Originally Browns Manchester then the Wheel

[MancMareo]

Hi Just got onto this site, fantastic, I use to go to our local youth club in Levenshulme Manchester, then progressed to the Wheel in Manchester. Then in '72 my friend (Pat) and I went working down Torquay, and use to frequent the Compass Club where we showed them how to REALLY dance, along with two of our friends from Leigh, Joyce and Lynne, we'd have the DJ playing all our soul music all night, and what a time we had.
My kids swore I made it all up, you know all nighters and the style of dance, well since I've surfed the web I've been able to show them what a good time we really had.

[peteconn55]

which youth club in levenshulme i used to go to st marys behind the church on stockport road then progressed to the pendulum in town also rowntrees spring gardens amd top of the town then blackpool mecca, va- vas and wigan i live in ireland now, but have two kids still in manchester and they dont believe what we got up to as well still get over for the football and still catch the odd soul night at pubs around droylsden and ashton used to live on stockport road just up from browns club was it the spin-inn, or something like that, it was up above a place i cant remember what opposite the station we thought that place was the buisness when we were young my daughter over here shes 19 likes old motown and northern soul and gets a buzz listening to me ramble on about about the clubs and the clothes and the way we used to dance a time never to be forgotten cheers pete

[peteconn55]

hi me again if you fancy catching up my e-mail is [e-mail] give us a shout anytime

[baddad33]

I used to DJ in & around Oldham & Manchester in the 60's - early 70's. Mainly "guesting" at All-nighters in Manchester (Jonn Lee was my psuedonym). I also used to work at "Ralph's Records" in Manchester when I could, usually Fridays/Saturdays (before Richard Searling I believe) and get all the Soul/Motown imports weeks before their UK realeases as my salary??. (I think I still owe him £20!!).
A couple of the clubs you possibly visited were "Staxx" or "The Jungfrau" and perhaps "The Oasis"? Lee Dorsey/Working in a Coalmine & Holy Cow were big at "The Pendulum" whilst Don Covay/Seesaw was big at "Jigsaw". I was resident at "The Top Twenty Club" (an old bank or church) in Hollinwood nr. Oldham. I ended up most w/ends when I had no gigs at "The Twisted Wheel" or "Wigan Casino" All-nighters. It was a great time - but it took it's toll - all-night parties/scooters/weird fashions/drugs & booze. Wouldn't have missed it for the world!!

[soulspammer]

8-)RALPHS RECORDS...USED TO PAL ABOUT WITH ZAN WHO WORKED THERE...........CAN'T REMEMBER HIS REAL NAME, USED TO STAY AT HIS GAFF ON TRAFFORD PARK.... PENDELUM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, THEN OFF TO THE WHEEL, .....ANYONE GO TO UP THE JUNCTION AT CREWE.

WHO REMEMBERS THE GUY WHO USED TO DJ AT BELLUE VUE ZOO ON SUNDAYS.

WAS A BIG CREW OF US FROM DARLINGTON/RICHMOND UP IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND

[bigfrank]

remember browns, the wheel , jigsaw, staxx, jungfrau, spring gardens etc etc back in 1967/8 lambretta scooters mods and all that, great times

[snakepitlj]

I started at Browns at the Ben Brierley, Moston (above Co-op) in 1969 ? (I would be 14!!!)
Traditional club sounds but with a leaning towards 'Northern' but not called that then of course.
Went on to Manchester Town Centre, CIS, Rowntrees,Fagins and my favourite Top of the Town, with the great "Spin Inn" record shop. (1970-72)Other venues around Grt Manchester
Clayton, Droylsden etc.1 vist to "Top Twenty" in Hollinwood, which seemed fantastic.
Went to the Wheel , 2 allnighters & 1 Sunday session.........then sadly the Old Bill got their way.
Went to the Pendulum (both Crown Square & MSG near Cathedral). Fagins, Carolines had NS nights in this era.
Sadly, lost touch with the rare soul scene.........still went to clubs like PIPS, Placemate etc.
Did the rounds of all the Manchester records shops & stall..Ralphs,Shudehill, Global, Spin Inn, Stalls near the old Cannon Street. etc. Specialised in Motown but bought any soul 45s.
Missed out on Torch, Wigan era...did squeeze in a Blackpool Mecca session I remember (or NOT as the case may be)
Got back into NS/Rare via the odd fanzine after meeting old mate, who informed me of a 'do' about 5 minutes from my home, which I had no knowledge of.
This 'do' folded and I had a go at running soul night for a few sessions until the club steward got greedy and told him to stuff it.
Caught up with my lost years by initialy buying and then swapping cassettes.........from many sources.This enabled me to get around to a number of revival type 'do's and know the sounds I'd missed.
(Followed Richard Searlling's radio shows as well.)
Eventually had about 6/7 swappers and built up massive collection of sounds.CDs killed the tape swapping scene.
Wrote a Rare Motown column for Shades of Soul Mag (Derek Pearson...but lost touch?)
Buy/trade CDs .......alas all my vinyl went some time ago.
Thesedays manage to persuade 'er indoors to go to the odd 'local' venue....got her sister/brother in law interested and now they go all over....but wife digs her heels in somewhat .
Get down to the Twisted Wheel Revival nights when I can