Comments for Searching For Soul

Comment on Book Reviews by Lenny Fisher

Lenny Fisher — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:28:43 +0000

Oi Oi! My name is Lenny. I am 56, and met Reg about four years ago at a soul event The Barnet Summer Soulstice.
Just like Reg, I struggle with reading, and I am a useless speller. I can read, but cant seem to remember what I have just read. (just the bloke to do a book review, I can hear you say!!) I think it is because my head is so full of soul tunes and lyrics, there is no room in there for the written word.
I shared the passions of foot ball and soul music just like Reg in the 70′s,and i follwed WestHam from the age of 10, for 30 years, up until the tv and money men priced me out from going.
Unlike Reg I didn’t do the Northern Soul scene he wrote about in his book, because if I wasnt watching, i was playing football. I know I would of loved it though, from the way he described his experiences in the book.
I think I know the reasons why he had to write his book. He had to just try and share the thrills he gets from the sounds of soul music and wants everybody else to feel as good as he did. The thing is, I think, if you don’t feel it on the dance floor…you don’t feel it. But if you do, there is nothing like it. If you are like us ‘soulies’ as Reg calls us…it is infectious.
Reg is a buyer of records, I never was. I just collect them in my head. The dates, places, times and conversations and the list of records in his book…what a memory the man has!! I cant remember names or song titles like he can. But as soon as the DJ drops a tune on a deck and I have heard it before..my feet move and a grin appears on my face..and I remember the lyrics. Perhaps us Soulies have a sixth sence in that way..I don’t really know.
Reg writes in his book about the clubs and bands he went to see, for me the Cali was the best. All the top acts went there back in the day. He writes of his times at Caister and I never miss…they just get better and better.
Reg writes about his kids not being into the music…my three Love it and are all coming to Caister in May with their ol’ Man…How good is that?!
Reg writes about travelling around all the different soul events, just like i do…meeting lovely people everywhere you go, its just a joy. He writes about his dancing in the book, and for me it is just the best thing about soul music.
The music takes you to a special place, and you feel it, almost taste it, and wear it like a second skin. If you can share that place it takes you to, with a lady, then its bliss! Simple as.
In his book he wrote about losing is Mum and Dad before the book was finished. That was ashame and I felt for his grief.
All i can say is…the grief is the pay back, for loving someone so long. Unfortunatly the longer the loving, the harder the grief.
Reg you wrote ‘you get out of life what you put in’ So true my Friend.
I have got no favourite artist or no favourite tune, Soul gives me what I call ‘The Moment’ …It is the time and a place when you hear a tune, and you are consumed with it. If you are a Souly like me and Reg, you will know what I mean. Oh Yes…The MMMMMMMMMOMENT.
I spend the time i have left in this world, collecting as many Moments as i can, up and down the country most weekends. This is only the third book i have ever read. Bobby Moore’s and Trevor Brooking’s Autobiography being the other two. As i have said, i struggle with the reading thing. So for me recommending a book, is abit rich.
I will just say…Go buy the bloody book, it’s a read.
Ta Reg, for all the time and effort you put in to write this book.
See you out on the dance floor, some time, to share a moment.
Total respect Sir…Nuff said.
Happy Hammer Lenny.

PS thanks to my daughter who typed this out on the computor..one finger Lenny would still be here tapping away before the next Caister!!

Ho Lenny What can i say after reading your book reviue. Outher than “IM FEELING IT SOULMAN LENNY” YES MAN IM FEELING IT !!!!

Comment on Book Reviews by shaun & sharon mcgarry

shaun & sharon mcgarry — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:45:29 +0000

As soul fans we found ” searching for soul” a brillant read and once you get started you can’t put it down!!!!! Brought back so many happy memories, it made us laugh and cry. Thanks for sharing your life with us, soul man Reg!!! x x x

Comment on People I’ve Met by Tony Warot

Tony Warot — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:28:42 +0000

which one of you are STANDING ON SOLID GROUND

Comment on People I’ve Met by Tony Warot

Tony Warot — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:25:03 +0000

hi reg, sidney barnes had toothache when this photo was taken, the pain
was worse on the left of his mouth & not on the right, in other words. . . .
. . I HURT ON THE OTHER SIDE (sorry, couldn’t resist that gag!)

TONY WAROT

Comment on Book Reviews by Tony Burdaky

Tony Burdaky — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:09:16 +0000

Tony Burdaky

Hiya pal,sorry not been in touch ,all work no play ,you know wot i mean ,just finish ure book matey , i know re gonna say wot took u so long ,wel im not a reader , kept pickin it up and putting it down , anyway , this weekend i started from the beginning and read it all the way through and wot a read , ure a diamond reg with a very understanding wife in Debs , shes a real trooper , u giv to people spmething that doesn’t cost a button , and thats friendship reg , wud luv to meet up, with some of ure friends from the book , me and yogi wud av a gud conva , wot with him bein a blue boy and me a red devil lol , and being brought not far from each other , if prestatyn is not on in march ,wud luv to bring ure adopted mancs down to caister weekender , u will av to let me know reg , hope to c you in blackpool this weekend , ifnot , k t f and keep on dancin reg , its wot keeps us young lol , take care pal , soon x

Comment on NEXT SOUNDS OF SOUL MAY 19th 2012 £5.00 ON THE DOOR by Elaine Cook

Elaine Cook — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:22:11 +0000

Hi Reg, Haven’t seen you for ages. Will be there on Sat 12th. Take care.

Comment on Book Reviews by DAVE VJ

DAVE VJ — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:26:48 +0000

Dave VJ
Hello Reg hope all is well. Thank u for writing your book. Its a great source of escapism and entertainment mixed with a great musical educational slant. May u sell many more

Comment on Book Reviews by Adrienne Tuck

Adrienne Tuck — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:36:31 +0000

Well Reg what can I say, you had me hooked from the very first sentence.
I only met you the day I purchased your book and got to know you a lot over that weekend where we met , but now I feel that I have known you all my life. So many emotions both highs and lows. I know that your mum and dad are looking down on you with big smiles, full of pride for everything you have achieved. Your are an inspiration to many people, not just soulies but also those who have academic difficulties, you have shown that you can do anything if you put your mind to it and work hard to achieve it. It has also educated me more to the soul scene and my knowledge and love of the music is now much greater, as is the playlist in my ipod, although the bank balance is a little lighter from purchasing tracks, but I’m sure itunes are very grateful lol.

The book definately deserves a 5 star rating!!!!

Very proud to be one of probably thousands of Reggies Birds
Looking forward to seeing you at the next caister weekend
Lots of love, Adrienne x x x

P.S will now be passing your book over to hubby to read

WOW THANKYOU FOR THIS WONDERFULL BOOK REVIUE ADRIENNE A TEAR JUST TRIKCELD OF ME CHIN XX

Comment on Book Reviews by Martin Goodyear

Martin Goodyear — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:08:49 +0000

Hello Reg… Thanks so much for arranging the book, and for the message to Karen, she was touched to say the least. I have to tell you mate, I was absolutely glued to your book, it was excellent. I was visiting Germany and made a brief stop to the UK to visit my family. I picked up your book from Simon, but I didn’t open it until about Thursday of last week. I read a few pages lying in bed that night and I was hooked. The next day I flew back to Canada, via Heathrow and Chicago. I slept in the terminal at Heathrow Friday night, but only actually slept for about an hour, the rest of the time I was reading your book. I finished it by the time I reached Chicago and what a brilliant read it was.

Many of the places you mentioned in the book I know of course, being a Hemelite and growing up their all my childhood and early adult life. I am 48 now, so a few years younger than you, nevertheless I was able to relate to everything you were talking about. I was not heavily into the Soul scene myself, but did love the music all the same. In fact I tuned in to channel 53 of my Sirrius Satelite Radio (Soul Town) as soon as I got into my car at the airport on Saturday night. They were playing Stevie Wonder when I tuned in and then played a couple of tracks I am sure you will remember, Four Tops (Baby I Need Your Lovin) and First Choice (Armed and Extremely Dangerous) I had a great time singing along in the car and they took me back to my disco days. I remember the OK Chicago Disco at the Pavillion in marlowes, perhaps a little after your time, but I do remember some’Soulies’ doing the moves of Northern Soul around 1973/1974.

Your mate Yogi and I have crossed paths twice, but he probably doesn’t remember me. First was when we were both part of the Hemel ‘It’s a Knockout’ team. we played Stevenage and Milton Keynes. I have pictures of the team when we went to Germany with the team, and Yogi is right there with me. Second and probably more important to me, was when we were both sitting in the lobby of Schroff in Maylands Avenue. We were going after the same job and waiting for our interview. I got the job and I still work for the same company today 26 years later !! Small world eh! I am so grateful to Yogi for not getting the job..haha My life would have been much different and I would never have moved to Canada, so tell him thanks.

Karen is heading back to England herself in a couple of weeks and intends to read the book then. I am sure she will enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks again Reg, great story.

Take care mate

Comment on Book Reviews by Andrew Schreiner

Andrew Schreiner — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:48:48 +0000

Subject: Greetings
Hi Reg,
You won’t know me personally but having read your book (which was brilliant by the way) there are so many parallels in our lives of which music has played such a massive part. I really enjoyed the book and Yogi sounds like a top fella! The soulies you mention in the book are my kind of people…………people who enjoy the music and live for the music.

Music is my santuary, music is my life (Gary Bartz), and that’s how I would sum myself up. I bought my first record at 9 years old and haven’t stopped collecting music since and never will. It’s just the lack of space Reg mate, but I’ll always find a home for music! I maybe going to Caister in September so may see you there.

Thanks for taken the time to read my message and thanks again for offering me and many other soul music lovers a real insight into the Northern Soul scene )

Best Regards

Andy