Hooker1951

Hi Ste I know that Steve and that’s why I mentioned it in the first paragraph, I’m the last person in the world to try to steal that happiness you felt everybody starts somewhere, myself being in my mid twenties at that time it seemed more than one generation apart, however 10 years on you had all caught up and we were all on a level playing field and in it together to enjoy the Scene which had matured as well as the people who loved it and that is why I remember 85 to 95 so fondly I am safe and well Ste hope you are too fingers crossed for things to ease up soon ML

Everybody has their favourite years of enjoying NS, For some it will always be their start on the journey, the Excitement being young and being part of something powerful where you could escape into a world of dance and Music, I first started my love of Soul in 1963 age 12 went through the Club Soul and Tamla and RnB club circuit till the mid 1970,s still loved the music but got a little bit disappointed with the scene around 75, where I thought the teeny bopper Soulies had watered the Scene down that some venues looked like Giant Youth Clubs, I bowed out but still kept my interest in the Music. Because my Business involved the night time economy I was never far away to what was happening, for me The best years were 1985 when I really got interested again in Dancing The Music the Excitement came back until 1995 it was still good after that but for me the teenyboppers I mentioned in the previous paragraph had either vanished or evolved into thoroughbred Soulies The Music had become much Stronger the Soulies much wiser most were Still in their prime to enjoy themselves there was a vast influx of discoveries new 60,s etc . So for me 1985 to 1995 were my Golden years in NS what were yours? keep Safe ML

In answer to my initial question I can only say what I would like to happen, Smaller intimate venues with good dance floors, more thought on lighting and atmosphere to enhance the Soul music being played, Venue capacity around 150 so if it was only 75 people attending it would still maintain the Atmosphere, There has as I know personally no big money being a promoter if I broke even I thought I’d succeeded , Most good promoters do it for the love of the music and the thought of giving people a great experience , that’s why I used to do it anyway, I think that this lockdown has been a time for reflection and if your love of NS comes into this reflection , You might be thinking of all kinds of things to make the return of live Soul events eventful and exciting, where ever their is good strong music atmosphere and happiness there will always be another school of thought who cut corners water the music down and end up with a soul night without substance, this is what led to too many very commercial weak Soul events, Standards should always be high in the choice of DJ,s especially how they can put their hour together to keep people interested and happy, to entertain not show off, love what your doing but not at the expense of the customer, Anyway let’s hope everything comes to near normal ASAP and we can start moving forward again. Keep Safe and stay Strong ML

Betty definitely has the edge here, more raw and soulful than Sharon,s version ML

Excellent article, I remember Mick jagger and Keith Richards raving about Harlem Shuffle in early 64, ML

Could this virus cause the end of the live NS scene as we know it, And how can we help to save it, the clock is ticking, and the Night time economy will never return as it was before the writing was on the wall 5 years ago this virus has put the icing on the cake faster than was thought, Ideas anybody, ? KR ML

I could’ve sworn he was 86 Happy birthday Keith ML

Eddie Cole born in 1910, Nat was born in 1919 , Freddie in 1931 musical family if there ever was one.

If I ever do a spot anywhere My Love is always there ready to played. RiP Tammy Lynn Mick L

I worked as a doorman at the Casino1970-73 it was my privilege to open the stage door side entrance for the acts and to mind them when they were performing and to make sure they were looked after while they were on the premises and left safely , The acts included of course Edwin Starr, Jimmy Ruffin , Fantastics, William Bell, Arthur Conley, Ben E king and his Band, Tommy Hunt, Jimmy James n Vagabonds Lou Christie Johnny Johnson and the bandwagon, and many many more Soul acts Plus all the pop acts of the day . Great Days Great Memories, they were all great acts live but Ben E King was Magic keep Safe Mick Lyons

Anybody got a strong rope with a noose or a tub of strychnine handy LoL, ML

Sign over the door entering saying you enter the Soul occasion at your own risk and that the promoter is in no way responsible if you catch the virus, that saying the one metre rule distancing becomes the rule and of course the toilets are open again. Sounds like hard work I Know anybody else got ideas? KR ML

Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson could have made it as comedians if there was no music Good show except for too much Diane Ross but I suppose she is part of the History well worth watching. ML

Let’s just face the truth there will never be live Soul events ever again, We should all learn to have new interests, Gardening, fishing, more walking, listening to Radio for weather reports etc, no more amphetamine, no more beer, no more seeing you life long friends, no more dancing ,no more memories, Everybody just join the rest of the boring lifestyle of most Human Beings, Sounds terrifying doesn’t it ? Listen Up! Stay positive, Make plans , be prepared with what we’ve got at the moment and then as lockdown eases up add the the ingredients to make Soul Events happen again, You can never stop the Music, Look forward to it and it will happen. Take Care ML

I would say yes, judging from the mod 60,s scene up north where the mods who were into music preferred and danced to Motown Rn B , and club soul from 1964 - 69 and some let’s be honest here some Soul music that was resurrected 15 - 20 years later and claimed for NS, Of course the Mod Scene had influence on what came later not all influence but a considerable measure,The Mod scene didn’t has much crash as transform for the Mods who really loved the music first plus a new young breed who enjoyed the music from a slightly new perspective and it became NS I would say that transformation took place 69-72 depending on your location and love of Music, just my observations, Aren’t we all glad it happened? That’s what really matters isn’t it? Love this Site ML

Hi Paul Everybody likes there favourite times and Years and I’m with you. With the memories 85 -95 are my favourite years let’s try to get them back LoL ML

Hi Thinksmart I agree it’s way off but time moves on and before you know it, It will be time for the return of live Soul events so I would say it is better to start to prepare with what is possible now, ideas etc and be ready in a positive way to give the Soulies the events they want, KR ML

It seems like the end of Lockdown is in sight, any thoughts on how the Soul Scene can be reintroduced in a safer environment and maybe go for quality events instead of quantity, Using the Lockdown Positively instead of Thinking it was all negative, For instance will it see the end of a lot of all the Tin pot promotions? And a gap for the promoters who care about the Soulies and the music? Maybe this Is the time To put things right?, Nature and Viruses are the great levellers of a host of things, You Sometimes have to make something good come out a something bad what’s happened, Let’s all try to do it with Soul KR ML

Keep Strong Dave for yourself and Pete and God Bless you in this troubled time RIP Pete KR ML

Hi Chalky Some fantastic facts and statistics about Soul in those articles, great reading KR ML

Hi Chilli I could write you a book on it if I had the time it was meant to be a generalisation pal from my perspective and what I observed and lived, All I’m stating is that NS or Soul outlasts fashion and trend it’s the music what’s sacrosanct and beats trends and fashion everyday of the week it’s the only thing what’s Constant, I’m old enough to have remembered the original Mod scene and the 79-80 revival and in my humble opinion the original Mod scene made more of a mark , I’m not for one minute trying to steal anybody,s joy who enjoyed the second wave mod movement I’m just saying it the way I seen it, and if it was so different why was it not called something else. Dont forget the Music KR ML

Must beg to differ with you there the Mod scene was in its infancy in 1964 reached its zenith around 1967 I was there, also being an original skinhead by the way in 1969 working on the fairgrounds on what was termed the Soul castle Waltzer I witnessed everything over the years metamorph into different scenes music and fashion for example mods and original skinheads loved and danced to reggae and tamla Club soul etc circa 1964 -71 till like they realised their love of Soul music mattered the most and then tied their love of music to the Soul banner, Parrallel to this happening I worked for over 45 years on virtually every kind of night clubs as a doorman and boss of security with every genre of music even being an MC on the illegal and legal dance scene so I can only comment on my life experiences which were very real trust me, wore the T shirt in fact Dozens of them. Take care ML

They would be part of the second wave of mods which really didn’t catch on music wise to Soul they came in the wake of Quadrophenia Movie which was a pretty superficial scene without its own music and just copying what had happened 15 years before but without any originality, The Original Mod years started late 1963 until 1970 they did prefer the sounds of Tamla, RnB club soul on the whole and there own fashion by 1970 The Skinhead style and Suades style had split the mod movement along with what was left the true lovers of NS the Soulies and we lasted the longest because The Music is Real and Solid and irreplaceable , not like fashion which you can change every week. KR ML

They would be part of the second wave of mods which really didn’t catch on music wise to Soul they came in the wake of Quadrophenia Movie which was a pretty superficial scene without its own music and just copying what had happened 15 years before but without any originality, The Original Mod years started late 1963 until 1970 they did prefer the sounds of Tamla, RnB club soul on the whole and there own fashion by 1970 The Skinhead style and Suades style had split the mod movement along with what was left the true lovers of NS the Soulies and we lasted the longest because The Music is Real and Solid and irreplaceable , not like fashion which you can change every week. KR ML

I love Solomon Burke’s music in the mid 1960,s He used to be called The King of Rock n Soul, when I DJ,d over the years I used to include Peeping in my sets one of my favourites of Solomon a real solid mover keep Safe ML