Northern Soul Music Keeps the UK Moving

Northern Soul music has a long and storied history in the UK, and it’s still going strong today. Keep the beat going with this look at the best Northern Soul tracks to keep you moving.

What is Northern Soul?

Northern soul is a type of music that emerged in the UK in the late 1960s. It is characterized by its fast tempo and its focus on soulful vocals. It is often compared to Motown and Tamla Motown, which were popular in the US at the time.

Northern soul was born out of the popularity of American soul music in the UK. It was initially popularized by DJs who would play records at all-night clubs in the North of England. These clubs became known as “Northern Soul” clubs. The style of music Spread throughout the UK, and eventually to Europe and Japan.

Today, Northern soul is still popular in the UK, and there are many dedicated Northern soul clubs across the country. The music continues to evolve, with new artists putting their own spin on the sound.

The History of Northern Soul

In the late 1960s, a new kind of music was born in the nightclubs of the North of England. This was Northern Soul, a style of music that was based on the Motown sound but with a more raw, energetic feel. Northern Soul quickly became a youth movement, with its own fashion and dance style. The music was fast and frantic, and the dancers would often spin on their heads or perform other acrobatic moves.

The Tamla Motown Sound

The first half of the 1960s saw a number of black American soul artists find mainstream success in the UK, including Ben E. King, Sam Cooke and Dionne Warwick. But it was the arrival of Berry Gordy’s Motown record label that would have the biggest impact on the British music scene.

The so-called ” tamla motown sound” – named after Motown’s first two successful imprints, Tamla and Motown – was a new take on traditional black music styles, blending R&B, pop and gospel to create a vibrant and soulful sound that caught the ears of British audiences.

The early Motown hits were sung by a diverse range of artists, including Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder. But it was The Four Tops’ 1965 single “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” that really made Britain sit up and take notice of the new wave of black American music.

The success of “I Can’t Help Myself” paved the way for other Motown hits like Martha Reeves and The Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street”, The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” and Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour”. These songs and others helped to make Motown one of the most successful record labels of the 1960s.

The Wigan Casino

In the 1970s, a new style of music emerged in the UK that was strongly influenced by African American soul music, particularly from the Motown era. This style came to be known as Northern Soul.

Northern Soul became hugely popular, particularly in the north of England, and clubs began springing up where people could go to hear this new music. One of the most famous of these clubs was the Wigan Casino, which operated from 1973 to 1981.

During its time, the Wigan Casino became world-famous for its all-night dance parties, which would often see people dancing until dawn. The Wigan Casino was also known for its strict dress code, which required attendees to dress smartly in suits and dresses.

Sadly, the Wigan Casino closed its doors in 1981, but the legacy of Northern Soul lives on. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in this style of music, with new generations of fans discovering the joys of dancing all night to soul classics.

The Twisted Wheel

The Twisted Wheel in Manchester was one of the first clubs to play Northern Soul music and is often credited as the birthplace of the genre. The club opened in 1963 and became known for its all-nighter dance parties that would go on until morning. The popularity of the club led to the release of a compilation album called The Sound of the Twisted Wheel in 1964, which is considered one of the first Northern Soul records.

The Music of Northern Soul

Northern soul is a type of music that emerged in the late 1960s from the British underground scene. It is a mix of black American soul music and rock. The music is characterised by its fast tempos, soulful vocals, and its distinctive horn and string-based arrangements. Northern soul is still popular today, with clubs and events being held up and down the country.

The Spinners

The Spinners were an American soul music group, active for over three decades between the early 1960s and the early 1980s. The group originated in Detroit, Michigan, and was initially active as a doo-wop act affiliated with the Motown label. The Spinners’ first hit song, “It’s a Shame”, was produced by Stevie Wonder and released in August 1970. The group continued to record with Wonder for their next two singles, both of which reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100: “I’ll Be Around” ( 1972) and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (1973). These songs launched a string of twenty more Top 40 hits for the group on the Hot 100, including three additional No. 1 singles: “Mighty Love” (1974), “Rubberband Man” (1976), and “Working My Way Back to You” (1980).

The Spinners were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved fame with Motown during the 1960s and 1970s. The group’s repertoire includes pop, R&B, soul, and disco. Ranked as the 26th greatest artist of all time by Billboard magazine, the Temptations have sold tens of millions of records worldwide.

The group was formed in 1961 in Detroit, Michigan by Otis Williams, Elbridge “Al” Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Larry Wade, and Ibrahim “Ernie” Brown. The quintet’s first hits were 1964’s “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and “My Girl”, both of which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The latter track also spent three weeks atop the UK Singles Chart, becoming the Temptations’ first chart-topper in that country.

By 1967, the Temptations had become one of Motown’s most successful groups; they had released a string of hit singles and albums, and were regularly appearing on television variety shows and in movies. The group continued to score hits throughout the 1970s, including “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (1972), which spent six weeks at number one on the Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards.

In 1980, after personnel changes (including the addition of lead singer Dennis Edwards), the Temptations left Motown for Atlantic Records; their first album for that label, 1982’s Reunion, was a critical and commercial success. The group returned to Motown in 1988 with the album Back to Basics; that album contained a cover version of Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces”, which became a hit single in Britain.

The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989; Franklin died later that year. The group continued to perform with various lineups throughout the 1990s and 2000s; they remain active as of 2018, with Williams as the sole surviving original member.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”. As Gaye’s career progressed, he became more politically conscious and would engage in public debates with Motown CEO Berry Gordy on the issues of racism, poverty and drug abuse. gaye caused much controversy by releasing the album What’s Going On in 1971; its title track dealt with police brutality while other tracks addressed drug abuse and urban decay.

The Legacy of Northern Soul

In the late 1960s, a group of dedicated music fans in the North of England started a movement that would change the face of British music forever. They were the original Northern Soul boys and girls, and their passion for American soul music led them to create a scene that is still going strong today. Fifty years on, the spirit of Northern Soul is as alive as ever, with new generations of fans keeping the flame burning bright.

The Soulful Sound of Motown

Detroit is known as the birthplace of Motown, a style of popular music that achieved mainstream success in the 1960s and 1970s. The genre is a blend of African-American music styles such as gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Motown songs are characterized by their distinctive sound, which includes a strong beat, soulful vocals, andhorn-based instrumentation.

The term “Motown” is a portmanteau of the words “motor” and “town.” The name was coined by record producer Berry Gordy Jr., who founded the Motown Record Company in 1959. Gordy chose the name because he wanted to capture the essence of Detroit — a city that was booming thanks to the automobile industry.

Motown’s roster of talented singers and musicians — which included Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder — helped to make the label one of the most successful in history. Over the course of its two-decade run, Motown released hit after hit, selling millions of records and soundtrack albums around the world.

While Motown eventually relocated to Los Angeles in 1972, its legacy continues to live on in Detroit. The city is home to several museums devoted to the history of Motown, including Hitsville USA (the former recording studio where many of the label’s classic tracks were recorded) and the Motown Museum (a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve Motown’s musical legacy).

The Wigan Casino Story

The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, England. The club became famous in the 1970s for its all-nighters, which regularly attracted crowds of 2,000 people or more. The Casino was also home to the widely acclaimed Northern Soul Top 30 weekly chart, as voted for by the club’s members.

The Wigan Casino closed its doors for the last time in 1981, but its legacy has lived on through the many great artists and DJs who have kept the spirit of Northern Soul alive. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Northern Soul music, with new generations discovering the joys of this unique genre.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Wigan Casino and the incredible music that came out of it, we highly recommend checking out our friends at The Guardian newspaper. They have an excellent article on the history of the club and its lasting impact on British culture.

The Twisted Wheel Club

In the late 1960s, a group of music-loving youths in Manchester, England, frequented a club called the Twisted Wheel. The Wheel was known for its distinctive soul music—a genre that had originated in the American South but was enjoying newfound popularity among British youth. These young people—known as “soulies”—danced all night to the sounds of Motown, Stax, and Atlantic Records. They were part of a growing underground scene that would come to be known as Northern Soul.

The Twisted Wheel was the epicenter of the Northern Soul scene. It was there that DJs first began playing rare American soul records that were not being played on mainstream radio. These records—often obscure tracks by unknown artists—became anthems for the soulies, who would dance all night to them. As the popularity of Northern Soul grew, other clubs began to spring up across England, each with its own devotees and following.

Today, Northern Soul is more popular than ever. The music has been embraced by a new generation of clubgoers, and the original soulies are now middle-aged men and women who still love to hit the dance floor and relive their youth. The Twisted Wheel may be long gone, but its legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of everyone who loves Northern Soul.