Ok so
there I was. I'd left the scene in early 1980 and drifted into the
scooter scene. I stayed with that a while, even helping to organise
the first ever national number ones meeting to decide the venues of
the runs for the following year. Moved on from that, had a good job in
engineering, couple of kids, played American football at European
level, but still kept playing the same bloody tapes of Northern Soul
every chance I got.
1992 and hear an advert for an all-dayer in Gloucester so I give it a
try and sit there for 6 hours without knowing a bloody record! Play
some oldies I say to the DJ. These are oldies he says and that really
does me.
1998 and through a friend of a friend I get back in touch with a guy I
used to travel around to Northern gigs with. He has done pretty much
the same things as me except he had carried on going to gigs for a bit
longer, up to the Stafford era. We discuss whether or not there is
still a scene out there and part company vowing to keep in touch. A
couple of weeks pass and he rings me telling me there are loads of
gigs including a local one in a couple of days time. For some reason I
decide not to go and he rings several times with other gigs but I put
him off each time! Eventually he rings and says that there is a gig at
Goodyear's club in Wolverhampton and he has been to the last two there
and they were predominately oldies, from the Wigan era. This is enough
to get me to agree to attend and that was the start! I went to a
couple of gigs with him and then persuaded my missus, who in 10 years,
had never had any time for Northern, to come along. She was
immediately hooked and now collects flyers from anywhere we visit to
help choose where to go next. Within a month or so we were back
"on the scene" full time, so to speak, and go to a gig every
weekend and as many all-nighters as we can fit in.
So this page will take a look at all the different venues that we have
visited during our first year back on the Northern scene.
29th
May 1998 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton.
I can't believe I fuckin' feel like this!! I'm sitting in our house
waiting to be picked up to go to my first northern gig for 6 years
(only my second one in 18 years) and I am as nervous as the first time
I went to Wigan! Anyway my lift arrives and off we go. As we walk from
the car park I can hear Phillip Mitchell singing Free For All and the
first thing I think to myself is how loud it seems.
Inside and it is a nice plush room quite large and very busy. I go to
the bar and order a pint of bitter and immediately realize that I
would never have done that "in the old days" it would have
been soft drinks only, know I know why I was 91/2 stones than and I am
181/2 now! The first hour or so is great, for me, with constant oldies
all familiar but when a new DJ takes over I know none of the sounds
for the next hour and sit there thinking whether I want to bother with
this again or not. Another change of jock and suddenly I'm back in the
know again. I dance to 4 or 5 records on the trot and am just starting
to feel the pace when The Flaming Emeralds-Have Some Everybody starts
up. I start dancing and by half way I am fuckin' gasping for breath
but manage to stick it out, just about, to the end of the record. I
sit down and take my first real look around. Some faces look familiar
so, when my breathing gets back to normal, I decide to have a walk
round the club. This 5 minute exercise ends up taking about an hour
because I am stopped by so many people from the past who recognize me
and I end up going to a load more who I recognize but had not seen for
years.
I manage a few more dances and stay until the end vowing to be back
the following month. When I get home I say to my missus "I know
you don't like Northern but you should come next month you'll enjoy
it" Her reply of " Maybe. Let's see what happens"
shocks me, as for the 10 years we have been together she has not
wanted anything to do with Northern Soul. Maybe there is hope for her
yet!
12th
June 1998 Cavendish Reunion, The Victoria Hotel-Wolverhampton.
Although I had been to this venue a few times, before dropping off the
scene, it had become really popular during the early 1980's. I was a
bit unsure of what to expect, as were the organisers, when they put
down a small portable dancefloor. The room was absolutely packed out
and there was not an inch of space on the floor from the minute the
place opened until after the last record had ended. I did not know a
lot of the sounds being played but rather than be put off by this, as
I had been at Goodyears, I decided that I would have to set about
learning them and catching up on what I had missed during those long
years away from the scene. I managed to dance to a few of the ones I
recognised though, the only one I remember now is Duke Browner-Crying
Over You. Again the place was full of people who I had not seen for
years and most of the night was spent renewing old friendships.
17th
July 1998 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton
Another memorable night more so for the fact that my missus actually
came to a Northern gig. She didn't dance and spent most of the night
sitting on her own, whilst I did, but at the end said that she had
enjoyed it would like to go again.
I learnt two "new" records, well new to me anyway, at this
gig. I'm So Happy-Prince Phillip Mitchell and Love Is a Serious
Business-Alfie Davidson. I thought both of these were very good and it
was a few months before I realised just how old they were which,
obviously, showed me how out of touch I was.
14th
August 1998 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton
Once more a good night, attended by my missus who sat down all night
again. It was here that I first heard another "newie" which
I really liked but I had no idea who, or what, it was. This was when I
decided that I wanted to start collecting 45's again and this
"unknown newie" went straight to the top of my wants list.
19th September 1998 Casino 25th Anniversary Maximes Wigan
Now here I was. My first all nighter for 18 years and was I in a
state! I must have got ready about tea time and I wasn't getting
picked up 'till 9:30!! But it didn't matter cos I spent the next three
hours getting changed about 25 times. It's hard to try and dress for
an all nighter when you are about 10 stones heavier than the last time
you went to one.
My mate Dave came and drove us up there but when we found Maximes and
managed to get the parking place right outside neither of us still
knew what to expect so it was a pleasant surprise to find it was very
similar to what the Casino used to be like. It even had some of the
same sticky carpet on the stairs! Inside the main room it was a shit
hole and the toilets were a disgrace (so far so good) and once again
many familiar faces from the past. It was my first all nighter since
"coming back" so I did enjoy it but I couldn't see the point
of people like Chris King playing new stuff at a Casino Anniversary.
Fortunately most of the DJ's managed to keep to the music policy and
played some cracking oldies that I had not heard for many years.
The only downsides were the fact that the bar stayed open 'till about
5:30am, which meant that the local piss heads stayed there all night
and the dancefloor had more potholes than the M6. Mr Winstanley turned
up and jocked for the last 15 minutes which was a bit of a surprise
cos he was the organiser and I thought at £12 a ticket he would have
made enough to do a little bit more than he did.
Main memory is, once again, naff all to do with soul! We came out of
the club got into my mates car and he just sat there I asked what he
was doing and he told me he had left the keys to the, big yellow,
steering wheel lock at home. After about five minutes of frantic
action we had managed to bend the thing out of the way but had to
drive all the way home with a shirt draped over it just so the cops
couldn't see it if they got too close to us on the road!!
31st
October 1998 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton
Most notable thing about tonight was the fact that my missus danced
for the first time ever at a northern gig. I also heard my mysterious,
must have, "newie" and again failed to find out what it was.
Also, for the first time, I started to think that perhaps they were
playing the same stuff every month here. Kind of standard oldies
instead of some of the other things that were just as good but didn't
seem to get played so often. I decided to ask for a few requests and
went up on stage. The DJ was busy in his box so I stood back and
waited for him to choose his next record. When he turned round I
nearly died when I saw he had a CD in his hands! I know a lot of you
will think I am naive but I just didn't believe (and still don't) that
someone could DJ with CD's. I was so shocked I never asked for the
requests I just turned and went back to the table. When I told the
rest of the table they just looked at me in disbelief. Not because of
the CD but because they couldn't believe that I was shocked. It was,
apparently, a common practice.
28th
November 1998 Mecca Reunion-Blackpool
I haven't seen a review of this night that has not been influenced by
the author's feelings about Ian Levine. I'll keep my views of the man
to myself and just tell it as I found it. First thing that surprised
me was the queues. We arrived a good hour after the start and there
was still a huge crowd trying to get in. Went in and got our
"free" single, I couldn't believe people were even moaning
about this!! OK you may think it is a crap record but no-one made you
have it and once you had it you could easily chuck it away if you
didn't want it. I already thought people had come to the evening
determined that they were not going to enjoy it.
Anyway up the stairs and in we go. First thing to see was the fact
that the lazy gits hadn't put out any chairs or tables, a quick trip
to the adjoining night club sorted this out, but then what happened?
The late comers were still fetching chairs and tables and just putting
them further and further onto the already packed dance floor. I
thought the atmosphere was electric because, despite the moaners,
there were an awful lot of old Mecca regulars, a lot of whom hadn't
been anywhere for years, who were determined to have a great time. I
thought the music was great ( I never heard Frank Wilson as someone
else claimed to have) especially Eula Cooper-Let Our Love Grow Higher
and Diane Jenkins-Tow Away Zone but these were my two all-time
favourite Mecca tracks anyway. I thought the idea of having the
"name" DJ standing at the front of the stage while someone
else worked the decks was a bit naff at first but it went well after
all, despite the fact that it proved beyond all doubt that Tony Jebb
would rather listen to his own voice than any Northern Soul record! As
I said I have read all the other tales about the night and am not
going to get into arguments about them. All I would say is that both
me and the rest of my travelling companions had a great time and wish
it was a yearly event.
11th
December 1998 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton.
The Christmas "party" and what a farce it was. Another
non-appearance by Chris King meant a call to the decks for another
local lad to play some of his CD collection! I really am cheesed off
with this place now but I'm still not sure of any alternatives, what a
shock I got when I found out exactly how many alternatives there were.
The only good thing to come out of the night was that I found out the
identity of my "mystery newie" The Originals-Back By Popular
Demand. I HAD to get it.
29th
January 1999 Goodyears Social Club Wolverhampton.
This place was just a habit now as you could predict the DJ's set
lists, to within a couple of records, every month. It was getting big
though and the merchandise was reaching silly proportions. i.e.
T-shirts, pin on badges, key rings and even fridge magnets. Oh dear.
6th February1999 Long Acres Willenhall.
Just a pub gig, but a pub that used to host the Torch warm ups all
those years ago!!! A good crowd considering the promoter only had 2
weeks to advertise it. DJ's kept the floor full and at 12:30 the crowd
did not want to go home. Unfortunately the landlord won and home we
went.
13th
February 1999 Swancote Country Club Bridgnorth
I saw this gig advertised in our local evening paper and when I rang
for details I recognised Pep as being the promoter. During the 70's I
had worked in both of his shops and jocked for him at several local
events but we had not parted company on the best of terms. I still
gave this gig a go and was pleasantly surprised. The venue was very
small and very full but Pep, Mick Holsworth and Soul Sam seemed to
give the crowd exactly what they wanted and played to a full
dancefloor all evening.
19th
February 1999 Goodyear's Social Club Wolverhampton.
I only went to this gig coz there was nothing else on and spent the
entire evening sitting at the back, bored out of my brain. Never
again!!!
27th
February1999 Imperial Palace Bilston
I must have passed this venue almost every day for the last 30 years,
without ever going inside. It had been a cinema, bingo hall, working
mens club and now a night club. When we entered the place I could not
believe it had been overlooked by local promoters for so long. It was
perfect for a Soul gig but more so a dayer or nighter than an ordinary
Soul night because it was huge. The night went well as local jocks
played standard oldies then ex Casino man Rob Smith finished off the
evening with a nice set. I think 90% of the crowd left muttering about
how we had to have an all-dayer here.
6th
March 1999 Long Acres Willenhall
Not as well attended as the first, because of the number of local
nights now in existence, but still a good night. The promoters lost
money though 'cos they thought that booking better known DJ's
guaranteed bigger crowds. They know different now.
13th
March 1999 Togetherness Kings Hall Stoke.
A lot of people had recommended this gig to me and said that the venue
was the most similar to Wigan that they had seen. It was. I had one of
best nights that I have ever had at an all nighter apart from 1 hour
of funeral pace R&B from Clarence. It was the first all nighter
for my missus and well and truly made sure she was bitten by the bug.
19th
March 1999 Goodyears Social club Wolverhampton.
Yes I know I said never again but I was tempted by the promise of
special guests and free gifts as it was the first anniversary. In the
end there were no special guests and the free gift was a key ring that
must have been worth about tuppence a box. Never ever again!!!!!!!
27th
March 1999 Long Acres Willenhall.
This was the first example of how silly local promoters were to become
as two new, but very promising venues went head to head against each
other. I was supposed to DJ at this event but was not required as only
about 10 people turned up!!
27th
February 1999 Imperial Palace Bilston.
After the failure of the above we went off up to this gig expecting it
to be full but was shocked to find it virtually deserted too. The
evening, and the future of both gigs, was ruined when the rival
promoters fought with each other.
3rd
April 1999 The Ritz All Nighter Manchester
At last a real soul gig! I hadn't been to the Ritz since the 70's but
this "Chicago & Detroit" themed gig was absolutely
awesome. The place, the people, the atmosphere, the music, the jocks
and even the price are all great. I personally cannot find a fault
with the Ritz. Can't wait for the next one.
9th
April 1999 The Aquarius Hednesford.
I had heard a lot of these local nights but wasn't prepared for what
was to come. The place is a council owned club and looks like it could
be made for a soul venue. The crowd are very knowledgeable and the DJ'
s do the business. Neil Rushton was tonight's guest and apart from
playing just a few too many ultra rarities he was excellent.
17th
April 1999 Civic Centre Whitchurch.
Whitchurch was another venue that I hadn't visited since the 70's but
this, supposed, one off soul night was enough to get me there. A very
disappointing night which was more like a wedding reception than a
Northern night. Some berk played Needle In A Haystack and lots of
other poppy Motown.
24th
April1999 Keele.
Even when I was "off the scene" I kept hearing mention of
this mega all-nighter at Keele University and could not wait to try it
out. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it is a poor gig in a dump with
little or no atmosphere and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2nd
May 1999 The Ritz Manchester
Rarest of the rare part 4 was the theme for this all nighter and I
wasn't sure what to expect. No worries an absolutely ace night with a
great set of DJ's all doing mega spots.
8th
May Soul Dragon All Nighter Llandudno.
Again we had not got a clue what to expect of this gig but several
people had recommended it and they were not wrong. Another great venue
full of friendly people and great music all night to top it off.
30th
May1999 The Ritz Manchester.
Work had meant no gigs for the last two weeks so I was gagging for
this one. The fact that it was the Ritz made it worse and the fact
that it was an oldies night made it even worse. I can't say too much
about this so I'll just let one fact do the talking: This was the 4th
all nighter my missus had been to and she has a good dance at all of
them, but this time we were in there 71/2 hours and she danced for
63/4 hours of it!!!
31st
May 1999 Civic Centre Whitchurch
Trying to re-live my youth even more by following an all nighter with
an all dayer. This seemed a little bit flat but to be fair it was
never going to live up to The Ritz. I think for the first time ever my
favourite spot was by a "modern" DJ. Step forward Polly (Ian
Palmer of Manifesto fame) and take a bow after a blistering spot.
4th
June1999 Aquarius Hednesford All Nighter.
Someone had listened to all the talk about what a tailor made venue
this was for an all nighter and one had got the go ahead. A great
night but the 6am finish was a bit weird. I do only live 20 minutes
away though, so it was nice to be back home so early after a nighter.
12th
June 1999 The Queens Basford
This is just an ordinary night club which holds a Northern night run
by Mr Minshull, I believe. The only drawback is the fact that they do
not tell "ordinary" punters that it is a soul night and
consequently you get a whole load of Saturday night disco people in.
The music was top drawer and if you don't mind falling over a few
handbags it's heartily recommended.
19th
June 1999 Bretby Country Club.
Oh how the mighty fall!!! I had read about Bretby being one of the top
all nighters in the 80's but I can honestly say it was the worst one I
had ever been to. Enough said.
26th
June 1999 Civic Centre Winsford.
Top class night. In my opinion second only to the Ritz as the
country's top venue. But it is damn hot in there.
So there we are. A year back on the Northern Soul scene which had high
points that far outweighed the low points. I can't wait for the next
year and let' see how, or indeed, if things change.
If anyone wants to pass any comments or anything on what I've written
please feel free to e mail me at the address shown. And please
remember these are only my thoughts and opinions on the venues visited
just cos I might not have enjoyed them doesn't mean they were no good.
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