1: Breakaway. 2: Surprise party for baby 3: Exus trek 4: Too late 5: I really love you. The artists1: 2: Vibrating vibrations, 3: Luther Ingram orchestra, 4: Larry Williams + Johnny Watson, 5: The To mangoes


A truly memorable list of the best northern soul records you will come across . Available free to listen to anyway. All of the records like the Twisted wheel records before them are filled with atmosphere and style. 

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The records that became the trademark of the "Torch". Remain to this day some of the best northern soul records ever played. Exus trek + Surprise party for baby both featured above for visitors to listen to them. The feeling that was in the rather small venue the club was held in. Must of been electric I myself never experienced the Torch as I was 11 or 12 at the time. But having spoken to many over time who did the club was nothing less than awesome. The only bad thing was the short time it was open never reaching the level it should of reached. Many of the regulars I spoke to about the major Lance night there. Said it was an great night. But in there opinion the night Ibanez + Charlie Fox appeared at the Torch was the best night they had there.
            Sounds that all  came from the Golden Torch

 The Torch and the records that became it's trademark. Are still very well received every time there played still at events in 2010.  A event that as now become the traditional northern soul event. The tickets are difficult to obtain last year I got mine in about March. Then by the time it took place I was unable to go. I have no idea if the tickets got given away or if the holder of them went to it herself and took someone in my place. A bit late to worry ain't it.   

 

   Out of the top 3 allnighters in northern soul history. The Torch ran for the shortest, but for most had the biggest impact through the quality records. Live performance's at the club, which a lot of Torch members I've spoken to. Seem to think was'nt major Lance but Charlie + Ibanez Fox who also appeared at the Twisted wheel. As the same brother Jack & Ivor Abadarbi managed both clubs it was'nt a surprise artist's appeared at both. How disappointing the Torch's life span was so brief. A regular attender at the Torch was a man who later went on to form the Wigan casino allnighter. Russ Winstanley attended the Torch often, I'm unsure of his involvement there. But it proves his northern soul love. Began way before the casino did the times I've spoke to Russ. It was apparent to me his love of the music was in his heart not a way to make a quick money gain. I've always held upmost respect for Russ his history speaks for itself. Another long serving dj Ian Levine another man this site admires. Also attended the Torch and the wheel prior to it, let the people who gave fuel to the hate campaign at Wigan casino put there's up for comparison, to that would surely be interesting reading. All the people I saw at the time with stupid slogans on T-shirts where annoying div's who had just tryed  to gain more stature with the crowd.

  The golden Torch or just the Torch as it was commonly known as. Started life as a church, a ice skating rink, the Regent cinema. Before Christopher Burton and Russ Winstanley (Wigan casino founder). Converted it into a mods club it opened January 30 1965. The opening act was Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas. From talking to people who attended the Torch the best live act that appeared there was Inez and Charlie Fox according to many who went to both the major Lance and Inez + Charlie Fox allnighters.          
Amongst the Torch dj's was Peter Stringfellow who held a residency as a DJ in 1967 at the Torch. After the performance by Inez and Charlie Fox and the closure of the Twisted wheel in 1971. The Torch became the no1 venue for holding northern soul allnighters the first being staged on the 11 March 1972. The Torch run as a allnighter but did'nt last very long and was closed and converted into a camping supplier after a fire the building was destroyed. For sure the Torch was never to reach it's full potential. It also had a major amphetamine using clientele as this was a inherited fact of allnighters at the time.
 The allnighters back then should in retrospect not be remembered for taking illegal drugs. This was only done for 1 specific reason to enable themselves to dance allnight. The only harm that was done was to themselves not others ok it was breaking the law. A thing I would'nt try to justify at all. But you cant make a omelette without breaking eggs can you. Retrospect is a useful thing for those looking at things to cast an element of doom on the people taking part. Not for those doing it who don't see any wrong doing it. As the saying implies watchers never do and doers never watch.
   1 thing is certain the Torch never reached the height of it's potential. It could of changed the history of northern soul completely had it been given time to reach it's full potential. As shortly after it's closure the next major allnighter venue rose to be the most successful ever in the UK. That of coarse was Wigan casino. When it opened in 1973 the crowd and most the records played along with some Torch dj's where inherited from the Torch. Which must lead people onto the question would Wigan casino had been such a overnight success if the Torch had continued back in 1972. Or would Russ Winstanley still have been the driving force at the casino he proved to be.