Steve
As a youngster growing up in Carlisle one of my early haunts was a youth club called the Pink Panther. This was owned by the Foster brothers who also owned a record shop of the same name. The "Panther" played all of the club soul that we all enjoyed at the turn of 1971/1972 and this was supplemented by "sounds" provided by some of the older fraternity who regularly frequented the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. (The Panther later changed its name to the Twisted Wheel). Listening to records by Joy Lovejoy, the Fascinations, Edwin Starr (who performed at the Panther) and Billy Butler's "Right Track" amongst others was part of my formative introduction to the scene.
Out of all of the older guys on the scene who influenced me from an early age, Dick Watt must stand out as the one who had most impact. I remember the first time I was privileged to go to his house to listen to some of the elusive sounds within his extensive collection. It was probably early 1973 and I listened to mind blowing things like the Bongalis, Joe Hicks, Larry Williams, Lorraine Chandler, Eddie Parker and others that I had never heard before. I was also fortunate to be able to buy some fantastic records from Dick, all of which I still have.
It was in 1973 that I bought my scooter and joined a growing gang of like minded people who enjoyed the scene and the music. This prompted trips to the Casino in early 1974, by scooter, by train, by car, by bus, in fact by any means possible. I started to organise bus trips to the All Nighters during the following year and we extended our group to include a great bunch of folk from Dumfries who were regular "bus mates".
The Casino represented some of my best times on the scene and like many others I have fond memories of the years when it was open. Getting married in 1976 and having a family didn't deter me from my passion for the music and the scene and I carried on collecting and attending the Casino until 1980. The main suppliers of my records during that time featured Geoff Killick from London, Paul Rudzitis and Phil Lynsky from Leicester, FL Moore from Bradford and many others including the generous Mr Watt.
Work commitments necessitated a move to Kendal in 1982 and through contacts made playing football I quickly merged into the local scene enjoying some memorable times at the Arts Centre and other similar places supplemented by regular visits to the Morecambe Pier All Nighters. We moved to the North East in 1986 and whilst my collecting continued (particularly my affection for the complete set of TMG's 501 to 1000), it took a while before I became acquainted with the local network of soul aficionados. It must have been mid 1990's when I made the connection and it continues to the present day.
So what of my favourite sounds. It is difficult to articulate specifically, however I am heavily influenced by the sound of Detroit. Those who know me will also say that I like the "girlie" sounds, although I am equally at home with Doo Wop influenced early/mid 1960's group tunes like The Rockmasters and The Stoppers. I am also in awe of anything written, arranged, produced or performed by the late great Curtis Mayfield, a true genius who's music stood the test of time from the early Impressions recordings, through the Okeh/Windy City/Curtom days into the war protest era. Unable to pick a specific favourite I would have to say that one of the tunes that has done it for me over the years is certainly Dena Barnes, "If you ever walk out of my life". Nostalgia, vocal brilliance and also Detroit, what a combination.
And to ambitions. Is this where I vote for world peace and buy a sticker for save the whale. No, my ambition is much more reasonable and achievable. I would like to see Carlisle United return to the peak of the top flight in English football to the same position they held, albeit momentarily, in 1974. |
