Neil Gits Older

None of us know when we are going to die. My mum struggled on to the ripe old age of 92, whereas my dad was taken quite suddenly 21 years before, just after his 71st birthday, which seems fairly young now that is just 8 years away for me. I still recall discussing plans for my 40th birthday in 2002 with my son’s mum and her youngest daughter chipped in with a very memorable comment … “40 ?! Surely you will be dead by then!” She must have been 8 years old at the time, so I suppose 40 did seem very old indeed to her then !

Around the time I became a fully fledged self-employed “DJ” in 1987, I tried to be sensible and make some sort of plans for my future, starting up a pension (which I’ve long since cashed in during one of my many financial crises!) and had to estimate at what age I would retire, bearing in mind it seemed unlikely that I would still be “spinning the discs” in clubs and at parties come my 65th birthday ! I settled on 55, based on the flimsy assumption that I would have given up “gigs” long before then and if all went to plan, I might just be able to hold on to some sort of paid radio work at that age before hanging up my headphones …

So, if you’ve got a good head for figures (or a calculator on your phone!) you’ve probably worked out what age I became last Tuesday. As it turned out I last went out “on the road” in the pubs & bars of Essex shortly before my 58th birthday – and am sure I would have been able to carry on but for the infamous “Apocalypse”. I’d like to think you are (hopefully !) well aware that despite everything else changing in my life, I am still going strong on the radio, just on a voluntary basis now, and still get excited every Monday at the prospect of coming into Studio1 at Gateway to broadcast two hours of soul, jazz-funk & disco tunes to Essex and the rest of the world. Apparently some people quite enjoy the music I play and even the drivel I waffle on about in between too – more of the same coming up this Monday live at 7pm. Here’s last week’s playlist :

The Tunes – Monday 19th May 2025

Imagination – Just An Illusion
Jerome Prister – Say You’ll Be
Dee C Lee – Anything
Alicia Myers – You Get The Best From Me
One Way featuring Al Hudson – You Can Do It
Luther Vandross – Give Me The Reason
Cindy Horstman & Friends ft James Kings – Something New
Roberta Flack & Donnie Hathaway – Where Is The Love
Emotions – Yes I Am
Earth Wind & Fire – Let Me Talk
Temptations-Treat Her Like A Lady (M & M Club Mix)
RAH Band – Slide
Ace Spectrum – Don’t Send Nobody Else
New York City – I’m Doing Fine Now
Ten City – One Kiss Will Make It Better
Stone City Band – Ladies Choice
Lisa Stansfield – The Line
Tristan – Will You Ever Stay
Jacksons – Dreamer
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Waiting In Vain
Norman Connors – Once I’ve Been There
Chanson – Don’t Hold Back
Clive Newlands & Alan Hook ft Mather – Love Back

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock, across South Essex on DAB and available nationally via the Radio Player on your TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !