The fact the whole event's happened with the people
that I had grown up with. Had not become friends because
of northern soul at all. Just to discover you shared the
same overwhel
The first record was a real favourite at the
town hall, Frank Freemans. More or less all
club's pubs & youth centre's that played
northern soul music.
Gary Lewis + the
playboy's: my hearts symphony
The 2nd record again comes from around 1975.
At the time Wigan casino was a great place to go
it had developed it's own identity. As it no
longer relied on records first played at the
Torch.
Connie Clark: my sugar baby
ming love of a certain thing was a
pleasure. Then to find it was the item being top of the
list being discussed in the media throughout the UK.
Made the whole time so much more special for me like so
many other's at the time. You where known throughout
Harry Cheshire school as 1 of the select few who every
Saturday night danced the night away at Wigan casino.
There where about 6 pupils who went to the casino
regular even thou at school. There was'nt the alcohol
factor to be considered. I think there was only a bar
once at a allnighter as it fell on new years eve. These
days if a bar is lessened it seems to attract the local
binge drinkers and spoils it. I have never been in
favour of all night bars as it attracts the wrong kind
of crowd then a argument follows. Sooner or later
tempers wear thin and fights break out. Nothing spoils a
night out more than a couple of prats on a dance floor
fighting. Everybody as a interest or hobby northern soul
is'nt compulsory we leave others alone and like them to
be the same with us. Many people on the scene are able
to look after themselves. But don't want the annoyance
of idiot's forcing them into it at all. If you want to
get drunk and have a fight go to a nightclub and get
your head kicked in. Allnighters don't want you the
place's are more chilled and the atmosphere is friendly
at most events.
In the mid 1970's I was still at Harry Cheshire high school.
I had grown up in the 60's cult fashion's of mod's and rocker's
I had been a mod. Not that I had played any kind of involvement
you'd of noticed. But I lived just down the street from the king
Billy pub in st John's street. My father spent so much time in
the king Billy the first time I saw him. I thought he was there
to fix the TV as I'd only ever seen him on odd occasions. Life
was lived with thought for other's as well, not just yourself
nothing like today. The shop was run by a local English family
not a large company who own a national chain of stores and
supermarkets. It was a far more relaxed environment you did'nt
have to lock everything up. I hear people say it was better when
I was young, I now understand the reason why. It was'nt run by
greed or the need to have something. As good or better than
other people in your neighbourhood there where a few but not
many. I'm not saying everything was better just the community
aspect. I first got interested in northern soul well Tamla
motown in the late 60's. At the teens disco at Franche village
on a Friday night. Any locals might remember Rob + Ken's disco
as they played mostly soul music. Great days to look back on
wearing your Levi jeans in the bath to shrink them to size.
Fosbrook's had the best selection of cloths at the time.
Above are a collection of photo's which have some kind of
memories to the day. The first shows most of the main faces
at the time in Kidderminster. At the back far left are the
Renshaw brother's Phil and Martin next to them in the check
shirt is me. In front of me is Gary Stubs (rip). We where
always being mistaken for eachother looking at the photo
it's easy to see why. I'm not certain although it look's
Mick Taylor next to me. In number 2 with the shorts on it
could only be 1 person Martin Renshaw. I know Martin very
well I don't think Martin as as malicious bone in his body.
Shared some great times at Wigan casino. Allnighters+
alldayers all over the UK in the early 70's with Martin and
his brothers Russell and Phil. We also attended the town
hall together most weeks it was on in the 70's. I hope he
attends the reunion as he was 1 of the people who made
Kidderminster a northern soul force.
kicking off the music:
Elusive: Babe
Ruth
This record is a classic so belongs anywhere. From memory
the people who attended the town hall will appreciate a
classic. Nothing better to start off with than a very
popular record which started off at the Blackpool mecca.
Later became massive across the entire UK northern soul
scene. I personally think if it gets played enough this
record will be massive in 2011.