Cinderella Rockerfella's & The Bali Hi
The Top Of The World was part of the Mecca Empire and was up until 2am a Night Club for the town's folk of Stafford. Whilst waiting for the clubbers to leave so that The Top Dog Soul Club could take over the main room either of the two other rooms was used.
For the first year Cinderella Rockerfella's (later Ritzy's I believe), situated at street level, was used. After the first year the Bali Hai on the top floor was utilised. The Bali Hai would be destroyed by fire in the 1991 and wasn't rebuilt. This was however after the all-nighters ceased in 1986.
Both rooms would remain in use after 2am as the "oldies" room. The term oldies is used lightly, in the main it was oldies, the best the scene had to offer but many new discoveries first got played in these rooms.
The room originally when downstairs in Cinderella's would run from 12 midnight until 2am feature Gary Rushbrooke and Dave Withers. When it moved upstairs and Dave retired from DJing Bradford's George Sharp came on board. It would alternate who did the first hour etc. When Gary retired, Jimmy Wensiora joined George in doing the first two hours. The room would then resort to the "oldies" room with its own residents whilst the newies lot would move downstairs. Many loved the "other" room though which had its own identity which supplemented the main room really well.
The original resident DJs was Mick Smith, Pete Widdison, Nick Marshall and Ian Clark, Steve Smith, Esher, Steve "Budgie" Burgess Dave Greet & Dave Alcock would also be part of the team, giving the room its own style and also introducing many newies themselves. Many others made regular appearances in the room, Steve Whittle, Dave Evison and Brian Rae. The room would also have other guests, Mark Bicknell and Butch just two. The likes of Ady Pountain, Keith and Ian Clark would be at home in either room.
For the first year Cinderella Rockerfella's (later Ritzy's I believe), situated at street level, was used. After the first year the Bali Hai on the top floor was utilised. The Bali Hai would be destroyed by fire in the 1991 and wasn't rebuilt. This was however after the all-nighters ceased in 1986.
Both rooms would remain in use after 2am as the "oldies" room. The term oldies is used lightly, in the main it was oldies, the best the scene had to offer but many new discoveries first got played in these rooms.
The room originally when downstairs in Cinderella's would run from 12 midnight until 2am feature Gary Rushbrooke and Dave Withers. When it moved upstairs and Dave retired from DJing Bradford's George Sharp came on board. It would alternate who did the first hour etc. When Gary retired, Jimmy Wensiora joined George in doing the first two hours. The room would then resort to the "oldies" room with its own residents whilst the newies lot would move downstairs. Many loved the "other" room though which had its own identity which supplemented the main room really well.
The original resident DJs was Mick Smith, Pete Widdison, Nick Marshall and Ian Clark, Steve Smith, Esher, Steve "Budgie" Burgess Dave Greet & Dave Alcock would also be part of the team, giving the room its own style and also introducing many newies themselves. Many others made regular appearances in the room, Steve Whittle, Dave Evison and Brian Rae. The room would also have other guests, Mark Bicknell and Butch just two. The likes of Ady Pountain, Keith and Ian Clark would be at home in either room.
Nick Marshall: Sweeter Than Sugar
Nick Marshall, one of the many from Stoke was one of the regular spinners when the room became the "oldies" room. As intimated though many records featured had their first lease of life in the "other" room, The Isonocs being one such resident.
Isonics – Sugar – Kammy
Artistics – Sweeter Than Sugar - Brunswick
The Brothers Grimm – Looky Looky - Mercury
Caroline Crawford – Forget About Me - Motown
Barbara Lewis – I Still Remember The Feeling - Atlantic
Dee Dee Warwick – Worth Every Tear I Cry - Mercury
Joe Graves – (That’s How) A Boy And Girl Falls In Love - Parkway
George Byrd – I’m Available - Tangerine
Bobby Bland – Yum Yum Tree - Duke
Mill Evans – Why, Why, Why - King
The M&Ms & The Peanuts – The Phillie - Money
Jack Montgomery – Dearly Beloved - Scepter
O’Jays – I’ll Never Forget You - Imperial
Chekkers – Lack Of Love - Look
Orlons – Envy (In My Eyes) - Cameo
Georgie Fame – Sweet Thing – Columbia LP
Major Lance – I’m The One (Who Loves You) -Okeh
Marvin Smith – Who Will Do Your Running Now - Mayfield
Joe Graves – Debbie - Parkway
Ledgends – Fear Not - Locket
Toni Lamarr – Just In The Nick Of Time - Buddah
Ray Charles – I Don’t Need No Doctor - ABC
Jackie Wilson – My Heart Is Calling - Brunswick
Gene Chandler – There Goes The Lover - Brunswick
Martha Starr – No Part Time Love For Me - Thelma
Emanuel Laskey – I’m A Peace Lovin’ Man - Thelma
Bobby Bland – Getting Used To The Blues - Duke
Terry Callier – Look At Me Now - Cadet The Enticers – Calling For Your Love - Cotillion
Lovelites – Who Is Gonna Hurt You Now - Uni
Tower Of Power – This Time It’s Real – Warner Brothers
Jackie Wilson – I Don’t Want To Lose You - Brunswick
Jimmy “Soul” Clark – Tell Her - Moira
Celeste Hardy – You’re Gone - Reynolds
Ray & Dave – Wrong, Wrong, Wrong - Mica
Isonics – Sugar – Kammy
Artistics – Sweeter Than Sugar - Brunswick
The Brothers Grimm – Looky Looky - Mercury
Caroline Crawford – Forget About Me - Motown
Barbara Lewis – I Still Remember The Feeling - Atlantic
Dee Dee Warwick – Worth Every Tear I Cry - Mercury
Joe Graves – (That’s How) A Boy And Girl Falls In Love - Parkway
George Byrd – I’m Available - Tangerine
Bobby Bland – Yum Yum Tree - Duke
Mill Evans – Why, Why, Why - King
The M&Ms & The Peanuts – The Phillie - Money
Jack Montgomery – Dearly Beloved - Scepter
O’Jays – I’ll Never Forget You - Imperial
Chekkers – Lack Of Love - Look
Orlons – Envy (In My Eyes) - Cameo
Georgie Fame – Sweet Thing – Columbia LP
Major Lance – I’m The One (Who Loves You) -Okeh
Marvin Smith – Who Will Do Your Running Now - Mayfield
Joe Graves – Debbie - Parkway
Ledgends – Fear Not - Locket
Toni Lamarr – Just In The Nick Of Time - Buddah
Ray Charles – I Don’t Need No Doctor - ABC
Jackie Wilson – My Heart Is Calling - Brunswick
Gene Chandler – There Goes The Lover - Brunswick
Martha Starr – No Part Time Love For Me - Thelma
Emanuel Laskey – I’m A Peace Lovin’ Man - Thelma
Bobby Bland – Getting Used To The Blues - Duke
Terry Callier – Look At Me Now - Cadet The Enticers – Calling For Your Love - Cotillion
Lovelites – Who Is Gonna Hurt You Now - Uni
Tower Of Power – This Time It’s Real – Warner Brothers
Jackie Wilson – I Don’t Want To Lose You - Brunswick
Jimmy “Soul” Clark – Tell Her - Moira
Celeste Hardy – You’re Gone - Reynolds
Ray & Dave – Wrong, Wrong, Wrong - Mica