorcist spinning round my head whilst I have been typing this ?

Ian Can remember you sat behind the decks in The Highland Room (yes Messrs Levine & Curtis DJ'd on a stool) in 1976 playing Vicki Sue Robinson "Turn The Beat Around" when Bob Blackwood came on stage & said that the music was not as good as in the Northern days. Your reply was "No it's not - it's measurably better!!" Priceless

They are building a College & campus in its place - Blackpool is hoping eventually to turn it into a university & gain city status.

Thanks Ian - now if you could quote & answer the rest of my post please. Thanks.

I was part of the "and crew" - Pete & Steve are my life long friends - you dropped Northern Soul way before 1977 - Colin was the last one out of the two of you - Ronnie McNeir, Inspirations,Herbert Hunter etc. to play NS in The Highland Room. You said back then that NS was dropped because of the quality of new music just could not be ignored & the quality sixties soul discoveries were failing to meet the quality control standards that Colin & you had tried to maintain. Incidentally Ian we did not encourage you to play a lot of the poor disco tunes you featured (I Love Lucy - Night & Day - Bob Crewe etc.) - can't remember being in the shop urging you to buy them. Incidentally what was the last traditional Northern Soul record you played at The Mecca & when was it?

Yes Pete - Green Door is crap but I really like Look At Me Now!!

Remember buying "Who Is Gonna Love me" as a new release - point I was trying to make is "Love is......" was never "big" at The Mecca - a couple of spins maybe - never ever seen it on a Mecca compilation because it is not associated with the venue. Same for Bobby Sheen, Gloria Scott etc. should have been big Highland Room records - unfortunately they slipped through the net.

"Demo" as in CD Burner Copy !!!! DO try to keep up Ian!!!

Interestingly enough a version of 10% that Ian did with The Trammps got a remix by DJ Romain & it has quite a following on the Underground Soulful Dance scene.

Probably didn't help sales that by the time Sony got round to releasing it most people who wanted it had"demo" copies in their collection already.

Ian It seems to me that you have never embraced modern soulful dance music ie Blaze - Louie Vega - Quentin Harris - Stephanie Cooke - Marc Evans - Jon Cutler - Susu Bobien - Arnold Jarvis etc. Have you ever really listened to it? I often describe it as the "new" Northern Soul - obscure dance music on small labels with that all important beat.

Yea - Pete Haigh - Steve Naylor & Andy Lett - we could have a Mecca Reunion Dave - Ian would be more than welcome to join us!!

It's on East Coast - Mecca record yes - a Colin Curtis spin from the famed "last hour".

If You & I Had Never Met - Magic Night Time Passes By - James Bynum You Better Watch Out - Gwen Owens Happy 'Bout The Whole Thing - Dee Dee Sharp Trying To Get Back to You Girl - Jackey Beavers What About Love - Marboo Betcha If You Check It Out - The Quadrophonics What Makes Her A Woman - Danny Reed

You must not be listening to the right stuff - plenty of good modern jazzy funky tunes out there with not so much as a hint of "elevator music" about them.

................Soon after they heard that people actualy danced to the Theme From Joe 90

A lot of those people still attend modern events & listen to Modern Jazz - Soulful & Funky House. Upstairs at The Orwell next Sunday (August 24th) will give you a fine example of what I am talking about.

Cracking list Pete - especially The Lovelites - would make a great oldies spot methinks - just let yourself down with Monique - never saw you as a Frankie Crocker or Skullsnaps kind of guy. Nice one mate.

Daylight Saving Time - Keith Summer In The Parks - East Coast Connection Wee Oo I'll Let It Be You Babe - Louise Lewis The Flasher - Mistura Dizzy - Lester Lanin Boo On You - Chuck Jones Astral Trip - Mystic Moods Whiskey Talking - Ronnie Forte Ice Man - Billy Watkins

Dave Godin coined the phrase "NORTHERN Soul" - must have been a reason for it!!!

It's quite frightening how many "pop" records have been played & we have all danced to some of them - it is all about interpretation - I see Paul Anka "Can't Help Loving You" as one of the all time great Northern Soul records but think Sam Cooke "Sugar Dumpling" is a pile of poo!!!