One brisk November night a crowd, including Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules, Brett from Suede and Lynden David Hall (all with apparently little but their celebrity status in common), gathered at the Curzon, Shaftesbury Avenue for the premiere of 'Good Times - the film'.
Shot over two years, director Terry Walshe follows superstar DJ (and devout Westsider) Norman Jay across New York and London - from the Brooklyn street parties of his youth and New York's Paradise Garage to Fulham (the site of one of his biggest warehouse parties) and Notting Hill for a series of anecdotal recollections which deliver a politically poignant yet entertaining insight into a generation that has indelibly influenced contemporary Britain and the international dance scene.
Understandably, Norman and Joey Jay have now become symbolic figureheads at the Notting Hill Carnival not least because of their determination to create a universal party for the love of it and not for the money. In turn, Norman has hugely influenced international club culture being amongst the first to champion dub reggae, rare groove (a term that Norman coined), hip-hop, punk, disco and US garage in one set - not solely through the Good Times Sound System, but via illegal warehouse and Shake and Fingerpop parties, his legendary shows on the pirate and legal KISS FM, and now through his weekly GLR radio show.
With fantastic footage from Carnival through the years, the parties (is that really Brandon Block off his nut?) plus pithy contributions from Trevor 'first time I ever got into the Wag was when they booked me to play there' Nelson, Terry 'drugs changed everything' Farley, Jazzie B, Judge Jules & Joey Jay, 'Good Times - The Film' opines how London's Sound System culture spawned the warehouse parties and acid house movements and eventually created the cult of the DJ as we now know it.
Surviving name and location changes, racism, riots, occasional passing 'steamers' and thunderstorms to get to where it is today (the annual roadblock on the corner of East Row, W10), Good Times' success stands as a testament to Norman and Joey's dedication. Today the Good Times sound system is a spiritual sanctuary for many: its audience transcending all racial, sexual, class and musical boundaries to share a Bud Ice or two and a great time together.
The soundtrack poetically mirrors the genres that Good Times has championed and many seats in the house (including mine) rocked to The Clash 'London Calling', Chic 'Good Times', Unlimited Touch 'I Hear Music In The Streets', Kym Syms 'Too Blind To See It', Ian Drury & The Seven Seas Players 'Spasticus Autisticus', Be Be Winans 'Thank You', The Night Writers 'Let the Music (Use You)', Young MC 'Know How', KRS1'Sound of Da Police' and Nu Colours 'Greater Love'. without inhibition.
Minority-free 'Notting Hill' this is not: by turns touching, uplifting, educational and enriching, this is a must for anyone who gives a damn about real music, real West London, Carnival and most of all about the good times all three collectively represent. So, if you only do one thing this month, live this, love this, watch this! Rewind!
Catch Good Times - The Film on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November at the Curzon, Shaftesbury Avenue and at the Brixton Ritzy, Coldharbour Lane SW9 on the 9th 10th, 16th / 17th and 23rd / 24th November. A full national release follows.
Click Below to see the interview and clips from the film
