Lost Soul

PM'd you to buy Roger Hatcher and Steinways, Thanks Jools

PM'd you for this one, La Shell & Shelletts - You better check yourself - Eagle 101 M- £20 Thanks Jools

Sean bought the Ivories on Wand

agreed - PURE QUALITY!

unless I'm reading you wrong "unless I'm reading you wrong" Yes you are! I'm not trying to say you (or anyone for that matter) doesn't have a right to post comments, as you rightly point out its an open forum about soul music, so of course you have the right. I was merely pointing out that people should not post in the events look-backs with opinions of events that they had clearly not been to. i.e. If you went to an event and loved or hated it by all means comment, you went, paid your money and spent your time there, so you have earned the right to comment and voice your opinions - good, bad, or indifferent. However if you were not even at the event, how can you comment on happenings, music played, atmosphere, and so on....

Sadly there is another type of 'soulie' we've not mentioned yet... The guys who don't go to any soul nights, don't go to any all-nighters, all-dayers., weekenders, etc... They just sit in front of their computer screen, yet have an opinion on every venue and soul issue out there.... I was once at Prestatyn a few years back, and unfortunately there was a little bit of trouble, not much to mention and it was cleared up and sorted out within minutes. However there were people sat at home on their computers telling a completely different story and expanding and exaggerating on what had actually happened, as if they were there and witnessing the events first hand! Clearly not the case as the times of their posts proved. I even got a phone call telling me what had gone on from 150 miles away, just minutes after the incident. All blown up out of all proportion, (I know as the incident happened right in front of me). it would be laughable if not so sad. I've known people who don't go to venues, even asking for set lists of what certain DJ's have played (in the look-backs). If you want to know what's been (or currently being) played, get of your arses and visit and support the venues in question... hard to label this soul animal 'spare bedroom soulie' might fit the bill??

Great Point Kev! I thought I had it all covered. lol. I DJ at soul nights most weekends, which sadly leaves me not doing as many nighters as I'd like to these days. When I do go to Nighters though, I find the music very refreshing (for me anyway). I think after going out to soul nights every Fri/Sat for years on end, you get conditioned to 'soul night' music. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking club soul here by any stretch of the imagination, just well,, 'tame and safe' (as some may describe). So when I hit a nighter every now and then it usually blows be away musically. (and I nearly always come away with another record or two on my wants list)!! Musically, Its sometimes as different as chalk and cheese. Although if you play nighter sounds at soul nights they tend to 'bomb out' dance floor wise anyway, as the regular soul night goers are not used to nighter sounds, and the people who love the nighter sounds are usually at a nighter anyway (not a soul night). I think you are quite right, yet again a completely different 'type of soulie'. dare I say a little more of a 'purist'.. I find the music policy at nighters sort of governs itself anyway, (I can't imagine any respected nighter DJ's coming on here asking what records they dare play, or what they could get away with (referring to opening topic here). So many different aspects considered, all under the Northern Soul umbrella.....

It's a clear-cut thing as far as I can see! - It's all about what the punters in that venue want. Its not about what the DJ wants to play (either for himself or to impress his couple of mates stroking their chins in the corner) - IMHO too many DJ's forget this! (Some of the records I play in my spots do absolutely nothing for me personally, but they have either been requested, or I know that they will go down well on the night, but I'm not playing them for myself, and I'm not ashamed to play them for the people who love those records) it's all part of the job (and there are certain aspects in any job that we don't like, but we get on with it). After all, when you accept a gig DJ-ing at an established venue, with an estabished music policy (oldies or otherwise) its your job to keep the paying punters happy, and make judgments on what will go down well, as you go along. If you don't like (or are too embarrassed) playing oldies then why would you accept a gig at an oldies venue in the first place??? If the punters are looking forward to a night of dancing and reminiscing to oldies, then why disappoint them by playing underplayed/rare records or alternative versions that mean nothing to them? (after all if they wanted to hear rare or underplayed stuff they would go to a venue that catered for that particular taste in soul music). by the same token, If they wanted to hear modern soul they would go to a modern night. Simples! People often ask me, 'What are you going to play this Friday (or Saturday) night then' ? etc... My stock answer is - 'I don't know, and I won't know until I'm in the venue' When I arrive at a venue that I'm DJ-ing at, I look at what sort of crowd is in the venue and the dance floor reaction to what is being played. (reading the dancefloor) it's not rocket science to weigh up whats going down well, and whats bombing out. I know certain DJ's who sort their records out and create a set list at home, before they even venture out of the house! Unless you have a crystal ball, you don't know (A) whats going to be played already out of your selected records by the previous DJ's before your spot has even started, and (B) How can you judge the reaction and atmosphere of an event before its even started. I find there are two main types of active soulies on the scene. Those that go out every Friday and Saturday night, (and grab as many Sunday sessions/weekenders as they can). If you fall under this category you will obviously get tired of hearing the same 200 overplayed oldies that have become a predicted soundtrack to your nights out. These people are more 'accepting' (I don't like the word progressive used to describe soul music) and crave to hear something fresh and different, or at least something they haven't heard played out in the last 12 months or more.... (their main complaints, they are sick of listening to the same records week in week out - Play something different). They obviously hear the records more, because they go out more.... The other type of Soulie Goes out once or twice a month, Loves to hear the familiar oldies they know so well. These are the guys and girls that want to hear Oldies and Well-Knowns. The records they know so well bring memories flooding back from the best and happiest times of there lives, (times without mortgage's, bills to pay, the stress that comes with age and responsibility). They can dance to a record and know every word and every beat. They are only going out once a month or so, consequently when they do go out they expect to hear these same records, (as once a month is not overplayed to them). They are not interested if a well known DJ has just discovered a rare unknown track in Detroit last week! As this has no baring on what Northern Soul is to them, and holds no memories. They want to reminisce their times at the casino etc... (their main complaints... The music has been rubbish, we only knew about 3 records in the last hour - Play something we know - i.e. oldies). Mixing the 2 categories above is the key, (especially at an 'Across The Board' soul night). Going back to the main topic though, I'm still a firm believer that if you accept and agree to play a spot at an Oldies venue, then you should be playing Oldies, end of.. and don't over-think it. They are not expecting to hear different rare or alternative versions of tracks. so go with the flow and make 'em happy...... By the way, my fav oldie? Chuck Wood - Seven Days Is Too Long (bought 35 years ago - still love it to this day - and not ashamed to say so) All The Best Jools

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I had a wonderful time at the Twin Oaks again this year. Thanks (as always) go to Ian and Clare for the invite, (both whom I'm proud to call true friends). They both put so much effort into this event every year, and the fund raising, as everyone knows. (it shows too! So many happy faces). Saw a bit too much of Yocki (as did everyone at around 2.30am). I enjoyed spinning a few tunes in both rooms. I won the SAM EVANS BINGO too! (and a raffle prize) how lucky am I Wishing Ian and Clare a very Happy Wedding Anniversary, (you both deserve all respect you have from your many friends). Love and best wishes to the both of you. Jools

It should be another storming night at Brighouse Ritz this Friday (15th July). A strong DJ line up again this month (Residents) Ginger Taylor & Bob Smith (Guests) Mr Nice-Nige Grice, Leon Brown, Howlin Bob. Really lookin forward to a local night out. 8.30pm - 1am £6 on the door. See you all on Friday

Hello Casper, Mitch, and all that were at Black Hearts on Friday nite. I'd just like to say a BIG Thank you to Casper and Mitch for putting myself and Lawrence on the bill., Well, where does one start? The venue I suppose, in a word SUPERB. A quality well chosen venue that is perfect for Northern Soul. A large wooden sprung dance floor, leading from the stage to a dimly lit seating area at the back. A large well stocked bar is located at one side of the dance floor with a separate seating area under arch ways that lead on to the dance floor. The bar area is lit slightly brighter and would be ideal for those sales boxes and record dealers. The room itself has loads of character, and is the type of room that when you enter, you know you've arrived at a Northern Soul nite! The stage setup is fantastic too. A well setup sound system and lots of room to move about and see the records you are playing. There are lots of clubs with function rooms, (some good, some not so). but this place is quality and atmospheric (its got everything you need for a perfect soul nite, and none of what you don't need). An all-niter is planned later in the year with a second room added too! I can well imagine it will be a storming success. Again a 'well chosen' venue by Pete and Mitch. Well enough about the building and its features, (I'm beginning to sound like an estate agent). On to the Soulies, A great atmosphere and a responsive crowd of friendly people that not only appreciate oldies, but also embrace the sounds that are either not 'played out' as much these days, through to the underplayed records that are ignored at some of the larger more commercial venues, basically as long as it's up-tempo and danceable, these guys go for it..... Thank you all so much for dancing and the cheers of support, it makes DJ-ing a real pleasure on nights such as this. I'll just add at this point, a VERY friendly crowd too. It was our first nite visiting this venue, (at the moment I have a fractured pelvis) and from the moment I got out of the car, one of the soulies grabbed my record box and carried it in for me, and everyone made the effort to come across and say hello, not just the people we know either... big smiles all round, all night. Summary? Northern Soul just how it should be - well done lads. See you all soon. Jools www.HaroldSoulclub.co.uk

See you on Sunday Michael, please bring me chocolate! All the best Jools

Really looking forward to brighouse tonight, for some strange reason it does seem ages since the last one... jools