Hooker1951

Steve Mancha for me a more soulful production for my ears anyway, taking nothing away from Jonny Taylor,s version ML

There was northern soul a long time before RW AND THE CASINO and I'm from Wigan 10 years before in a fashion as I've stated before I worked at the Casino as a doorman 3 years before Russ appeared and NS was being played then and umpteen clubs in Wigan and other NW , NE, Midland towns so to state that there would have been no NS without Russ is Ludicrous the music is bigger than any DJ or promoter I started my journey into soul in 1963 and it was alive and kicking then, I know the true story of the Casino, IE And the allnighters and it's not all like you read in the book there were suggestions made to Gerry Marshall about putting all nighters on made well before Russ and Mike Walker because I made them and I'm not trying to change history just telling you the way it was but that's another story keep calm keep happy ML PS Russ played his part but so did everybody else who promoted and danced and listened to the music like I've said before there is a a hell of a lot of forgotten heroes with no egos who should be remembered DJ,s promoters and punters alike

Yes I know my POP too been obsessed with music all kinds of music for the last 55 years Rock n Roll , R n B, Rave, Popcorn and Pop if it's good music and it sounds good to my ears I will also admit it I've seen hundreds of soul acts live since 1964 and when I grew into a man did security for Rock n Roll and Soul Legends plus top pop acts over the years also DJ ,d NS and Rn B at all major venues I also MC,d at all the early raves from 1990 till 2000 with all the top DJ,s on the dance scene simply because I love music and even love more what music does for people's spirits it's one of the great levellers for human nature so I'm not disagreeing with what you hear I'm just telling you what I hear so the people who bought the blue sharks version liked what they heard and that's why they bought it I've never bought anything I don't like, collecting sounds matters to me not record labels, I'm a music man not a anorack collector and I'm not saying there,s anything wrong with being a anorack collector that's their choice oh by the way I think the velvelletes version is a great sound too Take it easy Peace and tranquility ML

Everybody has their own choice to make but all of a sudden because it's discovered Blue Sharks is a session band of a completion Lp at Woolworths it becomes just pop nobody called it pop before the discovery it's called being clever after the fact I like both versions but that session band definetly caught soul it did happen more than you think, Open your eyes Open your ears but pop music it's not, no time for snobbery in soul No Offence God Bless ML

As a rule I usually prefer 9 out of 10 prefer the original but for some strange reason the blue sharks version as caught something on the production that gives it that 5% I know it's of a cheap £1 Woolworth recording but it's just got the edge on the velvelletes and I do love some of their material both really good though ML

Hi. Soul Slider voice a cross between Connie Francis and Brenda Lee ML

I would agree with you totally on those years if I picked 10 they would be those as I've state earlier taking nothing away from the rest of the 1970's but 63~72 I was a child of the time so I might be a little biased L o L no I'm not they were the greatest! But I do respect everybody's choice God Bless ML

When I was promoting on my own and together with Andy Mcabe we moved dates on many occasions to help out other promotions sad to say that favour was never ever returned in over 30 years of on and of promoting it boils down to sheer selfishness and being petty like spoiled schoolchildren they would stick venues on knowing that you had those events running on those dates for years sometimes within 5 or 10 miles of your event I've even had a couple of well respected promoters put an event300 metres from mine I have on many occasions when asked made necessary adjustments to help other promoters I will say again never has that favour been returned never even a phone call to explain why they they had to do it on that date, they lack the very first thing they are trying to promote SOUL God Bless ML

All in all the film made by Elaine was a really good effort and does catch a good deal of truth about specifically 16 to 18 year olds around the NS scene in the 1974 \ 75 period those older would perhaps view it slightly differently at the time, because they had already been there, ML

There were thousands of soul records before that , that weren't hits but were real soulful records no one artist or record to stake a claim that they were first the list is far to vast to come to a conclusion and that's before you start interpratating what is soul music, I think on a broader front Soul music as we know it or what I think soul music isL o L,started mid 1950's evolved late 1950's took on anew dimension early 1960's then evolved again to an even broader spectrum late 1960's early 1970,s then you get the Sweet slick Philadelphia sounds and disco soul of the mid 1970,s added to the mix there is something for everyone I just personally prefer the 1960,s up until 1973 everybody has their own choice that's what makes soul music the best peace and Tranquility ML

Totally understand your opinion the Philly period produced some great soulful times however it became a little slick and sweet to old soul dogs like me I think the early 1960,s produced some of the most fantastic soulful vocals on R n B and soul records as regards Marvin Gaye great what's going on album that is a direct bi product an echo of what happened in the 1960's as regards the majority of NS music between 1970 to 75 was a repeat and a rehash of 1964 till 1970 music like I have stated before the 1960,s music period lasted until at least 1973 this is a great discussion and I look forward to hearing everybody,s points of view Respects and Peace ML

There is no particular record what you could say was the first soul record everybody has their own opinion soul is in the ears of the listener and every body would have their own interpretation unless you generalise there are soulful records in the 1950,s and there is no particular year you could say things blended together when certain dance crazes materialised fashions, it's a mesh of simple and complex realities that came together from spiritual churches , blues, hard times, good times,Dancing , Romancing, Drugs, You couldn't make it up its just what happened ML

Think this depends to a great degree on how old you are, I would think over 64,s you would perhaps favour the 1960,s under 60's the 1970's it's the timing of the soul had on your hormones growing up would have a major factor on your mindset first Love ect. For instance a lot of those in their 50, s seem to think that the NS scene started when they did and still fail to realise it was at least 10 years before so age of the individual would have a factor on preference if it's down to music made I think the 1960's wins hands down you could say on the other hand that 1960's music ended in 1972 Respects ML

Sitting on the fence with these two ML

These five always do it for me Harry and the Cavars . ( If this is Goodbye) Harry Starr. ( Another Time Another Place) Lenny o Henry . ( Mr Moonlight) JD Bryant (I won't be coming Back) Gene Chandler (Check Yourself) Respect and Best wishes Mick L

Temptations or Gene Chandler. { Check Yourself) ML

Beverly knight played her part superbly she suits that kind of Soul much better than her modern stuff I've never been a Beverly fan but credit where it's due ML

I've been into soul since 1963 was born in 1951 rarity of records doesn't come into it we are judging the best version of a tune so being an anorack doesn't matter in the judgement I was into it before the old days and Jerry Cooks version knocks the cobblers of Sid,s and I've been a DJ and a dancer so you won't change my mind Sid,s version is a mediocre NS sound Jerry,s hits you right between the eyes no offence meant peace on earth ML

Hi Mike The messages on here suggest 80% JC 20% SB LOL, ML

Jerry Cook by a long way ML

Yes Tony Blackburn is very knowledgeable about Music and he is a great fan of NS and all Soul in general so it's no surprise that he fits those tracks in his radio sets ML

Great tune ML

Hi Ian the years we are talking about when I worked on there are 1968,69 70, 71, everybody who was into soul those days came to the waltzer especially at the Goose fair in 1969 there were that many people on the run ups around the machine riding and listening to the music that the run ups collapsed luckily nobody was hurt, at the goose fair we were situated at the top right hand corner in front of the boxing booths and striptease, the local Nottingham soul lads used to come every year for a chat with us, I R ember one in particular tall bald lad who seemed to be the main man funnily bumped into him at Nottingham crown court in 1974 but that's another story Cheers Mick L

Hi Ian It was not a odd fairground Waltzer it was known as Silcocks Soul castle and had a reputation for top soul music as both the proprietors daughters besides us the gaff lads at the time were lovers of soul music at Nottingham Goose fair all the blacks and soul music lovers of the time would be on there from 12 dinner till 12 midnight Thursday Friday and Saturday, this was pre Northern soul it did exist I was there lived and breathed it along with thousands of others new soul records were bought every week in different towns were we travelled at the rate of at least 6 new tunes per week the belly boxes under the living wagons were bulging with original 45,s pity nobody realised then what they would have been worth now they were bought because they were great tunes that fitted in with the atmosphere of ride there were no bootlegs and re releases in those collections Cheers ML

I travelled all over the north west in the late 1960,s with Silcocks Waltzer it was called the Soul Waltzer because we mostly played Tamla, and Soul with the odd current charts records played early then mostly soul so Landslide was played on that Waltzer it was played all over the North West, I first met Brian Ray in Stockton Heath Warrington when he asked me what was that record that had just been played on the Waltzer it was Tommy Neil ( Going to a Happening) that was 1969.You would have to be 65+ to remember these things the problem is there is a whole batch of SOULIES under 60 who through no fault of their own think that the scene started when they became aware, it was already brimming and live from 1963 on in the Uk just because you weren't there when these tunes were played doesn't mean it didn't happen, everybody has their own interpretation of who played what first where it happened just have an open mind you can't be everywhere at once just enjoy the music Mick L