Chas

Joe Simon"drowning in the sea of love",Four tops"do what you gotta do"good call that,a Jim Webb song,and that guy wrote some stunners,Sinatra said Webb's"by the time I get to Phoenix"was the best song ever written..some compliment that!

Check him out on the"who sampled"website,tells you who's covered and sampled his work,a great way of hearing new music.

Mrs T asked me to suggest a track for her facebook page on new years eve,"this year"by Curtis popped into my head,a hidden gem if ever there was one..inspirational.

After not hearing for years,it was Flanny who played it at the now sadly defunct"Orwell"early sessions(how we miss it),lots of ears pricked up that night.

What a great track,the best way to spend £5.00 many moons ago.The original beatin rhythmm had loads at that price,always thought Brownie had slipped up! Hindsight eh?

Maybe the better question was,how good was Wigan?,which needs to be addressed from several angles,ie early Wigan,mid,and latter when the club began to turn itself around.Wigan records,not necessarily first played there but once they were they became Wigan records,because that club could not be beaten for atmosphere,great live acts on a regular basis,the anthems played for the first time that are now the cornerstone of the scene for many.So yeah,pretty good I'd say but not the be all and end all,like many I've had some superb times since,still looking for new sounds and regularly get gobsmacked by some of these 45's.Always said I would'nt get drawn in to these debates but there you go..lets all appreciate this thing of ours while we can.

For every bad one,there were hundreds of good ones,and most of the detractors cut thier teeth there,this whole Wigan thread is getting tiresome..so,to answer the question,the simple answer is you had to be there,if you were,you wouldn't be asking the question.

So disrespectful to such a great club and the people who did so much to turn that club around during that period.Sure,mistakes were made but most seemed right at the time.The average age must have been 18 in those days,an age where"crash,bang,wallop was what most wanted.As always,other people's experiences become part of the learning curve for others.Why not focus on the positive,Mon,Wed,Fri early sessions,all nighter every Sat,Monthly Fri nighters,bi monthly Fri nighters,live acts,oh yes,and some of the best music ever to come from this scene..Morning!

Early 70's through youth clubs and radio,then Dukinfield Rugby club (Druffies,dj Dave Stubbs)as a 5th year in 75,then Wigan Casino in 76.Made me realise how good Druffies was when the sounds I heard were the same as Stubbsy's,so Dave its all your fault!

Off topic and innapropriate comments removed.

William Bell album track"its happening all over"from"the soul of a bell"is an out and out northern killer track,very underplayed,check it on you tube.

Johnny Gilliam"room full of cheese",Paul Humphrey"cold cheese"...and finally Esther,Billy Ocean"go and get stuffed".

Deena Johnson,good ender,love"I will never let you down"by her,flip side of "I'm a sad girl"..massive production on it.same backing as the fabulous Vonda Maria"I feel complete"

Wonder if that nice Mr Manship will be able to sell my signed copy?..It's signed by George Best,but hey! you can't have everything!

Just finished reading Roger Eagle's biography"sit down,listen to this"which has elevated my opinion of him to astronomical proportions,a true pioneer who's aim in life was to share what he heard and turn as many people on to new things,Brian Rae testifies to that,among others.

Just finished reading Roger Eagle's biography"sit down,listen to this"which has elevated my opinion of him to astronomical proportions,a true pioneer who's aim in life was to share what he heard and turn as many people on to new things,Brian Rae testifies to that,among others.

Anyone remember the 4 j's"love my love"from Wigan?,sounded good then but it hasn't aged well.Lots of people,myself included thought it was the O'jays.Just got it up on you tube..blimey!

Black nasty"cut your motor off",good call that.A very nice version of Johnnie Mae Matthews"I have no choice"by them also,think there's a family connection somewhere.

"Peanut duck"..ooer missus!

Game,set and match then.

Didn't Ian do a version of"hang on in there baby"with Johnny Bristol and Liz Lands a few years ago?

Supposed to be a bit of a tyrant wasn't he,Harold Melvin? Not paying band members,sacking them hence the line up changes.Urban myth maybe?

Good set that girl,The Sharpees still featuring after all this time,that 45 is the real deal..well in Joan,how's tone?

Denise LaSalle shares the same backing as Garnett Mimms"somebody someplace"both criminally underplayed.

"Are you doing me wrong"storming track by her,tailor made dancefloor track,on you tube.