In the 1970s, Salford and Manchester were dark gloomy, almost black and white places, with a chief cop who pushed his puritan views onto the nightlife and kicked everyone out the pubs at 10pm.
Despite the quasi fascist approach to fun, escape in Manchester and Salford was happening – in the mainstream at places like Rotters and The Willows; in the middle, at nightclubs like Pips; and in the margins at the Russell Club and Electric Circus.
Now, a new book, Dirty Stop Outs' Guide to 1970s Manchester, is trying to tie it all together, with unheard and forgotten stories of piss-ups, pulling and dance outs told by the people who were there, and just about lived to tell the tale.
While the book features contributions from the likes of Smiths' bass player, Andy Rourke, Piccadilly Radio DJs, Roger Day and Pete Reeves, an array of club DJs and band members, plus music writers like Dave Haslam and Mick Middles, the guts come from ordinary punters who were out on the town.
"This book mostly focuses on the city centre, as this is where most of us met up most often, but I've made sure that Salford is very much included, as it is such an important place for cultural and social history" explains author, Rikki Wright, a former Piccadilly Radio youth presenter and girl about town.
"Loads of great stuff happens or originates in Salford" she adds "Salford is unique. It has its own way of doing things, its own ways of having fun; with more than its fair share of great places to drink, dance, and hear music."
Featured in the book is the legendary floating nightclub, North Westward Ho! on Pomona Dock, also known as The Love Boat, as it was said that if you couldn't pull there, you couldn't pull anywhere...
"The ship's steps were tricky for women in heels or platforms to negotiate, and it wasn't unknown for those having had a good night on the Cherry B to fall from top to bottom, and yet, the drunken body bounces, so most of the fallers seem to have walked away with nothing worse than a bruised bottom" Rikki writes "Bruises were sometimes also the result of sliding down the banisters, in moments of wild abandon, and for the taller clientele, the result of heads coming into contact with low beams. The gangplank was likewise not easy to navigate after one too many Babychams..."
Punter, Julia Jordan, recalls: "Went with a crowd of girls after work, we'd have a dance and a drink and another drink, and only leave when the barman convinced us that the boat was about to set sail. We fell for the same trick every week!"
Also featured in the book is Salford lad and DJ George Andrew, who had his own residencies in Time & Place, Yer Father's Moustache and Sgt Peppers in Stockport.
"Growing up as a wee lad in Salford I decided I wanted to be a DeeJay" he explains "Listening to my mum's transistor radio fuelled the fire and burning ambition. It was very much inspired by a very, very, very old lady - Mrs Ashton - who lived at the other end of our row of houses who introduced me to 78s. Let's skip forward to 1971 and I am knocking on the doors of clubs in Manchester to DeeJay in their clubs..."
After a successful career spinning the discs in the Seventies' nightlife, George is still at it in Canada...
The Seventies was truly a weird time, with everything going off in a delicatessen of styles and spaces - Pop, Soul, Blues, Progressive, Rock, Punk, New Wave, Reggae and Northern Soul, at venues like Pips, Rotters, The Hardrock, Check Inn, Stoneground, Free Trade Hall, Phoenix, the Poly, Poco-a-poco, Ranch, Magic Village, Russell Club, Champness Hall, The Willows and a zillion others.
"The book is crammed full with tales of high adventure, silly fun and memories, with stories and photos of the times of our lives, in this amazing part of the world..." says Rikki.
Dirty Stop Outs' Guide to 1970s Manchester
By Rikki Wright £13.95 (ACM Retro)
Available in all good bookshops, like HMV or Waterstone's, or via the net – click here for details or see www.rikkiwright.co.uk
There's also a Dirty Stop Outs' Guide to 1970s Manchester Facebook page where people can add their own memories – click here.
Rikki is now working on a Dirty Stop Outs' Guide to 1980s Manchester follow up and wants to hear more stories – contact her via the website – click here