westrex

What about the bootleg copies of Johnny (john) Hendley, "my baby came from out of nowhere" (on white mutt & jeff) with the sunlovers "you'll never make the grade" on the 'b' side. it played at 50rpm and it sounded like SH*T. tony warot.

hiya gibby, yes, the nite-owl was JUST a teeny bit before my time on the soul-scene, but l remember seeing the flyers and membership that some of my friends had. The flyers had the names of the deejays on them (obviously) and one such name was "OWLIN' ROBIN'" but do you know the name of the other featured deejay?? well, l'll tell you. . it was a guy who called himself "ROCKET" and he was the elder brother of gary (gaz) keen, from leicester!!! but l expect you knew that fact already. Tony Warot. aka westrex

l used to deejay at st lves in the 70's and at the re-union nites from 2001 - 2007 when john tompkins, mark sanders and steve bounden were running it, then it all changed in 2008 when david hayden took over and excluded me from the dj line up he never gave me a reason for doing this and l only knew of my exclusion when somebody pointed out to me that my name wasn't on the forthcoming flyer for 2008 reunion, l was very disappointed and felt very bitter. a lot of people have spoken and made remarks on my behalf and think it was a bad decision to omit me but never mind, it was good while it lasted. Tony Warot.

one of the first records l bought was "I've been hurt" bill deal and the rhondels on UK MGM for 7/-6d seven shillings and sixpence (37.5 p) back in 1969. Ive still got it and still love it. westrex. a.k.a. tony warot.

l remember neil brackenbridge loaning me his philips "demo" copy of MANY'S THE SLIP, by the Present. l had to thumb a lift back home to bedford on the sunday morning, it was 1976 and we were suffering a freak heat-wave, l was scared to death that the record might warp whilst in my hold-all, luckily all was well and l returned the disc back the following week. cheers neil. Tony Warot.

hi paul, well as l AM from bedford, l can back you up by saying that you're right, the band weren't clued up at all. l live in huntingdon now but can't guarantee makin' it to pemberton centre, will try my best. PS. it's 39 yrs yesterday that major lance recorded that album at the torch. 9th December 1972 best wishes, tony warot.

hi paul, to be honest with you, l can't really remember much about the atmosphere either cos l spent most of the time outside or at the entrance talking about nothing in particular to people like GIBBY and TILLEY (keith tilson from bedford) You probably won't remember me but we actually met on the 2nd of december 1972 at the california ballroom watching MAJOR LANCE we were right down at the front of the stage shouting at him to sing YOU DON'T WANT ME NO MORE, INVESTIGATE and AIN'T NO SOUL, l remember him singing KNOCK ON WOOD and when he got to the hookline of the song, he'd point the microphone at somebody at the front and they'd have to sing, "I'M GONNA KNOCK ba ba ba ba, ON WOOD BAYBEEE" sometime after that, in early '73, we were going to the CATACOMBS in the back of Johnny Harris's thames van, we got there just in time for the last hour. Two girls from Gloucester asked him for a lift to the M5 motorway at closing time, he took em to HIGH WYCOMBE train station instead. the 2 girls in question were ALISON GRECHE and CHRISTINE ??? l got a lift home with Grahame Crook cos there wasn't enough room for all of US, and the girls. Anyway, best wishes to you paul, maybe we could meet up some time, Tony Warot. AKA Westrex.

hi tim, these records were never issued over here as "hip pocket records" they were billed as "THE HITS YOU MISSED" at 69 cents each About 25 years ago l bought the following hip-pocket titles from Mick Godfrey (from rothwell, northants) for £1 each. Aretha Franklin RESPECT Fantastic Johnny C. BOOGALOO DOWN BROADWAY Mitch Ryder. JENNY TAKE A RIDE. Otis Redding. FA FA FA (SAD SONG) Jay and the Techniques. APPLES, PEACHES PUMPKIN PIE. The Dells. THERE IS. I've still got them and you can play them on a turntable (for single plays) such as the technics 1210's or other look-a-like brands. they are virtually unbreakable and as loud as a regular 7" 45 single. They are quite literally "COMPACT DISCS" but don't try to play them on a "DISCATRON" (made by Portadyne UK) or a "BUSH-CASSETTE ( made by Bush UK) as the discs themselves are only 3" in dia, and FLEXIBLE. have fun, best wishes westrex AKA Tony Warot

hi dave, sorry for late reply, l'm fine thanx. No, l didn't go to the wilby re-union as l was deejaying in Cambridge (yes, still deejaying) Can't really name a best venue to be honest, but l like the a/niters run by Sian & Dean Dowset at the Benn Hall in Rugby and also the soul-nites held at Cambridge City FC run by Mick & Karen Janes. Haven't got a copy of that poster at the REGAL in Hitchin yet, but some guy in JAPAN bought a copy of it for £10 (mind boggling) Anyway, hope all is well for you & family, keep in touch. best wishes Tony Warot

l remember dee-jaying at the oddfellows in Leicester back in the 80's Tony Clayton asked me to replace Gary Rushbrook, as he could't make it due to personal commitments, and l can honestly say that l had the most welcoming reception from the most welcoming people. because that's northern soul. . . the 8th wonder of the world. Tony Warot.

jackie janessi' real name is renna gianessi but we called her cathy. l went to school with her tony warot.

dave godin's mate was Alf billingham!! westrex.

martyn, they were held at haydons farm in 1972/3 and they were, for their day BRILLIANT! full of dodgy geezers the health and safety executive council would've s*it themselves if they'd been around, extension cables all over the place for the electric, yep,.. you would have loved it..........feed me tony warot.

The drill holes were deliberately put through the records so when they came into the uk, they had to be sold as damaged goods therefore could not be sold at the full price. hope that clears up problem for you kev. Tony Warot.

I used to go to bletsoe "DISCO CLUB" as advertised on a piece of wood that used to be a box of kippers, 50pence admission from 12 midnite saturday till 6am sunday morning, what a frightening place full of dodgy geezers like john tappenden,, chief, paul brennan, dougie brown and smelly george atkins. less dodgier people were keith tilson (tilly) gibby glenn bellamy and the many gorgeous women that used to go for a pee in the field nearby, AND in pairs, tradition is a mighty thing!! Tony Warot.

I remember soul packs from years ago, 10 for £1 from contempo's record shop at 42 Hanway street which was the very last street off Oxford street on the left hand side towards tottenham court road. It wasn't so much a shop, it was a very, very tiny room about 8x8 ft with a counter and millions of title lists on every square inch of wall space, every so often John Abbey would appear to greet customers in between scoffing bacon sanwiches that one of the girls working there would cook and then throw across the room for him. The soul packs consisted of 10 records by well known artists that somehow missed the container saying RUBBISH!! there was always a couple of motown items from artists you'd never associate with motown such as Bobby Darin, Soupy Sales, to name just two. But having said that, I've had the PARLIAMENTS This is my rainy day, PURPLE MUNDI Stop hurting me baby, TERRY CALLIER Look at me now and BILLY ECKSTEIN, I wonder why (nobody loves me) and guess what l did with them. . . yes, l binned them because l was scared to tell people what l'd got for less than 10p each !!! still four biggies in 40 years ain't bad, l wish l'd kept them, but christ, l was only 17 years old when l bought my first pack, be reasonable Tony Warot

Bloody hell, what a picture, that's me sat behind the record box wearing a red Lonsdale sweatshirt AND A MOUSTACE, l hope local CID aren't interested in this. Tony Warot.

absolutely martyn, the best of it is. . . l wasn't worried about the sh*t l knew l'd receive on my return home. can you remember the excuse we had for NOT picking up Dave Alcock??? tone.

what's the current value of EVER AGAIN on US "BELL RECORDS? l've got a bell issue (sh*t rare) l paid £40 for it in 1977 I've played it to death and it sounds noisy from all the wear and tear. I'm considering putting it up for sale. . .any ideas on it? Tony Warot

I remember a guy called "Larry Lightening" who used to stand in the doorway of the beachcomber cafe adjacent to the casino asking every one to lend him 10p. He asked me to lend him 10 pence to make a phone call to a friend, I said, "here's 20 pence, ring all of 'em" Tony Warot (certified loanshark)

l remember lewi (colin lewis) one of the first collectors to own a copy of "MY BABY CAME FROM OUT OF NOWHERE" by Johnny Hendley (MUTT & JEFF records) and a good friend of Rod Looker Tony Warot.

The Silhouettes lead singer is a guy called EARL BEAL jnr, and yes, what a great voice he has, he's singing as thought his life quite literally hangs in the balance. Tony Warot.