Steve G

Sue Mayfield has strong views on that one I understand

Yeah jocko, think some came on here just to wind up Ian Levine (very easy - not sport), and they've lost interest. Others just want to talk about minutae from the early 70s etc. who shagged who on 13/12/1971 etc. Others are just swooning Ian just wants to talk about himself, and appears to be losing interest by the day. Very little in the way of real stories going on - either records or artists. There is some great stuff to tell too. Very little debate going on either.

Wendy it was a piece of Russ Winstanley rubbish - he said the film Saturday Night Fever was based on Wigan - in his book I think. But NEVER believe anything those hasbeen 70s big name DJs tell you. On a more serious note glad the filming seems to be going well and those involved are having a good time. Dobie Gray not out of place - classic northern in the 70s. It was one of the first northern soul records I heard and bought.

Yes to an extent Ian I would say you yourself have done just this with your productions and also your CD titles "NS 2007" etc. "Authentic Motownesque uptempo records" are part of northern soul, but they are not all of it - not by any stretch. Had you been part of the scene continuously for the last 40 years you would realise that. From what I can see your definition of NS is based purely around this sub genre of Motownesque stuff and that is reflected in your productions which attempt to re-create that very type of commercial sound, but using modern tecniques which don't quite work for me. That's my view and I know you won't agree with it.

Eh? That's James T that is going on about swimwear!

Probably plenty mate....but not on here....how are you anyway? Still in Spain?

I have bootlegs of several things which I bought in the 70s when I first got onto the scene and have never replaced with OV. You know those w*gan big hits that you could get in Russ's "booth". Even an early pressing of Sam & Kitty which one of the nasty bigger boys sold me for £4 at the back of the record bar as an original, Back then for us kids it was all part of growing up.

I thought Ian said no rubbish was played in 1973 - ooooh that was played at Wigan, not Blackpool then? .

W.T.F.I.T.A.A ?

Right that's enough. Caution for you, for the charge of editing your post after I replied to it. Be advised that NS records DID exist in 1966, they just weren't called NS. Now move along, or we'll have no option but to arrest you

Not even close, most of us were in short trousers then, now move along before you are arrested for causing a breach of the peace.

James you seem to know an awful lot about Ian's former girlfriends?

NS records weren't being bootlegged in 1966, so you have no charge to answer Madam

Are you Ian Levine in disguise? Actually in all seriousness I do not believe the origins of the soul police have anything to do with playing original vinyl versus pressings at clubs. Certainly not round these parts (Beds, Herts) where NO DJ would play anything other than original vinyl - the matter doesn't even come into the equation. The origins of the soul police from what I remember where more about taste of music as in "Don't play Dean Barlow, you'll be in trouble with the soul police" or "I'd take that copy of Mickey Moonshine off the decks mate, or the soul police will have a word" etc. References to vinyl and the soul police I think came much later, and the use of the term in that context came from those who were DJing without original vinyl as a kind of put down to those that had the vinyl.

Now that Jim Gilstrap is a fabulous tune. H B Barnum job when he was in his Osmonds period, so flush wish some money I'd wager.

Yeah had the same story broadly confirmed by several Motown artists I interviewed Ady. Once I'd heard it once, I asked others so what really happened to Tammi Terrell?. Normally they said "Can you turn the tape recorder off and I'll tell you about it, but you mustn't print it". It's in none of the Motown books and all I ever read on it was poor Tammi had a brain tumour and died in Marvin's arms etc etc. Not true if these stories about David's role are accurate, and they crop up too frequently not to hold any water. Also heard some nice little corkers about BG, Little Willie John, Diana R etc....but couldn't possibly repeat those either.

I know them - a couple are old funk records, and the rest of them will be too slow for your liking Ian. They're not your type of northern - Leonard Adair and Soul Injection I'd say are more crossover.

Oh come off it Chris. If you think 1973 was so much better that's fine, I am just sorry for you that there is no TARDIS which can take you back there. Most of the punters on todays scene dancing to Margeret Little weren't around in 1973. Sure there's a few of them, but not the majority I'd wager, so less of the DJs re-educating and saying the punters will settle for anything. Plenty of shite played in 73 too from what I can see.

That's exactly what I heard from a different source. And I bet 90% of people didn't know that story.

Hey I am being honest with my opinion Steve. I don't like it much. It is allowed you know.

I am afraid I've always thought it borrows too heavily from "Downtown" - but don't tell Ian or I'll be in trouble.

Whenever it's been in the media focus though it's always had the Hand Baggers. Back at Wigan - loads of passing trade that jumped on the bandwagon. Thing is now northern soul means many different things to different people and the whole thing has become very fragmented.- upfront 60s / 70s newies, oldies, R&B / R&R, Top 500, some of the funkier things, and Ian says his productions are northern soul too....So much so that I now think the term Northern soul is largely meaningless as too many different types of music have been hitched to it's name. So I wonder whether we should just ditch the tag completely. Ian I saw you slagging off SAm for clearing the floor at the Ritz earlier in this thread. I see nothing wrong with Sam clearing the floor, as long as he is able to get it back afterwards. I have long maintained that as a DJ unless you clear the floor at least once or twice you're being too twee with your selections....I also remember Searling clearing the Casino floor (virtually unheard of and quite unnerving at the time) when he played Judy Freeman "Hold On". Now you wouldn't deny that as being a great piece of northern deserving of plays would you? And it cleared the floor when he played it. My question is why single out Sam for this criticism?

I am going to "out Levine" Levine now but this post is PURE B*LLOCKS Simon. All of the recent series have made GREAT TV.

...Well except there have always been strong rumours circulating about him beating up on Tammi Terrell repeatedly before the night she collapsed with her brain tumour......I know it doesn't sound nice, but soul music ain't all about nice people always - and various artists I've spoken to have all said that David was a bad guy - even though he had a great voice.

Everyone who goes out in Herts and Beds for a start mate.