The Road To Wigan Casino
This wacky instrumental is a record that made all hardcore Northern Soul fans cringe when it hit the UK pop charts in 1975 but for a lot of us it was the first time we ever knew something called "Northern Soul" existed. Wigan's Chosen Few weren't a real group and "Footsee" was actually the b-side of an obscure Canadian surf record (apparently such a thing as "Canadian surf" exists too) that was remixed by a DJ at the Wigan Casino who added the football crowd noises and put it out under a made-up name. This isn't exactly a soul record at all but at the Casino they often played eclectic tunes like the themes from "Joe 90" and "Hawaii Five-0" just because they had a good beat. Somehow this novelty number ended up in the charts - reaching #9 - and when the Canadian group couldn't be found for a Top of the Pops appearance, the BBC roped in a group of teenagers from the Casino to do a bit of "Northern" dancing on the show (apparently Pan's People didn't know how). These pasty kids jumping around on a talcum-powdered floor in their extremely baggy trousers was probably one of the most memorable moments in early 70s TOTP history but to yer seasoned Northern Soul fan it was a plastic sell-out that ruined the underground status of their little scene ("After the whole thing had been on the telly the Casino filled out with sight-seeing knobheads.") Yes, this is a very cheesy record and a completely manufactured cash-in, but it sounds so bloody daft and infectious I can't help but love it. Now where's me baggy trousers?
Get this on Wigan Casino Soul Club (which includes a pop-up model of the club!)
[Download]
Footsee - Wigan's Chosen Few
8 Comments:
Crikey Lee - that is a blast from the past! Genuinely haven't heard it for 30 years. Moved my young ass to this in 'fancy pants' oxford bags and star jumper.
Dodgy single but great picture sleeve? And wasn't the B side the classic 'Seven Days Is Too Long'?
There was also Wigans Ovation around at that time I recall, doing something not too disimilar.
Shame Pans People couldn't roll on the floor - especially lovely Babs ... don't know what her name was!*
Keepin' the faith, old boy.
* Joke lent from Norman Stanley Fletcher in Porridge
Just had your site recommended to me by James at www.headphonesex.co.uk - it's amazing! Have been promising to turn mine into an MP3 blog for months now, but I'm a terrible procrastinator. Keep up the good work! xx
I'm commenting WAY LATE on an earlier tune - MISTER BLUE! Mister Blue! mister blue . . . .
I haven;t been able to stop playing Mr. Blue, not a bit. Thanks mate.
-j
Glad someone else liked it. No one left a comment on that one, so you do wonder if you're the only who thinks it's brilliant.
Ooh ! A true cringy classic !! Keep on Keepin' On !!
IanB @ RetroBabe!
re: Mr. Blue: I just love the way it keeps building, he barely lets up for the whole song. Very good track, and something about the raw sound, as you mentioned, is just right.
You're definitely in company - good company? Hmm.
-j
It was really massive when I first played it.....but the novelty soon wore off!Glad you liked my picture sleeve and the incredible 'B'SIDE,Seven Days which Emperor Rosko reviewed as the 'A'side on Radio One!Catalogue number on Pye's Disco Demand was DDS 111.Originally on Roulette Records by Canadian band Chosen Few,without horns and crowd sounds.Wigan's Ovations was a cover of Invitations Skiing in the Snow.
THE Russ Winstanley?
I'm honoured by your presence sir.
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