Pudsoul

Like everyone who knew Mick, I was stunned yesterday to hear of his passing. Mick is particularly special to me cause he gave me northern soul music. He met my brother Chris when they were both in the RAF, and Mick got Chris in to soul. My brother got me in to soul. I got my wife in to soul. My sister Annette got in to soul, and met her husband Mark on the soul scene. So that’s two brothers, a sister, a wife and a husband, all on the scene, all having our lives enriched so much for it, and all because of one Michael Howard. I’ve got so many happy memories of Mick, from him teaching me how to cook spag bol when I was a whipper snapper, to sitting in the foot well of his Golf all the way from Harrogate to Stafford cause there were six of us in the car, to drinking far too much corn liquor with him, taking me to dodgy boozers in Halifax after a nighter to watch the lunchtime strippers, the list goes on. Mick, you were a top bloke, like another big brother to me, and we will all miss you very much. Alison, I hope if you read these messages you can take comfort in the knowledge of how much love there was, and is, for Mick out there. David

Did anyone on here go to see Bobby Bland at Colne Municipal Hall in the mid 90s? He was shite, it was Irma Thomas, who was supporting, that TOTALLY STOLE THE SHOW. She was awesome. Even did a cover of a modern Tina Turner track and it was fabulous. Best soul concert I've been to. Absolutely blown away.

Before Jonathan Ross earnt his millions on the Beeb he had a Friday night chat show called The Last Resort on C4, way back in the 80s. He had Tom Jones on one show, and although I can't remember the song he sang, I can remember that during the interview JR asked Tom Jones who his musical idols were and his answer was Chuck Jackson! You can't fault a man who picks Chuck Jackson as his singing idol. And let's face it, who in 1988 outside the soul scene would have even heard of Chuck Jackson?

There are dancers, collectors, watchers, talkers, drinkers and imbibers on the soul scene - and then there those who take the money on the door. Rosemary takes the money on the door at The Harold in Bradford, she worked the door at Cleckheaton last week. Kirsty (McGaun) works the door just about everywhere she goes? Working the door at the 100 club was something of an honour I believe. My mate Brock even travelled all the way from York to Rugby to do the door! But what possesses a person to want sit in the cold with often only a cash box for company until 10.30pm/4.30am (soul night/nighter) when everyone else is in there dancing/chatting etc? I've only done it once myself, at a nighter in Cheetham Hill Manchester for Tony 'a-keef-ly' Smith. Anyone else a regular doorer? Pudsoul

What a tune! Totally awesome. Even in it's posted rough as your arse state it's still brilliant. If I wasn't sat in front of a computer, but stood at a bar, at a soul night, or nighter, and that came on, after I'd put my head back on, I'd be out on that dancefloor like a flash. How often does that happen these days? To hear a tune you don't know at a soul night is a novelty, to hear one that just COMPELS you to dance is so rare. Cheers for posting that.

Hinckley Leisure Centre, 4 April 1982 if I remember, I was 16 but looked 12, no idea how they let me in? Then Clifton Hall the following Friday, and lots more after that. Interesting that there are only a handful of people on this thread who started in the early 80s. The scene was on the wain then. Having just missed Wigan all anyone spoke about at the time was the end of the scene, and compared every new venue to the Casino, which is probably why I got into 60s newies and Stafford cause they (the music and the people) didn't try to compare. Happy days.

But do you all remember Steve's hairdo? Is it real, does he leave it on the pillow at night with a small saucer of milk, bring out for special occasions? Come on Steve, we need to konw.

Anyone else see Steve Cato on the telly last night, walking, talking, acting, breaking some moves, and sporting a rather dandy haircut (was that real in those days Steve?) on a little short film on BBC Four called Function at the Junction? Nice little 15 minute film about a dance competition in some generic soul club in 70s Manchester, but made all the more realistic by our man Cato. Pity the rest of the dancers were rent a crowd, but then I suppose it was meant to be in the 70s when soulies were young, as opposed to most of us these days being near our 70s, so maybe they had to hire youthful dancers.

Nighters have a new dawn, a new age to look forward to. As our children grow old, and fly the coop, as our mortgages get paid and our jobs less important, as we enter old age, when everyone knows a person can survive on three hours sleep a night, a new scene will emerge, populated by grey haired and wrinkled but snappily dressed soul boys and girls, happily supplied by their local GP and shuffling madly till the rubber comes off the soles of their carpet slippers. The only downside I see is where to dispose of those unsitely colosotomy bags and dangerous wheelchair activity on the dancefloor?

So what will they be playing for SW on Saturday then Shane? Will it be Gene McDaniels? Or possibly NF Porter, but I guess more likely George Freeman It's going to be Barbara Mercer/Tobi Lark for the mighty whites.

Isn't Terry Callier a bit pricey, considering the label, I mean it can't be that rare. I bought mine for a few pounds in the 80s, and swapped it and another record I can't even remember in the 90s with a Mr Tony Smith for Jimmy 'Soul' Clark "I'll be your champion", which costs less now than Terry Callier.

Well if Shane and Joan had gone to Groovy Grooves last night they would have both been satisfied by seeing Mr Hennigan do that turbo shuffle of his all over the dance floor (well in one corner for half a record but I think this does constitute a top DJ dancing). Keb was a tikwando (sp?) champion I think, which is why he's really good at the twirly stuff.

If it's about three people caught in one, and one of them being a fool etc etc, then yes, sadly Although this thread does show very succinctly that there is no accounting for taste! I've found myself thinking 'you can't hate that' when someone puts up one tune or another, but also thinking 'totally' when along come something else.

And that probably also explains the numerous and expensive bills for porn websites you've been receiving since he left. And although Mr Darge is responsible for some of my favourite tunes, he is also responsible for Whirlpool - I can't remember the artist - which would get my 101 vote. David