Wigan's ovation

**wayne** · 01-09-2003, 12:26 PM

Picked up this 45 by Wigan's Ovation, and the b-side, 'Northern Soul Dancer', sounds to me suspiciously like The Peppers stuff from around the same time, on the same label, though the credits are all to different names. And the record has no real relationship to Northern Soul either, being a funky electro track, really... Anyway, anyone know what the deal with this is?

**Lord Thames** · 01-09-2003, 12:49 PM

No connection with the Peppers apart from the label.

There are tenuous conections with Wigan's Ovation and the Northern Soul scene, though I can't remember what (They may have played at the Wigan Casino, or met there, or summat like that.)

The Spark label were an offshoot of Southern Music, though as far as I'm aware there's no link with their music library output (which included, at that time, Peer International.)

The b-side of 'Skiing in the snow' has been a bit of a secret favourite of mine for a while now!

**Matt Hero** · 01-09-2003, 01:05 PM

There is a 'Linda & The Funky Boys' 45 which is just about worth y'50p too on Spark.

**Blighty** · 01-09-2003, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Matt Hero @ Sep. 01 2003,13:05)]There is a 'Linda & The Funky Boys' 45 which is just about worth y'50p too on Spark.

Yeah it has a break on it.

I seem to recall that Wigan's Ovation record getting a mention in '

Night A DJ Saved My Life' so lbg probably know's more about it.

**ladyboygrimsby** · 01-09-2003, 01:50 PM

Wigan's Ovation were actually a local Wigan band called Sparkle. They were a cabaret act, basically, but because of their location they had northern songs in their repertoire, such as The Invitations' Skiing In The Snow. The label, incidentally, was owned and run by Jon Smith, who is now the most powerful man in sports management (First Artist Corporation), who've looked after everyone from Gary Lineker to Maradona.

**wayne** · 01-09-2003, 03:04 PM

Cheers for the info all...

Good to know such a great b-side was the product of an act who might've played Peter Kay's Phoenix Club in other circumstances...

**themodtowwn007@yahoo.co.u** · 29-12-2005, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by wayne

Picked up this 45 by Wigan's Ovation, and the b-side, 'Northern Soul Dancer', sounds to me suspiciously like The Peppers stuff from around the same time, on the same label, though the credits are all to different names. And the record has no real relationship to Northern Soul either, being a funky electro track, really... Anyway, anyone know what the deal with this is?

what the hell are you buying wigans ovation's crap for in the first place,you must be out of your head

**Col Wolfe** · 29-12-2005, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by themodtowwn007@yahoo.co.u

what the hell are you buying wigans ovation's crap for in the first place,you must be out of your head

What a charming way to introduce yourself onto the forum. Haven't you ever picked up a record blind in the past?

Wayne, as you no dount already know, an awful lot of shit was shoved into the Wigan/Northern scene as the commercial juggernaut squeezed in....

The Spark label should never be underestimated though....nice psych sides hidden away on a couple of releases

**d-cee** · 29-12-2005, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Col Wolfe

What a charming way to introduce yourself onto the forum. Haven't you ever picked up a record blind in the past?

Seconded.I wish picking up either half decent/fair to moderate/genuinely cack Spark releases was the top of my vinyl disgruntles in life! There'd have been room for a table on which to eat our Xmas dinner in the kitchen were this the case!

**Richard Bergman** · 30-12-2005, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Col Wolfe

What a charming way to introduce yourself onto the forum. Haven't you ever picked up a record blind in the past?

Wayne, as you no dount already know, an awful lot of shit was shoved into the Wigan/Northern scene as the commercial juggernaut squeezed in....

The Spark label should never be underestimated though....nice psych sides hidden away on a couple of releases

What was that oddly named track on Spark think the title contained the word "witch" or "Whiskey" or maybe both......lol
The Spark label also produced a Tommy Hunt record if memory serves me correct.....

Your dead right, Pye Disco Demand and later on Casino Classics were commercial ventures used to draw the masses into the Northern Soul scene as well.........

How can anyone forget that awful Mods 79 version of "Green Onions" on Casino Classics

**bongolia** · 30-12-2005, 12:12 PM

Pye Disco Demand started in the early 70s though, and there's some reasonable stuff that got a reissue on that (and 'Under My Thumb' is a guilty pleasure!). i think the original intention was just to reissue the decent Scepter/Wand/etc tracks to existing Northern Soul fans - there's some comps as well with some good tracks on. i wouldn't lump Disco Demand in with the tailor-mades and cash-ins... maybe someone (with a 'tache?) who knows more about NS can correct me though...

**Lady J** · 30-12-2005, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by bongolia

Pye Disco Demand started in the early 70s though, and there's some reasonable stuff that got a reissue on that (and 'Under My Thumb' is a guilty pleasure!). i think the original intention was just to reissue the decent Scepter/Wand/etc tracks to existing Northern Soul fans - there's some comps as well with some good tracks on. i wouldn't lump Disco Demand in with the tailor-mades and cash-ins... maybe someone (with a 'tache?) who knows more about NS can correct me though...

Three top Girl Northern things are on Disco Demand - The Fuzz 'I'm So Glad', Vel-Vets 'I Got To Find Me Somebody' and The Playthings 'Stop What You're Doing'. All worth picking up when finding yourself in Wigan's chazzas.