Steve G

zzzzzz.....Oh no not the money debate again, we've just had 11 pages of that Ian...... :sleep3: Move along now please On the point about someone queing up Eddie Parker on a boot, if I was planning to play such a record I'd tell em to play something else as am going to play the original. If they didn't take it off, I'd play the original straight after the boot and announce it as such.....so the public would get to dance to it twice back to back, and the DJ would be "outed" for the undeniable rogue that he is.... Probably preferrable action to taking it off the decks and throwing it into the audience as I hear happens from time to time

...or were not around back then and therefore only have an 80s onwards view of the scene.

Marilyn Smith also had a northern / 70s number on SoJamm Oops sorry George.....just read your reply.

Shame, enjoyed DJing at the Niters several times.

Ok fair do's in which case the list is endless........Steve

Agreed Marc. Unity and Legend also have more than one record on them.

There were a number of roller records made Audra, probably at least 100 and enought for a "hot box" . Sorry that's not very helpful, but even big Motown acts like Ozone got in on the act. ATB Steve

Must admit the Appolos isn't a favourite.....filler material

Nah Dave, I kow what I like and what I don't like by this stage of my life; I also have a reasonable pair of ears as well . Nothing to do with progression. It's about hearing exciting new records.....Steve

Am I the only person that actually likes the Black Aces of Soul now then? Strewth! It's absolutely got a place at a Niter.

Both Heaven and It only takes a minute were both main room spins at Wigan back in 76

But BAOS and things like that aren't a bit like "Shake N bump" or King Sporty. Totally different.

No, no no - I don't agree you've got this right at all Daddy Dewdrop. In the scene's heyday of the 70s new and recent releases were played (Mel Britt 2 years old, Lou Pride the same), but that was because the oldest records were only about 10 years old and the style (recording, tempo, rhythm etc.) wasn't much different. And nobody knew what was really rare then either. I mean over a week's wages for Joy Lovejoy etc - give me a break! There is a million miles between the style of the 60s - mid 70s and contemporary soul releases of today. As well as musical development also you cannot ignore nearly forty years of the northern scene's development - even if you haven't been around on it for all the time. The "rare soul" scene today is precicely what it says in the title. Not clapped out oldies, not new releases, but lesser played tunes with that 60s / 70s vibe and feel - including a bit of funky edged stuff. KGF and SJ&DKs are but two great examples of singers / bands (there are plenty of others as well) who have made their mark by recreating that 'feel' / sound of the 60s /70s. They are not trying to sound contemporary. Incidentally I might play them at a soul night, and have certainly played them on radio, but not at a rare soul night and I think that's the difference. DJ Genesis was such a bad egg that I actually played Betty Wright at a soul night once as a protest and had people asking me "what's this? Have you got the dance version we know please?" etc. When I frequent a rare soul club I don't expect to hear DJ Genesis though, or anything which is a new release. Said it before but "northern soul" is a meaningless term in this factionalised world of ours. All the best, Steve

But a bit of funky stuff has always been under the umbrella Winnie. Another good "wresting analogy" in your reply btw, about slackening the rope. Do we get points for spotting them in your replies?

Good for you Joel. As a DJ always play what you believe in. You don't need to justify what you play to anyone. The scene is a very broad church, and not all music is ever going to be to everyone's taste. BAOS has a very strong rhythm, and right for todays allnighter scene. Mind you I wouldn't play it at a crossover night Funny back in the 70s some of the Tommy Navaro stuff didn't get a look in (sorry Ian). Conversely some funky edged stuff was played back then too and massive - as I am sure Daddy "Ian" Dewdrop can remind us all - Summer in the Parks, Lovelites, Flaming Emeralds etc. to think of three obvious headbanging examples of the genre. Peace, Love and Happiness. Steve

Hi Gareth, The Bernard Drake is in demand for the funky B side "The natural thing", which is right for today's scene. "I've been untrue" is a wonderful midpacer, but that's not why it's so in demand. Always been a rare one, so I don't think it'll turn up in quantity as Dave says. ATB Steve

Don't be so defensive Ian. Not trying to fit the cap on yer head You've confirmed you don't want to be a northern soul DJ. All I was saying was that I have seen plenty turn up from nowheresville with a box of recently purchased expensive (and often predictable) tunes, suddenly start appearing "at an event near you", and then just as suddenly disappearing again, with their records appearing on Manny's auction site, or somewhere else a few weeks later. Steve

Hello Marc, yes a number of us have been saying broadly the same thing to Ian. Some people just don't have the stamina once they realise there is no short cut......Steve

Might as well be judging by some of the rubbish I've heard played in the name of rare and underplayed.

Sir, with respect, you are moving the goal posts again in an attempt to breath life into this corpse of a thread Could you even name 200 current in demanders Ian? Actually some of them are relatively cheap, still...and that proves the point that they don't have to be big money top be played or good. Get over the money thing.....get yourself out more yeah!

Winnie modesty fails me momentarily, but I have the vast majority of them, acquired over the last 35 years . I always pack a few of those type of sounds in the box, just in case I get mugged by a gang of oldies fans . And there's a few I do have that I can't stand like Al deLory or The LaRue - they would never go in the box, but things like Silhouettes, and Lou Ragland may get in there - especially at local do's where I know you have to mix it up a bit. Played Candi Staton the other week too, and Lou Pride on Friday . But records on that list would not form the mainstay of what I lug about to venues, unless I was specifically booked to do an oldies set. I can and do occasionally do that, but only by prior agreement . Cheers Steve

Yes it is because Ian's question was around "how much it costs to become a Top DJ". He based it on his perception of what type of record would be needed to become a top DJ if you were starting out now, and the current prices of those type of sounds. We've all replied that Ian wouldn't need that type of record as there are plenty of other good ones to pick. Clever buying and you could build a great collection to DJ with. Not the Eddie Parkers, but great other records. And becoming a DJ isn't just about having a certain records anyway. Plenty don't have the Salvadors, Del Larks etc. But whatever records you buy, it takes time, learning, watching etc. No short cuts these days. Bearsy, I'd missed that - 8k in the 70s - a fortune.....Actually more than FOUR years wages for me in 1977. He must have been a proper "Chawdick" Steve

James Fountain was £170 wasn't it? You keep going on about the financial side of things - you know Trevor Francis was the first million £ football player - but so what? WHy would anyone want to amass that list today though Ian? Sure there are some classics on there but are you saying or implying they are the best records ever or something? As we've all said there are plenty of cheaper good records you could buy, and in fact some on that list ain't rare at all.....who sang "Round and round in circles" - was it the Exportations or something - I should know I have a copy in the lock up on EMI. But it seems like this discussion is becoming a bit round and round in circles. Steve

Ian a strong list of classic oldies. I am sure if you still had those records you could - if you wanted to - get some bookings at "oldies nights". So if your post about if you want to become an "oldies DJ" then I kind of get where you are coming from. But the scene has moved on so much in those 40 years you have spoken about. For me there are a number of fine records on that list (not all), but playing out I'd only drop at max one or two of them into a set as "fillers" really and only if neccesary. I know that may sound harsh if you like your oldies or are a scene 'returnee', but as I say things have moved a long way on for many of us......Who was it who said the best record I ever bought is the last one, or the one I am about to buy? ATB, Steve