The Northern Soul Podcast

Join us for another edition of Soul Cities After Dark, where tonight it's all about discovery — rare records, forgotten artists and the sounds that deserve to be heard again.From the driving rhythms of Detroit to the West Coast soul of Los Angeles and beyond, we're exploring a hand-picked soundtrack of American soul, bringing together different cities, independent labels and distinctive sounds.Featuring artists including Larry Atkins, The Remarkables, Ty Karim, Deana Lucas, Kenny and The Soul Gents, this episode celebrates the lesser-known side of soul music — the records that may have slipped under the radar when first released but...

The Rare Soul Special:

Tonight on Soul Cities After Dark, we're bringing together the sounds of Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, and beyond for a very special journey into the deeper side of soul music.Following our previous explorations of America's great soul cities, this episode takes a different approach. We're digging into the archives to uncover rare recordings, overlooked B-sides, forgotten releases, and lesser-known gems that deserve to be heard.Featuring a hand-picked selection of outstanding soul from artists including Vernon Garrett, Bettye Swann, Clifford Curry, the Delfonics, Timmy Willis, Celeste Hardie, James Carr, and more...

Soul Cities: Philadelphia – The Forgotten Side of Philly Soul

Tonight on Soul Cities, we travel to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to uncover a different side of its legendary soul music heritage.

Before Gamble and Huff, MFSB and the Three Degrees made Philadelphia famous around the world, a wealth of independent labels were releasing fantastic soul records, many of which never received the recognition they deserved.

We're exploring the sounds of Arctic, Philly Groove, Phil-L.A. of Soul and other smaller labels, discovering obscure artists, forgotten vocal groups and driving four-to-the-floor dancers th...

Soul Cities: Chicago After Dark – Rare Soul Gems from the Windy City

This episode of Soul Cities takes us to Chicago, the Windy City, to explore the rich musical heritage of Chicago soul and its lasting connection with Britain's Northern Soul scene.From the sweet harmonies of Chicago's vocal groups to the driving rhythms, gospel influences and infectious dance-floor sounds of the 1960s and 1970s, we explore the artists and independent record labels that helped shape this distinctive sound.We'll look beyond the obvious hits and familiar classics, digging deeper into the record collections to bring you a...

Soul Cities: Washington, D.C. — The Capital of Soul

Tonight on Soul Cities, we're heading to Washington, D.C., to explore the rich musical history of America's capital and uncover the soul records that deserve to be heard.Beyond the famous monuments and political corridors lies a fascinating story of independent record labels, talented vocal groups, forgotten artists and unforgettable recordings that captured the spirit of American soul.We'll explore the legacy of the legendary Shrine Records, whose rare releases became treasured discoveries among British Northern Soul collectors, alongside the wider regional story of Ru-Jac Records and th...

Soul Cities: Detroit — The Motor City of Soul Detroit gave the world Motown, but there was another side to the Motor City’s soul story — a world of independent record labels, talented singers, innovative producers and extraordinary records that often slipped beneath the mainstream radar.In this episode of Soul Cities, we travel into the heart of Detroit to explore the music beyond the familiar Motown hits. From Ric-Tic, Golden World and Revilot to the legendary work of Pied Piper Productions, we uncover the artists and recordings that helped define Detroit’s rich and diverse soul sound.Featuring artists includin...

Seven Cities :

Join me on a journey through the soul cities of America as we uncover seven terrific tracks and the stories behind the artists who brought them to life.From the legendary sounds of Detroit to the streets of New York, this episode explores the singers, groups, independent record labels and hidden gems that helped shape American soul music. Some of these records may be familiar, while others are long-overlooked treasures that deserve a much wider audience.We'll discover the music that slipped under the radar when it was first released, the artists who never quite...

Soul Cities After Dark: America's Hidden Soul Treasures

Tonight on This Is Northern Soul, we're taking a journey through the soul cities of America, uncovering the rare records, forgotten voices and independent labels that helped shape the music we love.

From Detroit's gritty soul sound to Chicago's rich vocal harmonies, and from the sounds of Philadelphia to the wider world of American rhythm and blues, we're exploring the stories behind the artists who may never have become household names, but left us with some truly remarkable records.

Featuring artists and groups including Bobby W...

The Golden Torch: Taking Away the Myth

Tonight on This Is Northern Soul, we're heading to Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, to revisit one of the most legendary venues in Northern Soul history: the Golden Torch.

But this time, we're looking beyond the legend. How much of the story is fact, and how much has grown through years of memories and retelling?

We explore the all-nighters, the packed rooms, the atmosphere, the DJs and, most importantly, the music that made the Torch so special. From rare American soul discoveries to the artists who performed live, including M...

The Golden Torch: Taking Away the Myth

Tonight on This Is Northern Soul, we're heading to Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, to revisit one of the most legendary venues in Northern Soul history: the Golden Torch.

But this time, we're looking beyond the legend. How much of the story is fact, and how much has grown through years of memories and retelling?

We explore the all-nighters, the packed rooms, the atmosphere, the DJs and, most importantly, the music that made the Torch so special. From rare American soul discoveries to the artists who performed live, including M...

The Twisted Wheel: Whitworth Street — Opening Night, 1965

Manchester, September 1965. A new chapter begins as the legendary Twisted Wheel moves from Brazennose Street to its new home on Whitworth Street.

Tonight, we step back in time and walk through the doors of one of Manchester's most iconic music clubs. Past the coffee bar, down the stairs and into the basement, where live bands, adventurous DJs and a crowd hungry for something different came together around the sounds of American rhythm and blues, Motown and soul.

Imagine the atmosphere: the dark surroundings, the distinctive twisted bi...

Tonight, we dig deeper into the Northern Soul record box to rediscover the overlooked tracks, forgotten dancers and hidden gems that rarely make it onto today's playlists.

These are records that deserve a second chance. From the soulful sounds of Sean Oliver and Reggie Alexander to the wonderful voices of Freda Payne, Donald Jenkins and the Delighters, Jon Lucien and Bettye LaVette, we're exploring the lesser-heard side of soul music.

It's all about rarity, rediscovery and that special feeling when a record makes you wonder why it isn't played more often. Not every great soul...

 Seven Lost Pieces of Northern Soul

it's the Seventh of October — and tonight we’re digging deep into the lost and forgotten side of Northern Soul.Seven tracks. Seven rare pieces of soul that slipped through the cracks, disappeared from view, or simply never received the attention they deserved.From Detroit to Texas, from Southern soul to obscure dancefloor favourites, this is thirty minutes of rare vocals, driving rhythms and records you may not have heard before.No obvious classics. No overplayed favourites.Just seven lost pieces of Northern Soul, rescued from the shelves and given another spin...

Tonight, we’re getting lost in the Northern Scene.A journey into the vintage soul of the 1960s, uncovering lost classics, forgotten favourites and records that somehow slipped through the cracks.From Detroit and Chicago to Philadelphia and beyond, these are the sounds that capture the magic of the era — beautiful voices, driving rhythms, timeless melodies and that unmistakable feel-good quality you only get from great sixties soul.Featuring Ruby Andrews, Eddie Holman, Bernie Williams, Carol Anderson, John Bowie, Fortson & Scott and more.No obvious anthems. No predictable choices. Just great soul records waiting to be discovered.Turn it up a...

Tonight, we’re going uptown, upbeat and up north with a selection of stomping soul — seven Northern Soul favourites packed with groove, rhythm, energy and that unmistakable Northern beat.Before podcasts, playlists and streaming, When I was a club DJ, my job was simple: make people move.

It wasn’t enough to play a good record. You needed the right sound to get the dancefloor going.And stomping soul dancing was a spectacle in itself — fast feet, spins, kicks, drops and incredible energy, with dancers giving everything they had while the DJ kept the records coming.Tonight’s Magnific...

What makes a Northern Soul Masterclass?

It’s got to be obscure. It’s got to have the beat, the drive and, above all, that unmistakable Northern Soul feeling.

Tonight, we’re digging deep for records that slipped under the radar — forgotten artists, unreleased recordings and tracks that spent years hiding away before being discovered by the Northern Soul scene.From The Platters and Gigi & the Charmaines to The Squires and The Sharpies, these are records with stories of their own — music recorded decades ago, but given a completely new life on British dance floors.No obvious...

London’s 100 Club has been part of British music history for generations — but its place in the Northern Soul story is particularly fascinating.Hidden away on Oxford Street, the club became an important meeting point for the capital’s soul scene during the 1960s and 1970s. While Manchester had the Twisted Wheel and Stoke-on-Trent had the Golden Torch, London had its own distinctive scene, with DJs and dancers searching out the latest and rarest American soul records.The 100 Club was never simply about one particular style. Jazz, rhythm and blues, modern soul and American soul all found a home there...

This time, we go behind the music and into the world of the American record labels that helped create the sound we know as Northern Soul.

From Detroit to Memphis, Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, we explore the small independent labels whose records were often overlooked in America but became treasured discoveries on British dancefloors.We’ll hear the stories behind Ric-Tic, Thelma, Cameo-Parkway, Mirwood, Karen, Goldwax — and the extraordinary Shrine Records, one of the rarest and most fascinating labels in the Northern Soul story.These labels weren't making records for Northern Soul. In many cases, they...

Tonight, we're heading west — all the way to California — to discover a different side of the American soul story.Because Los Angeles wasn't just Hollywood, sunshine and movie stars.It had a serious soul scene of its own. Los Angeles became an important home for rhythm and blues and soul.

And then came Mirwood.Founded in Los Angeles in nineteen sixty-five, Mirwood created a sound that would eventually become synonymous with Northern Soul in Britain. Jackie Lee, The Olympics, Bobby Garrett and others produced those fast, vibrant dance records that British collectors would later dig out and turn...

December 1981. Wigan Casino is preparing for its final all-nighter.

For eight years, this legendary venue had stood at the heart of the Northern Soul scene. Thousands of dancers had passed through its doors, chasing rare records, unforgettable sounds and the feeling of being part of something that belonged to them.

But to understand the significance of that final night, we need to go back to 1973 — when Wigan Casino first opened its doors to the Northern Soul world.

From the excitement of those early all-nighters to the records, DJs, dancers and culture that made Wi...

Tonight ,were heading west ,all the way to Los Angeles ,California

From the heart and soul of Manchester were crossing the Atlantic in the search for that American soul with a beat ,the energy and the magic that makes it Northern

Northern Soul Years: 1969 — The Year It All Began

Step back to 1969 — the year I believe Northern Soul truly began to take shape.Just before the dawn of the 1970s, the influence of the Mods, American soul music and the all-night club culture were beginning to merge into something new. From the Twisted Wheel in Manchester to the clubs of London, dancers, DJs and record collectors were searching for music that was different, exciting and made for the dancefloor.In this episode, we explore that fascinating crossroads between the Mod era and the emerging Northern Soul scene, looking at t...

1973 — When Wigan Arrived:

We step back into 1973, a year of contradictions. Glam rock ruled Top of the Pops, Britain faced strikes, inflation and industrial unrest, package holidays were taking off, and by Christmas the country was heading into the Three-Day Week.But after dark, another Britain was coming alive.Northern Soul was growing around American records that had mostly been created during the 1960s — rare, forgotten and often virtually unknown in Britain. Then, in September 1973, Wigan Casino opened its doors, changing the scale and visibility of the scene forever.We'll look at the music, the fashions, the cars...

Seven artists. Seven reasons to get on the dancefloor.

Tonight, The Magnificent Seven is dedicated to the Stomping Dancers — powerful Northern Soul records with the rhythm, energy and attitude to keep the floor moving.We dig into some fantastic American soul recordings, from the legendary Mirwood sound of The Olympics and Jackie Lee, to rare and lesser-known sides from The Cautions, The Furys, Ritchie Adams, and The Bel-Airs.Some were released in the 1960s and then largely forgotten. Others found a completely new life years later when British DJs, collectors and dancers discovered their potential on th...

The Magnificent Seven: Seven Soul Discoveries

Welcome to a brand-new feature celebrating seven soul records that deserve to be heard.

The Magnificent Seven isn't about the biggest names or the most obvious Northern Soul favourites. It's about discovery — forgotten records, hidden treasures and great soul sides that may have slipped under the radar.

Some you may know. Others may be completely new to you. But every record has something that caught my ear and earned its place in this week's seven.

So turn it up, settle back, and join me as we...

British Soul: The Forgotten Sound

Before Northern Soul became a movement, there was British soul.During the sixties, British singers and musicians were absorbing the sounds coming from Detroit, Chicago, Memphis and Philadelphia, taking those influences and creating something with a character of its own.In this episode, we dig deeper than the familiar names and explore the records that deserve another listen — obscure singles, forgotten B-sides, rare dancers and artists who never received the recognition they deserved.From Helen Shapiro and Barry St. John to The Chants, Herbie Goins, Jimmy Thomas and more, these are the vo...

The Last Night at the Twisted Wheel

Saturday, 30 January 1971. Manchester.

Tonight, we step through the doors of the legendary Twisted Wheel for one final all-nighter.

From its beginnings on Brazennose Street, through the move to Whitworth Street, the Wheel became a meeting place for dancers, record collectors and young soul fans searching for something different.

But this episode is really about the music

The records that made the floor explode. The obscure American soul, the rare imports, the forgotten artists and the sounds that could only be...

British Soul — The British Side of Northern Soul of the 1960s.This episode takes us back to the 1960s, when British singers and groups were discovering, absorbing and putting their own stamp on American soul.From forgotten recordings and overlooked releases to records that would later find a new audience on Northern Soul dance floors, this is a journey through the British side of the soul story.Featuring artists including Kenny Bernard, A Band of Angels, The Chants, Kenny Lynch, Helen Shapiro, Lorraine Silver, Long John Baldry, and Chapter 5 .Some were hits, many were not — but all played their part...

Lost & Forgotten Soul: The American Cities — Part 1 of this two-part journey,

we go deep into the lost, rare and forgotten side of 1960s American soul.Forget the obvious hits and familiar names. This episode is about the artists, groups and records that slipped through the cracks — small labels, obscure releases, little-known singers and fantastic 45s that never received the recognition they deserved.We travel through the great American soul cities, including Philadelphia and Chicago, discovering the sounds that were being created long before many of these records found a second life on Britain's Northern Soul scene.From the...

Tonight, we go back to the 1960s — the decade when the foundations of Northern Soul were being laid.This episode is all about the rare records, obscure artists, forgotten releases and incredible sounds that helped shape the Northern Soul story. From unknown gems to records that slipped under the radar at the time, we explore the music, the artists and the stories behind the sounds.No Wigan Casino, no big anthems — just the original soul, the discoveries and the records that would eventually find a new life on dance floors across Britain.This is where the Northern Soul story begi...

Wigan Casino: The Final Dance

Tonight, we step inside one of the most famous venues in the history of Northern Soul.We begin on the final all-nighter in December 1981, when the lights are about to come on for the last time. Then we go back to September 1973, when just 652 people walked through the doors of the old Empress Ballroom for the very first Northern Soul all-nighter.From its humble beginnings to packed dancefloors, rare American records, legendary DJs, the Three Before Eight and the obsessive culture that grew around the Casino, we follow eight extraordinary years.But...

What was it really like to be born in 1955?

You were a child of post-war Britain, a teenager during the explosion of youth culture and twenty years old when Northern Soul was reaching its incredible peak.In this episode, we follow the journey of a Baby Boomer from childhood to the dance floor — through rock ’n’ roll, the Beatles, Motown, Ready Steady Go!, Top of the Pops, record shops, scooters, soul clubs and all-nighters.From the Twisted Wheel and the Golden Torch to Wigan Casino, this is the story of a generation discovering music, freedom and a world...

It’s nineteen seventy-five, and Northern Soul is at its absolute height. The scene is exploding, the records are getting faster, the nights are getting longer, and for three lads from Manchester, there’s only one thing that matters: soul.Then comes the crazy idea.Jump into an ageing Mini Cooper and drive roughly three hundred miles south to Newquay, the surf capital of Britain and, in nineteen seventy-five, one of the places to be. Sun, surf, beaches, nightlife and the promise of adventure.There’s just one problem. The Mini is old, the journey is long, and there’s no sat...

Northern Soul: Iconic Memories

Tonight, we revisit some of the legendary clubs that helped shape the Northern Soul story — from the Twisted Wheel and Golden Torch to Wigan Casino, Blackpool Mecca, Cleethorpes, the Catacombs, Stafford, Samantha’s, the 100 Club and the Ritz in Manchester.But this isn’t about the obvious anthems. We’re going underground, digging out rare, obscure and lesser-known records that helped give each venue its own musical identity.These are the records that may not have topped the charts or appeared in the usual Northern Soul Top 20, but for those who heard them on the r...

The Top of the World All -Nighter was unlike any other Northern Soul club. In this episode, we explore the unique sound, atmosphere and musical freedom that gave Stafford its own identity.From beautiful, slow soul to explosive stompers, from sixties rarities to seventies and eighties discoveries, the DJs could take the dancefloor anywhere. Stafford wasn’t about following the Northern Soul rulebook — it was about breaking it, finding something new and keeping the music moving forward.We look at the DJs, the records, the discoveries and the atmosphere that made Top of the World such an important part of t...

We're travelling back to 1976 — arguably the commercial and cultural peak of Northern Soul.

Wigan Casino was at the centre of the phenomenon, with packed all-nighters, coachloads of dancers travelling from across Britain and a growing obsession with rare American soul records. Blackpool Mecca, the legacy of the Twisted Wheel and venues across the North and Midlands were all part of a scene that had become a fully formed youth culture.We'll look at the records, the reissues, the labels and the changing sound of Northern Soul, as crossover soul, disco and some rather unexpected records began finding th...

1975 — The Year Northern Soul Changed1975 was a pivotal year for Northern Soul. The secret was beginning to get out, the media were taking notice, and the scene was growing rapidly.From the legendary dance floors of Wigan Casino and Blackpool Mecca to the all-nighters at Cleethorpes Pier, new sounds were emerging. Seventies soul was beginning to sit alongside the classic sixties stompers, disco was appearing on the horizon, and DJs were pushing the boundaries of what could work on a Northern Soul dance floor.In this episode, we look at the records, the venues, the DJs, the dancers and th...

1974

In this episode of The Northern Soul Years, we step back to 1974 — a year for Northern Soul, disco and British music.Wigan Casino was beginning to establish itself, Blackpool Mecca was developing its own distinctive sound, and the influence of the Golden Torch was still being felt. Record companies were starting to recognise the growing demand for rare soul, with Pye’s Disco Demand series helping bring some of those records to a wider audience.But 1974 was also a very personal year for me.It was the year I went abroad for the first time, travelling to Spai...

WHAT MAKES NORTHERN SOUL NORTHERN?

What actually makes Northern Soul… Northern?

Is it the beat? The speed? The emotion? The rare records? Or is it something much harder to define?

In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we go back to basics and explore the question at the heart of the music.

From the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Samantha's in Sheffield, to Va Va's in Bolton, the Catacombs in Wolverhampton, the Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino, we follow the clubs, DJs and dan...

Beneath the bright lights of Oxford Street lies one of the most important venues in Northern Soul history—the legendary 100 Club.In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we step down those famous stairs to uncover the stories behind the club that became London's home of rare soul. Discover how forgotten American records were rescued from obscurity, how legendary DJs and unforgettable live performances shaped its reputation, and why the 100 Club continues to inspire soul fans from around the world.Featuring the iconic Melba Moore – "The Magic Touch", along with a collection of rare and unforgettable Northern Soul clas...