by Rob Mckeever.

Photographs by Dave Leedham

A story of a DJ’s lifelong obsession with Northern Soul.

“Ever since i was a teenager the only thing I ever wanted to do in my life was to DJ”………..Ginger Taylor

B5 SIZE (250mm high x 176mm wide) Printed on quality materials. Comprising 126 pages including 12 in full colour with approximately 300 images all relating to the Northern Soul Scene. Dancers Artists, Record Scans, Flyers, etc.

Reviews

“A really entertaining read -essential stuff for any Northern Soul aficionado”……………Richard Searling

“Very Readable”………Ady Croasdell of Kent Records

Foreword by John Manship

“In the last 34 years I’ve have had nothing but admiration for a man who is honest, witty, intelligent and sometimes even humble” ………………..

Ginger & Eddie, like Sam & Dave were a pairing that became synonymous with outstanding soul music. Playing every Saturday night to hoards of travelling teenagers who had ignored all outside musical influences and instead chose spend their weekends dancing to the discoveries of Ginger, Eddie and others in the family of the “Pier”. They were DJs who were responsible for exposing countless recordings that had previously never been undiscovered. That was in 1974, some 34 years later absolutely nothing has changed and the enthusiastic Ginger is still wowing the faithful with his imaginative DJ sets of the super-rare, the recently discovered and the forgotten classics.

Testimonials

“I present the weekly soul show on radio Lancashire in between records I announce forthcoming events. Ginger is mentioned all the time, more than anybody else. Doesn’t that tell you something, it tells me he is the best in the business, and everybody wants him”-Keith Fletches BBC Lancashire Radio presenter

“Ginger and Eddie started the Northern Scene in Todmorden they spawned a generation of Northern Soul followers at the local youth club. The town’s Northern Soul heritage was entirely down to Ginger Taylor and Eddie Antemes”…………Tim Brown

To me Ginger is the embodiment of Northern Soul. He was there when I got started, and he is still here now. In my opinion nobody worked harder to get the scene going again in the 1990s. We owe it mainly to him that it did………..Clare Shard

He is a good friend of mine, he does a lot people don’t hear about, he certainly helped me when I needed him and lets not forget he has got the sounds…. Roman DJ and Promoter

Topics Include:-

Ginger and Eddie the Early Years in Todmorden, Burnley and Cleethorpes

The crazy years of two Northern Soul teenage DJ’s: On one occasion when travelling with Andre and Jan Barker, they were running late for Cleethorpes. Eddie in an effort to make up some time went through a red traffic light and guess what? Opposite them was a police car, which immediately turned around in pursuit, with blue flashing light and siren screaming! After coming to a halt the conversation went something like this:

Policeman: Where do you thing you’re going

Eddie: (rather cockily) To the pier to do a gig, we are Northern Soul DJ’s Ginger and Eddie.

Policeman: I don’t give a F??? if you are Lennon and McCartney, you don’t go through a red light on my patch…..

The 1980s and resurgent 1990s

From 1980 to around 1983 most readers will be surprised to know that Ginger was buying and playing pop music. When I put this to him, I expected him to be a little embarrassed by this revelation, not in the slightest as he went on to explain: The Northern Scene was very quiet during the 80s, it almost died a death. At the time I had three young children and I needed the money to build a house on some land I had bought in Todmorden. In fact I will even admit to playing in strip clubs for the simple reason that they paid much better. In my defence I have to say it wasn’t quite all pop music I also played some Motown. Against all expectations Gingers Northern Soul DJ Career was reactivated due to a chance meeting in 1990 with his old friend Richard Searling this led to an invitation to perform an oldies session at Parkers in Manchester and afterwards the Trafalgar at Salmesbury.

The Northern Soul DJ and his Art

……..to a Northern Soul DJ owning ordinary records, is not a preferred option; exclusivity and quality are everything. We are all familiar with the saying ‘Its what is in the grooves that Count’ the grooves that can turn people into helpless, emotional wrecks, raise goose pimples on your arms and make the hairs on the back of your neck bristle and tingle. We’ve all been there haven’t we? Rare Northern Soul vinyl to a DJ is a drug, crack cocaine on a turntable, it can produce a heady mix of adrenalin and delusionary power. That box of records to a Northern Soul DJ is equivalent to a boy racer’s Ferrari.includes photos of top DJ’s,

The Millennium

The resurgent 90s moved effortlessly into the Millennium. Interest was stimulated further with the arrival of the internet. Radio was now hosting a dozen or so shows each week, resulting in more venues being added to an already comprehensive list Now over his illness, busier times lay ahead for Ginger Taylor and over the next 7 years or so he was to establish himself as the most in demand Northern Soul club DJ in the country

Gingers Favourite Artists

Gingers Top Tens including record Scans

Gingers Favourite Top Ten UK Releases

1 Billy Butler Right Track

2 Contours Just A Little Misunderstanding Tamla Motown

3 Timi Yuro It’ll Never Be Over For Me

4 Ray Pollard The Drifter

5 Hoagy Lands The Next In Line

6 Jackie Wilson I’m The One To Do It

7 Kim Weston Helpless

8 Johnny Wyatt This Thing Called Love

9 Darrell Banks Open The Door To Your Heart London

10 Artistics I’m Gonna Miss You

His Top Rarities.

The Four Vandals Story* (In full for the first time both sides of the story from Ginger and Ian Levine), It finally came to a head at the Stoke all-nighter, when he (Ian Levine)came on stage retorting ‘what you have been saying about me’. As he spoke a smile came across his face, I knew then I had been taken in. I reached out and grabbed him by ear and squeezed, he screamed “get off me I have just come out of hospital”. I replied as I drew him towards me, “you and I Ian are going to have a big fall out”

Various Playlists..……….. Blackpool Weekender 2007 Playlist (Saturday afternoon):

Brenda Holloway- When I’m Gone. Marvin Gaye and Tammy-Terrell Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Four-Tops-Something about You, Miracles-Going to Ago Go, Gladys Knight-If You Ever Get Your Hands on Love, Sam and Dave-Sooth Me, Sapphires-Got To Have Your Love, Impressions-You’ve Been Cheating, Ike and Tina Turner-Dust My Broom, Jackie Lee-Darkest Days, The Dells-Run for Cover, Sam Dees-Lonely For You Baby, Johnny Taylor-Blues in the Night, Pat and Blenders-Just Because, Mickey Champion-What Good Am I, Joy Lovejoy-In Orbit, Leon Haywood-Baby Reconsider, Barbara Mills-Queen of Fools, Lavern Baker-I’m The One to Do It, Gladys Knight-No One Can Love You More

JD Bryant at the time this record came up I was seriously ill, I’d even reserved my plot in the graveyard………. we agreed on a price of £4,150. Never knowing I would ever get the chance to play it; it went massive all over the country. ………

Ginger the Joker

The Helicopter Pilot Ginger and Dave Leedham were coming out of the dance hall after Ginger had finished dj-ing at Skegness. As they passed an amusement arcade Dave Leedham bet Ginger that he couldn’t get into a (kiddies) helicopter. Oh yes I can said Ginger, a little worst for wear, after having a few brandies. So he gave it a try, eventually squeezing and forcing himself into the tiny seat. Not exactly sitting comfortably he then said, hey Dave can you put 20p in? Dave obliged and the helicopter started to gyrate, within seconds the mount snapped and Ginger was thrown to the ground, still stuck in the helicopter. Barely able to stand for laughing, Dave extracted him and they quickly left the scene.

Price £10.99 + £1.49p postage