Colin Curtis (Q: maybe for Greg Wilson)

[Martin Red]

I know he sold his record collection or a part of his collection some years ago.

What can you tell me ?

smile.gif

[Martin Red]

smile.gif

[greg wilson]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
I know he sold his record collection or a part of his collection some years ago.

What can you tell me ?

smile.gif I'm not sure. I haven't seen Colin in years. Do you know whether this included his Northern Soul and/or Jazz records? I remember that Colin used to spend almost all the money he earned on Jazz, if he saw something he had to have it. Sorry I can't be of more help at the moment, I'll make a couple of enquiries.

BTW I was asking how Sasha got his start in Stoke over at the DJ History forum, and Jolyon suggested that you might be the person to answer this question.

[Martin Red]

Cheers Greg,
He used to do the Powerhouse in Brum also
I also asked a few people about Colin and you are spot on, I don't think he sold his Jazz or Northern at least not to the same people, he did sell his Disco funk house etc to a place in Brum quite a few years back.


Sacha started doing Shelley's in October 1990 from memory.


Was Colin originally from Wales ?

[Martin Red]

PM Greg graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[greg wilson]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
Cheers Greg,
He used to do the Powerhouse in Brum also
I also asked a few people about Colin and you are spot on, I don't think he sold his Jazz or Northern at least not to the same people, he did sell his Disco funk house etc to a place in Brum quite a few years back.


Sacha started doing Shelley's in October 1990 from memory.


Was Colin originally from Wales ? Colin's from Stoke-On-Trent as far as I'm aware.

Where's Sasha from and do you know when he was at The Powerhouse?

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by greg wilson:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Martin Red:
Cheers Greg,
He used to do the Powerhouse in Brum also
I also asked a few people about Colin and you are spot on, I don't think he sold his Jazz or Northern at least not to the same people, he did sell his Disco funk house etc to a place in Brum quite a few years back.


Sacha started doing Shelley's in October 1990 from memory.


Was Colin originally from Wales ? Colin's from Stoke-On-Trent as far as I'm aware.

Where's Sasha from and do you know when he was at The Powerhouse? </font>[/QUOTE]Sacha - powerhouse
graemlins/conf44.gif

Don't recall him playing there, he did have a residency in Brum circa 1989 at a place called Burberries, the night was called Eden and this was Sacha's introduction the the Birmingham crowd, he rocked it. This is where I met James who ran Venus. I think he may have had something to do with Sacha's booking or he may have just been a friend, but James was there most weeks.

Sachas from Blackpool originally and I don't think he would have been DJing before 1988ish. I played with him at the Hummingbird in Birmingham a few times though circa 1989.


Let me try and recall his spot in Blackpool... errrrm Shaboo or something like that let me think........., I think was before he DJ'd at the Hacienda though

[ November 14, 2003, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Martin Red ]

[greg wilson]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
[QUOTE]Sacha - powerhouse
graemlins/conf44.gif

Sorry crossed-wires, I thought you were talking about Sasha, but now I've re-read I can see you mean Colin Curtis!

[Martin Red]

Sorry Greg probably my fault, I've got a few bees in my ear here at the moment ;)


Colin DJ'd the Powerhouse a few times I believe.


P.S: Bulldog - yep: - still dancing ;) , apparently my friend saw him out the other week, there like a jazz , Nu jazz broenj beat night on Sunday's he frequents there, I may go this Sunday so if I see him i'll pass on your e-mail.

[Jolyon]

It is Shaboo - cos I went from Leeds in a van with a few mates. Around 1990 ish from memory. Then he did Hacketts in Blackpool. He's from North Wales though...moved to Manchester in the late 80s.

And...here's a secret...i know the guy that taught him everything he knew back then. A chap from Leeds called Graham Dixon who DJed with Sash at pre-Kaos nights in Leeds 89/90. Dixon was the best scratcher over house mixing I ever heard and he taught Sasha how to scratch. Plus Dixon was one of the first UK DJs i heard using a lot of accapellas over Italian piano records - while Sasha was still playing Bonesbreaks and DJ International tracks like 'Stand by Me' by Julian Jumpin Perez. Unfortunately for whatever reason, Dixon decided in around 1990 that he didn't want to DJ any more...turned down all the Kaos gigs and pretty much packed it in.

[Jolyon]

P.S. I first when to Shelley's in December 1990 to hear Sasha and he had been there for a couple of months at that point, so you've got your dates about right there Martin graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Great days!

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by Jolyon:
It is Shaboo - cos I went from Leeds in a van with a few mates. Around 1990 ish from memory. Then he did Hacketts in Blackpool. He's from North Wales though...moved to Manchester in the late 80s.

And...here's a secret...i know the guy that taught him everything he knew back then. A chap from Leeds called Graham Dixon who DJed with Sash at pre-Kaos nights in Leeds 89/90. Dixon was the best scratcher over house mixing I ever heard and he taught Sasha how to scratch. Plus Dixon was one of the first UK DJs i heard using a lot of accapellas over Italian piano records - while Sasha was still playing Bonesbreaks and DJ International tracks like 'Stand by Me' by Julian Jumpin Perez. Unfortunately for whatever reason, Dixon decided in around 1990 that he didn't want to DJ any more...turned down all the Kaos gigs and pretty much packed it in. Thanks Jolyon, I was told he was "taught" also, except I am sure the chinese whispered version I had, had him trained by GParkes as he used to live underneath him or some bollocks ;) graemlins/rofl.gif

Another northern guy who could scratch well over house : - Nipper graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[ November 14, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Martin Red ]

[Rob.J]

I'm pretty sure Sasha is from Wales originally

I remember a few mad nights up at the Blackburn raves when he was playing....they were mental.

He used to be managed by James Bailey and a chap called Sparrow ( who used to throw some of the B.Burn raves )

Eden was the 1st time i heard the original of "Only love can break your heart" By St Etienne

cheers

rob

[Martin Red]

Hi Rob, hope you are well,

Colin Curtis and Sacha both from Wales, coincedence or some astral sign to tell us to flee from our computers and make love..ooooh
..stella graemlins/alc.gif

[greg wilson]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
Hi Rob, hope you are well,

Colin Curtis and Sacha both from Wales, coincedence or some astral sign to tell us to flee from our computers and make love..ooooh
..stella graemlins/alc.gif As I said, I thought Colin was from around the Stoke area (he certainly lived in nearby Kidsgrove when he was younger), but maybe he moved there from Wales.

Don't forget that Colin first made his mark at 'The Torch' in Tunstall (on the outskirts of Stoke) one of the most famous Northern Soul venues of all.

[Mark Gurney]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
I know he sold his record collection or a part of his collection some years ago.

What can you tell me ?

smile.gif Hi Martin

Most of Colin's Jazz collection was bought by Mark Wimmers (one of the best jazz dealers around) this was around 89-90, I think he had a bit of help from Kirsten (he used to dj quite a bit during the 7ts funk revival around the mid 80's). It was an amazing collection that I believe was bought in installments.
I was fortunate to have a look myself & managed to pick up bits that I wanted. Alot of jazz collectors/dj's that deal with Mark Wimmers obviously jumped in there as well.
I did hear that Mark is moving back to the UK, he has spent the last few years in France, when I first started dealing with him I think he was based in Washington DC.
He has certainly turned up alot of massive soul & jazz records over the years & many dealers still hook up with him when they go on their missions.

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by greg wilson:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Martin Red:
Hi Rob, hope you are well,

Colin Curtis and Sacha both from Wales, coincedence or some astral sign to tell us to flee from our computers and make love..ooooh
..stella graemlins/alc.gif As I said, I thought Colin was from around the Stoke area (he certainly lived in nearby Kidsgrove when he was younger), but maybe he moved there from Wales.

Don't forget that Colin first made his mark at 'The Torch' in Tunstall (on the outskirts of Stoke) one of the most famous Northern Soul venues of all. </font>[/QUOTE]DOH! Stoke graemlins/grinyes.gif
http://www.chapmanrecords.co.uk/images/torch.jpg

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by Mark Gurney:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Martin Red:
I know he sold his record collection or a part of his collection some years ago.

What can you tell me ?

smile.gif Hi Martin

Most of Colin's Jazz collection was bought by Mark Wimmers (one of the best jazz dealers around) this was around 89-90, I think he had a bit of help from Kirsten (he used to dj quite a bit during the 7ts funk revival around the mid 80's). It was an amazing collection that I believe was bought in installments.
I was fortunate to have a look myself & managed to pick up bits that I wanted. Alot of jazz collectors/dj's that deal with Mark Wimmers obviously jumped in there as well.
I did hear that Mark is moving back to the UK, he has spent the last few years in France, when I first started dealing with him I think he was based in Washington DC.
He has certainly turned up alot of massive soul & jazz records over the years & many dealers still hook up with him when they go on their missions. </font>[/QUOTE]Thanks Mark, you a mine of info graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[Martin Red]

http://www.thisoldsoul.com/fly2.jpg http://www.thisoldsoul.com/fly3.jpg
http://www.thisoldsoul.com/fly1.jpg
http://www.thisoldsoul.com/fly5.jpg
"Colin Curtis" top right graemlins/thumbsup.gif
http://www.thisoldsoul.com/fly4.jpg

http://www.thisoldsoul.com/flyer.html

[Martin Red]

Contrary to popular belief, the founding DJ of the soul sessions at Blackpool Mecca was in fact a local DJ: Tony Jebb. Tony had been playing Motown and well-known soul when he was joined at the decks by a certain Les Cockell, who was at a loose end after the closure of the Twisted Wheel. Les had been playing records lent to him (for a fee, of course) by the son of a wealthy casino owner, who after several holidays in the US with his parents, had built up a formidable record collection. The lad with all the records was, of course, Ian Levine. One week, Les Cockell came down with the flu, and Levine was persuaded to step up to the decks, and was such a success that he and Les began to do alternate weeks.

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~zalasta/hsc/images/tim@mecca.gif

At about this time, the Golden Torch in Stoke-On-Trent opened. Tony Jebb was poached by the Torch, which left Les and Ian in control of the Mecca. However, the massive success of the Torch began to have an effect on the Mecca, and recommended by Tony Jebb, Ian Levine gained a spot at the Torch, his first night coinciding with the now legendary appearance of Major Lance.

Unfortunately for the Torch, the pharmaceutical activities of the punters attracted the attention of the local authorities, and two significant DJs left to revive the soul sessions at the Mecca: Keith Minshull and Colin Curtis. Ian Levine remained at the Torch until the last night and returned to the Mecca when Keith Minshull left.


Ian and Colin were a formidable partnership, with a joint mission to find and play the greatest Northern Soul records ever. Their phenomenal success, due mainly to Ian Levine's regular trips to the US, attracted the attention of a certain Simon Soussan, who once a record was identified, would track down a copy and press up bootlegs in huge quantities and sell them to the eager soulies. This obviously annoyed Levine and Curtis, and led to the first "cover-ups", the practice of obscuring the record label, and inventing spurious artists and titles to conceal the identity of the true recording. Frustrated by this, Soussan negotiated the purchase of the Mirwood and Keyman catalogue master tapes, and resorted to producing his own records, leading to disasters like the Soul Fox Strings...

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~zalasta/hsc/images/selectadisc.gif


The feud between Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino is well known. Whereas the Casino preferred a traditional music policy of soul stompers, the Mecca started to implement a newer, modern feel to it's playlist. This injected a breath of fresh air into the Northern scene, and even though it effectively split the scene from 1973 onwards, the sounds played at the Mecca then still sound fresh today. Levine was also upset by the Pye Disco Demand and Black Magic debacles, and decided to have a go himself. He took the Exciters, Barbara Pennington, Evelyn Thomas and L. J. Johnson into a recording studio and released records on his own "Tomorrow" label. Russ Winstanley immediately banned Levine's records from the Casino playlist, but in retrospect was himself responsible for playing many of Soussan's "home-made" records....


As Colin Curtis got funkier, playing sounds by artists such as Roy Ayers and George Benson, Ian Levine started to introduce a disco flavour to his playlist, influenced by visits to gay clubs in New York. The Highland Room moved further and further away from the Northern scene and by the end of the seventies, had become the domain of Jazz-Funk. Levine moved away from the Mecca and concentrated on the high-energy disco scene. Sounds that made the Mecca infamous
Willi J & Co Boogie With Your Baby
Andre Maurice You're The Cream Of The Crop
Black Nasty Cut Your Motor Off
East Coast Connection Summer In The Parks
Silvetti Spring Rain
Brass Construction Movin'

Ian Levine's production projects had their ups and downs. While having a massive hit with "High Energy" by Evelyn Thomas, the Motorcity project (an attempt to re-vitalise ex-Motown artist's careers) was a distinct failure, the only ray of light being "Footsteps Following Me" by Frances Nero in 1991. Success finally arrived with Take That, and continued with Bad Boys Inc and Boyzone. Levine's recent movement into film production with the video "The Strange World of Northern Soul" can only attest to the fact that whether you love him or hate him, Ian Levine is here to stay.

You may have noticed that Colin Curtis is only mentioned briefly. Read his views and watch an interview with Colin on the BBC website by clicking here (link dead).
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:rsRZCgmQLz8C:www.bbc.co.uk/aboutmusic/memories/images/curtiscolin_index.jpg

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~zalasta/hsc/mecca.htm

[Martin Red]

Ian Levine interview on Bill Brewsters site.

http://www.djhistory.com/books/archiveInterviewDisplay?interview_id=18


northern exposure by John McCready

http://www.mmu.ac.uk/h-ss/mipc/nqn/john-mccready/northern.html

[Martin Red]

The SoulClub , Scotland's longest-running soul club, has moved from The Grosvenor to The Baron Suite, Corn Exchange Village, Newmarket Rd, Edinburgh. The first night of NuGrooveNoir on April 12 was excellent: click here for some more on that. There are two rooms featuring Northern oldies and Modern Soul and this usually attracts around 500 people. Next night is November 15 with guests Derek Pearson and Pete Haigh. For more info get in touch with Janice Ramsay on 0131 334 1105. Recent guests at the Soul Club have included Colin Curtis and Butch and it's highly recommended.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~abdnpaul/page%202.html


-------------------------------------------------

[greg wilson]

For an in-depth history of the Soul / Northern Soul movement in the UK, check out Mike Ritson & Stuart Russell's book 'The In Crowd'.

To find out more about the music played, 'The Northern Soul Top 500' (with label scans of all the records listed) by Kev Roberts, is a good starting point.

Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton's 'Last Night A DJ Saves My Life provides an excellent overview of the Northern Soul scene, and apart from the Ian Levine interview on their DJ History site, there are also interviews with some other major players:

'Farmer' Carl Dene: http://www.djhistory.com/books/archiveInterviewDisplay?interview_id=20

Ian Dewhirst (DJ Frank): http://www.djhistory.com/books/archiveInterviewDisplay?interview_id=36

[Mark Gurney]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
The SoulClub , Scotland's longest-running soul club, has moved from The Grosvenor to The Baron Suite, Corn Exchange Village, Newmarket Rd, Edinburgh. The first night of NuGrooveNoir on April 12 was excellent: click here for some more on that. There are two rooms featuring Northern oldies and Modern Soul and this usually attracts around 500 people. Next night is November 15 with guests Derek Pearson and Pete Haigh. For more info get in touch with Janice Ramsay on 0131 334 1105. Recent guests at the Soul Club have included Colin Curtis and Butch and it's highly recommended.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~abdnpaul/page%202.html


------------------------------------------------- Butch I'd say is most probably king of the 45's nowadays, a collection to die for.