Mick Howard

Here are some photos not from the Ric Tic review but when Major Lance played at Hinckley. By the look of those people in the bottom photo (Steve, Jayne, Chris & Dave) substances may have been involved.... Mick

The top two photos ouside the Fleet circa 1978 First photo on left is me (2nd from the left - very white skin) and my mates Blakey, Nick and Browny and the second just Nick (nice trousers young man). Bottom photo is Coalville Tiffanies (my then girlfriend Sue just in the picture on the left) Mick

Debbie Finally managed to dig those photos out & after scanning & converting them so here goes... First off a a couple from St Ives all nighter & one from Kettering all dayer circa 1976 - that's 1/2 of me on the left in the bottom photo (girl unknown). Next, three from Peterborough Wirrina Stadium circa 1978 - in the middle photo check the scout neckerchief the guy on the left is wearing and the beer towel wearing chap in the middle (de rigeur in those days) - thats me on the left in the bottom photo with my mates Nick Jones (Portsmouth) and Tony Rudd (Wisbech). Next, two from Peterborough Fleet circa 1979 - me with a guy who's name I've forgotten plus me with Spike Collier Post some more later Mick

Paul You may be right about The Kid but surely Joe 90 wasn't played as early as 74 - still big on the TV then wasn't it? Anyway, on the subject of instrumentals, it's a very thin line between s***e & 'right on' isn't it? To wit: Bari Track Harlem Rumble Frantic Escape etc...... Mick

Well, here's a l'il something I dug up from from '65...... https://www.youtube.c...h?v=bgnCB7oni8o Ian D

Does anyone have this & is it worth a read? Mick

I guess the question is: did America invent Northern Soul dancing styles? Ian D

Miss Nancy I saw Alison towards the middle of last year (around April I think) but haven't seen Jimmy. They split up around Christmas 2008 hence the reason why Alison was on her own. I believe that she's moved out of Yorkshire but Jimmy's still in Bradford. You could try sending a PM to Debbie Butler 'cos I think she'll know a bit more info & may be able to put you in touch. Mick

And while we're at it how about this lot: The Fantastic Plastic Machine Six O'Clock The Kid Cartoon Candy Carnival A Good Thing Going Classics....... Mick

Cheers Cilla....... Mick

I wasn't aware that RW had "discovered" any - he may have been the first to play some (the aforementioned FW for example) but most came from other sources such as Simon Soussan... Would that be about right? Mick

Has anyone tried the UPVC glue method? I couldn't believe it when I was told by my mate Craig Butler but it works. If you are sceptical then try it on an old pop record or pressing or something. Paint it on (mind you don't catch the label), leave to dry overnight & then peel it off - et voila....... Mick

It did sound like "bitch" but reckoned on "bet" when I had it but logically "pet" sounds more like it. Always thought that Jerry Butler was singing "and you've got a great big car" in Moody Woman...... Mick

Toma I bought Stay by the Virginia Wolves back in the 70's (alright, in hindsight it's a pretty rotten tune but it was a long time ago and I was very 'green') and when I got it out of the sleeve to show my mate, for some unexplainable reason I snapped it fully in half - oh how my heart sank at that very moment. Mick P.S. How come you didn't come up to my BBQ last summer?

There is a guy in Norwich called Paul Moore (quite a handy 'geezer' as it happens) and we used to sing his name in time with 'Hold On' by Judy Freeman back in the day and every time I hear it now even 30 years later I still can't help singing his name. Go on, you know you want to....... Mick

Not with hindsight Manus of course but at the time it was huuuuuge.... & I did like it 'cos it didn't sound like anything that I'd ever heard before Mick

I think you guys are right on both counts vis-a-vis Billy Arnell being played at St Ives first & the repetition of tunes - seem to recall at St Ives hearing Derek & Ray 4 or 5 times in one night and in fact I also seem to remember it being called 'Overplay' after a while..... Mick

Yes me old mucker. We met on the train out of London, you were going to Reading and me to Oxford so it must've been around 83 or 84 so not quite 30 years just yet but it does make you feel old(er)..... Ring me this week some time. Mick

Peterborough Wirrina some time during the steamy, hot summer of 76. After the football (the old first division) it was a 'wander' bus ticket purchased from Norwich bus station for around £1.60 that got us on a double-decker at around 6.30 for a long trip to Kings Lynn where we had to wait for the connection to Peterborough eventually arriving at around 10.30. Some people I remember from that first time - Alan & Eppy who had already travelled by bus from Bungay in Suffolk, Sam, Mobbsy, Kev Laws, Keith Dunhill, Smiler and Paul Cameron who because he was so smashed, smoked so much he got a massive yellow stain on his hand! Don't remember the first record I heard 'cos I was very 'green' when it came to recognising tunes but through the night I recall hearing Stevie Wonder Uptight and Dean Parrish I'm On My Way (that one probably at the end) and one tune that I hadn't heard before but which I think was the one that got me 'hooked' and that was Freddie Chavez They'll Never Know Why.... Mick

You are quite right Rob - it has to be a 'choon' that was discovered at the time the Casino was in operation & went 'stellar' there (not necessarily played there first 'cos a lot of sounds got their first outing at smaller, local Soul nights didn't they?). For me...... Tough Girl - Billy Arnell Can't Get Over These Memories - John & The Wierdest Mick

Here are some more 'good' (IMHO) B sides: Gene Chandler - (I'm Just A) Fool For You Fantastic Johnny C - New Love Phil Flowers - You Little Devil Johnny Nash - Love Ain't Nothing The Platters - Don't Hear, Speak, See No Evil Mick

I used to go with a girl back in the 70's called Sue Ives (her surname has probably changed by now) from Hull. Busty and blonde she like me was in the RAF (a driver I think) and was into Northern & we went several gigs together (Casino, Coalville etc.) Anyone on here know her then or now? Cheers Mick

Derek Middle photo - although I hadn't met any of the Bradford 'crew' at that time I'm thinking that the arm coming in from the right belongs to Jimmy Nolan - would that be about right? Mick P.S. Are you going to Stafford in April?

Out of all of Gloria Jones' NS tunes I think I prefer Come Go With Me anyway Mick

Never seen Narbay on flea-bay.... Didn't see Johnny Hampton until recently and then there were two at same time (like a No 9 bus). Mick