Torch56

Last time I saw him was at the Royal Stoke Hospital about 18 months ago. It seemed strange to see him somewhere that wasn't a venue. I didn't know him personally, but recognised him from The Old Vic in the late eighties. R.I.P.

With regard to what records were played at which venue first the thing I find most frustrating is the lack of dates given with claims. Here are my memories of some of the records referred to by Pep and when, and in some instances where, they were played. Four Larks Alan S was playing a Tower issue of this in the early months of 1972. Roy Hamilton. I heard talk of this through the summer of '72 but it wasn't played at the Catacombs until September and the re-opening after the Astra refurbishment. Alan Day had it at Up the Junction (Crewe) where I first heard it on August 5th. It was one of the top sounds of that era that you knew on first hearing merited its exalted status. The black RCA issue with Nipper and the phonograph, meant the record looked great as well. I think the orange reissue came out shortly afterwards which led to it being dropped from shortlists before the autumn was out. The Velours. Pep brought a demo of this to the Catacombs on a Wednesday night in the summer of '73. The bass led intro, the bells and the soaring chorus prompted instantaneous appeal and two plays that night, which was very unusual for the Cats. The following Saturday the record was accompanied by the mass handclapping of the assembled throng and its iconic status was assured. The other version by Frankie Valli became the version to play by the time Wigan opened in September, but it is but a pale imitation, to my ears at least Bob Relf. This was huge. For a couple of weeks, around July '73, this was the most popular record played at the Cats, and that's some accolade when you think of the array of top sounds that graced the decks at that time. Again, a record with a section where the instrumentation is stripped right back and the hand clappers fill the void. Sam and Kitty As I recall, around October/November Graham Warr came back from the States from one of his trips and there was a sudden influx of new sounds. George Carrow, The Glories, Johnny Moore, Earl Jackson Soul Twins, among others. Sam and Kitty was one of these and, I must admit for the first few plays I was unimpressed. It didn't stand out particularly but it was a staple item in any DJ set. However, thirty miles north of the Cats in Hose Street, Tunstall, dancefloor reaction was much more enthusiastic. I first went to The Torch in December 1972 and noted that four records stood out in terms of dance floor reaction. Eddie Parker was way out at number 1, but Sam and Kitty, along with The Shakers and The Triumphs, Walking the Duck, all warranted the rush to the dance floor. An impressive sight if you were looking on from the balcony. Dena Barnes, The Epitome of Sound. I remember these from the dog days of The Cats in June/ July 1974. Attendances had plummeted since Wigan had opened and the last night was only a couple of weeks away. These were two records that stood out at that time and it is fitting, given the news this week, that I recall a conversation I had with Smokie when I just bumped into him in the town, by St Peter's Gardens. I asked what current sounds met his favour and he referred to these two. A discerning choice with which I could only agree.

Received sad news yesterday that Mark had passed away. I first met him at the Wheatsheaf in Walsall in 1985 and thereafter at several venues around the West Midlands, including the 86 Club ( Bridgnorth) the Old Vic and the Black Horse (Wolverhampton) as well as the Central Hotel (Cannock) His taste in music extended far beyond the Top 500 and right to the end his passion for Soul maintained his spirit through the darker days he had to live through more recently. Unfortunately, motor neuron disease is an unforgiving companion and strikes arbitrarily and without compassion. Mark dealt with his misfortune without rancour, and extolled the work of the MND Association, which campaigns for greater awareness and further research into this affliction. A keen Wolves fan, who was there in the dark days of the 80s, he was also a union representative, at Caterpillar Finning, a role which he undertook with commitment and that he came to miss as his illness progressed. A sociable and engaging character, his indomitable spirit and easy laugh is sadly no more, but will be readily remembered.

Remember him from Stafford in particular due to his distinctive dancing style. If you google: Central Cannock 1991 Soul Night and go about 30 minutes in, you can see Duncan in a white top dancing to Johnny Rogers-Make a Change. He clearly had good taste. Difficult to grasp how somebody so fit and athletic (He was a martial arts practitioner and instructor) could be taken so young; he was only 56.

Sorry to pass on sad news that Dave, probably better known on here as Dave the Drug, tragically lost his life in a fire at his house in Bilston last week. An engaging raconteur and keen record collector, his knowledge of soul music, and love of rare vinyl, was impressive and based on an engagement with the scene from the late 60s to the date of his demise. A native of east London, he never lost his accent nor his love of West Ham ,despite years spent in the Wolverhampton area. He was particularly keen on UK labels and used to post images of iconic British items from his collection on this site and elsewhere. The motif that adorned his Linkedin page was an orange CBS issue of Kenny Bernard's, Pity My Feet, for example. Dave had been in poor health for some time, but the news of his death, and the circumstances, understandably came as a shock to all who knew him. Condolences to his family and many friends.

Easter Saturday 1972 Ain't no more room Kittens You're gonna make me love you Sandi Sheldon Reach out San Remo Strings K-Jee Nite Liters