Dancin' Cat The Stafford DJ's - The Stafford Story Vol 1 - Dave Thorley - Rare Soul (MP3)

 I,ve been inundated with requests to ask if there were any other series of the Cats, well yes there is, quite a few!... so your in for more treats! This is the start of a 33 Volume series with record labels added highlighting the DJ,s that made this such an iconic institution on the northern scene...The Stafford all-nighters held at The Top Of The World club in Newport Road and ran under the Top Dog Soul Club banner and it’s promoters were Dave Thorley and the late Keith Minshull. It opened its doors in May 1982 and closed its doors on the 22nd/23rd February 1986. To begin with it can be best described as a coming together of two legendary venues, the recently closed Wigan Casino and The Yate All-Nighters with a line consisting of and including the best DJ’s from both venues, Richard Searling, Dave Thorley, Ian Clark, Gary Rushbrooke, Ady Pountain and Dave Withers. Upstairs in the Bali Hi (or occasionally downstairs in Cinderella Rockerfellas) the featured Djs were usually Mick Smith, Nick Marshall, Pete Widdison, Budgie and Dave Alcock, with guest Djs often supplemented the regular line up. The venue was a “normal” night club before. Prior to the main room opening at 2am for the nighter crowd the downstairs (at street level) was used initially for our crowd and later the upstairs room which featured oldies but many a main room play started life in that room. The street level room was called Cinderella Rockerfella’s. Every other time it opened it was an up market Club or VIP Room adjacent to the TOTW with very strict entry rules. Over the time the all-nighter ran Dj’s came and went, Adam Buchanan, Robin Salter, Soul Sam, Chris Plant, Pat Brady and of course the 60’s Mafia Keb Darge and Guy Hennigan. Many others also featured over the years in both rooms. Many many new records were introduced to the scene and the crowd were eager to lap them up and new records were continually sought by all the Dj’s and many have since gone on to be classics still played up and down the country, many records from the era are still unknown to many who missed out when they left the scene after Wigan closed, later returning in the mid 90’s. The venue was also truly across the board featuring 60’s right up to new releases, probably the last venue where this was done on a regular basis in the same room. Now I nor anyone else lays claim that the records featured are all "Stafford" discoveries. Many found favour initially at earlier venues or were featured at other venues around the country at the time. One thing that is undoubtedly true, all featured at Stafford and many were made popular at Stafford.The music of the era is what I love the most, it is what has shaped by beliefs, ideals and attitude to the scene as a collector and later as a blog owner..

AMM

                                                                       The Tasters!