The Best Northern Soul Music Videos

A collection of the best Northern Soul music videos that are sure to get you up and dancing.

The Birth of Northern Soul

Northern Soul music emerged from the British mod scene of the early 1960s. The first Northern Soul night was held at the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester in September 1963. The night became hugely popular, with queues stretching round the block. The night was so successful that it spawned a whole new genre of music.

The Wigan Casino

The Wigan Casino was a nightclub in Wigan, England. The club existed between 1973 and 1981 and was associated with the Northern soul music genre.

The casino was a showcase for Wigan bands including The Spinners, Plum Nellie, Russ Winstanley and the Ouija Board, The George Martin Band and Benny Grauer and the Fernets.

The first Wigan Casino All-Nighter was held on Saturday 23 November 1973, admission was by membership card only and entry cost £1. The club became known for its Reno-style decor and its house band, The Spinners.

The club closed its doors for the last time on Saturday 28 February 1981

The Twisted Wheel

The Twisted Wheel was a nightclub in Manchester, England, which existed from 1963 to 1971 and was important to the development of the Northern soul music scene.

In 1963, the club’s owner, Roger Eagle, started booking more R&B and soul acts instead of rock and roll bands. The new musical direction helped to establish the club as a popular destination for young people from across Northern England.

By 1966, the Twisted Wheel was one of the most popular clubs in Manchester, with a capacity of 700 people. It attracted a racially diverse crowd, who came to dance to the latest R&B and soul sounds.

The club closed in 1971, but its legacy has been kept alive by the popularity of Northern soul music. Numerous compilations and reissues of Northern soul music have been released since the early 1990s, helping to keep the memory of the Twisted Wheel alive.

The Music

Motown

The best Motown music videos, featuring Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, Diana Ross, the Supremes, and more.

Stax

The Stax Records sound was a major force in the development of soul music, and the label’s roster included some of the genre’s most iconic artists, such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Isaac Hayes. The Stax sound was defined by its use of funk-infused rhythms, dynamic horn sections, and passionate vocals.

The best Northern Soul music videos feature some of the label’s most popular songs, including “Soul Man,” “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” and “Respect Yourself.” These songs are sure to get you moving and grooving, and they’ll stay in your head for days.

The Videos

The best Northern Soul music videos are the ones that make you want to get up and dance. They’re the ones that make you feel the music in your soul. They’re the ones that make you remember why you love this music so much. These are the videos that we think are the best of the best.

“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved great success in the 1960s and 1970s with their string of hits, including “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” is a 1966 song written by Motown producers Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song was first recorded by The Temptations in 1966 and released as a single in 1967. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became a hit on the R&B charts, peaking at number one. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 325 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops

This 1964 classic by The Four Tops was one of the first Motown records to cross over to the pop charts, reaching #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The song was written by Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland of the Songwriting Hall of Fame-inducted songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland.

The Four Tops were a mainstay of the Motown label in the 1960s, along with fellow Detroit acts like The Supremes, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” was one of a string of hits for the group, which also included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and “Bernadette.”

“Keep on Pushin'” by The Impressions

“Keep on Pushin'” is a soul song written by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, and Calvin Carter. Released as a single in February 1966, it became a hit, reaching number-one on the Billboard R&B chart and number fourteen on the Hot 100.

The Impressions’ recording of “Keep on Pushin'” was produced by Mayfield and was the group’s sixth and final gold record. Butler sang lead vocals on the track with Richard Davis and Arthur Brooks providing backup. The song features a piano solo by Mavis Staples.

“Keep on Pushin'” has been praised by music critics for its message of perseverance and its use of horns, strings, and gospel-style backup vocals. The Impressions’ performance of the song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival has been cited as one of the highlights of the event. The song has been covered by numerous artists including Dolly Parton, UB40, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Bragg.