Barry

Obviously West End released a 12", but not a week has gone by without me digging in US released material and, again, I have never come across one. Thanks for putting a long forgotten bug bear to rest folks - I'll have the 12" if anyone wants to part - can't wait to hear the 9 min edit. Cheers.

I think a little perspective is required here. People live their lives, they have ups and downs, peaks and troughs, the world over, whatever nationality they may be. In the case of a teacher (Ann Sexton for example) they have given, and received, so, soo much (in her taecher role alone), that their lives are a simple triumph to them, theirs and the people that have come into contact with them, the people that they have so obviously influenced. A gift in itself, pride and a huge achievement. Don't get unnecessarily misty eyed over our US loves, they have lived and loved as much, if not more, than you/us. I know that we can never influence those people as they have us - and for that they will always be on a pedestal. It seems that certain people see our musical heroes lives as something less than their own, tougher maybe - by making said hero and their life efforts seem more difficult than ours/yours/the bloke next door....they are not. Everybody has a tragedy if you want to wax lyrical about it - it's just that the majority of us haven't impressed as much as our heroes have. I am quite positive that their lives are not in actual fact as down-trodden as you would like to make out. No doubt there are real tragedies, but lets not lose sight of our heroes real triumphs in life, lets celebrate those moments. Views?

A pure W**** slab of soulful cheese courtesy of aforementioned lady, 'You're The Light That Guides My Way' - which may qualify for the Gospel Soul thread....maybe!?

A Oop Pat!! Sorry mate, phone has gone tits up, SIM in different phone, never know who's phoning me. Love you, miss you. Baz & Gill

Another Shalamar Modern play was 'Right In The Socket' (Morecambe maybe, possibly Dave @ Leicester). Recently reactivated, to a new and younger audience, by Dave (Joey Negro) Lee on the current soulful dance/disco/soul scene. Malc, never say 'you shouldn't but you do' - there is no apologies to be made for understanding quality productions. For every sniper there are ten people watching your back, maybe saying nowt, but respecting your views.

Mate, I love TTTTB (if you don't move to that, you are dead) - I have a video of Jody Watley's tits falling out of her top when her, Howard & Jeffrey performed it live on TOTPs.

Kev Edwards first baby follwing his departure from Spinn Inn. A cracking little venue, with a forward thinking thinking music policy, that played Modern alongside new Jazz Funk dance releases - also newly released swayers of the time (eg The Malemen - Baby Doll), and a great little sideline in lost oldies. Full every week for years, with a national following.

Being a jack of all trades kind of bloke, I was from an early age very aware of the prolific release rate of West End Records - I bought this at Wigan on a 7" for £8...but I've never seen a 12" copy of it. Knowing what I do about West End, I shouldn't even embarass myself by making this post [as I would think it obvious that it must have been released on a 12"), but again - I've never come across one. Can someone prove me wrong? And if so, sell me a 12" of it?

That track sits in my Ritz memory bank, when Tavares - 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel' used to get pasted, usually at which point I disappeared from the dancefloor cussing (as youngsters do). I still believe that that track was never one that should have had NS showcasing - but - now as an older bloke, what a feckin' magnificent production. It was the 'GAP' advert from a few years back that made me listen to it with new ears.

My shot - a five pound pick up, that was a whopper when Wigan bounced to 'TWBANTR' - Eddie Holman, 'Janice' - Skip Mahoney, 'Over The Top' - Roy Dawson, 'Ready For The Getdown' - ZZ & Co etc etc....and it is.....and I honestly still love it....'Keys To The City' - Omni. Lyrically heartfelt and quite beautiful (in the bands approach to the delivery of those words), with drops built for the Northern scene at the time. "I sit all alone, by the telephone, waiting for your call" "BA-DI-YAP-BA-DOO-WAH!" Love it.

Ha ha, in one mate. Will actually fell to sleep in the middle of one of Stu's more interesting stories - the funny thing being - Stu either didn't notice or didn't care - I'm picking Carl up at the airport tomorrow a.m., they should have a great Southport. How you?

YAAY!! Michael. Just packed Big Will and Barry B off (we did a good job on the NJ boys I think ) .

The laundry lass' views, as did Dave Withers', summed it all up - pure passion for a time and it's music, and a true love for the scene which was their lives at that moment. Which is why the words and images conveyed on that doc still stick with us types.

It strikes me that Dave is a very rare commodity on this scene from the loving heartfelt responses given above. I thank the board for them.

Can't believe I didn't get a decent response to the above!?

Worth a fiver all day to me, thanks for the history chaps.

Some belters in there, I'll leave it up to the straight-minded to pick out the relevant quotes. You know why that is Rachel, and the word 'strange' (??) don't enter into it? It seems to me that it is mainly because the younger element that are involved with this, (any), scene tend not to have the hierachial back up on this scene and also on this message board that, maybe say, you have, therefore it isn't as easy for them to pipe up as freely as you nad I can. The only things that the young things feel able to respond to, obviously, are topics that relate to or maybe involve themselves/topics that they are able to reply to - namely the ones you are castigating those same youngsters for responding to. After all we all have an opinion, don't we? This question wasn't about age, read between the lines, it was about the longevity of the scene and this music... you seem to be dividing the issue into an age thing, which is short sighted. Without youth and youngblood (Smith), surely the death-warrant has already been issued for the NS scene? Remember mine is only a view, my view alone, and not a truth. You were a baby at one time on this scene, and you're still here. Therefore, you shouldn't relegate certain relevant the views from others on this subject, simply for the fact that they are made from individuals that are younger than yourself.

I'm not sure who made it but either way, good response. Don't take me too seriously mate.

Very odd track for me (I wasn't aware of it prior to my purchase), with a bizarre bassline but I love it anyhow - any info gratefully received.

Obviously not, but, and this harks back to my 'Keb Darge' post - I do find it funny that pivotal figures are allowed a degree of movement in their musical tastes, whereas others aren't. Look at Sam and his left field musical fixations (not all Northern by any measure), Searling and his current R&B plays (the worst part of his show for me), Brian and his Doo Wop, Keb and his Funk etc etc. Does this not beg the question from you die hard 'Northern or Nowt' Soulies that you may have a certain degree of musical opening (some may say, growing) up to do? Ouch.

And Michael, he is worthy of them all. I do miss the 'tache though.

Fair do's mate. I must say that a major force in my memories when it comes to the Northern scene at that time was the gritty and beautiful reality that Northern town girls, from Wigan, Leigh, Bolton etc (and the surrounding areas) brought to the scene. The hair-do's, the look they brought, (back end of Wigan's era and the fashions that were on display thanks to said girls), the open book kinship they had - the great things about Nighter birds at that time was they tended not to work on the same hierachy levels that blokes did, they just accepted you. Who was the blonde Wigan lass that used to partner dance with Janice Thorpe (Leigh) at Wigan, they always danced together to the right of the stage, matching crimson leather kecks and pixie boots? I loved watching them. Janice was the only bird that I saw stomping at a nighter (Morecambe) whilst eight month pregnant. Anyone any sightings lately?

I couldn't have asked for a better set of props for a lovely man. Ergo - Dave IS God!

Thanks for the enlightening replies, I hope one day some of you may get to grips with my questioning technique, generally fashioned to drag a response from folk, and not as some of you seem to think, borne of ignorance. Some beltingly well thought out responses in there though, cheers.

Am I reading this right? Are they Spanish lads/girls? Are they white-ish? Are they not Belgian - female - Welsh? Will it not get Radio 1 airplay? I take it that it's obscure, maybe? It strikes me that your post used the 'Duffy' tag in the negative manner that you did, simply to attract positive reactions from other DF's (Duffy Haters) that possibly may have not responded to your post without being given the opportunity to prove themselves 'better Soulies' by joining in on your pointless (Welsh) white witch hunt. Anyway - is it any good?