Northern Soul

Northern Soul!

i have been into Northern soul for a while now, and i do think this is a HIGHLY UNDERRATED field.
so what does a warrior of soul do?
go on a crusade of course!
so here i am assembling my troops :D

first off, WHAT IS NORTHERN SOUL?
Northern soul is the term used in the United Kingdom for a type of mid-tempo and uptempo heavy-beat soul music (of mainly African American origin) that was popularized in Northern England in the mid 1970s.
Northern soul dancing was usually athletic, resembling the later dance styles of disco and break dancing, Featuring spins, flips, and backdrops. Think of this as very early breakdancing?
The athletic dancing can be attributed, although not solely so, to the fact that this was an amphetamine driven sub-culture. Northern Soul boys and girls were often whizzing their tits off. Northern Soul nights in the whole of the south of England are regularly referred to having had problems with drugs such as speed, uppers, downers and so on.
The white powder, often spread on the dancefloor, WAS NOT what you naughty guys and dolls think.it was TALCUM POWDER, aimed at aiding the slide and shuffle of the dancing.

Secondly, WHO DID NORTHERN SOUL?
the easy answer would be - look in the tracklisting, silly!
but ill just namedrop a few classic hits:
ann sexton - you've been gone too long (covered EXQUISITLY by Frank Popp Ensemble a few years back{get a vid sample of it here), linda jones - you hit me like tnt (killer vid - me, if i were ontarian), Chuck Wood - Seven Days Too Long, Frank Wilson - Do I Love You, Gloria Jones - Tainted Love (yes. it is THE OG song), the supremes - he's all i got, and many more.

what a friend of mine mentioned, and i failed to emphasize, is that "The tunes that rock(ed) the Northern Soul world were typically those rejected for mainstream US release by the likes of Motown. This is either because they were too soulful for an increasingly funk friendly market in the US (it took the UK purists to hold onto and treasure that classic old soul) and/or because they were considered to be unmarketable (see next point)." (thanks Jules)

As you probably know, labels like Motown and others operated a kind of 'studio and band for hire' policy. This meant that anyone with a song, who thought they were good enough, could hire both studio and band and cut a record. This is how many of the Northern Soul anthems came about, which makes the genre such a crate diggers paradise. The folk who stepped into these studios were typically poor, black, automotive factory workers in places like Detroit and Chicago, who had a dream that they'd make it big and escape their drab existence. Needless to say, many of these guys didn't have the looks or glam that gals like Diana Ross did. So, even if the records were good, they didn't fit the slick, pretty, 'looks heavy' Motown marketing approach and were discarded, only for some UK soul nerds to discover in a lonely crate many years later. (thanks again, J)

The first nightclub that effectively defined the northern soul sound was Manchester's Twisted Wheel Club. Other early clubs were the The Mojo in Sheffield, The Catacombs in Wolverhampton, Golden Torch in Stoke, Room at the Top in Wigan, the Wigan Casino, the Blackpool Mecca and Va Va's in Bolton.


what makes this music so wonderful, is, and i quote from that paper i added - "dancing was a spiritual connection with the music, not trying to establish a relationship with a woman:
It can be a personal experience that’s just between you and the music and it has nothing to do with anybody else. And I think that [being told] “I’m sorry, but I can’t speak to you because I’ve got to go and dance”—is because it’s the personal thing. I want to dance. And I want to dance to the sound of that music. And that music has got me dancing and I just want to be alone with that music, with that record, with that dance. And I don’t want to share it with anybody else. I want to share my dance with the music….There’s just such a strong bond, there’s such a strong feeling, there’s such intensity” - now, if only my ex would be able to understand this....

major labels to released this kind of music were: Motown, Okeh, Stax and many more.

this is a GREAT article on NORTHERN SOUL.
LINKED HERE
or if you want it in DOC format

and now we begin:
i thought long and hard what to post in such a massive, introductory post, and finally settled on a series of genre compilations.
there are hundreds of albums to choose from, as well as a gazzilion 45s (most of which i will never see).
i will, if asked, post more of these, but i feel you first need to get your "feet wet" as it were.
there might (probably are) double tracks, bad tunes, horrible sounding horrors and even the odd ballad.
fear not, for salvation is at hand!

what i CAN do is recommend you check out you local scene for such nights and go there.
Satisfaction is GUARANTEED.

EDITED TO ADD THIS MARVELOUS VIDEO COMMENTED BY ANONYMOUS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEuq54FcBg
26 minutes of great info into the Northern Soul thing.
THANKS!

thought about adding more text but
I’m sorry, but I can’t speak to you because I’ve got to go and dance!!!!!


Big In Wigan - 20 Northern Mammoths From The Wheel To Keele
link: http://www.shareonall.com/Big_In_Wigan-20_Northern_Mammoths_From_The_Wheel_To_Keele_tsok_zip.htm

tracklist:
01 - Gypsies - It's A Woman's World (You'd Better Believe It) (2.35)
02 - Leon Haywood - Baby Reconsider (2.35)
03 - Percy Wiggins - That's Loving You (2.10)
04 - JJ Barnes - Sweet Sherry (2.36)
05 - Pretenders - I Wanna Be (Your Everything) (2.44)
06 - William Bell - Happy (2.31)
07 - Millie Jackson - My Man, A Sweet Man (2.31)
08 - Lovettes - Little Miss Soul (2.16)
09 - Bobby Freeman - I'll Never Fall In Love Again (2.33)
10 - Mickey Lee Lane - Hey Sah-Lo-Ney (2.25)
11 - Bobby Patterson - Till You Give In (1.54)
12 - Jean Wells - with my love & what you've got (2.23)
13 - Loleatta Holloway - Mother Of Shame (2.40)
14 - Skip Mahoaney & The Casuals - Running Away From Love (4.51)
15 - Flower Shoppe - You've Come A Long Way Baby (2.30)
16 - John Edwards - Ain't That Good Enough (2.10)
17 - Mary Love - You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet (2.22)
18 - Lorraine & The Delights - Baby I Need You (1.57)
19 - Mel Williams - Can It Be Me (2.42)
20 - Showmen - Our Love Will Grow (2.30)


cooler shakers! 30 Northern Soul Floorstompers
link:
http://www.shareonall.com/cooler_shakers_30_northern_soul_floorstompers_1997_eeaf_zip.htm

tracklist:
01 - sam dees - lonely for you baby
02 - gene chandler - nothing can stop me
03 - betty everett - getting mighty crowded
04 - the valentines - breakaway
05 - don thomas - come on train
06 - the ad libs - nothing worse than being alone
07 - sidney barnes - i hurt on the other side
08 - little richie - just another heartache
09 - fred hughes - don't let me down
10 - the inspirations - touch me, hold me, kiss me
11 - roscoe robinson - that's enough
12 - ann sexton - you've been gone too long
13 - van mccoy - sweet and easy
14 - the falcons - i'm a fool i must love you
15 - sam fletcher - i'd think it over twice
16 - jack montgommery - dearly beloved
17 - marie knight - that's no way to treat a girl
18 - the ivorys - please stay
19 - linda jones - you hit me like tnt
20 - stanley mitchell - get it baby
21 - the ohio players - love slipped through my fingers
22 - gladys knight & the pips - stop and get a hold
23 - the showmen - the wrong girl
24 - maxine brown - one in a million
25 - billy thompson - black eyed girl
26 - dee clark - that's my girl
27 - the masquaraders - do you love me baby
28 - porgy & the monarchs - that girl
29 - johnny maestro - i'm stepping out of the picture
30 - Jimmy Radcliffe - Long After Tonight Is All Over



soul class '66
link:
http://www.shareonall.com/kent_011_soul_class_66_twpw_zip.htm

01 steinways - you've been leading me on
02 connie questel - give up girl
03 patti austin - take your time
04 carl carlton - i can feel it
05 garland green - girl i love you
06 shepards - little girl lost
07 marvelows - do it
08 prince arthur - walkin' uptown
09 crampton sisters - baby baby
10 florence ballard - love ain't love
11 orlons - once upon a time
12 jack montgomery - baby baby take a chance on me
13 sam & bill - i'll try
14 bobby bland - gotta get to know you
15 ortheia barnes - i've never loved nobody (like i love
16 ruby & the romantics - i'll cry alone


Northern Soul Masterpieces

link:
http://www.shareonall.com/northern_soul_masterpieces_llpl_zip.htm

Tracklisting:
01- I'll Do Anything - Doris Troy
02- What Can I Do - Billy Prophet
03- Stolen Hours - Patrice Holloway
04- If You Ask Me - Jerry Williams
05- The Casualeers - Dance Dance Dance
06- J D Martin - By Yourself
07- Alexander Patton - A Little Loving Sometimes
08- Cindy Scott - I Love You Baby
09- Garnet Mimms - Looking For You
10- The Invitations - What's Wrong With Me Baby
11- Lenny Curtis - Nothing Can Help You Now
12- Bobby Paris - I Walked Away
13- Chuck Wood - Seven Days Too Long
14- Teddy Randazzo - You Don't Need A Heart
15- Gene Mcdaniels - Walk With A Winner
16- Ray Pollard - The Drifter
17- Kenny Lynch - Movin' Away
18- Long After Tonight Is All Over - Irma Thomas
19- I'm On My Way - Dean Parrish
20- It'll Never Be Over For Me - Timi Yuro

Okeh A Northern Soul Obsession Vol.1

link:
http://www.shareonall.com/okeh_records_-_a_northern_soul_obsession_vol.1_acuq_zip.htm
Tracklisting:
1 - A Quitter Never Wins - Larry Williams & Johnny W
2 -Bring It Back Home - Chymes
3 - Call Me Tomorrow - Major Harris
4 - Come Back - Ken Williams
5 - Gone But Not Forgotten - Johnny Robinson
6 - Gonna Get Along Without You Now - Vibrations
7 - He Who Picks a Rose - Carstairs
8 - I Don't Want to Discuss It - Little Richard
9 - I Still Love You - Seven Souls
10 - I Wish I Had Known - Sandra Phillips
11 - I'm Coming to Your Rescue - Triumphs
12 - I'm So Afraid - Opals
13 - My Heart Is Hurtin' - Billy Butler & the Chanter
14 - Sombody's Always Trying - Ted Taylor
15 - The Hurt - Jimmy Church
16 - This Heart of Mine - Artistics
17 - What's the Use of Me Trying - Tangeers
18 - You Don't Want Me No More - Major Lance
19 - You're Gonna Make Me Fall in Love - Sandi Sheldo


This is northern soul!
a collection of 24 tamla motown northern soul, vol. 1

link:
http://www.shareonall.com/this_is_northern_soul_a_collection_of_24_tamla_motown_northern_soul_vol._1_wpje_zip.htm

Tracklisting:
01 - brenda holloway - think it over
02 - frank wilson - do i love you
03 - marvin gaye - this love starved heart of mine (it's killing me)
04 - linda griner - goodybe cruel love
05 - the monitors - share a little love with me
06 - the temptations - forever in my heart
07 - kim weston - i'm still loving you
08 - the supremes - he's all i got
09 - gladys knight & the pips - just walk in my shoes
10 - frances nero - keep on loving me
11 - the monitors - crying in the night
12 - kim weston - you hit me (where it hurts)
13 - the andantes - like a nightmare
14 - kim weston - a thrill a moment
15 - the marvelettes - i'll keep holding on
16 - the temptations - truly yours
17 - brenda holloway - when i'm gone
18 - the contours - just a little misunderstanding
19 - gladys knight & the pips - no one could love you more
20 - virgil henry - you ain't saying nothing
21 - the originals - goodnight irene
22 - the temptations - i gotta find a way (to get you back)
23 - the spinners - what more could a boy ask for
24 - gladys knight & the pips - it's never too late for you and me


*PS - if the track lists seem erratic, its because they are.
those are compilation gathered from years of colecting and gathering.
not all are up to par with modern standards of naming, etc....