Modernsoulsucks

Is that some Italian mob film? I have noticed down through the years that quite a few of that type will feature soul/doo-wop tracks. I liked the early Robert de Niro thing. Was it "Mean Streets" where he's dancing to "Mickey's Monkey"? ROD

OK Adey,I sit here corrected, although to be pedantic myself Im not so sure that Kurt Harris is slower than Ray Pollard!! I meant to put in my original post that my view is obviously predicated on my club experience and as I was lucky enough to go to the Pendulem in my formative years and kinda started off collecting UK releases I did get to hear a lot of downtempo sounds that you wouldn't hear at say ,the Torch. First hour at the Pendulem on a Friday and their Sunday night do's were full of such 45s. ROD

Well as the guy who turned up Jackie Day the phrase "scene changing record" never occured to me.It was more like "Hey this sounds like a Mirwood 45". I remember finding that Linda&Pretenders and sold it to Guy as a kinda Frankie&Classicals type sound. To me both just fitted in with what had gone before. I think with the exception of the Carstairs we may be inventing artificial cut-off points that didn't actually exist. From what I remember of the end of Wigan to the start of Stafford the "problem" was that the 70's/80's 45s had come to dominate the playlists and dj's such as Sam and Richard had appeared to lose interest in 60's,citing the usual "drying up" argument and lack of quality. My mate Dave Withers and I disagreed, as did those termed the 60's Mafia, and Dave and I had a go at dj-ing with a predominantly 60's playlist. A lot of our playlist were Wigan 45s that were popular at the end there such as Executive IV,John&Weirdest,Classics,Combinations {Kell-mac] and some that had been tried but failed to take off big-time such as Del-Tours,Royal Robins,Topics[Dream]. Others were our own such as Limelights,Monique,Phoenetics,Combinations{Kim-Tone], "What's your game"and of course the unissued Motown. Others I forget. Whatever, they were all IMO quality 45s that weren't being heard that much. To be frank an uphill struggle against the likes of King Tutt and we jacked it and it took Guy and Keb to really persevere and change it around to restore a balance. I don't think there was a difference in 45s played at Stafford and previous clubs. People mention beat ballads and midtempo stuff which of course there were but then Barbara McNair was huge at Wigan and right from the start the Tams was always a slow shuffle. OK a tinge of Latin influenced by Adey's R&B nights but then we always had "El Watusi". So I'd say that the rare soul thing has not really changed since it's inception. A mixture of styles and tempos. However I think Dave Thorley by giving us and Keb,Guy,Rob,Butch etc a stab at it,when he coulda stuck with Richard for one, did give the whole thing a new lease of life. ROD

I think it's the decks promoters use. Whenever I've done a spot I've noticed a lot of hissing, usually followed by boo-ing and then Im paid by the crowd throwing small change at me when a cheque would do. ROD

Updated this list. Thanks for looking ROD

I think £70. It was unbelievably catchy but it reminded me of Gonzales too at the time. Yes,say hello to Bob for me. Did he buy a copy off me. He was always moaning that I sold stuff to other people before him but Im sure he got a few worthwhile things from me as I didn't really play favourites apart from maybe Dave the Dentist who was my dentist and the first time he forgot the novacaine did tend to concentrate my mind on things he might like!!! ROD

I LOVE IT!!!! My Trojan Horse into the modern scene!! I knew all along that all you lot really wanna do is dance around your manbags. Had 6 between me and Dave Withers. Sam probably got it off us and I think Butch bought a copy too. Did I laugh!! Until I saw last night's finishing price on JM's site. ROD

Someone must have John's boot guide? I thought the original Soultown release was kinda pink/purple colour. Im not sure though. ROD

it was "Bonehead", the drummer from Oasis who bought NS 45s. Didn't have a clue who he was until someone told me. Also the lead singer with B52's collects. He spent quite a bit on cheapies one dull afternoon ROD

No idea how much this is worth but they're beach records,specially made to have the right beat for dancing so I suppose a US "tailor-made". There are hundreds of these records ,some better than others, but to me a kinda artistic straight-jacket. ROD

"She's fire". I was at Wigan when Jonathon had Frank Wilson with him one night. He was with Dave Raistrick. He wanted £500 then. No idea when it was. No idea when I sold Baines either but it was masive at the time. ROD

I don't know about Wigan dying in '75. My memory isn't foolproof but I'd guess that '75 was somewhere around the time when 45s really started to get rare and very exclusive and Anderson was supplying Richard first. Yes there were pop records like the Seeds. Bloody great pop record!!! I heard pop records all over,not only at Wigan. Del-tours,Combinations,Executive IV,John&Wierdest etc were all post'75 weren't they. Perhaps Chrissie explains why these 45s seem to get played now as some didn't hear them at the time. Some nights it was empty-ish but in the record bar it was always enjoyable and interesting. I know that's not much consolation if you're into the dancing and need a buzzing atmosphere. When it was empty Richard would play more of what he just got and less to the floor so it was IMO fresher too. I went to the first night and to the last [several times!!] and I enjoyed every one of them. ROD

I sold a couple of Vickie Baines at Wigan for £100 each back when it was being played. That was a lot then so could be. One of buyers was a big tall guy but no idea who he was but he only bought "big" 45s. Not seen him for years so I guess he dropped off. Someone may remember him on here. I bought CODs off Richard for £100 in maybe 80/81 but that was £100 worth of 12"s and 70's. That's not what you're thinking of is it Chalky. Also wasn't there some rumour about Richard Temple selling for £80 back in very early 70's. ROD

Re Chandler 45,I saw that too but if you look at bids you'll see three guys willing to pay $90 for it. Great 45 but £8-10. As regards £60-75 for Bobby Taylor,daylight robbery. Common 45 and Ok bit of demand so £15 fair price. ROD

I got a 45 today. $10 postage charge. Actual price $4.50. 45 was cheap [i think] $16 for "Ooh Baby" Carla WDJ but that is still taking the mick. Didn't leave bad feedback but rated seller "Very unreasonable" on P&P. What else can you do but put it down to another knobhead in the long line of knobheads that you have to deal with in this game. ROD

I will start you off if you like with a bid of £450 for JT Rhythm. I don't think the other 45 is worth anything as I have that and from my experience it's only 45s I DONT have that are actually worth money. ROD

Surely the only Tammi 45 worth this kinda money is her duet with Martvin Gaye currently setting the dance floors alight. ROD

I don't think there is an answer Steve other than give the allnighters a miss in Autumn/Winter if you need to keep going outside for a smoke. Im in the same boat and since the ban I ain't been out to a club or even a pub [miserable wet Summer with nowhere to smoke]. I think our only hope is that some kinda re-think is undertaken at a later date and certain places are allowed to opt in or opt out of the ban. Can't be too much to ask for the odd pub or venue to be "smoking" as long as any staff employed there are aware of it. If there is to be a review I guess it would be on economic grounds with the big Breweries leading the way. Lost count of the number of pubs up for sale or lease around here and my wife mentioned she'd heard on Radio 4 that up to 100 Bingo Halls were facing closure. So no advice really. We're fcuked!!! ROD

I know Vnicepce was floating the notion that Northern has no need of guardians of tradition and as Dave T. pointed out earlier over the years more modern and funkier sounds have found a place under the Northern banner but I think now and again there have been corrections when the balance got out of kilter. It's not been down to a single Ayatollah as suggested by Vnicepe but a general consensus albeit sometimes instigated by a vocal minority. As evidence I would point to the demise of the pop "Wigan" [altho played everywhere at the time] stomper, the divorce of the latter "jazz-funk" days of the Mecca from the mainstream Northern scene, and the influence of the 60's Mafia at Stafford in reaction to what seemed at the time wall-to-wall 70's and 80's records. I think today we are seeing another correction in venues such as Burnley and Lifeline perhaps[not been so don't know directly] against across the board and safe oldies do's which is a move back to the ethos of playing newer records in a predominantly 60's style. I have no idea if "funk" is being played as I personally haven't heard any but Im sure there is no large scale fifth-column pushing that agenda. I heard Mr Trouble at Sunderland some months back and if Willie J and Gene Chandler are the signs of things to come, then we've already been there. I think in it's right place and right mix funk can be just as exciting as Northern. Im sure Grumpyfella if he's reading this thread can confirm I got a funk set together back in the early 90's and my ex-partner did the actual dj-ing at club "Home" in Manchester mainly, playing the usual Whitney,Byrd, JB productions but throwing in the Vibrettes,Al Trahan,Shades of Time,June X, Carleen & Groovers [sure it was that blue/white label?], the funky Jazz, Hip-Hop, and the funkier grooves like Sisters Love. I went to a couple of events and the places were rocking BUT I wouldn't imagine any of it would have fitted in with a Northern night and to be honest I didn't feel that the funkier Northern would have fitted in there either. So I don't think any further dilution of the scene from that direction is on the cards. To answer Vnicepe's doubts about R&B taking over some years back. I was at an all-dayer in Earby,near Burnley about 5 years ago doing the small alternate room and whenever I ventured into the main room frequently to go to the bar all I heard was 70's oldies and R&B. There was IMO a danger of the 60's being sidelined again but now most venues have a seperate R&B room. ROD

I know what you mean but I don't think this guy falls in that bracket. No hype, was there? And no, you stay in your room, and get those bloody video games picked up, put your washing in the basket where it goes and take those dirty dishes down. ROD

Hey cut the guy some slack!! OK he hasn't got a clue but we all have to start somewhere. There's a 45 on OFFER on this site now that's got to be the most common Northern 60's 45 in existence, and that seller hasn't come in for as much stick; well,apart from myself anyway. On reflection reading this thread I may have been unfair on him as I don't suppose he spent most of the 90's wading through thousands of 45s in the USA like I was fortunate enough to do. So Britmusicfan,don't be put off. You find something nice and everyone will want to be your friend. Godzilla,you're grounded. Straight to bed and no supper!! ROD

Personally I couldn't give a flying.... what format a dj uses in his spot in a club, so a laptop is no big deal. It's a matter of personal choice. However, IMO Northern is more than that one thing anyway and original vinyl will always be at the heart of it. And it doesn't have to be obscenely rare and expensive vinyl either, just good so no need to apologise Mischief. Slightly related topic I reckon it'd be nice to see say Kent give out the odd exclusive to some 4th division dj's like Ernie or Mischief on here. They'd be chuffed to bits, playlists in local clubs would get a shot in the arm, and as someone pointed out it takes an age nowadays to break a record anyway so local exposure is as good as any. ROD

I think you'll find the most you can hope for is around £5 and that's a slim chance when it's not even Mint. Great 45,common and not really Northern. ROD

And I will have it. Please PM with hopefully non too graphic payment details. ROD

Rather mean to Jellybean Music. The Festivals!!?? OFFERS!!! Oh how I laughed. £1.27?