Modernsoulsucks

Geese, Im not saying Lifeline should be featuring reggae. Im saying it had a place in the very early days and despite your reference to mods in early 70's disliking it it was also part of the mod scene, or so I believe cos I wasn't a mod back in the 60's [other than occasional fashion item and hearing first soul music in local club attached to a pub around '67]. By mid '68 I'd say the mods were disappearing even in the North and morphing into "soul boys" [or whatever you want to call them]. They were pretty much indistinguishable from those like me who were skinheads when we went out. Mohair suits and crombies not boots and braces. There was no divide but obviously there was personal musical taste so I wouldn't base my whole view on the word of a couple of guys who went to the Torch. So did I. By that time no I didn't expect to hear reggae and would have thought it was odd. All the crew I hung about with did not get into NS like I did so yes the scenes were different but that's not to say there wasn't a big overlap. And yes I can dance adequately to both 60's soul and reggae. I have a wide repertoire. I didn't realise there was just the one set of dance steps. Styles have changed slightly I suppose from early days but then there were guys at the Torch doing sideways shuffle to one tune and strutting about with hands on hips to others [someone will know what Im talking about there I hope]depending on feel of the record. Finally here's a record you played according to playlists Nowt wrong with it under the wide definition of playing good music but not Northern. Similarly this is good music too but not Northern. Doesn't mean it can't be accomodated within that definition in the right environment. ROD

Rich, Yes but no but yes. Firstly IMO it is gimmicky but no more than [and I may be talking rubbish here as my attention to more modern recordings is minimal] say that female vocal record that used "Backstabbers" that was popular some years ago. Pleasant but how "Backstabbers" which IMO is not a Northern 45 suddenly gets played, cos it's had a re-working, as a suitable Northern record is as hard to fathom as this record. I put it down to the familiar factor. Playing reggae and soul in the same club nowadays is unusual and pretty unheard of but I have seen the odd reggae room advertised now that we have this umbrella type approach. And of course you mention mod do's where it may even be mixed. But I would say reggae was important to the scene because that's where a lot of the clientelle came from in the early days. Not to the musical progression because reggae was dropped early on but back in '69 around Stockport there were discos and youth clubs playing to what was largely a skinhead scene where you could hear the non-chart Motown, Atlantic and Stax stuff, what became Northern such as Mitch Ryder, Tams, Willie Tee, Reflections, Fascinations mixed in with Ethiopians, Pat Kelly etc. It didn't come across as jarring in any way. Just dance music. So there is a precedent there but because of the way the scene developed it seems odd I guess to people who weren't there. I think it's perfectly legitimate to reflect that today if anyone wanted to put something on like that because just as an oldies do might be a snapshot of Wigan in '76, a do as I describe would be a snapshot of '69, and both IMO are all part of the story. ROD

Just think if on this soul scene back in '75 instead of Gary Lewis or Bobby Goldsboro the dj had put on Tommy McCook or Soul Brothers.... A lot of us came from that background. ROD

Well Im not voting. How can I put this? When I read on related OVO threads that a venue is such and yet I come across the promoter's auctions of boots on Ebay my cynicism kicks in. Beams/motes kinda thing. ROD

One of last times I played any records out was In Yorkshire [for Boxy? somewhere] and guys were coming up to the decks. I just thought they were not keen on what I was playing and coming up to check whether by the law of averages I was going to play something decent next. Now I know they thought I was playing boots and were just checking I feel a lot better. ROD

Hey Rich I was just waiting for you to come on so we could have a ding-dong. I think it matters. I don't think it's a hanging offence. I think people should do what they do and not watch what others are doing. I also think whilst generally it's true about elitism and exclusivity when you look back especially pre-Stafford there were quite a few big names playing some tracks [not many] on Emi's. I knew Richard well. He had some. What gets my goat is collectors/djs who don't have their 45s in alphabetical order in pristine white sleeves with colour coded inners [red for Detroit obviously] and individual "Y" shaped plastic middles in every 45 inserted in exactly the same way with single prong at 6'o'clock position. Luckily I've realised this is a mental illness and some of the posts on here are very similar. ROD

Im not denying there was as you put it a "seamier side", although I'd be more inclined to say it was more a rough edge but I think by the time Wigan opened a lot of that had gone because the older guys had moved on and out. Torch and Va Va and a few Wigans were probably the end of the line for most of those who'd gone to the Wheel. The guys around Manchester when I was getting into it around '69 had mostly disappeared by 1974. I guess to younger people they may have appeared intimidating and some would take advantage of that but considering the make-up of that pre-Wigan scene it was still trouble free compared to a night out at the local disco with the boozed up morons. ROD

Leaving aside Milliontears choice of language I have to agree with him. It looks forced and unnatural. Im guessing the TV studio bit is loosely based on Grundy v. Sex Pistols. I suppose you have to sex it up because basically unless you're involved it's just not that interesting to a wider audience. And what was that guff about spirit and soul in the voice-over at the end. Makes us seem like a load of new-agers searching for something to belong to when it was a night out where you could listen to music you liked. Exactly the same as any other lot going down the local disco. ROD

I picked up a copy of PR's "Hot and Wild" on Allegre for £1 from Oxford car boot on Sunday. ROD

Well if you welded a couple of handles onto this trophy you couldn't make it look any worse. ROD

But Kev if you sell something you bought because you liked it, but now you're selling it to buy something else you like just as much but couldn't afford without selling the first 45, then you're not really getting anywhere. And you can bank on hearing the 45 you sold at some later stage and regretting selling it. ROD

I'd noticed that Nev. I can understand getting rid of stuff they're no longer keen on as tastes change or a financial crisis but I am bemused by the "time to move on/freshen up from playbox" line. However I put most of that down to the price of records. Yes you can get something for peanuts if you're lucky or put the work in but let's face it if it's good it's gonna be expensive. Im not going to say to you I have a 45 that sounds as good as or better than anything currently played but it's £50 cos no one plays it. Im gonna want thousands. Anyone wanting to be at the top must be shelling out hand over fist unless they have contacts [who are oblivious to prices] or going regularly to US. ROD

I don't see prices coming down as particularly contributing to an air of "doom and gloom". Cheaper prices means the buyer can afford more records. Doom and gloom perhaps if the collector is bothered about the value of the collection they already have. Personally Im not. There's no doubt in my mind that demand and prices are not at the peak they were say back in 2005 but there are always exceptions. Actually not quite right, there is strong demand but peak prices are harder to get. I don't think this sale highlights any up or down trend. Without wishing to be too critical I think the buyer is a bloody imbecile. ROD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Northern-Soul-45-PHONETICS-Just-Boys-Dream-HOLY-GRAIL-2-SIDER-Trundel-/160655492617 There you go. Now stay away from it. You've got enough to do repairing cracked records without having to go into the wider world of getting VG- 45s to look like they're brand new. ROD

$910! I do not understand that. At all! ROD

Kinda, although these posts could have ended up on the "Jane Austen Appreciation Society" site for all I knew when I pressed that button. ROD

Thought I'd move the majority of posts into this section as it's turned into a general discussion on price and availability of this once 50p 45. ROD

Members can view Soulylover's intoduction here ROD [forum mod]

If I get a cracked 45 I use Bonding Intensive Nitrate or Bin for short. I realise this is probably not much help. ROD

A find and a half. Well done. No guide sorry but a lot! ROD

Increased to 30 year ban!

Hello Everybody, First of all let me thank the Academy..... My first act as moderator is to thank you all for your kind words and encouragement and to hand out 25 year bans for Godzilla and Boba. Im firm but fair. Think Attila the Hun but without his redeeming qualities. As an occasional seller my main aim on here, apart from avoiding unnecessary spats [thank you Beeks - let's hope no modern soul fans take offence as with my avatar Im not going to be seen as particularly impartial], is to try and keep ads on that first page to hopefully get the maximum exposure for the seller. I know we have discussed this in the past and my perception is that most of you would agree with that. I trust we've all read the guidelines and tips. I'll be looking to merge multiple posts where I think one would suffice. And ensuring that inadvertent "bumping" does not take place. I will of course notify any member involved should I feel the need to do this Im looking forward to making a good job of this and it kinda makes up for never having been a prefect. Just how long does burning down the gym stay on one's record. As I said at the time PE teachers are ten a penny. In line with current professional working practices I will also be monitoring my own performance by talking things over with a bowl of fruit or a Pear Supervision Group as it's known. Finally I am always open to any concerns or suggestions to enable the forum to run more smoothly so please get in touch at any time apart from when "Supernatural" is on [10pm Wednesday] or you'll join Boba and Godzilla. ROD

Im confused too. Richard played other side at Wigan I'd guess from 77/78 on. Must admit don't recall him playing "Sweets" side but he may have done. As Wigan shut in '81 anything later is after him. ROD

For the Beach scene. ROD

Very very enjoyable Pete. Gonna listen to part one now. ROD