Twoshoes

Always loved this, cheers for the reminder

Spot on , I've been wearing Meindl's for the last ten years or so both boots and shoes ,first pair down as you say to the half sizes for a super comfy fit.

Why do they have to make it look so bloody easy!!

Don't know if you like walking but there is a circular walk that starts as you enter the Abbey grounds ,it's about seven kilometres and follows the river on one side going out ,over the bridge to the other side coming back, some great photo opportunities, like a prat I forgot my camera on the day and had to make do with the one on my phone.

A walk around Bolton Abbey a few weeks ago

This is a mate of mine, he's a bit of a fruit

Isn't that the difference between someone like yourself and some of the other people producing boots etc, you pay a royalty to the artist and I assume licence the tunes making them a legit issue if I'm right. My views on boots changed a few years ago, there was a time when I couldn't have cared less whether I was listening to an original , boot ,first Uk issue whatever, my views changed when I got friendly with a few dj's who played ovo and found how disheartening it can be to have your set lined up and about to play an in demand tune on ov when the dj leaving the stage plays the record on a ten quid boot.. I think if you know your events you know what more or less what you are going to be listening to, for me what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't know about, I'd love to think every record played was ovo but I'm not stupid, buying a shit load of boots won't make anyone a great dj, research and imagination do that , just my opinion of course.

You can talk about dance styles all day long, what is and what isn't "proper" dancing, who is and isn't a good dancer if it comes down to it take anyone from a Northern floor and plonk them in the middle of say a wedding disco and people there would say "what the ***** are they doing, they might think they can dance but in my opinion good or bad they would stand out on a non northern dancefloor . Someone I know I used to think was a pretty good dancer, always had that look at me kind of attitude then they started to copy various moves off other dancers and now from thinking they were pretty good I think they look ridiculous incorporating all kinds of flicks and spins ,waving of the arms yet when they kept it simple it looked so natural. Lost the point I was trying to make not for the first time.

Christ I feel really old now, was it really that long ago, just checked my ticket as I thought that can't be the same concert I went to and bugger me it is, wishful thinking had it much later in my old head , funny how time plays it's tricks.

I'm always impressed when I see someone dancing to the actual record,by that I mean they stray from their normal style and follow the rhythm pattern of the record,speeding up when the record does,clever foot moves to say a sax break or drum beat,not explaining it very well but I know it when I see it

There used to be a woman attended one of the regular nights I used to go to, she stayed more or less on the same spot, no flamboyant moves just a very slow shuffle of the feet and I mean slow,I said to my mate I love watching her dance,you call that dancing he replied, to her it is was my retort, I've rarely seen anyone more in the zone,that personal bubble where no one and nothing else exists but the music, just magic watching herk knowing how she was feeling inside.

Currently a pair of leather soled brogues with a high shine upper which I was unsure about when I bought them but have grown to love, fav bit of memorabilia would have to be a framed Blues and Soul Special Otis Redding edition which is surrounded by the ticket stubs from all the gigs I went to from 71 through to late 80' ranging from Gladys Knight Odeon Theatre Manchester, a trio of Blues Legends tours at the Holdsworth Hall ,several Temps, Tops gigs, WAR at the FreeTrade Hall ,Ohio Players, Stylistics, George and Gwen McRae plus many more ending with Luther Vandross at the Apollo Manchester 1987, a real mix I've always been open to all genres of Black Music as you can see. A lot of memories in a two by two frame.

Sometimes l wonder whether l am on the right site here, l thought the whole idea of being on here was to discuss soul music not the rights and wrongs of how someone builds there own music collection. for what its worth l get a lot of mine from you tube and mixcloud that's how l keep the faith Funny thing this Keep the Faith, , much like Northern Soul is a way of Life, is it really a way of life or just another slogan that allows people to make a bit of cash, on the faith aspect I've never actually considered the dictionary definition of faith and guess what it throws up an interesting slant with regard to boots etc. Lets disregard the religious meaning though it is too many akin to a religion. The definition is 1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: Boots destroy confidence, lead to loss of trust, I use the old Tube prodigiously but I don't think that in any way relates to keeping any sort of faith, surely the only way we can keep the so called "faith" is by getting out there and supporting events not by finding the cheapest option. Just my opinion.

My new gardener, started today, trimmed a few bushes, cut the grass, won't be having her back she left a fair few holes in the lawn

I've seen Soulful House on YouTube so whether that's where they cull appropriate sounds from I don't know. I have nothing against trying new stuff on the scene, good luck to em' though I can't honestly see myself shuffling to whatever it is they play

I can't remember on which event post I saw it but two of the younger Dj's in one of the rooms were down to play Northern House, not sure what that is or if it is the future but it is a new one to me. I guess sometime in the future whoever takes over will be debating whether certain tunes are Northern House, Northern trance and the Dj's in question maybe will be pilloried for taking the scene in a whole new direction while those still playing the nighter sounds of today which by then will be oldies will be told to get with it. I don't think it will be just those on the scene popping their clogs that will see declining numbers, call me an old codger if you like but recent events have kept me and Lou from attending events and on quite a few Saturday nights we have both said we were glad not to be going out. A week of hard physical work is not as easy to get over as it once was and a Saturday night with the feet up is welcome. With so many events on in our area there's always next week. I'm not going to worry who takes over, although I've been into all aspects of black music since my early teens I've never been as active on the scene as I am now, if my records end up on a car boot or charity shop I say good luck to whoever finds them, in fact I quite like the idea of someone discovering Northern Soul that way or one of the younger generation having the thrill we once got in what where then second hand shops, rummaging through I guess what will be heaps of 80's picture cover pop singles and coming across a few choice Northern tunes in a charity shop of the future. I still look through records occasionally in charity shops and I am always reminded of thrill I used to get aged fourteen by the Blue Stax label, for me the sight of that little stack of records on a blue background made my heart jump......I'm glad it still does.

Inspired by this thread, not so much who will replace us but what will we become, Mods please remove if you think inappropriate Who are We? In a room as bright as sunshine for health and safety reasons of course there’s a squeak of rubber on maple a mushroom cloud of talc hits the floor Not for the need of the dancers side to side glide a memory fade it’s for the rubber bottomed zimmers of the geriatric Northern brigade There’s no synchronized clap to Duke Browner they don’t dare let go of the frame there’s teeth in glasses on tables and a definite lack of shame For everyone’s wearing baggies circle skirts are de re guere as trips to the toilets are many and only the youngsters dare Wear anything other than baggy speed is the essence that rules tight clothing is for the tourists backdrops only for fools Youngsters a bit of stretch if sixty five can be considered such at the decks, playing the wrong side a slightly confused, incontinent Butch Manship arrives on his scooter not a Lambretta, the mobility kind his front basket stuffed with records towing a trailer behind Sat in his pomp like the pope in the trailer clutching his box sits a Utd shirt adorned Ginger in his underpants and socks His arrival greeted with cheers from those who can still see that far there’s even a glance over shoulders from the orderly queue at the bar Beer is flowing in half pints the best seller Sanatogen wine two booted and suited old mods stand arguing whether Loakes stand the test of time Bemused faces greet Hank Jakobs I used to stomp to this you know been a while but I’ll lay down my crutches go on I’ll give it a go Young Len slips onto the dance floor that’s literally, not gracefully at all his belly flop across the maple a quite spectacular fall Where once it was accepted on the dance floor drinks were no go it’s liquid of a different nature that glistens like stardust on the floor A commotion ensues at the entrance drowning out the sound of the Snake as a coach load of Japanese tourists wide eyed do a double take On an Oldsoul tour of the scene promised a taste of the Mecca and Wigan cameras flash creating strobe lighting as Butch reveals his new bigun There’s the sound of a snore from the corner Ted Massey is found sound asleep Julian Bentley sat beside him with a bowl of water, soaking his feet The great and the good smile like children as the Japanese click their cameras for fun with their suitcases full of our records off to the land of the rising sun Ginger is halfway through signing an autograph for a girl of eighteen when a voice from behind shouts loudly hey, you’re not bloody Levine The afternoon sun slowly sinking nurses and carers appear at the door come you lot of old bastards time for drugs, to a raucous roar Though time may have passed us by and we may be well past our prime it will always and forever be in our hearts and minds soul time

All the best and a speedy recovery to youTed.

I know it's well in advance but does anyone know of any Northern or Soul related nights in Rome, not going until early March 2017 but any info on possible nights appreciated, we arrive on the Saturday night. Thanks in advance, I know it's early but it would give us that extra bit of something to look forward too.

Cornelious Brothers and Sister Rose, their Big Time Time Lover is one great tune,

Always loved Frankie and Johnny, great tune

one from not too long ago in the scheme of things, won't be to everyone's taste

Nice track, two great vocals very easy on the ear

If you are going down that road how about Frankie Howerd and June Whitfield Up Je T'aime , OOOO LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT HOLE....classic

I've always had a soft spot for duets which I guess it stems from an early love of Sam and Dave, anyone got any recommendations of the less obvious ,any genre Northern , Deep etc Cheers in advance