Northern Soul

[George 1978]

Was April Stevens a Northern Soul act? I have listened to her 1967(?) hit Wanting You on YT - Gem AM used to play it now and again, often on the late Brian Tansley's shows at the weekend. She also sung the Teach Me Tiger song from a few years previously which turned up in a 1997 Whiskas catfood advert.

Stevens' birthday was in April as well, and sadly she died in April last year as well.

[sofiya85]

Without any dout i love dancing in northern soul song

[dannyboy]

Love Northern without claiming to be an expert. I'm a bit too young to have caught it first time around in the 70s. Would've likely cost me a fortune buying the records. Have about fifty re-release singles but most of my stuff is on cd compilations. I've looked on Northern forums from time to time for tips on what's good but wouldn't dare offer an opinion. They tend to really know their stuff and spot a newbie instantly.
Had a compilation with a dvd as part of the package. I can't recall the song but they had a guy from Wales being interviewed. He had a 7" single in hand that he'd recently bought for about £6000. He was really pleased to have it after pursuing it for several years. Then cut to an elderly black American guy who'd recorded the song. Couldn't really recall where and when he'd done it. Would've been paid a flat fee which immediately went on life essentials etc. The look on his face was priceless when informed someone had just paid six grand for it.

[Richard1978]

I've heard some DJs managed to source singles that were languishing in warehouses for years because they didn't sell well enough when released.

Same here, some were released by small labels in the USA who weren't able to distribute them widely.

[beccabear67]

I was more not geographically located to have been around a Northern Soul 'scene', though we did experience the fringes of the Mod with scooters revival of the early '80s, and it's definitely true they brought some overlooked gems to deserved attention both U.S. and UK recorded. Quality DJs are definitely a great asset... just think of how many groups' repertoires were influenced by Bob Wooler back in the northern 'beat boom' early '60s!

[Richard1978]

It's interesting that many songs that became popular on the Northern Soul scene old in penny numbers when originally released in the USA. I've heard some DJs managed to source singles that were languishing in warehouses for years because they didn't sell well enough when released.

[beccabear67]

Some great music from the '60s before my time. I have a few CD collections with Northern Soul in their title of various artists; a few real killers but always some real dogs you wonder why they included them. That would've been my scene had I been around back then... soul and mod, but I'd be listening to some '50s rock too secretly.

[Danny]

This was the clip from TOTP that I was trying to remember all those years ago!

https://youtu.be/h1zsgUIv5E4

[Drfunkenstein57]

Re: Northern Soul

i remember clubbing in the late 70's and watching the northern soulers taking over the dance floor.........they were amazing.......the guys were definately the best too.

Yeah, we used to take a lot of stick for "dancing on yer own" which most folks didn't do back in the day..lol..
Still they were good days, & it kept you really fit. When I try it these days, my mouth gets dry then I need a drink - resulting in me getting too legless to dance - so I don't dance no more

[shilton dipper]

Re: Northern Soul

i remember clubbing in the late 70's and watching the northern soulers taking over the dance floor.........they were amazing.......the guys were definately the best too.

[ayrshireman]

Re: Northern Soul

Too young to have experienced the halcyon days of NS, but am a huge fan of the music.

[Drfunkenstein57]

Re: Northern Soul

I went to the casino 1973 -1977 nearly every weekend, also Blackpool mecca's highland room. weekdays I went to:
Tues - broadway hotel, Morecambe (northern soul night)
Wed - No12 club , Lancaster - (soul night)
Thurs - Ibis club, Kendal - (soul night).
Fri - Morecambe pier, (soul night.)
I was pretty keen on the dancin' & reasonably good given the amount of practise I got. I had some fantastic clothes too, not like the **** from the local boutiques either, proper soul boy stuff.
I only quit because of "saturday night fever" divvies wreckin the whole dance scene with commercialised **** - like so many other disillusioned brothers, ended up listening to either fusion jazz or punk.
I still listen to a few NS radio shows to this day - wish we had those back in the day!!!

[lee wild]

Re: Northern Soul

I went to the torch three times and was hooked on northern soul and only missed wigan casino six times in all the time it was open .I also went to Samanthas in Sheffield, St ives all dayers ,Manchester ritz ,leeds etc .All my memrobilia is still in a cupboard with my records badges and magazines and i still attend northern do,s it will never be over for me as the Timi Yuro record goes

[Krazy]

Re: Northern Soul

I remember Wigan all nighters quite well, although I never attended myself, as I was not into Northern Soul. Wasnt it Wigan Casino?

[kersalflats]

Re: Northern Soul

By the way the film Soulboy is rather good