If you listen to Deveron FM on Monday nights usually between 8pm and 10pm you will hear sounds of soul music, not just any old Soul Music but Northern Soul music. For those of you who don’t know what Northern Soul is here’s a few facts:-
Northern Soul – the name coined by music journalist Dave Godin in the Blues and Soul Magazine
The music mainly consists of rare soul records based on the 442 beat of the Four Tops Tamla Motown classic I Can’t Help Myself, although faster floor stompers became very popular from the early seventies onwards
There has been a fashion-trend associated with Northern Soul fans – Ben Sherman shirts, trickers and brogue shoes (polished like glass), shrink-to-fit Levi jeans. Although as the music got faster the dancers preferred lighter and looser clothes such as high waisted “Oxford bags”, sports vests, long cicular skirts for the girls (effective for those spins!)
Nightclubs famous for Northern Soul nights (and all nighters) – Twisted Wheel, Manchester; whenever Elton John plays in Manchester he apparently says at the start of his set “fond memories of the Twisted Wheel” to the delight of the crowd.
The Golden Torch, Stoke on Trent; Wigan Casino, Wigan; Blackpool Mecca, Blackpool and Sheffields Mojo club.
During 1978 Wigan Casino was voted the worlds number 1 Disco!
Incredible dance moves such as pirouetting, back dropping and footsie (yeah!) kept everyone fit too
Soul badges representing clubs were worn representing soul club memberships
Recently TV ads for KFC and Lambrini have used Northern Soul tracks
Many people have been influenced by the sounds of Northern Soul – Fat Boy Slim (Rockerfella Skank), Texas (Black Eyed Boy), Moloko recreated Wigan Casino for a promotional video for Familiar Feeling; Edwin Collins,Simply Red and most recently Duffy with her hit single Mercy have all utilized elements of Northern Soul in their recordings.
In fact Duffy used DJ Liam Quinn to accompany her on her tour and DJ a full set of Northern Soul records.
Soft Cell have had chart success with Tainted Love
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss recently covered Fortune Teller on their collaboration album.
Filming has begun on a new British film called Souled Out set in Wigan Casino in 1974 starring Alfie Allen.
I’ve enjoyed Northern Soul for 30 years, I’ve still got my membership for the Mecca and although its not the only type of music I listen to its absolutely one of my passions.
My current favourite tracks are –
Taj Mahal – Ain’t That A Lot Of Love
Sisters – Love Learning To Trust My Man
Barbara Acklin – Just Ain’t No Love
Benny Spellman – Fortune Teller
Larry Williams & Johnny Watson – Too Late
Darrell Banks – Open The Door To Your Heart
But this may change, as I listen to lots of music, I hear a track I haven’t played for years that leaps to the top of my playlist.
If you would like a Northern Soul track played on the Monday show then e-mail me and tell why you like it – gail@deveronfm.co.uk
What do you like most about living in our area?
The beach, countryside and general lovliness of our area.
Name one thing that's on your 'must do list'
Be fluent in another language or retire early and go round the world, buy a house in france…. The list is endless.
Who do you like most in the world of music?
Prince
What is the best gig that you've been to?
Prince.
What was the first film that you saw at the cinema?
A Disney film.
If you could swap places with someone who would it be?
At this moment I would swap places with one of the professional dancers in strictly - perhaps Karen.
No news at present, please check back later.