Drewtg

I used to have a friend who was quite wealthy - but he was also quite tight with his money. He used to commission copies of paintings by artists that he liked. One that I remember was an Egon Schiele reclining nude. It was a very good copy - but it looked like pornography. It had lost something in the mix. Similarly with cover versions of some of our music, they tend to fall into two categories: The first is the direct copy and the second is the interpretation. Saying that "If I could only be sure" was a redeeming feature of Paul Weller's album really falls into the first group, he took a great piece of art and copied it. No real brownie points there. A bit like the Schiele copy though, it leaves me cold. Maybe I am just being unfair but I can't really see that he brought anything into the mix. A bit like Lulu singing 'Shout'. I see all these songs a bit like Theophilus P Wildebeeste trying to ape soul singers. Something for Winstanley's playlist maybe. The second group, the interpretation requires less emotional involvment. 'Tainted Love', Soft Cell, etc. What's that got to do with it? Maybe the Brighouse and Rastrick band do a version of 'Time will pass you by', who cares? In the spirit of the post, have a listen to this. Some people try to tell me it's Northern'. Guess what I think? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wT9r7eO35w

Just a bit of fun mate, it's Friday.

Brilliant film by an English man, very different from the book.

I don't expect a Kes, it's her first film ffs. But ANYTHING has gotta be better than Soulboy, Jesus Christ!!

Hee hee, love it

Yes Steve, that's the idea. For once we can slag them off rather than arguing with each other :)

Irish Times - thinks 'Soulboy' is better. Methinks he's written the review on the back of a beer-mat https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/northern-soul-review-coogan-bluffs-the-rest-bluster-1.1966883

Morcambe. https://www.thevisitor.co.uk/what-s-on/northern-soul-is-a-way-of-life-for-morecambe-1-6895385

Not many inches from t'Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/16/northern-soul-elaine-constantine-review-drama

At least it got one more star than the Ninja Turtles!! But not the five stars this guy gives Monsters Inc.

Looks like Blackpool Gazette is first out of the starting blocks, struggling hack claiming people "danced until dawn" at the Highland rooms! https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/what-s-on/music-dance/film-back-at-spiritual-home-1-6899566 Essex Chronicle does a bit better. https://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Film-review-Northern-Soul/story-23206313-detail/story.html Please guys, if you post your own review, try to keep it positive. It's a film, not a documentary, don't break my heart. For some reason I want it to be OK, that'll do me. I find myself with an emotional investment in this bloody thing for some unknown reason. I can't see the film until the dvd arrives from Amazon, so be gentle.

Hee hee, love it. Always has been about the music mate. Spencer's baggies stopped being fashion as soon as people started buying them - tourists! One of the great sights to see was a baggied and badged up stomper trying to elbow some jelly sandled blouse wearing mincer for some space on the dance floor! Wear what you want mate! As for badges, go look up fetish in your dictionary. Welcome to the fold

It's also a bit iffy. If a dj was playing Harold Melvin in 74, in a school gym! He must have had a few bob.

I remember getting "never for me" in a junk shop, thought I'd discovered it 1974. Never could dance to it though.

Just to give a bit of perspective on these points and bear in mind that I haven't seen the film. Like the hero, I started going to Wigan whilst still a schoolboy and I appreciate what you are saying about the "fraternity and the 'living for the weekend' cycle" but that came later when I had some money in my pocket and more 'soul-mates'. As a schoolboy, hardly anyone in my school knew what I was talking about when I mentioned Wigan and soul music. Most of the kids were into Bowie or Heavy Metal. It only added to the mystique and glamour surrounding my chosen path. In the early days of the Casino there were not many of us yung'uns even though I lived in Rochdale, and so we would only meet on a Saturday at the bus stop to begin the long journey. It was pretty lonesome! When we got to the Casino we would meet older people from Rochdale who had travelled by other means but no self respecting eighteen year-old would give a lift to a fifteen year-old boy if he had a chance of taking a couple of birds with him - not many girls drove!! Later on when I left school and got an apprenticeship, I was able to travel further afield and , with my trusty scooter, travel to friends in and around Rochdale and support the local events that were starting to spring up. On the drugs front, and again I haven't seen the film. I never took any drugs, having learned from my sisters imprisonment for drug offences at The Wheel. People took lots of drugs, starting with half a dozen chalkies and then quickly escalating up the chain. To a lot of my friends, drugs were an important part of the 'buzz' of the scene. They didn't just take them for nighters and they did experiment with lots of shit. Unfortunately the drugs took a few of my mates but, thankfully the majority were able to take a step back and survive. These are just my experiences Dave, sounds like yours were a bit different but hey, can't wait to see the film With respect, Drew.

Getting ready to get my coat here, but it seems from listening to all these, the better the music the cheaper the sound!! With the exception of the vel-vets that is. Right, I'm off to bed

Fred Smith as well?

I remember dancing to this when I was about twelve at The Chambers club in Rochdale. That would make it about 1969/70 so possibly a Wheel hit? BTW if any song should be our anthem........this is it.

Hi Gemma, can I ask what source/s you are using to compile your charts so far? The reason that I am asking is that 'Tie me kangaroo down, sport' by Rolf Harris is not a song normally associated with Soul music, R&B, etc. And yet it is listed in your chart at number 26 for 1960. I am sure there are many other examples. Billboard charts were named as follows: 1942 Harlem Hit Parade - 1945 Race Records - 1949 Rhythm and Blues - 1963 no separate chart - 1965 R&B - 1969 Soul - 1982 Black - 1990 R&B - Whilst chart history is not a field I have much knowledge about, I feel sure that there is a ghost in the machine if people like Rolf and Bert Kaempfert can make it onto a 'Soul Music Chart'. Good luck with your project though.

Fetishism and N.Soul, has anyone ever done a study? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-COLLECTION-OF-ORIGINAL-WIGAN-CASINO-PATCHES-/111468893034?pt=UK_Records&hash=item19f410536a

When I saw "Once upon a time in Wigan" I sobbed - literally. So embarassing. When I saw "Soulboy" I sneered - especially at the dance scenes. I have seen the clips of "Northern Soul The Film" and the atmosphere looks about right. I don't have very high expectations because it's a FILM, not a documentary. One of my ATF films is Zulu, if I were a military historian I could probably rip it to shreads, and no, I don't want to debate it here! I have spoken to Ellaine about the film and I think her heart is in the right place. We can't really ask for any more can we? In the imortal words of William Goldman "Nobody knows what makes a hit film", so let's just see it and have our opinion without getting evangelical about it. After all, it can't possibly do as much damage to the scene as "This England" did. Can't wait

What a truly terrible record! Who would want to hear it more than once?

It was pretty big in 74/75 but I doubt you heard it "early 75 in Mr M's" ................ it didn't open till Sept 75! Another great example of the non existent oldies v newies rift, especially on the dance floor. P.S. Written by good-old Pam Sawyer (puffs chest out with pride)

Love it, love it, love it