The Golden Torch Radio 6

[JohnJames]

Colin Curtis did an hour on Radio6 last night. Talking about the Torch and spinning discs from the club

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001q70l?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

 

 

 

[Paul6754]

18 hours ago, JohnJames said:

Colin Curtis did an hour on Radio6 last night. Talking about the Torch and spinning discs from the club

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001q70l?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Some great music there. I didn't know Colin Curtis but knew Keith Minshull through one of his younger brothers who I was good friends with.  I started going The Torch around 1968 and stopped in either 1970/71 but did go to a couple of "All nighters" later.

A group from Kidsgrove were at the Torch most nights it was open, often walking home after missing the last bus. 

Brilliant memories of fantastic nights at the Torch, brilliant music and camaraderie, soul, in all it's forms,  is still my fav. genre of music.

Used to iron my Levis, Wranglers and my Vale programs on a Saturday night, shine my brown brogues 'til I could see my face in 'em.

First record I fell in love with was "Heaven must have sent you" The Elgins, "Breakout" Mitch Ryder still sends shivers down my my spine .  The last record played every night by tradition at the Torch was "Long after tonight is all over", Jimmy Radcliffe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56E2gHwdKvk&ab_channel=TonyBanyer

 

[ramsgate valiant]

I used to go to the Torch late 60s early 70s great music but I could never do the acrobatic dance moves that some others

could do. I saw Junior Walker there who had his son playing drums,Junior Walker Junior.

[Paul6754]

On 12/09/2023 at 03:05, ramsgate valiant said:

I used to go to the Torch late 60s early 70s great music but I could never do the acrobatic dance moves that some others

could do. I saw Junior Walker there who had his son playing drums,Junior Walker Junior.

Saw Jnr Walker myself, can't remember if he played The Torch multiple times or not. Some other great acts also, Inez and Charlie and Foxx, Major Lance, Edwin Star etc etc.

I've posted before on OVF about the dancing . Some of the Norther soul videos on Youtube say it originated from Bruce Lee and various other people/artists but they are incorrect.

When I first went to The Torch/Wheel the dance was more like a "Shuffle dance" with back flips etc which can be seen done by James Brown. One guy from our group who was really athletic  from the Silverdale/Knutton area (I won't give his name) naturally morphed the dance into a more "Athletic dance" in the late 60's and it just caught on. Some people are better at it than others and this is generally what's seen in it's various forms these days.

Stoke on Trent and it's surrounding areas were just a Mecca for for brilliant Disco/music clubs from the late 60's to the early 80's. Following the Torch were the Place in Hanley, Placemate (Which became Sammi Belles) in Newcastle, Cheshire Cat in Nantwich, Maxims in Hanley all playing 70's soul/funk music etc, not to mention Strikes in Burslem, the Adulte in Burslem and Jollees in Hanley.

If you were into this scene in Stoke-on-Trent in the 70's it was just incredible, can't imagine there was better night life for a "youngun" anywhere in the country.

[Conrad]

6 minutes ago, Paul6754 said:

Saw Jnr Walker myself, can't remember if he played The Torch multiple times or not. Some other great acts also, Inez and Charlie and Foxx, Major Lance, Edwin Star etc etc.

I've posted before on OVF about the dancing . Some of the Norther soul videos on Youtube say it originated from Bruce Lee and various other people/artists but they are incorrect.

When I first went to The Torch/Wheel the dance was more like a "Shuffle dance" with back flips etc which can be seen done by James Brown. One guy from our group who was really athletic  from the Silverdale/Knutton area (I won't give his name) naturally morphed the dance into a more "Athletic dance" in the late 60's and it just caught on. Some people are better at it than others and this is generally what's seen in it's various forms these days.

Stoke on Trent and it's surrounding areas were just a Mecca for for brilliant Disco/music clubs from the late 60's to the early 80's. Following the Torch were the Place in Hanley, Placemate (Which became Sammi Belles) in Newcastle, Cheshire Cat in Nantwich, Maxims in Hanley all playing 70's soul/funk music etc, not to mention Strikes in Burslem, the Adulte in Burslem and Jollees in Hanley.

If you were into this scene in Stoke-on-Trent in the 70's it was just incredible, can't imagine there was better night life for a "youngun" anywhere in the country.

Wasn’t Jollees in Longton?

[Paul6754]

8 minutes ago, Conrad said:

Wasn’t Jollees in Longton?

Yes you're right Conrad, was getting it mixed up with Maxims. wasn't it near/over Longton Bus Station, I only went Jollees a few times, saw Jimmy Ruffin there.

[ramsgate valiant]

I saw Jimmy Ruffin there too. I worked on the trade counter of a builders merchant in Ramsgate before I retired. I used to ask anyone with a northern accent where they were from , one guy said Liverpool (which I could tell) told him i was from s-o-t  he said that they used to come on a coach from there to the Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley in the70s.Used to be loads of coaches there and it was a great place to be in.