The Penthouse Night Club

[soulchamp1]

Hi Members, I have just seen a video recorded in Bromley High Street featuring the Vocalist from the group The Dualers then went on from there to read short pieces posted on this forum. I see The Penthouse Night Club/Warehouse above a meat wholesale storage house down the side of Bromley South Railway Station, the Club was mentioned by someone standing at the front of the small stage watching Lulu and the Lovers late on a Saturday night way back in the sixtes I remember this night well as I was sitting watching on my stool to the left of the stage in front of The Penthouse Sound System Console formally owned by Duke Reed.  I was the resident Dj for around the first 18months at The Penthouse Club untill Lee took over the job as I became unwell as I and others used to go out on a Thursday night and come home on Sunday evening as I used to get my insperation from the likes of Count Suckle who was resident at the Q club in Paddington or Duke Lee an old Friend at Columbos/Roaring Twentys in Carnaby Street. I never had to many Black friends back in the day as most associated me with the Police simply because I was white in a black music sceen. The Penthouse Club/Warehouse was open Friday and Saturdays 8pm till 8am and Sunday afternoon/evening I often played 2x3 hour sets per night so by Sunday evening I was shattered so Lee took over the job I either went home or fell asleep with my latest club girl friend in the local Cinema. We used to tour locally with the Penthouse Sound System although as I remember the equipment was not that realiable in those days with the big amp stages and the light bulb size Blue Valves on show at the back of the console. I often played at The King Alfred in Bellingham, In fact I used to play out all over The 20s/ Columbos in carnaby Street, The glenlin? with Georgie Fame in Forest Hill, Rising Sun in Catford, just to name a few. I was one of the only White Djs at this time playing both Blue Beat/ Ska and underground Soul with imported tunes from the likes of prince Buster, Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, The Maytals and sixty's imported soul from artist like Major Lance, Ben E King, Sam Cook, Alvin Cash with Twine Time and a B side Called Do it one More time which I onced played back to back 4 times to a packed crowd and not forgetting Little Willie John a great track called fever, Willie Tee with 3 tracks and one called Walking up a oneway street and Nina Simons My Baby just cares for me and the late and great James Brown my all time favouite artist. The Penthous I can remember on a good saturday night we would have a full house of around 500 the Club would host various Groups like Geno Washingtom and the Ram jam Band, and not forgetting Lulu who invited me to a late night party after her gig alas I had to turn her down as I was working how could I. All for now as I have to get my wife to the railway station who often used to be at the club under age back then, so I must of been 17-18 I remember the club being raided by police one saturday night and all the underage linned up. All for now got to go, any questions from around this time I would be glad to anwser if I can remember. Colin
     

[penthousedave]

I am trying to think who you are as I worked with Little Lee as a dj at The Penthouse around that time. There was a black DJ called Neville who used to play a great dance tune called "The rythym of the blues" by Lord creator. I tried for over 20 years to get hold of a copy of My baby just cares for me by Nina Simone. I finally got the 10" single she re-released in the 80's. It became a hit in the early 90's. I also worked as DJ at the Mistrale, Three Tuns, King Alfred pub, Tigers head and a few more. I remember talking to Solomon Burke before he performed at the Penthouse. He was the first american I ever met so it stayed in my memory. I told him about it when I met him again on stage at one of his gigs in Amsterdam. I still have the flyers for Little Lee, Neville, Count Suckle plus groups that appeared at the Mistrale and the Ramjam club
(Brixton). I was at the Penthouse the night it got raided. One of the older guys got caught will "dubes"on him, (the name for purple heart pills) and the police said do you want to go quietly and he said "no, I bloody well don't" He was a local hardnut and felt he had to keep up appearences by having a go at the police. I will add more to this story as more memories come flodding back, so keep checking here.


Here is a flyer of Peyton Place which was formely The Penthouse.