Stateside

Haven't been to a venue for a good 9 months which was the Orwell. If I put together a set without really knowing the music policy I would probably clear the floor...............but using records I own it would be Players - Why did I lie Bobby Womack - Tried & convicted Orlons - Envy Sandy Wynns - The touch of Venus Gerald Sims - You'll never be sorry Dells - Don't trick me, treat me Willie Hutch - Lucky to be loved by you Willie Hightower - Because I love you Dee & Joe - Who is it gonna be Temptations - Lonely world without your love Edwin Starr & Blinky - We'll find a way Thelma Houston - I ain't going nowhere Patti Drew - Stop & Listen Gloria Barnes - You don't mean it Gloria Lynne - I just gotta tell somebody Baby Washington - I've got it bad David Ruffin - Rode by the place Flora Wilson - Dancing on a daydream Clydie King - My love grows deeper Ruby and the Romantics - Does he really care for me ( as my ender)

I know exactly where you are coming from - funnily enough I had the Nolan Porter record in mind as well for exactly the same reasons, in fact I have used that record to demonstrate to non soul friends the original version. I went to Wigan for about three years from the moment it opened it's doors and I can tell it was the subject of ridicule back then and a lot of people went at least once to try it out and maybe never went again. Interestingly enough, I recently had a young dj (25 yrs old) go through my collection wanting to borrow some of my vinyl to play at a gig to make him cutting edge with all of his mates and guess what he went for - anything with a thumping base line and strong beat - Lou Pride, Tomangoes, Otis Blackwell. As someone else said on this thread, let them hear the music and let them make up their own minds about the way they want their scene to go. I personally only went to Wigan for the music, never took drugs and thought the place was a dump, with 12 inches of p*ss and water in the bogs, the sickly smell of sweat and Brut aftershave, people stoned out of their heads with no idea of what record was even being played. You know what they say "Nostalga ain't what it used to be"

Forget me not - Martha Reeves & Vandellas As for Bob Dylan - might have been a songwriter but couldn't sing and if Amy Winehouse shouldn't be mentioned then neither should he. We could fill these pages with so called icons that don't do it for soul lovers so lets leave it there.

Just Brothers - Sliced tomatoes - is and always will be the most mindless piece of **** to be ever put on to vinyl.

Had a G & W demo of "No one there" but have also seen black with a silver A demo also G & W demo of "No one could love you more" -

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but it's horses for courses, some people shouldn't be allowed to speak in public and I would rather have a short "that was or this is" than someone rambling on killing the mood of the dancers. My favourite comment was at The Orwell when the dj ( I forget which one) played "The Players - Why did I lie" and called it thinking mans Northern Soul - spot on!

The most overplayed over rated record that has ever graced a turntable has to be Luther VanDROSS "Never too much" followed closely by Just Brothers - "Sliced Tomatoes" then Deon Jackson (Bobby Vee in disguise) "Someday the sun will shine" - Joey De Larenzo - "Shove it where the sun don't shine" and finally Ace Spectrum - "Please send somebody else"

I personally don't trust people who have private feedback - I got stung by an Italian who said that the record never arrived and when I asked him why his feedback was private he got all shirty.

Don't really go to any venues as I have two littluns and spend as much time as I can with them - So I like to listen to my MP3 player, I buy vinyl all the time and transfer it over to mp3 straight away for the car and the office. I don't care if its Northern deep soul or whatever - if it's got soul and its a quality record that does me. I've got some cracking rare stuff but I still listen to what I would call commercial stuff from the 70's that used to appear in the Blues & Soul mag charts - especially if it brings back memories. I have bought some cd's with supposed rare stuff on and some of it is rare because no one bought it the first time round because it was sh**e and the fact that it still exists in vinyl 40 yrs later doesn't make it a good record. If I do go to a venue I would like to hear some stuff I know along with new stuff I haven't heard but it has to be quality. I love all this motown stuff that has come from the vaults but as for transferring it on to vinyl just so you can play at a venue is a bit small minded IMHO - just play it for christ sake.

Looking forward to that - often wonder though, why the Orwell is never that busy considering they play some of the best music going - or is it just when I go Kev Just realised I've missed it - thought it was next week - damn!!! anyone got a tape recording of it?

Any Girl in love - brilliant, but I prefer the much better version by Kim Weston though Also "Shake me Wake me" is good by them If you go post Diana Ross then I would pick "You can't stop a girl in love" which is the same song as Carl Carlton/Rueben Howell or "It's all been said before"

Always been a fan since I first saw him at The Raven in Whitchurch 197? ( anyone know when that would be) and still see him at The Orwell - He's the man!

I didn't have anything do do with him honest

Generally I'm drawn like a moth to a flame when it comes to female vocals and there are too many to mention, but if the male vocals are strong and unusual then that does it for me too. For example, the first time I heard the Tomangoes or Gene Toones I was totally bowled over. Garland Green has a great voice too. Funny as well how I don't like certain artists voices, like I'm not keen on Chuck Jackson especially singing "Girls, Girls, Girls" or anything Luther Vandross does, but I love Roy Hamilton. BTW Garland Green is on his way to you in the post Kev

Thanks for that mp3 spot on - keep me going till the weekend that will Kev

mp3 of it anyone?

Thanks Sean, I would love to give you my hard earned money for your spare copy PM me if you find it and let me know how much. Also found it listed on a best of beach music cd Thanks Kev

Just seen this video and want the track - does it exist anywhere and just look at David Ruffin's dancing has he been watching us or have we been subconciously copying him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IU3DpA_bEY

Thanks for that absolutely brilliant - also well worth scrolling down James Carr's selections to see Marvin & Tammi doing Ain't no mountain high enough - different to the one Pete has Kev

Great footage Pete, Sure takes me back, especially seeing the Ben Sherman shirts and suits. I remember getting them made to measure with ridiculous centre vents that were 15 deep( halfway up your back), parallel trouses sometimes two tone material with ox blood comos. Trousers were always slightly too short to show of your boots or shoes. Then jeans - turn up, or no turn up - who could decide. A lot depended on which part of the country you lived in Oh and remember those other shirts - "Jaytex" I think they were called. Boots were dm's and I remember also having some other boots called "monkey boots" can't remember who made them though! did them in navy blue, ox blood and black. Wrangler and Levi denim jackets also in cord. White decorators trousers called "KD's" were also popular. The thing that sticks in my mind the most was my mum saying things like - "You're not going out looking like that, are you" Off to the Top Rank in Liverpool or The Mardis Gras

I bought these off you when you first did them and they are fantastic, although some of them make me laugh, like the base player's feet in Spiral Starecase when he is dancing as he is playing. But my favourite(not for amusement but for sheer quality) without a doubt is to see Joe Matthews singing "She's my beauty queen" I think he was trying to emulate Jackie Wilson with that calling with his hand around his mouth - fantastic!! You can get them off Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=nb_s...x=11&Go.y=5 Kev

Leonard (Lil man) Kaigler -You got me believin in you" on Sunburst 197? was a Michael Jackson soundalike but I don't know how old he was,(10?) record wasn't bad, I think I've got two copies somewhere from those old soulpacks

Been trying to get a decent copy of the Crazy legs album - I don't even mind the re-issue but there is such a varied price range on e-bay as low as $50 and as high as $120 even in the same condition - Anyone willing to part with one please let me know Thanks Kev