Various Artists – Wigan Casino Classics 1973-2023 EP

Limited 3 track EP featuring Don Thomas, Gerri Hall & Gene Chandler Picture sleeve design is a print of the design painted by Brian “The Brush” Meadows, the artist who painted the original and now iconic Wigan Casino posters.

It was a simple throwaway remark from Richard Searling that gave the Wigan Casino documentary its A Thousand Records – A Million Memories title. For eight years, from 1973 to 1981, the Casino All•Nighters created o constantly evolving, frenzied, sweeterthan-the-day-before soundtrack of up-tempo soul germs rescued from unloved obscurity in their USA homeland, presented to an incredulous army of young Brits who adopted the music as their own. At the same time, they built o unique lifestyle around it, creating a myriad of magical memories. Now apt of Richard to come up with this title. As the force of nature DJ at the club in Station Rood, he was central to dealing with the insatiable demand for newly discovered records from the discerning Casino devotees. The revolving playlist wove stories of love, pain, joy, betrayal, hope, happiness, and disappointment. The documentary interviews zone in on just how much the weekly dose of this awesome music deeply affected Wigan adherents. Instead of merely being a building where records happened to be played, Wigan Casino, the epicenter of the strange but wonderful world of Northern Soul, became a fantastical dimension where the humdrum of daily life could be forgotten, lifelong friendships forged, the love of music from another culture cherished, and crazy youthful adventures embarked on – all to the soundtrack of the most amazing records ever. Can’t Get Over Those Memories – Don’t Want To Get Over Those Records!

Format – Limited Edition 7″ EP