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bri phill

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Posts posted by bri phill

    Thats right, levine never found anything did he. Oh I forgot, he discovered almost all of the records that the early northern scene was based on, thats all.

    :lol: Ian without doubt contributed so much to the scene from1971,but the scene was well established well before Ian turned up don't believe everything you see in films.

    Hi Richard,

    I hope this reply gets on to the forum. Even though I joined some time ago this is my first post on this - or any - forum! A groundbreaking moment for me. So good to see many of the well known early Northern soul folk mentioned in one forum - I couldn't resist the temptation to get involved. It would be great to keep in touch and discuss those halcyon days! Also, memories return of seeing Brian at the Wheel almost every week and those discussions / record deals!

    I'm about to go out but I'll post again. I'm still "doing a bit" of dj work - mostly on revival nights, including some bookings for another old buddy, Neil Rushton. I'm just about to go out, but will post again soon. Would be good to hear from any / all of you meantime!

    All the best for now

    Carl

    :tumbleweed3:

    Hi Carl, great to see your post it seems everyone turns up on here sooner or later,Good to hear your still doing a bit,send me a flyer for the next one wouldn't mind popping down to see a few old faces etc.

    Have you retired from your day job now and become a man of leisure? Anyway I'll look for your posts.

    regards

    Brian

    :yes:

    I think a book that encompassed the NS scene wholly would be a better read - stick to one venue and you get a personal view, nice but not a viable commercial venture for any publishing house.

    I'm not knocking the formulative years of the NS scene and the UK clubs responsible for bringing this music to its commercial height, that is, the real ground breakers and the true hub of this scene, you know the venues I'll not bore you.

    But when I read these posts it seems that majoritively the venues quoted are from Wigan onward - I may be open to selective reading as we all are on this kind of personal matter- as they are the venues that people attended who are still 'message board active' and able to recount on.

    I can't see a whole book being written about Stafford or the Clifton Hall, Oddfellows, Buzzard etc being absorbing to for enough people to purchase, outside but a few (I'd buy one, but I'm one of maybe just a few, commercially).

    But, on the flp of that, I see a publication that could possibly encompass the Nighter scene from the late 70's to now, giving playlists, personal accounts and a general musical feel of that particular event, a Winner.

    Not only for the NS Scene but if only from a Social History point of view.

    I thought Mike Ritson was working on the InCrowd 2 covering the scene from this period to present day,I thought the InCrowd was by far the best book about the scene,so if he does as good a job on a follow up I think everyone will be happy. cheers Brian

    Just heard reports that Ike Turner has died, age 76, at home in San Marcos, CA.

    Paul Mooney

    Yes he was a verry talented guy a true original,saw him at the Wheel 1968,he was back in Manchester with The Gorillas 2 years ago a real legend Brian Phillips

    shortly after john bought the record ..it was bootlegged and I believe john stopped collecting,might be wrong, help me out here mr.m

    all the best tezza

    This was put me off more than anything you would get a great sound sell it to a genuine collector at a reasonable price and within a few weeks it was booted I felt really bad. These customers had dealt with me for years some since 1968 and trusted me so when this happened I felt guity and for the new soulies when this happened the sound was devalued overnight(not like the purist scene we have today) cheers Brian

    Hi Brian.

    In reply to your post about the Bridgnorth lads. Were all doing fine, I don't know if you can remember us there was my-self Terry Carter (Cart) Barry Willmore. Chris Crann. Michael Wood (Woody)

    Dave Wenlock Steve Bullock. We very rarely missed a Saturday night at the wheel. Sometimes the blue note on Sunday morning but mostly right back to Droitwich for the 4 till 7 club Sunday afternoons at the Chateau Impney from there over to Wellington to Terry Heaths then some how made our way home Sunday night. Many times on a Monday morning we were still sitting in my mates car out side my house when my dad left for work at 6.0 clock still talking. We also went to the Beachcomber Nottingham. the Torch. Blue Orchid. Cats. and many other clubs at the time. Also the one and only time to Rupert's House. I think it got burnt down just after. We first went to Torquay in early 1970 taking our soul records with us giving them to the D Js to play in clubs like the Scotch club Hideaway and Compass. We knew all the guys from Kidderminster. Wellington. Shrewsbury. Wolves and Worcester.

    I still get to go to a few nighters now with Barry and Steve the last ones being 100-club anniversary and Kings hall.

    Terry

    Hi Tery,Great to hear your all well,I remember lots of nights at the Wheel talking to you lads I was caged in for 6 hours (not like these 1 hour spots now) I remeber being dragged down your way Sunday morning doing some record dealing.I always went to Torquay from 68-71 selling sounds and lending them to the jocks,loved the Scotch and Kassa Marina although I got threw out a few times.

    I still see Phil Saxe you remenber Phil he and Les Cockell took over from me when I left September 70 don't see too many of the other boys.Do you remeber Tony Brown from Cleethorpes ?.he may have been just before your time.

    Great times then discovering new imports every week and discovering and probably re-discovering some fantastic UK stuff. Pass my regards to all the gang maybe we can have a meet regards Brian

    Would have sounded intersting but surely nowhere near as popular as the original by Homer Banks.He was god like at that time with 60 minutes/Hooked etc

    Homer Banks version had been re-released by then and wasn't played at the Wheel after 1968, Taj Mahal was just a change that's all,Hooked by love was still getting played by the great Homer Banks.Hole in the wall was played by the Dynatones again a change from The Packers and the best version by far George Stone.The Herbie Mann records escapes me at the moment apart from Philly Dog wichh got a few plays.

    Hi Brian,

    Long time no see! Hope you're well mate and I guess the beard's grey now LOL!

    Best,

    Ian "Frank" Dewhirst

    Hi Ian, Yeah I'm good, cheers Brianyou too I hope,got a good hairdresser keeps touching my barnet up so I can go to all the young clubs as well(like making a fool of myself) cheers Brian

    Hi just a few good album tracks played at the Wheel were Jackie Wilson You can count on me, Someboddy up there like you,Williams & Watson Two for the price of one also Too Late {but obviously before the single was found}A lot of love Taj Mahal,Carrying on Lou Rawls and a few by Earl Van Dyke.

    Bloody hell, I started this thread ages ago.

    Welcome to Mr Phillips - Hi Brian how are you ( not seen you for a couple of months now).

    I believe it was a rumour a few years ago that Docker had died - incorrect as I recall as he was alive and kicking and quite upset to be 'written off' !!

    Alan S died a couple of years after the filming of SWONS ( think it was some form of cancer - he did tell me at the time but my memory is crap).

    Like Brian, I met Alan again in Manchester at the SWONS filming - also present that night were Frank Elson, Andy Simpson, Kegsy, Martyn Ellis,Andy Hanley etc etc and thereby started my love affair with NS again.

    Julian

    Hi julian, just come in after a few scoops Alan died of liver/pancrass cancer, I wasn't there on that filming but met Alan again in a mecca reunion.

    I thought Docker was still about and may be he will take revenge on the rumour spreader WHAT A RELIEF great guy, we must all have a meet GLOUCESTER maybe (well someone got to go there) ha ha. regards Brian

    When I started on this scene Jan 67 the wheel was playing stuff such as The Cheater,Trampoline,This Hammer,When I come home,the Mitch ryder stuff and probably a few more "poppy" records I can't just think off at the allniters,but all great dance records and not too well known.

    The scene was changing and a more uptempo soul sound was prefered by the younger crowd and the increased consumption of amphetimes ,we used to call it Rhythm and soul.

    Later when I started DJing there I introduced Nobody but me, You get your kicks,You're ready now(originally I played Bobby Bennet)then found FrankieValli's version,Queen of fools , not my favourites but all brilliant dance tunes and huge at the time(although these records could have previously been played prior to 67).The scene wasn't as purist then and the empasis was more on dancing having a great time and playing stuff you couldn't hear in every other club.The pop-soul crossovers continued Ghost in my house,Paul Anka and lots more I haven't got time to mention. :lol:

    Brian, Well was it Gilpin Walk? No 5? - I did not know Alan S had passed on, can

    you tell me anymore? Is Alan Daye still around? Don't know anything about the SWONS

    project. tell me more!! - You were always a bit of a legend down in Gloucester you know

    and still are in my book. Is there anywhere on this site that I can post some photos? I

    have lots of the Gloucester/Cheltenham clan as well as Alan S, Carl, and some who used

    to visit from the North as well as some great shots of Major Lance Ist at the Torch, God

    that was a night that was!!!!!. I spoke with him halfway through but he was totally off

    his face - the roof came off that night, totally AWESOME! I will never forget it. I still

    play the old stuff we knew back then, brings back more than happy memories, I'm sad

    about Alan S, he was a good friend. As she used to sing "Time will pass you by"!!!.

    Kindest Always Richard

    Richard, Yes it was 5 Gilpin Walk, I don't know about Alan Day but I'm sure someone on here would have posted if he wasn't,as for Docker I thought he was still about but will ask about.

    Regarding photos I'm a novice on this forum and I.T. but their will be plenty of people on here who will inform you, I can just about post.

    I was at that Major Lance gig and managed to get my demo of Oops Deliha signed by him in the changing room he was certainly well smashed, but what a night.

    The SWONS project was Ian Levines film The Secret World of Northern Soul a huge documentry he did in 1999 it had a bit of rewriting history and ignored the pre 68 period,but I think more good than bad came out of it.On a personal note I wasn't happy about that he had is own agenda on the Twisted Wheel and reinvented everything but it got me involved in the scene again and helped me to meet many old faces and lots of people I mailed to but never met.

    Anyway Richard their's hundreds of knowledgable soulies on here who will keep you up to date it's fantastic how these dedicated soulies keep the scene thriving. regards Brian

    :ohmy:

    Brian, Great to hear from you too! Did we do any record dealing, don't you remember, I reguarly bought stuff from your list and you too from my lists, didn't you live at 5 Gilpin

    walk or something like that?? I think Carl had it first but I don't know where he got it from, don't think it was until much later when Selecta Disc pressed 'em up or was it FL Moore I can't recall, one of your pals used to DJ at a Torquay night spot, I stayed with hIm once and had a hell of a time. Do you remember Nigel Stone, a Gloucester lad, used to go to the wheel and the cats a lot, his dad ran a pub - been trying to chase him for years, he introduced me to the late Bob Crocker of the cats, and Alan S became a great

    friend he used to come to Gloucester a lot. In my opinion Carl Dene was one of the best jocks I ever met - is he still kicking? Great times, Great!!! Richard

    Hi Richard, your memory must be better than mine cant remember all our dealings and dont sem to recollect a Nigel Stone.I saw Carl when the SWONS project was on he was still doing the occasional gig got to agree he was one of the best DJs a great lad too we use to do a lot of dealing together and with the late Bob Crocker as well. I was having a drink with Alan S quite a bit untill his sad death almost 6 years ago.

    Its great how the younger brigade have kept the scene going what a great job they have done,I lost interest in the mid seventies and only revisited due to the SWONS project when people started contacting me,I go to a few events now some great people out there. cheers Brian

    Hello Richard, Great to see your alive and well, remember Docker raving on about Baby Reconsider when I was DJ at the Wheel I thought he told me Carl was playing it at the Chateau did he get a copy from FL Moore? At that time it was the only sound I had heard of and couldn't get for a while. Do you remember the lads from Bridgnorth who use to come to the Wheel in the summer they worked in Torquay?I can't remember if we did any record dealing happy days and exciting times them. cheers Brian Phillips

    wasnt that one of those CBS sampler lps where the Taj Mahal track happened to be the last track on one side?......Bri Carthy told me about that.........

    Yes that's right a guy called Jim Halliday cut it down he use to come down with Dickie Watt from Carlisle always looking for something new and that went down pretty good so why not. cheers Brian

    I realised the other day when I looked at my edge cracked copy of The Spinners that I can cut the LP down to 7" with pair of tin snips and still retain 'I'll Be Around'. Is this acceptable? Same with the Voices Of East Harlem. I reckon I could fashion 'Rare, So Rare' down to a 7". I find this a very feasable and credible answer to the problem of playing LPs when DJing.

    I tried it with my copy of 'Free Angela', but realised halfway through that Dickie Wonder was too far out in the grooves. If anyone wants a pretty Free Angela spiral window decoration I can send you the ebay link.

    While we're at it. 5 or 3 inch CD's? Which would you rather hear at your favourite allnighter?

    Just spotted this thread back in1969 I used to play a cut down LP with a lot of love - Taj Mahal on the inside track at the Wheel, I used a lot of LP tracks not available as singles such as You can count on me and somebody up there likes you of the Higher and Higher album other tracks from The Artistics,The Dynatones,Earl Van Dyke,The MIracles,Stevie Wonder etc etc.I must confess I had them put on EMI discs for ease of carrying didnt know any better then.LP tracks should always have apart to play the late great Roger Eagle used them regularly, I just thought DJs couln't be arsed carrying them cheers Brian

    Whoever was Dj'ing December 1969 at The Brit in Nottingham, the DJs never spoke one word so I have no idea who was playing the hour that change my life.

    This was my very first experience of a real soul club.

    As I walk up the wooden stairs to the sounds of

    Al Kent - The Way You've Been Acting Lately

    They had my total attention for the rest of the night:

    Edwin Starr - Back Street

    Jimmy McCracklin - The Walk

    Spinners -She's Gonna Love You At Sundown

    Jackie Edwards - I Feel So Bad

    Major Lance - Investigate

    Len Barry - Somewhere

    Guy Darrell - I've Been Hurt

    J.J. Barnes - Please Let Me In

    Jerry Butler - Moody Woman

    Dean Parrish - Determination

    Jimmy Thomas - Where There's A Will

    Invitations - What's Wrong With Me Baby

    Hoagy Lands - The Next In Line

    Fascinations - Girls are out to get you

    Probably doesn't sound like much today, but to a 16 year old out of his hometown at night for the first time, this was the most incredible musical experience I'd wouyld ever experience, it has never been duplicated since.

    mellow.gif It may have been Dave Knight he use to do a bit down at the Brit Club and the beachcomber before moving to the Blue Orchid when that opened in 1970

    Hi Brian,

    Good to have some qualified comment on the early days of the scene, particularly the places you were breaking the mould through your supply of imports.

    I'm just amazed that you can stay looking so good having been around back then you handsome brute!!

    All the best mate,

    Neil Jones :thumbsup:

    Cheers Niel I hope to see you tonight see your still giving the bullshit out

    Hi Brian, welcome to the mad house lol, nice to have one of the original pioneer's of the scene here at last, I don't wish to comment on this thread as it really has no interest to me but just wanted to say hello and welcome you to SS, a place where we can share the passion of everything Soulful.

    Regards - Mark Bicknell.

    Thanks Mark for your welcome iV@e been reading this site for years but my mother warned me off these sort of things she said I meet the wrong type of people regards Brian

    I don't have a comment to make about this particular bit of Ian's interview, as I have never attended a Dome all nighter and thus I wouldn't know one way or the other, but I have to say that his memories of the start of the scene (and his role in it) are remarakbly accurate - not just because he gives me lots of mentions, either.

    Anyone who doesn't remember them almost the same way, couldn't have been there.

    Ian certainly wasn't there at the start of the scene about three years later although he was collecting motown earlier,the scene was flourishing along with hundreds of rare imports at the wheel,cats,chateau,and quite a few other venues before a 17 year old Ian turned up and it was at least 12 months after that when he actually contributed any new sounds to the scene.He certainly re wrote the beginings of the scene but did have a major part in helping the scene to grow and is swons project brought a lot of people back into the scene.

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