The Spin Inn (Cross Street)

Question - was the shop always called Spin Inn with one ‘N’ on the word Spin, it’s certainly how I remember it when I used to frequent it in the 70s however I found an old paper bag I had kept from the 70s and it was spelt ‘Spinn Inn’ on the bag. I’m assuming this was an error and if so I wonder how many of these were printed in error.

Does anyone know if Gary who ran/owned the shop is still around ? Talking of 70's/80's

When I left the shop moved shortly after to the Manchester underground shop kept intouch with kenny and russ for years and tbh I spoke to russ a few weeks back he's still working in a record shop lol 

Hey there all you Soulboys n girls out there..just cranked up my Technics SL210 n wiped the dust off my vinyl collection remeniscing about the good 'old days' late 70s/early 80s when I launched my wannabe career as a club DJ in the Bolton area playing the choons that I loved n dug deep into my soul wanting to share with my fellow funkateers around the area that I found on my 25mile excursion to The Spin Inn on Cross St..well what a treat this was just to go and hang out to hear the AMAAAZING vinyl being played by Kev n Gary then be blown away by one or two 12''ers or albums that I just HAD to have even tho at that time was on limited budget but what the hell I said..such as 1st time heard Marcus Miller on Funkin for Jamaica or the fabulous Unlimited Touch album every track a winner..also the velvet tones of Lew Kirton and a new vocalist called Luther Vandross(the rest is history) yes I WAS there before all these became classics so it's with a warm fuzzy feeling that I can replay such tunes also group Hiroshima with Never Ever if anyone remembers pre FM radio station in Bolton me playing on a late Sunday nite/Monday morning Soul Show mid90s on a RSL fortnightly gig the height of my fame along with Dancing Danny on his reggae slot..all great memory's that hope to share with new friends out there at any future reunions of the Bolton scene..remembering good mate at the time Big Paul and others gettin their groove on..all brought together thru the fabulous Spin Inn..thanks for the memories guys ?❤️keep the faith..

Hi Spinn-Inn 'past people's Vinny Paol here, great to read some of the comments regarding that tiny but classic venue, remembering if 5 people were in there it was full. Like a lot of D.J.'s we all bowled down there sometimes ringing up beforehand letting him yell you what was out & of course everyone was a "monster track " bless him what a salesman. Telling him you wanted this & that then pulling up outside divin' in & getting your paper-bag singles. Worked at various venues myself 1st was original Portland Lodge owned by the Williamson Bros', £4•00 a night s**t. No car in those days for me used to 'bus-it' to Stevenson Sq, leg it down Portland St starting @ 9 o'clock till bang on 2•20 a.m. No vocal D.J. with the music owners wanted one tune mixing into the next on the Garrard twin decks bless em'. The brothers always insisted on the same vinyl at the end every night an instrumental by Bob Dylan calked "Wigwam" still got that ?From there I started doin' mobiles, promos' etc which I still do now even at my age (it's in the Jeans) .. paid £1,000 'on the drip' £20 per month from Roger Squires, Deansgate. Still got my gear a Citronic twin deck & original Carlsboro Base Bins with piezzo horns halfway down, still sound good? From the Lodge after about 4yrs I went to Rotters (Levys) place Oxford Rd. He insisted you wore velvet jacket & bow tie the D.J. box was about 10ft square with a very low ceiling (sweatin' nuts) lasted about 12 months there didn't like it people. Met a guy called Dave Cave in Slacks 'Besties' place Bootlr St bless him got on well & next thing we're opening up & promoting Phillip's Park Hall. Really enjoyed that place was always packed. Still carried on using Gary's place buying imports ad well for £1•00. Did she work at Slacks great jazz- funk scene & as far as I'm concerned the only 'real-disco" I was involved with. You walked past Shaun the big doorman, through the door & bang the dance floor 2as smack in front of you with import music blasting out 'aweeome' venue. The late great Al Dean was there of course who sadly died & unbeknowns to me at the time I was the last person to see him alive in there & after when we went for a drink. Had to go to his inquest (not nice) sadly missed, gone too early. Did some work for Peter Stringfellow in Brett Pauls days there bless him as well. Peter rang me one day telling me to meet him at the club that afternoon. Got there & he introduced me to this French guy who'd just opened a very exclusive boutique called 'Estartit' on South King St. Hr was holding a fashion show in the club in.a weeks time. He wanted some musical choreography ideas for the fashion show. We agreed on certain tunes after a while, then he said the finale is a brand new design of ladies bomber jacket. Said to the two of them leave it with me ring you tomorrow. Called Peter & said & I quote 'are your fire & safety regulations spot on'.? He asked why & I said I want to have 3 American Chopper Motorbikes driving through the club. You can.imagine what he said **** ***.. I said trust me you have a fire exit at the far end with a few stairs & different floor levels accross the club each one having two steps. We put the 3 motorcycles behind the fire door, triangular platforms on the steps like wedges & the bikes van be ridden onto the dance floor, he said 'I'm listening Vinny carry on". We have the modep in the middle of the dance floor gyrating with the jacket, panties & thigh length boots on dancing to some funky stuff. Then given the signal Brett slams in with Steppenwolf "Born To Be Wild". He said I like it but 'shit scared' of somebody getting hurt bu those enormous machines. I said don't worry I've been riding for years & have two friends as well one of them owns the shop where the bikes are from, he said yes..!! Sorted choreography with the model, practised on the bikes to perfection thank god so all was set. Day before Pete rang me and said change of personnel he wanted a "Corrie" actor to be involved Chris somebody or other. Annoyed but went along with it & met this guy at the club day before I did know him as a "towney". Askef home how long he'd been riding bikes his prey was 'I cant' .. s**t wasn't in it & I said to Petr somebody is gonna' get killed these bikes are monsters but he insisted. Taught this Chris to ride in a fashion safety in mind. The night arrived Gary was there, club was rammed. Show began, music started model danced then Brett hit the bike tune very loud as instructed. I rode on first clad in leather pants & bomber jacket with matching hat, cross leather straps over my chest same as the other riders. Choreogjraphy set was to ride on put the bike on the stand & cross legs on.the handlebars. Ist guy my friend beckoned the dancer over she blew him out, next was flavour of the month Chris he beckoned her the massive crowd went wild, she blew him out & off hr rode much to the disappointment of the female crowd? anyway it was my show so what. Then 'she beckoned me' unlike the first two & I refused twice. She then came over straddled the front wheel blew a kiss & I said yes. Took the bike off the stand drove it to the middle of the dance floor where she got on standing on the footrests. Crowd were goin' ape then 'bham' she ripped off her jacket & was topless underneath 'yeh'. Looked at the faces around e they were gobsmacked to put it bluntly. I had to then ride off with her stood up topless & navigate through the packed club "made it' thank god & also to Peter's gratification. So where is that 'alive & buzzin' M/C nightlife scene now. Talk Of The Town', Tiffannys, Brambles, Mr Smiths, Slacks, Foo-Foos, Restaurants like Charlie Chans with my old friend Alan at the helm, Ray's Bangla near the library no 'curry mile' then & of course 'Greasy  Nicks' on Oxford Rd. Ah well Gary, the changing music scene over the years in the clubs, everybody knowing everybody facially at least, D.J.'s, doorman, club owners all gone. But we ad D.J.',s were in the sick of that great scene & we have the music & the memories of it all to cherish .. nobody can take that away 'ever'??