Zed1

Remember Chris - went out with one of the Girls who used to travel with us to Wigan, and YES he was a good dancer. Used to go down most weeks with a crowd from Runcorn, including Dusty (RIP) Libby and several others who were all Scousers..

Remember the old 'Sink Club' back in the day, but other than this Liverpool has never exactly been a hotbed of northern. Used to go to Wigan back in the day with several scousers but interestingly none lived in Liverpool..

Apparently the Wigan Athletic football team are going to do an open top tour of the town - Martinez and his players are all going to dress up in vest tops and baggies and Russ Winstanley will be driving the bus around the local shopping mall. Wigan football club have said a special Adidas bag FA cup patch is going to be made available for all those who never actually went to Wembley...

After that Paul O'Grady thing I now tell people I'm into Country & Western....

Given the amount of people who still dress and listen to the same songs as they did in 73, I'd say you've missed fook all!.

Fantastic Pete..... Reads like the playlist from my first friday Wigan Oldies nite.....

Can't think of many that start and finish as good as CW's 'I don't Like to Lose'.......

Hardly surprising.... Lost count the number of Birthday/Christmas cards we've had in recent years that have turned up in that plastic bag having already been opened.....

This IMHO is one of the things that's wrong with the present scene, some fantastic 'oldies' arn't seeing a set of decks because they are classed as too rare for one side of the scene - not rare enough for the other, it seems that unless you own a handbag or an anorak these days the scene has little to offer..... This would be my offering, a Superb 'Northern' Soul track that most of us would know........ except it seems the people who play the records.

Unlikely...... most DJ's would just say 'Sorry I can't pay you mate - I've left my money in my other Wallet!'.....

I carry several £K of tools/materials EVERY single day in my van including late night call outs yet I don't expect any kind of special treatment or an 'escort' to and from my work. also if I'm careless with my tools and they're nicked I lose my a LOT more than a hobby...... I lose my living. What next?, volunteers to take the DJ's to the bog and wipe their arses for them in case they get a few germs on their Vinyl?.....

Records are the DJ's tools of the trade - it's up to him/her to look after them. If a Plumber turned up at your house to do a Job you wouldn't expect to help him carry his tools in because he's 'Getting old' or because his tools might be worth a few bob!......

Does anyone play this out anymore or is it not Handbag Friendly enough?..

Does 'Northern' Soul come much better......

Does 'Northern' Soul come much better......

Lordy!..... not heard this played out since Wigan.

Always liked this version........

Reminds me of.......

Wigan circa 77......

Lovin' this of late.....

Cover or not this is still absolute Quality......

Someone PROPER fooked up with this label - It says 'Soul' on it!...

The biggest change in the scene in recent years is the demographic of those attending, most typical local soul type nights are now little more than disco's for 50 somethings with the people attending doing so because it's a late drink and night out with their mates rather than any desire they may have to broaden their taste in rare soul music. Lets be honest, you could put on a '20 Great Northern Soul Party Hits' CD every hour and as long as it's got Ruby Andrews for Mr's Handbag and the MVP's for Mr Handbag to dance to (after a suitable intake of Stella) then everyone goes home happy (and pi55ed). Once again it comes back to the usual case of too many DJ's with no where to play out their expensively put together ebay collections, meaning they set up their own venues which is all well and good except the only way to get numbers through the door is to play to the above 'Social Night' types meaning lots of repeats and VERY little scope for varying their playlist.

Was Lucky enough to meet Tommy a few years ago and he a signed a few things for us, He was also more than happy to chat about the scene and all things soul. A 'Proper' nice guy and a true legend.

I wish a few others would pack in the 'Magic Dancing Powder' as I'm getting fed up slipping on my arse when I go for a pint!...