Chris L

These are supersubstitues.....................JB Systems Looks like a Technics boot to me In which way ?

These are supersubstitues.....................JB Systems

"it would seem to be a common theme that some of shall we say the more upfront rare soul venues are finding it difficult to get decent numbers through the doors, lost count how many times I read the music was brilliant but numbers were down, seems a little odd to me that when you look at the playlists many of the DJ's are playing top end records which command the big ticket prices on auctions etc. yet fail to draw the masses in which seems to make a nonsence to the whole rare soul ethic." Here's the relevant part of Marks original posting - that's what I answered, nothing to do with oldies am beta dan rare hence my desire for the rare guys and gals to stop so defensive. Facts are facts, I hope my contribution answered the question.

Actually I'm enjoying Belgian Popcorn and 70s stuff more than I ever did But nothing sends shivers down my spine than "the Spellbinders - Help me" type of choon.....................after all it's wotz I woz born wiv..........

I quoted BIDDS because that's the one that seems to be held up as an example of a forward looking soul event, maybe it is, maybe it's not, maybe it's cutting edge music that people will look back and say "yeah that was cool" I'm sure that will be the case, thing is it will be a small amount of people who do and hey!! that's their choice and right. I've been to about 5 venues where "rare soul" was the main sort of music, just not my taste I'm afraid, I've heard little turns me on. Trust me there's a bunch of oldies I can't hear anymore even some I've never liked much, I like to think I have an open mind, if I like it then I like it and visa versa. Perhaps people who do promote the RS scene could tone down their ferociousness and be less defensive, after all it's hardly a matter of life or death..................

Belgian Popcorn anyone ?

Russ When I went to the Torch/Mecca/Cats/etc I heard sounds that I had only dreamed about, never heard, coming from London, in 1972 hardly the centre for NS. All I can say is what I see, when I go to a rare type venue I don't see alot of people, I went to BIDDS, didn't count but didn't look like much more than 100/150 and I did count the people on the dance floor, never more than ten when we were there. When I go to an oldies venue they seem to be larger and full, the dancefloors tend to stay full too. I hope this answers your question. I'm sure for someone who's passionate about discovering new sounds it must be tough to see the oldies venues being apparantly so succesful. Chris

As you say, it's only your humble opinion..............

Stoke still packs them in and the Torch revival has been a sellout both times, copled with the fact that there seems to be loads and loads events been held, surely "only the strong survive", maybe that rare soul scene is not so resilient.

Someone once wrote "The North of England missed out on the sixties, so they had them in the seventies instead" the NS scene was/is all about nostalga coupled with going out and having a good time. The rare soul scene has always been a small one, more atune to collectors than dancers, it's no surpise at all that these venues don't pull in the numbers that 'oldies' nights do. It's all a question of maths, NS touched something like a half a million youths from 1969 to the present day, rare soul types can be counted in the hundreds.

Interviewed him, met him, have an extended version of Groovin' at the go go from him, top bloke, a tad flaky, just how I like them.................................

Dave As a kid growing up in soul-starved London in the late 60s and very early 70s Invictus & Hot Wax kept us going, his voice, so unique, seem to remember the H-D-H gang saying that him & Levi Stubbs were the greatest singers they'd ever worked with. Oh well another one gone.

One of souls' mega stars from the Showmen to Chairman of the board, what a talent, what a voice, we'll see him in that big all-nighter in the sky.....

Ditto

You're right the thing became far too personal, it's not about Ian Levine but all the artists that got found, filmed and recorded. I'm curious to see the finished product. Chris L

On a pure personal, eog tripping, selfish, the big I AM, having filmed and recorded some of the artists it really was a knock to get to meet them, during the Tempos filming we were all in tears, these guys had no idea that their songs had been released even in the US. Their 60T's stories enraptured us, one helter skelter lifestyle, a miracle they were still alive, of course many are no not, I'm so glad the're on film, for as bad as Bobby Sheen was (and trust me he was bad, mad & frecked up) at the end of the night when we were sitting around talking and he pulled out his Capitol records recording schedule and he got to tell about a typical day his his life during the 60T's it was a moment to cherish.

Of course you can never beat the orignal studio recordings, these you have to see as an oppertunity to get a peek at the artists themselves, something like a live performance but from the comfort of your own living room

This is pretty nifty too, an old Mecca tune.........................

Probably nothing, Ian gets tarred and feathered regulary. Chris L

I've lost 12 stone since the original film was made (I really have - Pete S will confirm that !!) I demand to be re-filmed Chris L

You should check out the Vel-vets, quite stunning compared to the orignal from SWONS. This is more than SWONS in a new box but from what I've seen they've mastered it this using the latest digital technology and produced a great chunk of NS history. Since the orignal footage was shot too many of the artists have passed away, Bobby Sheen, Bobby Sanders, Erma Franklin, Bob Relf, et al. This is a wonderful way to get access to them they way they were 10 years ago but with a more professional presentation. No easy task as many of the locations used were pretty dingy to say the least. Some of the artists are on Ian Levines YouTube page, they're well worth a look. I was lucky enough to have filmed some of the artists, some of which sadly have died, I was more than happy to put time in to assist after all no-one else has attempted anything near to this project and probably never will. You just have to say hats off to the guy for persisting and this surely is a labour of love. Chris L