Chalky

But soul nights are part of the issue whether you like it or not. Boomerang for instance has Butch on doing a two hour stint (hardly 70's/crossover either), many travel to Boomerang and similar events who also book top dj's and it does have an effect on the attendance at allnighters. The same for weekenders.

I can think of one soul night that shuts a 1am and it has many travellers, from as far as Scotland and London, Boomerang at Canal Tavern, Thorne. Sean Hampseys Just Soul has it's share of Travellers too from what I hear. No doubt there are other examples too of people travelling to Soul Nights.

Thanks Joan, probably said that better than I could. Some need to remember that the nighter promoters they are knocking should be thanked for allowing them a room to play to a minority. The minority is not what the NS scene is about and like Joan said if it was what the majority wanted it would be in the main room. Also got to agree with you Joan about the style of music Paul is continually going on about, the majority don't want it at an all-nighter, you only have to watch the dance floor reaction at an all-nighter when an hour or so is forced on them, it doesn't go down well. Reet, work to do

But why don't we see these other 147 people enjoying Northern Soul at venues like SHS and travelling the country to taste other venues? We should be trying to encourage them to support the wider scene and not ignore them.

it is nothing to do with snobbery, elitism or anything similar it is all about the plethora of venues and the detrimental effect it is having on the scene. Whether you care ton admit it or not the scene is in decline and something needs doing soon to reverse this before it goes to far. So if you have no interest in reading what others opinions are on the state of the scene bugger off and read something else.

There are soulies into oldies, rarer stuff and modern so they can have a detrimental effect on the local scene if all on the same night. You say Xray wouldn't affect one of the other clubs but we all started at youth clubs and progressed, things are no different in this situation but if the venues clash then a choice has to be made.

There is a saturation of venues full stop, whether they are good or bad is irrelevant, how do you know if they are bad? Do you go to them? You say you have your ear to the ground, just what do these young DJ's play? Callum and Azza are good Dj's and deserve a chance but they don't play anything that is already on offer if everyone is totally honest about this. Also some of the venues mention are city centre venues playing to a totally different crowd who have little if any affinity to the Northern Soul All-nighter scene so how can you compare the two???? Dj's age shouldn't come into the debate, it is the quality of the DJ's set that is what matters. Should Keb not get any bookings on the funk scene cause of his age, should he step aside for a younger DJ who isn't in the same league as Keb? It wouldn't happen so why should the Northern Scene be any different? As nlong as the music is quality I couldn't give a monkey if the Dj is 20 or nearing retirement age. Experience is a mjor advantage and this comes with knowledge, the two go hand in hand.

Just where does Lifeline say it has a strict music policy? The DJ's a free to play what they want, they are encouraged to play anything other than the norm. Saturday night there was plenty of the funky stuff, records like Wally Coco you keep going on about. Mick played a fair bit of it, Sam was the same. If a Dj doesn't play something that isn't to yours or anyone elses taste then that is down to the DJ not the promoters. I also keep seeing Europe is the way forward, granted they don't have the baggage we have and at some venues there is a bigger scope of genres played, but by and large many are primarily oldies, records that are well known over here and have had plenty of turntable action. We are not like Europe we don't have the same audience which here by and large want to hear 60's dancers. The funky stuff isn't to everyones taste, I've no wish to hear endless amounts of it, it is boring after a while and repetitive, many are simply average records, dancers yes but average records. Rather than keep having a go at the scene on here and the promoters and DJ's, why not promote an all-nighter?

Different music policies don't wash with me. At the end of the day its all part of the same scene, just because one plays some at the rarer end and the other oldies is irrelevant IMHO.

Who goes where isn't the issue, after all it is ones own choice where to go and listen to soul music and whether or not we go all-night or to a soul night. The real issue that is having a serious detrimental effect on the scene is there is to much choice, too many events. We have already had one crazy example of three venues in close proximity to each other on the same night, sheer madness, there are probably several other instances around the country on any given weekend. I said it earlier, there are not enough soulies to go round, there are not enough youngsters getting into the scene. Many who do all-nighters no longer stay all-night which is understandable considering work, families etc. The bottom line is promoters have to start working together and putting the greater good of the scene first and not their own self interest. So what if someone doesn't dj, just go out and enjoy the music without the worries or hassle of promoting. So what if your half dozen mates aren't posting in lookbacks how good you are and that the sun shines out of your arse, it is about the music and a scene not any one individual. The scene is in decline and something needs to be done soon, no, now!! We need full venues, less of the local rivalries and politics, we need something that will attract youngsters onto this great dance scene. We also need tolerance, not every other comments in lookbacks saying that at some stage the music didn't do it for them, it probably did it for someone else. Most of all as said it needs cooperation between promoters!

The fighting, bickering and politics has always been there and always will be. What is splitting the crowd is not the politics but three venues in the same area on one particular night, not saying who is right or wrong, who should be promoting or who shouldn't, just the simple fact that there are three venues and not enough punters to go round.

Don't get me wrong, not having a go at you, just promoters in general, it is happening all over the country. Personally think it is crazy to have three promotions in the same area on the same night whatever the music policy. This is where promoters should be working together.

this is what puzzles me, if there are a couple of venues already being promoted in any particular area why put another on?

It is not the amount of nighters that cause the real problem, its the weekenders as well. There have been at least 3 weekenders the last few weeks, two more to come in the next two weeks and the best of the lot Cleethorpes just a few weeks away. Promoters don't work together and too many put self interest ahead of the bigger picture and very few put the greater good of the scene first. Others do nothing but slag off the scene cause they don't get their way. All this combined is slowly killing the scene. There are not enough punters to go round the plethora of venues that can be found on any given weekend, the amount of youngsters coming onto the scene is negligible and having no real impact, especially on the all-nighter scene. All this combined with the cost of actually getting to a venue which can amount to a three figure sum for a night out, family life, work, the actual age of the average soulie it is inevitable that something is going to suffer. More and more fail to stay until the end of the night at many venues. Everyone is suffering to some capacity and this is having a big effect on the scene in general and I fear it is too late to do anything about it and besides I don't think some want to do anything about, happy to exist in their own little scene.

Great list of records Brian, hearing those for the first time in a club like the Wheel must have been fantastic Can you still get the book?

Cheers pal, should have looked in refosoul!

Sure I've seen one of these for sale somewhere recently, can't remember where though

anyone got a sound file of the Hot Tracks one? Think the one I have is the South Bay take.

The Smith was Walter Smith, later of Walter and the Admerations. He sang lead on the Onederful outings and presume he was there for the Peaches one. Boba will add more, he interviewed Walter and the Admerations.

Twisted wheel Story Volume 1 1. Good Time Tonight - Soul Sisters (1) 2. Shotgun And The Duck - Lee, Jackie (1) 3. Fife Piper - Dynatones 4. You Get Your Kicks - Ryder, Mitch 5. Everybody's Going To A Love In - Brady, Bob 6. Karate Boogaloo - Jerry O 7. Gonna Fix You Good (Everytime You're Bad) - Little Anthony 8. Lill Lovin' Sometimes - Patton, Alexander 9. Ain't No Soul - Milsap, Ronnie 10. Humphrey Stomp - Harrison, Earl 11. That Driving Beat - Mitchell, Willie 12. There's Nothing Else To Say - Incredibles 13. Any Day Now - Jackson, Chuck 14. Dr Love - Sheen, Bobby 15. Love Is After Me - Rich, Charlie 16. Little Queenie - Black, Bill (1) 17. Secret Agents - Olympics 18. Tightrope - Foxx, Inez & Charlie 19. I Got What It Takes - Foxx, Inez & Charlie 20. That's Enough - Robinson, Roscoe 21. Open The Door To Your Heart - Banks, Darrell 22. My Elusive Dreams - Dillard, Moses & Joshua 23. Next In Line - Lands, Hoagy 24. It Keeps Rainin - Domino, Fats 25. Get Out Of My Heart - Dillard, Moses & Joshua 26. Never Love A Robin - Barbara & Brenda The Twisted Wheel Forever 1. Competition Aint Nothing - Carl Carlton 2. Determination - Dean Parrish 3. Sweet Sweet Lovin - Platters 4. Let The Good Times Roll - Bunny Sigler 5. Personally - Bobby Paris 6. Angel Baby - Darrell Banks 7. Give Me One More Chance - Wilmer And The Dukes 8. Lets Copp A Groove - Bobby Wells 9. Grab Your Clothes (and Get On Out) - Minnie Epperson 10. Go Head On - Packers 11. Ooh Baby - Deon Jackson 12. Mr. Bang Bang - Little Hank 13. Tired Of Being Lonely - Sharpees 14. Kick That little Foot Sally Ann - Round Robin 15. The Pain Gets A Little Deeper - Darow Fletcher 16. Earthquake - Al 'TNT' Braggs 17. Gonzo - James Booker 18. And Get Away - Esquires 19. (Mama Come Quick, And Bring Your) Lickin Stick - George Torrence 20. Mr. Soul - Bud Harper 21. Twine Time - Alvin Cash 22. Every Beat Of My Heart - Duettes 23. The Fife Piper (Alternative Version - The Dynatones Also from Sony the Northern Soul Story vol. 1 The Twisted Wheel 1. Magic Potion - Johnson, Lou 2. Hide And Go Seek - Hill, Bunker 3. That's What I Want To Know - Carr, James 4. Ride Your Pony - Dorsey, Lee 5. No Sad Songs - Toney, Oscar Jr. 6. My Elusive Dreams - Moses & Joshua Dillard 7. Shake A Tail Feather - James & Bobby Purify 8. Little Bit Of Something (Beats A Whole Lot Of Nothing) - Little Richard 9. It's The Beat - Major Lance 10. Quitter Never Wins - Williams, Larry & Johnny Watson 11. Don't Leave Me - Green, Al & The Soulmates 12. I Can't Get A Hold Of Myself - Curry, Clifford 13. Cheater - Kuban, Bob & The In-Men 14. Look What You've Done To My Heart - Shirley & The Shirelles 15. Let Love Come Between Us - James & Bobby Purify 16. Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again) - Spellbinders 17. I Need Your Love So Desperately - Peaches & Herb 18. Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache - Bandwagon 19. Everybody's Going To The Love In - Brady, Bob & The Con Chords 20. There's Nothing Else To Say - Incredibles 21. Soul Time - Ellis, Shirley 22. Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes) - Major Lance 23. Right Track - Butler, Billy (1) 24. Cause You're Mine - Vibrations (1) 25. You're Gonna Make Me Love You - Sheldon, Sandi

There's a few of the top Dj's with a copy.

I agree with you regarding lighting for sales and as for the perfect nighter, like I said we haven't had one yet and if yours was perfect it would still be going. There is always something that can be improved, dj's, the venue, the mind set of the dancers etc etc. If we had the perfect nighter no one would go anywhere else would they

double post

All I see you do since Burnley closed Phil is knock the current scene. There is plenty on offer, not everyone are Mickey Mouse promoters and most all-nighter promoters I know do their utmost to put on the best night they can. All promoters I know have full time jobs so they can hardly be professional promoters. Most do their best with what they have at their disposal. I do agree you should have a decent sound system, lights I'm not so sure about, no one wants lights at a nighter, new stylus every time a must too. I don't think we've ever had a perfect venue nor likely to get one either, do you think your night was perfect? Most venue owners would rather the northern crowd wasn't there, they can make just as much from a "normal" night and be in bed earlier too,less overheads etc etc (dunno if this applies to the owners of the 100 Club). I do agree their are too many local soul nights, that is where the problem lies, people don't have to go far for their soul fix but that is not too say they are all mickey mouse promoters nor have nothing to offer. Promoters in certain catchment areas should get their heads together, or maybe banged together. There's nothing wrong with the Dj line up at the 100 Club, I wouldn't want to travel to hear mod sounds or funk either, some of the funky stuff being played is second rate and puts more off than it pleases from what has been said to me.

Soul Majestics is a cheapie came out on Al-Tog as well, I used to play the Missing You side out now and then years and years ago.