Mick Howard

I'm doing a little research about Detroit (as if that subject hasn't already been done to death) and find that the address 4466 Chene is the same for both the final 2nd series Lupine releases and Mr Kelly's lounge where some of the Detroit Soul acts performed yet I can't find any more information about a possible connection. Does anyone know if there is one and if so what (Robert West?)? Cheers Mick

Haven't got a clue how to paste an extract from a pdf file into this system so just to say that a small article appeared in the Scottish Sun yesterday which reads: "One of only two playable copies of Motown producer Frank Wilson's record Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) could fetch £75,000 when auctioned in April by Fife DJ Kenny Burrell, 55" Mmmmm - perhaps the writer has been on this site and has cherry picked some of the theories..... To Snook Back in the 70's it was either Soul Sam or Brian Rae who played it at St Ives. Soul Sam is mentioned in this thread as having had an acetate but I know for certain that Brian played it on the recognised black In bootleg before it was available to the punters 'cos I had a butchers at the time. Mick

Steve & Alan How about a reunion then? Get it sorted! Mick Howard

Thanks for the 'mensh' Kimbo. Great memories of Shotts of being a punter most of the time but mainly 'cos Jim gave me a spot (1st one in 89). Although having spun a few tunes here and there I'd not done an all-nighter before so there I am all nervous & s**t cueing up my first disc, giving it some on the mic and the speed was at 33....... (I think I must have been on after Tom Jackson who probably had a 12" on before my 45) doesn't do ones confidence any good but anyway I managed to carry on and was on cloud nine when I got a round of applause at the end of the hour. Whilst not my discoveries by any means, some of the tunes I played (I think) were This Is It (Ron Baxter), Too Far To Turn Around (Stylettes), Girl Girl Girl (Danny Harrison), Pretty Girl (Phonetics), Always Be Mine (Shufflers), and now my mind's gone blank. There are a few photos of and on the way to Shotts in my photo album (Micks Memories) if anyones interested. Special mention to Jim O, Andy D, Alan & Steve W, Jock O, Keith W, Colin L, Jim T, Mark L, Tom J and all of the Scottish Soul crew plus the regulars from Stafford including Bernie, Phil, Guy, Keb, Ady, Dave B, Joan, Dave M, Roger, Jacqui (sorry if I've missed anyone) who were and mostly still are indeed the real deal. I still think of both Pete and Ozzy who were mates as well. KTF Mick Howard

Debbie Fancy this thread being on so long and no mention of me. Since moving up here to Scotland seems I've dropped off the face of the Earth! Oddfellows was a regular venue for me too - good memories - early days for Guy and Keb and the 'Mafia' - first met Ozzy and Craig here..... lot's of water under the bridge since. Mick

The thread that Joan initiated about playing records you don't like had a few titles dotted around but how about you didn't like either at first hearing or even for ages but then you had a change of heart perhaps. To kick it off: Tear Stained Face - Don Varner Didn't like this from the day I first heard it (think it was the Casino) until many years later when Mark Bicknell played the original at home on his hi-fi and I heard the 'farting' background horns for probably the first time. It was clean and undistorted and sounded fabulous and I absolutely love it now. Mick

A few more from Stafford (my top venue of all time - so far!) Dave Thorley Larry Davis - I've Been Hurt So Many Times The Q - That's The Way (covered as The Case of Tyme) Soul Bros Inc - Pyramid (covered as Mel Britt) Keb Ron Baxter - This Is It (can't remember the C/U name) The Soul Set - Will You Ever Learn Black Wings Have My Angel - Hayes Cotton (covered as 'Thrice') Guy ('wait for the beat') Detroit Rhythm Section - Backstreets Susan Rewis - They Say (covered as 'All The Hurt & You') Jackie Day - Naughty Boy Of course there were literally 100's of others and not just played by these guys; Pat Brady, Keith Minshull, Ady Pountain, Richard Searling were also regulars at one time or another and remember the guests like Roger Banks, George Sharp, Colin Law, Keith Whitson. Let's remember the legacy of this brilliant venue and the fact that it paved the way for the forward thinking soulies and collectors who are still around looking for the underplayed, the obscure and that great addition to the Northern Soul tradition - the beat ballad! Consider the following, which may not all strictly have been played first at Stafford or indeed at Stafford but were played as a direct result of punters hearing ballads there: Bill Lucas - Cause Youre Mine The Shufflers - Always Be Mine Kenny Sheppard - What Difference Does It Make Sam Fletcher - Think It Over George Freeman - Down & Out Brooks O'Dell - You Better Make Up Your Mind Kell Osborne - Quicksand Faye Crawford - What Have I Done Wrong The Trends - Not Too Old To Cry Doug Banks - Aint That Just Like A Woman Top Of The World Ma - and boy was I................................

Indeed it was James and it was the guy I mentioned in the St Ives forum previously. Very misunderstood guy I guess but when you're only 16 (as I was) you don't take to people like James. Now of course that we've all grown up.........??

Didn't get pulled on a coach but me and a few other lads (can't remember who) were hanging around the public WC's (as you do) at Peterborough bus station waiting for the coach to Wigan (I was supposed to be meeting up with Spike, Andy Rix et al) and got pulled by a couple of plain clothes and we were all frog marched (& I mean frog marched, one hand on head the other on our holdalls) off to the nick. One of the guys made a break for it but was soon caught and he didn't even have any gear! (plonker). Out of about 1/2 dozen only one of us had some gear and it was f**k all to write home about (personal use, not for pushing), but we were in the hands of the boys in blue for hours; all stripped, quick peep up the jacksy and all that. The good thing was that Spike had managed to persuade the other punters to agree to holding up the coach which finally headed off at about eleven o'clock with us all (except one on board. Thanks for the memories.

Just remembered something else from St Ives; Danny and I used to always say 'Chubby Checker for Prime Minister' as You Just Don't Know was our fave tune at the time!!!

Baz Take a look at my photo album, 7th frame and you will see your beautiful girlfriend Rosy and a small contingent from Norwich. I don't suppose Kathy will remember me 'cos I think I was younger than most (only by a year or so) but what memories. I joined the RAF very soon after that picture was taken. I'm with the person who remembers the smells of brut, juicy fruit etc. and I also remember in the morning knicking fresh milk from doorsteps if we found some (they must've still delivered on Sundays in those days). Mobbsy remembers me as I got a message from him recently and I'm very much still in touch with Kev Fev who I'll be seeing in a few weeks time along with Sean and Ivan (who remembers those two characters?). Ivan used to go out with Georgina (Archdeacon) back in the day before going off the rails a little (I hope he won't mind me saying that). Does anyone remember that guy who used to do 'roly-polys' (God love him) on the large dance floor as he couldn't quite get the hang of the proper acrobatic stuff. Who remembers Donald Duck who used to run the coaches from Birmingham? I travelled up with the Brummy lot on their coach one time to Wigan with a guy also called Mick from Chelmsley Wood (don't remember his surname as it was 30 years ago) and clearly remember the 50 year old coach driver 'stashing' all the gear under his engine hood - blimey I had never seen so many little coloured pills! Mick Howard

I do remember seeing Harold Melvin & Blue notes. Perhaps I got my live gigs mixed up - there was certainly a group who didn't show up (Drifters perhaps?)

Idell, not really an 80's perm 'cos it was very real curls - I was called Paul Nicholas or Leo Sayer on many occasions (much to my chagrin).

Kirsty Ta anyway - y'know the 80's was very mustachiod (xcept I didn't have one then). Mick P.S. Hope to see y'all soon - looking for an all nighter to go to perhaps in October - any suggestions?

Can anyone help me out please and identify some of the 'Unknown' folk in the photos in the album I've just posted in the members gallery? Anyone who is unknown is stated in the photo title. Apologies to any of the unknowns for forgetting your names - over 30 years on the scene and all that entails seriously affects ones memory if you know what I mean. All the best Mick H

Jolly About the same time as the Newcastle Tiffany's gig, I believe he also played at Staffords Top of the World - same(ish) DJ line up. But I think that it was just a little later than 83. Perhaps 84/85 or a marangue? On the same thread, does anyone remember the following gigs also at TOTW: Lorraine Chandler & Eddie Parker Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes (didn't turn up - 3 mikes up on the stage looking all lonesome) Gene Chandler (also played at Hinkley Leisure Centre during the same tour) - this was also fabulous particularly when he came as 'Duke of Earl' complete with top hat, cane and cape! Mick

Andy Tell me how to copy a document (pdf file) into this medium - I've got a sales tape list from Pete just before he died. Regards Mick

Andy (& others) I had a good look through what's left of my 'stuff' and have found a couple of things of Pete's including a photo taken on a minibus on our way to Scotland (Allanton I think). I'll post them when I've scanned them. Shute I also found issue 2 of 'The Gospel According to Dave Godin' but wouldn't mind a copy of issue 1 (must've lost my copy along the way) if you would copy it for me (I'll pay for the copying and P&P of course). If you're agreeable then send me a personal. Thanks in advance.

Ah yes Pete Some great and not so great memories. He stayed with me for a couple of days in Halifax back in the late 80's and my then wife couldn't make head nor tail of him. He was cutting EMI's at a studio in Huddersfield near the Fish n' Chip shop I had at the time. I also remember one time on a trip up to Scotland and he didn't shut up all the way up and all the way back down - and he was straight at the time!!! I will have a look to see if I've got anything but again I don't think that I've got any photos 'cos they were left behind when I split up with Jayne. Mick Howard

Another typical Northern venue with a great line up. Yes, Kitch did his first DJ'ing there and I remember him being extremely nervous. I have a scan of various membership cards I've had over the years and Soultown is one of them. I also used to have some B/W photos that I took at Mexborough and recall a really good one of Brad but I think that it's probably at the bottom of a landfill site now seing as my ex-wife never did return all of my 'stuff'. Great days. Mick Howard

Simon Don't know if you remember me but I lived in Halifax for a time in the early 80's and got to know you and Christine, Sue and Kyle etc. Anyway, one of my best mates in the RAF in the mid to late 70's was a guy called Tony Holdsworth who was from Bradford and was a Northern fan. He was one of those who were filmed for 'This England' and at the time his knickname was 'Biggles' on account of his 'bins'. Anyway, I'm still in touch and he has a (German) wife and a 12/13 year old son now. Personally, although we had 2 great kids (Kyle and Keri, 21 and 18 respectively) Jayne and I split up in the early 90's whilst I was in Saudi Arabia and I'm now living up here in Glasgow. Hope you find some more Yorkshire folk All the best Mick