During the late 80’s and early 90s, the Northwest of England was home to many nightclubs which played early house, techno and acid house music.
And many great nights could be found outside the major northern cities like Manchester and Liverpool. It wasn’t unusual to discover small club nights playing piano house and rave tunes in various small towns dotted around the North.
In my hometown of Burnley, during the late ’80s and early ’90s, there was one such club – a club whose legacy still lives on today. This clubs name was the Angels.
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The Angels Nightclub – A brief history
In the late ’80s, Paul Taylor – with business partner Steve Farkas – took ownership of 1200 capacity club called the Angels. The venue was located under a multi-story car park on Curzon St, in Burnley, Lancashire.
Although the Angels had been opened a few years by this point, it wasn’t till around 1990 when it would rise out of the early house scene and start to draw crowds from all over.
During these formative years, the club was host to many D.J.’s who later became big names in the following decade. D.J.s like Carl Cox, Sasha, Pete Tong, DJ Hype, Paul Oakenfold, and many others graced the Angels decks. Alongside these soon-to-be worldwide D.J.’s, you had local talent playing like Paul Taylor, DJ Welly, and Rick B.
However, as the popularity of dance music grew, so did the big-name D.J.’s fees and expenses. The Angels only had a 1200 capacity and soon struggled to afford the hefty fees commanded by the big names in the industry. Many of the smaller clubs found themselves in a similar position around this time.
Around this time, dance music was becoming more of a global phenomenon. And at the same time, you had the emergence of superclubs like Cream, Ministry of Sound and other big clubs located around the world. Many of the A-list D.J.s went on play predominantly in these places rather than small venues like the Angles. That being said, lots of famous D.J.’s still played at the Angels until its closure in 1996.
In fact, there’s a Carl Cox record from 1992, and on the back cover, it has a map of the Cox’s favourite clubs – the Angels listed as was number four on that record. Now, I don’t know if this was an ordered list, but the club’s inclusion alone highlights how popular it was.
How Burnley’s Retro club nights started
Around the year 1989 Paul Taylor had an idea. He decided too much good music was discarded in favour of the latest tunes. So, he decided to try something different at the Angels. Taylor dedicated Friday’s last hour to all this old, underplayed and slightly forgotten about music.
And this was how the Retro nights and brand were born.
The hour was popular. Soon the Angels dedicated an entire night to playing old music house music. Later they billed it as a monthly night. And as the 1990s rolled on, Retro nights started being held at other venues around the Northwest.
By the end of the decade Retro had even held events abroad, starting at Eden in San Antonio, Ibiza. And later, it held residencies at Es Paradis and Pacha.
Around this time it won Mixmag’s ‘New Club of the Year Award’. And on the back of this success, Paul Taylor collaborated with the Pacha club, releasing a three-CD Retro anthems compilation. I remember this CD being popular, and I believe it sold well.
Paul went on to release another three similar mix C.D.s, all officially released.
Personally, if you’re looking for a snapshot of the music played at the Angels, I’d avoid these C.D. s. The C.D.s have some great tunes, but they also have very mediocre ones.
I get the impression that the Retro couldn’t use all their favourite record on those C.D.s because of licensing issues. I know from trying to upload my D.J. mixes to YouTube, it is surprising to find that even some old and obscure tracks are still licensed somewhere and by somebody.
If you’re looking for a sample of Angles and Retro records, check out the list below. And peek at some of the links at the very bottom of this article. I’ve included links to some of Taylors more recent mixes and old tape rips. I think these do a better job of capturing the raw energy of the club and the time.
Anyway, moving on…
I think it’s safe to say that Paul Taylor and the Retro did help to form the idea of club classics. And this gave rise to the club classic nights, C.D.’s and tape packs which emerged in the mid-90s.
This gave people like me – those who’d missed the prime of the early club scene – a chance to experience a sliver of the heady days of dance music’s past.
How Did Burnley’s Angels Nightclub Close. And why?
The life of the Retro night at the Angels was a short one. The club closed its door in 1996 – but this wasn’t due to lack of demand or empty club nights.
The club was located under a concrete car park, which despite being only 20-year-old, had severe structural defects. The landowners and the council decided that demolition and redevelopment of the site was the best solution.
So, this forced the Angels to close its doors finally. However, the site wasn’t demolished till 1999.
Between 1996-1999 the Angels nightclub site did reopen under the name Heaven, but it was a shadow of its former self. I’m not sure who owned it during this time.
The Xpo Bar
After the closure of the Angels, Paul Taylor launched a new nightclub in Burnley in another location. It was called the Xpo and was located in the former Aenon Baptist Chapel near the Thompson Centre and Burnley Library. But the venue was unsuccessful, and receivers were called in February 1997.
I did go to a few of the Xpo bar Retro nights, and they weren’t bad. However, the problem with the venue was the layout; it was a big single square room with a stage at one side.
And the D.J. booth was on a different floor – located next to the V.I.P. area. There was no way to talk to the D.J. and ask for a request. It also made it feel like the D.J. was removed from the dance floor. In comparison, the D.J. booth in the Angels was next to the main dance floor and stage – right in the middle of the action.
The Xpo felt sterile and clean compared to the dark and dingy club like the Angels. But at the time, the club scene was climbing out of its raw unwashed beginnings, and it was vying to appeal to a broader and more mainstream audience. Clubs like Cream and Ministry of Sound were evidence of this, and many smaller clubs were trying to copy their success.
The Angles was so good because it was a dirty dingy shit hole. It had nooks and crannies where you could hide, look awful, and get up to naughty things. And the D.J. booth was in the middle of the club and dance floor, which meant it felt like the D.J. was part of the crowd and not just some dot on a remote floor.
And the local beer boys kept away from the Angels because the beers were crap, and there were better bars around town if you wanted a drink. This meant you were predominately left with people who were there just for the music. And that’s a key ingredient to a great club night.
10 Angels and Retro Anthems
So, if you’re wondering what records got played, here are ten Angels anthems…
1. Young MC – Know How
This was a real cross over track. And it’s a record that would get played a wide range of club nights around the late 80s and 90s. You’d hear it at house music events like the Angels, at hip hop nights, and even at the regular bars around town.
Likewise, it was a popular tune in the U.S.A. But in the U.S.A. Young MC is more widely known for his other big song, ‘Bust a Move’ (another excellent record).
‘Young MC – Know How’ was released in 1988. The leading hook is lifted from Shaft. And the guitar sample is lifted from Ohio Players – Skintight.
If you like old school rap like this, I recommend listening to Young MC’s first album – Stone Called Rhymin (released 1989). It’s a great album, and many of its tracks have aged well. I had a few mates who were into grunge during the 90s, but even they liked this album.
Anyone who has been to a Retro night knows Paul Taylor always mixes Asha JJ Tribute into this track. And he still performs this same mix today! Although Taylor does do this mix a LOT, it does demonstrate his ear for finding a good mix.
This track and many other anthems are featured on this D.J. mix of mine. Click here to download.
2. King Bee – Back by Dope Demand
This track was made when all rap had to have an American accent. Why? I think it was because no major label back then would release rap tunes with native accents believing they wouldn’t sell.
I bet you can’t guess where King Bee originated from (the MC’s accent won’t help you). Give up?
Here’s the answer: They were from Holland. That’s right; King Bee was from the country of legal weed, Van Gogh and Tulip bubbles.
Anyway…
‘Back By Dope Demand’ was a massive tune that still sounds good today. It’s aged well.
This was also a challenging record to obtain. I remember seeing copies of this in Manchester’s Vinyl Exchange and Hard-to-find-Records fetching well over £100 back in 1996.
Most D.J.’s I knew, including myself, used to play one of the illegal Knights of the Turntable Bootlegs. This was the only way to obtain a copy of this track on vinyl without paying a fortune.
The weird thing about the Knights of the Turntable bootleg was that it was a speeded-up mix. The official release is a much slower record.
This tune is great. It has dope rapping, big heavy beats, and some mean scratching. The sample used at the beginning is from Herbie Hancock’s Wiggle Waggle.
3. Asha – J.J. Tribute
Next up is likely to be the best Italo piano house tune ever. And it’s probably one of the most loved old school records.
There’s a few different versions of this record, and it can be a bit confusing to understand at first.
The original version was released on Beat Club Records in 1990. That version sampled the live Janis Joplin record “Ball and Chain”.
Later versions had the vocals re-sung by a vocalist credited as Olivia.
Which version is better? They’re both excellent.
Obviously, with this being such a significant record, it was re-released and remixed many times. Some of these versions are better than others.
For me, the best versions of this track are any of the performances on the original release on Beat Club, namely the ?, Primitive, and Space Versions.
And the 1995 remixes are excellent too. Namely, the redone Primitive Mix, and I’m also fond of the Euro Club Mix.
Many years later, after ASHA’s original release, I frequented a hard house night in Leeds called Sundissential. This was around the early 2000s. The Euro Version was regularly dropped there, and it went down a storm. The Euro mix is a much faster remix – when pitched up – could be mixed into hard house. That’s a testament to how powerful this track is.
This is one of the best piano tunes of all time. If anyone thinks there’s anything better, add your suggestions below.
I feature the Primitive version and the Space remix on two mixes of mine.
The 1995 Primitive version can be found on one of my mixes (click here to download).
And the Space version can be found on this mix by me (Click here to download).
I do love the Space version. It just chugs along with some lovely throbbing bass and sparse vocals. It’s a great example of a very early Italian progressive house.
4. Jimi Polo – Better Days (Sasha Remix)
‘Jimi Polo – Better Days’ is a perfect example of a good track made better.
The original is an OK track in its own right; it has that typical Chicago House sound – dominant vocals layered over a minimal pulsing track. The original version had all the correct elements – catchy lyrics, excellent piano riff and killer singing by Jimmy Polo himself. But it’s the Sasha remix which (I.M.O.) put all these things in the proper order.
The Sasha remix is perfect. It’s probably the best remix he ever did. He gave the record much more order and progression. It’s a much moodier and darker record punctuated by the hands in the air piano breakdowns and killer vocals.
This was a big record at the time, a record that was played everywhere. You’d usually always hear it at a Retro night. And Paul Taylor still plays it frequently today.
‘Better Days’ was hard to find because it was on the D.M.C. record label. D.M.C. (Disco Mix Club) was a remix service you had to pay to join. They used to create and issue exclusive remixes to their members. However, it wasn’t cheap to be a member, especially if you were a hobbyist D.J. who didn’t have a paid residency.
I was always told that if you were a reasonably famous D.J., they’d send you the records for free, so you’d promote their remixes when playing live.
For us bedroom D.J.s who couldn’t afford the price of D.M.C. membership, there were the trusty ol’ bootlegs. And the Sasha remix of Better Days was bootlegged for fun. It’s no wonder considering how popular a tune it was.
I had the Knights of the Turntable bootleg of this track before I acquired a copy of the original D.M.C. release on Discogs. You can pick up a copy for good money these days. But back in the mid-90s – pre-Internet and before online record shops – you’d be paying a hefty sum for a copy of the D.M.C. version.
5. F.P.I. Project – Risky
The F.P.I stands for Fratty Presti and Intrallazzi. They were a group of Italian producers who cracked out a ream of Italo house hits. Many of which were popular at the Angels.
The members of F.P.I. also produced tracks under various names, and they’re also worth checking out. T.C. 1991 and T.C. 1992 are good tracks and some of my favourites.
6. Pierre Feroldi Featuring Linda Ray – Movin Now
Pierre Feroldi must be considered one of the best and prolific Italo house producers. He released quite a few great tracks under his original name and made some fabulous tunes under DJ Pierre, Smiling Frogs, and D.J. Choice.
He also collaborated with many other big Italo house producers, making real classics. If you have a piano house record collection, you’ll see his name cropping up all the time. The reason for this is that he was a bloody brilliant producer who knew how to make a dance floor stomper.
You can find this track on this mix by moi. Tap here to download it.
7. The Vision Masters & Tony King Featuring Kylie – Keep on Pumpin’ It Up (Angelic Mix)
Paul Taylor did dabble in production, and he made some excellent tunes. But he always collaborated and never put his D.J. name on them.
The Vision Masters was one of Paul’s production outfits; others include the High Givers, Loveland, and Serial Deva.
Did you know the ‘Kylie’ featured in this record’s title was none other than Kylie Minogue? In fact, around the time this record was released, Kylie paid a visit to one of the Angels nights.
Paul frequently used to play the acapella part of CeCe Rogers – All Join Hands just before dropping ‘Keep on Pumpin’. This resulted in lots of sweaty ravers joining hands on the dance floor and chanting along with CeCe Rogers (you wouldn’t get that happening today – different times indeed).
When you read the label of this record, it has one hell roster of credits. Not only was Kylie Minogue involved with the record, but Pete Waterman was too. Also, Asha (see J.J. Tribute above) was responsible for the piano breakdown.
This track really takes you on a journey. It has a great intro and breakdown, pulsating bass, epic hand in the air piano breakdown, and later it twists into a bit of Belgian Techno sound.
Curiously, I think this is the best-mastered record I have in my old school collection. I’m talking about the original vinyl version and not the digital copies (they’re meant to sound pants).
You can download this mix (tap here) by myself which contain this record.
8. Parra Dice – Can You Hear Me
This was another hard-to-find Angels Anthem. I believe the original pressing was limited to 200 copies. This has always been an expensive record to obtain. It’s gotten easier to find copies of this thanks to Discogs.
I knew few D.J.’s who had an original pressing of this record back in the day. Most (myself included) obtained a copy via bootlegs.
This is another classic piano tune that takes you on a journey. It’s a real builder. And the crescendo of the track is the big breakdown in the middle with Rachel McFarlane vocals screaming, ‘Can you hear me, please hear me…’.
When that breakdown kicked in the Angels lights would turn on to reveal loads of sweaty clubbers chanting the chorus in unison. It was magic.
Want to listen to this track? You can find it on this mix of mine.
9. Sil – Blue Oyster
Classic early progressive house tune which still sounds fresh today.
This is a very sparse record that has minimal musical elements. But the arrangement makes this a natural building tune.
The track starts with a minimal drum loop, and a vocal sample kicks in at 8-bars saying, ‘Yo give me something to dance to’.
Then the main bell loop kicks in; more percussive loops are added after the breakdown. It then drops into a string section with a haunting unforgettable sample of a child saying, ‘Listen to Mummy & Daddy and Do What They Say’.
The child sample is from: Touch of Soul – We Got the Love
I’ve just realised that I’ve never made a mix with this record on it. That needs to be fixed.
10. My Friend Sam feat Viola Wills – It’s My Pleasure
This was a big Sasha tune, and it was featured on the first Renaissance mix CD. This tune still sounds good today and gets people dancing.
‘It’s My Pleasure’ is a hard track to classify. It’s a vocal house tune, but the backing track is a tough, heavy, pounding techno stomper.
The Viola Wills vocal is huge, and it dominates the tracks – it’s a helluva vocal. If you listen to this track and don’t find yourself singing along to it, there’s something wrong with you.
This was a big track that got played everywhere. It still gets played frequently today. You’ll often hear it at old school reunion events.
And again, I can’t believe I’ve not made a mix with this record on it. It’s one of my favs. I’ve got to sort that out.
Where can I find Paul Taylor Angels and Retro Mixes?
I hope you’ve enjoyed my brief bit of raving history, of Paul Taylor, the Angels nightclub, and Retro events. And I hope this list of records gives you an idea of some of the tunes played at that grubby but great nightclub.
Of course, many more records got played at the Angels. And if you want more music from the club night, check out some of the links below.
First up, why not download check out my free mixes. The sound of my mixes is heavily influenced by the Angels and the Retro club nights. And my mixtapes are full of quality scratching too. I offer a few ways to listen to them and get notified about any new mixes I make. They are:
- This page has download links and a media player (free to use, no sign up required).
- Click here for details of my podcast (have mixes auto-delivered to your favourite podcasting app).
- My email mailing list (join today, and I’ll send you a big file containing every mix I’ve made).
Many kind people have uploaded old Angels tapes to YouTube and Mixcloud. Here are some helpful links (some links are Google search results).
Angels and Paul Taylor Mixes on Mixcloud
Angels and Paul Taylor Mixes on YouTube
Angels Nightclub footage and a Paul Taylor Interview
Just I was finishing this article, and I found this interview with Paul and some footage from inside the Angels:
Do you have any hazy memories to share of the Angels? Why not leave a comment below.
Keep on scratchin’
D.J. Kippax