The Northern Soul scene is one that is enjoying a huge revival. This is due mainly to the large amount of compilations that have been released lately. These CD's are packed full of classics that would have cost a fortune a few years back. These records were usually bought for exorbitant prices from various record sellers who toured the specialist clubs. Last year a copy of Frank Wilson's Northern classic 'Do I love you' was sold for a staggering £15,000. The prices were based on rarity rather than quality. Many tracks became played purely for their up tempo beat, and their soulful quality was quite often debatable.

So what kind of music is Northern Soul? This question remains virtually impossible to answer as it means different things to different people. A record is generally classed as Northern Soul provided it's generally accepted by the fans. However I'll attempt to describe this musical genre loosely. Imagine a speeded up version of Tamla Motown music. Northern Soul is basically 60's, and some 70's, soul music that was released on small independent US record labels based in American cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

The phrase 'Northern Soul' is widely attributed to Soul Deejay Dave Godin. He first coined the phrase 'Northern Soul' in 1971 when writing his column in Blues and Soul magazine. This was to differentiate between the two noticeably different styles of Soul music which were becoming popular at either end of the country. The heavy funk sounds favoured at clubs in London and the south, and the more thumping, Tamla style sounds that were popular in clubs in Scotland and the North of England. It's virtually impossible to cite a typical example of a Northern track but some of my personal favourites are Ral Donner's 'Don't let it slip away' and Gloria Jones' classic 'Tainted Love'. There are thousands of similar recordings and previously undiscovered tracks are still emerging from sources in the USA.

The original Northern clubs were The Twisted Wheel in Manchester, The Torch in Stoke and the most famous of them all, Wigan Casino. Clubs were able to flout the law by opening their doors at a minute after midnight, and carrying on until 8am Sunday morning. You couldn't normally buy alcohol at these events - soft drinks such as Lucozade were usually most in demand, especially after four hours building up a sweat.

These sessions were called 'all-nighters'. Northern Soul fans were fiercely loyal to these sessions and would travel all around the country each weekend to attend. At an all-nighter there was a definite style of dress which was suited to eight hours of dancing - baggy shirts, loose trousers and flat soled shoes. The more energetic style of dancing on the Northern Soul scene has to be seen to be believed. The best dancers were often nick-named 'Billy Backdrops'. The pace of the music is pretty up-tempo, so the dance moves that go with it incorporates lots of spins, twists, and sliding.

The scene began to fragment in the mid-seventies. Ian Levine pioneered a more contemporary sound known as Modern Soul at the Blackpool Mecca. Northern Soul was eventually eclipsed by the Disco boom in 1978.

I don't think Northern Soul will ever be as popular as it was in its 70's heyday but there is still a strong following of enthusiasts eager to snap up the soulful sounds. The popular favourites are widely available on CD, only this time you won't need to mortgage your house to afford them.

Gordon Bathgate May 2001

For more detailed Information on Northern Soul try these great sites :-

Soul Serenade Great Downloads Available.

Northern Soul by Soul Surfin

Northern soul records, all-nighters, news, audio

Solid Hit Soul - Northern Soul, 60's, and 70's soul on 45rpm 

Northern Soultime Eddy's Club News & Record Reviews

Cholli Maye - You will never get away

Wigans Chosen Few - Footsee

Dobie Gray - Out on the Floor

Tobi Legend - Time will pass you by

Ral Donner - Don't let her slip away

Doris Troy - I'll do anything

Gloria Jones - Tainted love

Dean Parrish - I'm on my way

Gerri Grainger - I go to pieces.

R. Dean Taylor - Ghost in my house

Jimmy Radcliffe - Long after tonight is all over

Chuck Wood - Seven days is too long

The Mirettes - Now that i've found you baby

Frank Wilson - Do I love you

Betty Everett - Getting mighty crowded

The Invitations - Ski-ing in the snow

Judy Street - What

Checkerboard Squares - Double Cookin'

Mistura featuring Lloyd Michaels - The Flasher

Al Wilson - The Snake

Jerry Williams - Your man

Phil Coulter Good thing Going