Yes I know it's not a very original title but I couldn't think of anything better - and don't say Odds  n Ends !!

This is a page for stuff I couldn't fit in anywhere else

  

Starting off with Alfie and his little shirts folded out of paper - brilliant

Just a word of warning - don't lend hin a tenner !!

 

 

 And here's the man himself - Alfie from The Wirrall with his wife Jan

Click on the picture to hear their favourite song (well Jan tells him it's their favourite song)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a picture taken at the weekender in Blackpool in November - as you can see we are all absolutely thrilled at "The World Northern Soul Dancing Competition"  !! They must be playing "The Snake" judging by my mug.Keith thought they said "World Hotdog Eating Championship" - he is on his 3rd  - he should change his name from Hogan to Hogie - and Paul is doing his famous sleeping standing up trick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well the competition is over so that's me and Keith cheered up - but Paul's still asleep !!.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now he's awake (must be the better company) - but he still looks a little drowsy to me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look at some YouTube clips that we like here at WSC -

 

Don't you hate it when you click on a clip and it says - removed due to terms of use violation

What does that mean ? How can you violate a video clip? Anyway I've removed those and last time I looked these were ok

 

Dancing Builders  

Now where do you get a job like that ?

 

 

Casino Dancing watch must still have them spats somewhere !

 

 

 

 

 

This is a clip from The Temptations Movie - if you have not seen it check it out  - it's well worth watching

It's the end of the film. I dare you not to click your fingers !! watch  Temptations Forever !!

Compare it to the original - not bad mmm? watch

 

Here's another that caught Keith's eye.It's a clip of Carolina Shag Dancing (no cheap jokes from me - you can make up your own)

It's popular in (would you believe) Carolina USA.Take a look and see what you think.It's a bit Come Dancing for me but it has a certain fascination

Check out the guy's baggies watch

The song is Give It Everything by Al Green - listen

 

OK - let's see how this one goes - not going to get into the debate about Ian Levine (well can't resist a little crack - take a look at him on

his DVD - The Strange World Of Northern Soul - trying to pass this off as a rare NS track - he doesn't bat an eyelid !)

Anyway - I happen to like this (yes I know it's Steve Brookstein)

So take a look at the worlds most expensive video - shot in someones back garden - need to stain that Waney Lap !!

Four Vandals  - The Wrong Side Of Town watch

 

Two Can Have A Party - If you look closely you can see me and our Maud watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bit is by me and for me and all my fellow anoraks out there

 

- where the record label name Okeh came from - I thought it was some hip street slang - it's the initials of the founder Otto K E Heinemann

 

- Jackie Wilson was the cousin of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs

 

- Stevie Wonder's real name is Steveland Hardaway Judkins - what a cracking middle name - think I will nick that !

 

- currently in production is a film called Cadillac Records which charts the rise and fall of the Chess record label 

  Beyonce Knowles stars as Etta James

 

- Contemporary RnB singer Jaheim (who if you haven't heard him has a voice to die for listen) is the grandson of Hoagy Lands of "The Next In Line"

   fame

 

- Marvin Gaye added the "e" to his surname partly to imitate his idol Sam Cooke who also added an "e" while Al Green dropped the "e" from his

 

- Berry Gordy started Motown with a loan of $800 - wonder what he would have said if you told him Frank Wilson would sell for £15,000 ?

 

- Julien Covey and his band The Machine (A Little Bit Hurt) are from Sherwood,Nottingham - yes where the forest is !

 

- Edwin Starr's real name was Charles Edwin Hatcher

 

- Teddy Pendergrass started his career as a drummer with the Cadillacs who were famous for the song Speedo which is featured in the film The

   Temptations Story (it's at the start of the film where Otis Williams is running to catch the live show - It's The Cadillacs on stage)

 

 

 

- Donnie Elbert played all his own instruments on his recordings

 

- Ronald Isley - lead singer and founding member of the Isley Brothers is in jail in Indiana USA for tax evasion.He is scheduled for release in 2010

  Now I might be taking this anorak thing too far but if you type in Ronald Isley on Wikipedia  then scroll down to References No 4,you can actually

  go  to the Federal Bureau of Prisons  website and check on Inmate Locator !

 

- Soul Sam's real name is Martin Barnfather

 

- most Motown records featured two drummers - that was part of the unique sound,but Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" had three !!

 

- Major Lance's real name was - Major Lance ! Well I can't find any info otherwise - but I know his brother Captain and his cousin Field Marshall

 

- where the record label name Stax  came from - it's from the names of the original owners - Jim STewart and his sister Etelle AXton

 

I was thinking about my favourite male soul singers from the past and realised not too surprisingly most of them are dead - but ironically most of them died young -

 

Marvin Gaye - shot dead by his father at 45

Sam Cooke - shot dead aged 33

Otis Redding - plane crash aged 26

Darrell Banks - shot by a policeman aged 32

Jackie Wilson - 49 but had been in a coma for over 8 years (he actually survived a shooting in his youth)

David Ruffin - drug overdose at 50

 

Risky business this Soul singing

 

As a follow on to the above,my favourite singer of all time is Marvin Gaye.If you are a fellow devotee take a look at this YouTube clip of Marvin in

Belgium messing about at the piano.When you see all the garbage on TV that passes as so called singing this just reminds you what real singing is.Even with all his problems the guy never sung a bum note watch

 

Speaking of Marvin - here he is on Phoenix Nights listen

 

By now you may have guessed that I am a Marvin Gaye fan

So take a look at this vid that proves that MG was the worlds greatest singer and the worlds worst actor watch

Then take a look at one of my favourite Marvin album tracks with some excellent images  - and yes that is his dad

he hugs and kisses at the end (who of course shot him to death) watch

 

Free WCS badge if you can tell who's head this is (the one on the left) - Jimmy Pilk is not allowed to enter - DOH !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We at Warrington Soul Club had a great time at Tenerife in April and as usual ended the

night in Manhattans bar

If you are going, pay a visit where you can be sure of a cracking night

Here is a picture of the owners Steve & Cath

The last time we were there Steve told me his favourite song of all time is Let My Heart And Soul Be Free by The Tan Geers - click on the picture to listen

He is currently organising an event in November and has just updated their website - so check out www.manhattanstenerife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK  - Apologies if you are a United fan (on second thoughts - why I am I apologising to Man U fans ?)

Us City fans need something to shout about !

Unfortunately it's not football - so how about some Ricky Hatton watch