BrianB

Thanks for that Joe, Are these the Funk Bros and no karaoke jollification added? Does W/Vocal mean no vocal? These look a real bargain if they are just the out and out backing tracks. ATB Brian B

These were first played at the Mecca, so probably Levine?

International GTOs I Love My Baby. My fave at the moment. Top class Northern!

Hi Dan, We are just back from a week in Scotland. Had a great time, apart from the dog picking up 5 deer ticks, which are really fun to remove, especially when you pull em out with tweezers, and the head stays in the dog! Even if this doesn't come off, it may be a great idea for the future? See how many soulies we can get out in the Dales or the Lakes and have a soul do after, with B&B thrown in in a local hostelry or B&B? Count me and Cathy B in, as well as Paul B and Jill. Paul has the decks etc, could be a goer! ATB Brian

Hi Bill, I am a keen hill walker, the Lakes, the Dales, Snowdonia, and do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks every year and the National 3 Peaks every other year. (I know you may not like the last 2!). I really appreciate the unpaid work you lads do. My mate at work is in the Todmorden MRT. A few years ago we saw a soul do advertised at Kettlewell Village hall. I couldn't go, but I believe it was OK. How about a guided walk for novices during the day and a soul do at night somewhere in the dales? B&B is about £20pp, not a lot to pay for a full days walking and a top night. I know a lot of people would love to go walking but are wary of the hills, getting lost etc. I would be willing to do the guided walk, if you do the venue, and any dosh goes to the MRT. Might need to hold it a bit further south than Muker or Keld though? Let me know. Brian B

Absolutely fantastic reply. This sums everything up that I've ever felt about our music. We "get" it, their singing, they got it 40 years ago! Wow! I wish I had written every word of that. Brilliant!! Absolutely brilliant!

My World is Empty Without You - The Supremes. If this had just been discovered it would be one of the biggest ever on the Northern scene. These guys were genius's. Their output was just unbelievable, but also the influence they had on other writers has kept us lot happy for years.

No, He played it again and again at the request of the crowd, who were anything but bored. In fact they were having the time of their lives actually being present at the end of an era. Yet more negative vibes about Wigan. Will this campaign against Wigan, Levine or anything that has been popular in the past ever end?

All of your reply is bang on Pete. I agree on the 70ts non northern sounds. Some are brilliant. I particularly love Oh Girl by the Chilites, but hate 70ts northern. I actually wrote something very similar to your statement which I have placed in bold type, on another thread, and was ridiculed and castigated by a lot of our contributors, to what is after all, a forum. Why should I go to an event billed as a "Northern Soul" night and be forced to listen to non northern soul, i.e. 70ts? As soon as the flyer says "crossover", I just don't go, so why force it on me?

The Steve Tomlinson who worked at Michelin in Burnley? Is so PM me, this is Brian Barker. If not, apologies Ste and all the best!

I agree its totally crap, but it is also responsible for creating a split in our scene that has never been resolved to this day. Never been able to understand how and why records like this get played on the Northern Soul scene. I was at Wigan and Blackpool when it was "discovered", and I used to cringe when it came on. Still feel the same way now.

They are due to "perform" at the Mechanics Intitute in Burnley next week. The Mechanics is owned and run by the Burnley Borough Council. A phone call to them should be interesting as they are supposed to be red hot on ethics! They were also on at The Forest Inn 2 weeks ago just outside Burnley. Obviously a lot of Soulies in Burnley, and they won't fall for it, but your Ordinary Joe might. Brian B

At last, someone else who loves this. Been into Motown since 68 and Northern since 70, and this is the best record I have ever heard. Bought it when the Motown Sings Treasures CD came out. When it came on I almost cried. Unsurpassable, unbeatable soul. Can't rate it highly enough. ATB Brian B

Well you can't say you didn't get an opportunity to put a reasonable explanation forward. Can't wait to see the replies from this forum when the Mail prints some complete idiots explanation of "Northern Soul", making us ridiculous, and you lot are all up in arms! On the other hand, we could send the ridiculous answer in first...... All nearly 50 or older, collect vinyl, won't listen to CDs, dance acrobatically(!), drink far too much, are aware of illegal substances being available, DJs who don't talk or offer spot prizes...can't see attendances rising on the back of this one!

Hi Steve, I can understand the statement Staid Oldies has an effect, but look at the played out oldies thread on here. At the time of writing, 3108 views and 206 replies. Oldies will always be popular, and Malc has clearly tried to give the people what they want, but it is bloody hard and expensive to get them in. Just shows how difficult it is to get a good venue, but the difficult bit is sustaining it. Good luck with the next one Malc. ATB Brian B

First Queen of Fools on Hickory in 1971 Last This Thing Called Love Jonny Wyatt on Bronco.

Hi Phil, This is Burnley we are talking about! You would get a chorus of "How Much?" when a tenner was mentioned, and they would troop off to The Isa Bar, Walkabout or the many other late places that are free or ask a nominal amount for entry. Does this mean we can't get in without a membership card in future, or will there be a simple question to answer in order to get past the local militia on the door? Something like the Weakest Link yesterday, when someone was asked to name a whisky distilled in Scotland called Johnny .........? The contestant answered Glenfiddich!!! ATB, Brian B

Good job he isn't selling coffee in Wigan!

Yeah, your'e right. I am taking things far too seriously at the moment. I need to chill.

Uncalled for?

You might find this hard to believe Russ, but when I went to the Motown Cafe in NYC, Berry Gordy wasn't there, neither was Levi, nor Edwin, and I didn't see Smokey having a brew with Paul Riser discussing the next arrangement for Jimmy Ruffin. Was I upset? No! I went in for a brew and found it fascinating. Also it didn't trivialise, soil or sully my memories of Motown. From your response above I feel you may find this hard to believe. As I said before, you lot take yourselves to seriously. Its a theme cafe, and I would rather go in here than Nandos, The Hard Rock, La Tasca and so on!!

Boots were around for 5/6 years on the northern scene prior to Mr Soussan's appearance, and first surfaced on the Soul Sounds label (I believe Alexander Patton was the first?) As for the rest of the negative comments, God help us if anyone on here tries to go into business or change anyone's opinion on something that happened years ago. I can't wait for the next new NS venue or all nighter to open. I expect everyone to come out with the same comments of baggy jeans, beer towels, drugs, selling bootlegs, jumping on the bandwagon, etc. What a bloody miserable lot you are. If you are the future of our scene I give up!

I bet every one of the negative respondees would be down in a flash if we could somehow step back in time to Wigan Casino in those years between 73 and 81! Aren't we very quick to mock? I am a Burnley fan, but I don't laugh at the pictures of the 1st Division winning team of 59, cos they had long shorts, didn't train or eat as "professionally" as the players do now. No, I actually look back with pride and think without that team and those players BFC may not exist now. The same with the Casino. They did what they had to do to keep the place buzzing. OK, they played some crap. Which venue from the Wheel to Quinvy's Kestel Suite hasn't? 30% of the Wheel's records were white up to around 69/70. Thats always been the way of the Northern scene. The kids took drugs and dressed differently. Show me a group of youngsters who have not done that? I love Soul Source and the debates, which really shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, I have always detected a certain snobbery towards the old days and the Casino in particular. But the funny part is, when someone asks about all time faves, they are mainly Torch/Mecca/Casino sounds that are posted. Someone then usually tries to redress the balance by throwing Jean Carter or the Mello Souls into the pot. Great, thats what opinions are about. I love oldies and newies, hate crossover, but I know the scene has to move on. But decrying and cocking a snook at history is not something that great civilisations or (Northern Soul) movements do. They look at history and learn from it. I went to the Motown Cafe in New York in 96. Absolutely fantastic. I bet no one in NYC looked down there nose at it! ATB, Brian

I posted this a few weeks ago: I have a tape in my drawer here at work from 73 from the Mecca. some of the tracks are: Sue Barrett Devonnes Glories Bobby Randolph Tomangoes Larry Atkins Mel Williams Patti Austin TATPS Top Shelf Tony Clarke Detroit Sound Debbie Dean Invitations SINS Terrible Tom R Dean Taylor Eddie Foster Joe Hicks Janie Grant Vel-Vets The Petals CCTWTYH J Jackson experience Lets Shingaling United 4 Cissie Houston Salvadors and loads more...... Happy Days! (Mark Freeman put this on CD for me, which I can't find at the moment!)

Hi Mel, Mark Freeman sorted me out with my old Mecca tape. Give him a pm? ATB Brian