Neil Gits An MIA Alert

Regular listeners to my show will be familiar with the “Soulful Roll Call” section where I name-check various people who have indicated they might like a mention on air each week. The feature has taken on a life of its own over the years and often sees me rambling on about all sorts of stuff brought to my attention by fellow soul fans living or working in and around Basildon, East Thurrock and other nearby parts of Essex. This can sometimes take up to 5 minutes which if I was a normal “DJ” I would use more sensibly to play another song instead ! … lol …

In the last year or so a sort of “sub-feature” has developed as we check in at the “Tuxedo House Of Cats”, home of the “Tuxedo Fur Family” on the Kent Side, and report on Blackie, Bo, Snowdrop, Tickles & Felix and their frequent visits to the V.E.T. where their pet humans Ros & Rich drag them under much protest. However, now Essex is fighting back and there is a new cat on the block !

‘Sky’ arrived in August last year at A13 Annie’s house (causing much confusion at the time, as she was in the porcess of changing her similarily named TV / Mobile / Internet package!) and has been an endless source of mischief & amusement as she makes herself at home in Chafford Hundred. To avoid getting her mixed up with the smart new router box, I now call her Sky GLG (Gorgeous Little Girl) and luckily she responds to her name as since Xmas she has been allowed to venture outside having had all her pills & jabs to protect her…

Inside the house she loves to explore every nook and cranny, there is absolutely nowhere that she won’t go, and it seems the same applies to the outside as she checks out the local neighbourhood. One day recently she caused us some consternation as she went ‘Missing In Action’ and I was on standby to survey the streets in the diminishing light as I made my way over to West Essex for my weekly visit, but thankfully Sky GLG re-appeared over two hours after I had received a concerned text from her tenant Ann (who she lets share her home) … greeting us both with a a loud “MEOWW!” and feeling very hungry !

What dramas will there be on this week’s show ? … Tune in from 7pm this Monday to find out – and also hear some great music from the soul, jazz-funk & disco scene of the 70s 80s & beyond too ! Here is the latest playlist for you to take a look out and maybe catch up with via “Listen Again” :

The Tunes – Monday 12th January 2026

Adeva – I Thank You
Brothers Johnson – The Real Thing
David Morales – My Everything
O’Jays – I Love Music
O’Jays – Survival
Ty Juan – My name Is Ty
David Ruffin – Just Let Me Hold You For A Night
Petawane – Baby Keep On
Thelma Houston – I’m Here Again
Kool & The Gang – Take It To The Top
Bobby Womack – Secrets
Brazelia – Brazelia
Plux feat Georgia Jones – Over & Over
Jackie Wilson – Open The Door To Your Heart
Billy Ocean – Stop Me (If You’ve Heard It All Before)
Barbara Pennington & LJ Johnson – 24 Hours A Day
Devon Howard – Fall Into These Arms
101 North – So Easy
Alicia Keys – A Woman’s Worth
Jean Carne – Heartache
Freda Payne – In Motion
Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancing
Pure Energy – Too Hot

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” !