Explore every episode of the podcast The Northern Soul Podcast

Manchester in the 60s was a very different place.

Basement clubs like the Twisted Wheel came alive, you walked down the steps into sweat, smoke and sound .no neon signs ,no sponsorship ,just a DJ and a pile of American 45s and a crowd that knew every beat before it hit the floor .

This wasn't entertainment -it was survival .Music was how Manchester breathed

Part 1 of a 3 part series ,Its Mods ,and British Northern Soul ,including Rare tracks all from the 1960s, and Colin sets the scene of Britain in the 1960s when "You never had it so Good"

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Tonight I'm Travelling deep into the underground of British Soul - Voices that never chased the charts ,but found their place in the clubs the basements and on the dance floors

These records were overlooked ,forgotten sometimes ignored -but they had soul

if this episode is popular I have in the vaults much more

Northern Soul was never just about records ,It was about Places

Three Venues Stand Above all Others

The Golden Torch -The Spark that burned Brightest

Wigan Casino :The Spiritual Home

Blackpool Mecca : Where Northern Soul Grew Up, and Split The Scene

This is That Story ......

Radio Caroline wasn't just a pirate station .It was freedom ,It was rebellion, It was the sound of new Britain

All played from the deck of a rusting ship in the North Sea

It was where I first heard Motown ,Stax ,and the Soul records that soundtrack my life today .

In Tonights episode were going rare, we're

going exclusive-we're on a mission

a mission to bring these long lost soul tracks back into the light

some of these tunes shook the dance floors some slipped through the cracks......

but all of them deserve to be heard again.

Tonights episode is about Secret Soul-the rare grooves, the hidden voices ,and the stories that never fade .from basement labels to ballroom floors,these tracks still carry the heartbeat of real soul .

Northern Soul has never been so popular ,people love the connection ...the uplift and that special sound of pure stomping soul.

Tonight were back with a fresh selection of secret soul and a few surprises

Its a Secret Soul Special Tonight :

and this time were diving into one of the most mysterious ,magical and emotional stories in all of soul music .

This is the story of a woman the world missed.... a woman who recorded masterpieces that were never released... whose voice filled northern soul dance floors for decades ...Tonight we celebrate Little Ann

Tonight ,we celebrate six Northern Soul Legends who didn't just perform in the UK-

they lived here ,they belonged here ,and helped shape the very Soul of our Scene :

Edwin Starr, PP Arnold, Geno Washington,Jimmy James, Major Lance and Tommy Hunt .

Secret Soul revisits The famous 100 Club Oxford Street London .

All these Deep Soul tracks were played at this Iconic Venue

The Sound of the 100 Club is special because it isn't about volume or acoustics -its about pressure ,proximity and purpose .Few rooms in the world have all three in the way the 100 Club does

spend a little time there tonight ...but keep it to yourself

Welcome back to Secret Soul ,the show where we dig out the rare, the overlooked and the electrifying tracks that made Northern Soul floors legendary

Tonight We're exploring the 60s stompers and rare soul treasures ,these are the tracks of the underground .

Tonight its back to basics ,no frills, no distractions -just the heartbeat of the Northern Soul Scene .

These are Records that built the floors ,the sounds that kept dancers moving through the coldest months ,and the energy that defined Northern Clubs when the nights were long and the music mattered most.

One thing ran through my life - Soul music

and the lyrics of the first soul song I ever heard the one that started me on this journey ,still resonate today.

"Just walk in my shoes ,this hurt inside us too much for me ,just walk in my shoes and you'll see the love they used to be "

Northern Soul didn't end in 1975 ...but it stopped being innocent

from that point the scene would split, argue ,evolve and survive -

so when I look back now fifty years on, 1975 stands out not because the music failed -but because it succeeded .

A story of passion obsession and music that refuses to die . it's 2026

and the beat goes on ,From the Mod clubs of the 1960s to the legendary clubs and the all-nighters we celebrate the music the world had forgotten .

Before Wigan Casino took its legendary place at the heart of northern soul ,there was a little club hidden down the cellar stairs of Elizabeth house on Great moor street bolton known simply as Va Va' it opened April 1973 and quickly became the Friday night Destination for rare soul lovers

The DJ there was Richard Searling

We'll explore the crossover tracks that lit up the dance floor

enchanted listeners, each record tells a story ,music featured is mid 70s

These were songs pressed in hope,forgotton in time, and rediscovered decades later on Northern dance floors far from where they were made .

Secret Soul, the records they never meant you to hear.....

Streaming may have changed the rules,is this the future of Northern Soul ?

The heartbeat of the scene still lives in the clubs ,in the people, and on the dance floors across the UK and beyond

Personal journey through the sound of the sixties -from Beat to Soul .Vinyl ,Pirate Radio ,British soul ,mods record shops, and obscure gems that shaped the dance floor long before Northern Soul had a name

Tonights episode is a tale of two cities connected by music

we begin in Detroit in the 1960s

from the legendary clubs to rare artists whose records would later ignite the northern soul scene .

Then we fast forward to New York the start of the new millennium ,its a place I thought I new but this was my first visit experiencing Harlem ,The Apollo, radio City theatre and thanks to bobby Womack a trip to 110th street

Before Northern Soul had a name...it already had a heartbeat .

This episode is a journey back to the British underground of the 1960s-

when soul wasn't a scene ,it was an identity .A time of Stateside imports ,basement clubs ,pirate radio and backroom record culture .

when fashion was uniform not a trend when music was carried ,hunted ,and protected -not streamed or shared .

From Blue note ,Flamingo,and the ambassadors to Dave Godin ,Soul City and the rise of the keep the faith movement ,this is the story of how British culture was built from the ground up .

The influence of British Northern Soul extends far beyond

its birthplace .

From the clubs of London,Manchester ,and Wigan,to festivals ,vinyl fairs ,and DJ sets around the globe the spirit of the scene continues to inspire new generations .

Its a culture built on passion ,perseverance ,and the power of music to move the body and soul and the music ?............... Timeless

Tonights episode is dedicated to the Deep cuts-rare soul and obscure soul , buried gems ,dusty 45s where the rare becomes essential .

This episode is a journey through memory, history and sound

From the moon landing of 1969 seen on black and white tv ,to adult reflection this is how moments shape us- and how music connects them .

Tonight episode is a journey into the Detroit Soul of Manchester .

Were heading to the streets of the NORTHERN QUARTER ,a part of the city that today is full of record shops,bars and restaurants-but in the 1970s was a gritty warehouse district at the heart of a growing music culture .

From there we step into the legendary clubs that defined the era where rare American records from places like Detroit found a new life on British dance floors .

1974 Manchester had its own New commercial radio station piccadilly 261

and there's a personal moment too -a visit to the basement warehouse of Global Records where I was gifted with the first pressing of James fountain seven day lover

So tonight its Manchester now, and the 1970s -the clubs, the records ,the people and the soul of the city

Tonights episode is from the Soul City ,not Chicago not Detroit -but Manchester UK

A City with its own rhythm, its own heartbeat ,and its own deep connection to soul music .

Step back to 1967 ,when the sound of American soul was travelling across the the Atlantic and finding a new home in the basements and backstreet clubs of Britain

In this episode we dive into a world of raw ,rare ,and underplayed Northern soul records -the kind of 45s that once spun on turntables in the ledgendary Twisted Wheel .

Fast records ,Ferocious records ,that sounds as powerful today as it did nearly sixty years ago

Tonight, we dive deep into authentic Northern Soul from Chicago Detroit and Memphis - the grooves ,the harmonies ,and the heart of 1960s and 70s soul scene .from rare Philly harmonies to Chicago gospel -infused tracks .

discover the stories behind the artists ,the labels and the music that crossed the Atlantic to become Northern soul classics

Everyone's got their own idea of what soul is ....

some say its the voice ,some say its the groove ...

but tonight its a blend .

and like a good cup of tea ...it needs time to brew

From the raw emotion of southern soul to the polished grooves of Chicago and Philadelphia ,from gospel roots to northern soul dance floor favourites ......every track in this episode carries a story .

This episode we revisit the spirit of the scene itself -its unique atmosphere and the theme is love..........

This weeks episode takes you deep into the heart of Northern Soul

away from the anthems and into the rare, the raw,and the beautifully understated-

every track in this collection is a 45rpm ...original vinyl full of warmth,character and that unmistakable analogue soul .

these are the records passed hand to hand ,discovered and brought to life on late night dance floors

A personal journey through the early Northern Soul Scene -long before Wigan Casino ,The Torch ,or the Blackpool Mecca became part of the story .

This episode traces the real beginnings of a passion for soul music in Manchester ,from first hearing those powerful American voices in 1960s to basement clubs church halls, and early dance nights where the sound truly took hold .

its a story of discovery -record shops ,DJs ,imported vinyl and growing underground culture that would later be called Northern Soul .

From the first 45rpm to DJ sets ,radio appearances, and running a family record shop in 1974,this is a lived in experience of a scene built on records ,movement ,and feeling -not headlines .

Raw personal and rooted in music that defined a generation

no myths ,no shortcuts

Just Soul .

Tonights episode takes you back to where it all began.

from 1964-71 three clubs helped shape The movement that would change British music forever .

We step inside Londons 100 Club,Manchesters Wheel and the underground Catacombs Club.

Each venue had its own identity -Londons gateway to live American soul,Manchesters raw all-night energy and Wolverhamptons exclusive DJ driven rare groove scene -but together they built the foundation of what

became Northern Soul.

featuring hand picked tracks from the era including rare and sought -after recordings ,this episode captures the sound and obsession that drove a generation onto the dance floor

Tonights episode celebrates 20 years of Spotify, and the massive impact its had on how we discover and experience Northern Soul music.

From the days of vinyl, All-

nighters ,and DJ -led discovery ... to a world of instant access and algorithm -driven playlists ,this episode explores the journey from underground to global streaming .

we dive into the iconic labels that helped shape the northern soul sound-including Okeh records,Ric Tic Records, Golden World records ,and Mirwood records -and how their once-rare releases found new life in the digital age .

This is a story of evolution ....from scarcity to accessibility ...from local scenes to global reach .

It's still all about the music . so whether you found it on the dancefloor ....or through your headphones .....this one is for you

In this episode ,We go beyond the labels to uncover the roots of one of Britains most enduring underground movements .From Dave Godin at Soul City to all-Night danceflooors of Wigan Casino ,this is the story of how rare American soul records found a second life in the north of England

We explore the working class culture that shaped the scene ,the obsession with obscure vinyl and the connection between industrial Britain and the sounds of Detroit ,Chicago,and Philadelphia

This isn't just about music .its about identity ,escape and forgotten records turned into dance floor anthems

Tonights episode dives deep into the world of Northern Soul Collecting -where rare records ,hidden gems and timeless dance floor anthems define the culture .

From its underground roots in the 60s and early 70s ,built in legendary clubs like wigan casino ,the twisted wheel ,the torch and Blackpool Mecca ,Northern soul has grown into a global movement -yet it still holds its core : discovery ,passion and authenticity

whether you are a lifelong collector or just discovering the scene this is a journey through the music

1973 -This episode dives deep into the raw energy and elegance of Northern Soul at its peak -a time when dance floors were rules by rare 45s relentless rhythms ,and a devotion to discovering the unknown .

We explore this year everything seemed to come together in 1973.

And perhaps that's why the music from that era still feels so powerful today .

It was discovered ,protected ,and loved by people who lived for the music itself .

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This was the beginnings of Britains underground soul movement .In the basement clubs and hidden dance halls like the Twisted Wheel,King Mojo,and the Blue Orchard , Young music fans discovered rare soul from Shrine Record label and many more

Tracks that became legends from records pressed in tiny numbers and forgotten in America -but here in the North and the Midlands they became something special .

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In this special episode , we journey back to the golden age of the British seaside and the unforgettable world of Northern Soul.

From steam trains and deckchairs to trams, illuminations and ballroom dancefloors, this is a deeply personal trip through the sights, sounds and strange magic of Blackpool in the 1960s and 70s.

Through childhood memories of family holidays beside the sea, we explore how places like Blackpool became far more than holiday resorts for working-class Britain — they became places of escape, excitement and musical discovery.

At the centre of the story stands the legendary Blackpool Mecca.

Part nightclub, part ballroom and part dreamscape, the Mecca became one of the most important and controversial venues in Northern Soul history, helping reshape the sound of the scene throughout the 1970s and beyond.

This episode blends nostalgia, humour, forgotten memories and iconic soul music, featuring sounds inspired by the Blackpool Mecca alongside classic early 60s soul favourites.

this is the story of how the British seaside and Northern Soul unexpectedly collided.

So step aboard the steam train, grab a stick of Blackpool rock, and join us beneath the illuminations for a journey into one of the most magical chapters of British music culture.

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This Is Northern Soul: Back To Basics – The Greatest Discoveries

Welcome to a new chapter of This Is Northern Soul.

After exploring some of the more familiar Northern Soul favourites, it's time to go back to where the magic began — discovering the unknown, the overlooked and the forgotten.In this episode, we leave the obvious classics behind and dig deep into the world of rare soul. Featuring artists whose names may not be familiar, but whose music deserves to be heard, we'll uncover the stories behind the records, the small labels, the hidden gems and the incredible voices that time almost forgot.From mysterious American soul singers to forgotten British talents, every track has a story. These are the records that collectors searched for, DJs championed and dancers fell in love with.Because Northern Soul has never only been about the biggest names...It's about the greatest discoveries.

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 classics, this is a journey into the basement where music history was made.Because every great Northern Soul record has a story... and tonight, that story begins at the 100 Club.

Tracks :

Reggie Alexander it's better

The magnificent men I've got news

Ronnie MC Neir isn't she a pretty girl

Jimmy mack my world on fire

Florence devore kiss me now

Melba Moore the magic touch

Margret mandolph something beautiful

Mamie lee I can feel him slipping away

Lillie Bryant meet me halfway

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 Spain with two friends — all three of us Northern Soul fanatics, armed with soul cassettes, two unnecessary leather jackets and absolutely no sun cream.It was also the year my family opened our first independent record shop, giving me the chance to discover music through the records and people coming through the door.And then came the Soul Cellar, where I began my first proper weekly all-night DJ residency.Add in mobile DJ work, the explosion of disco, record collecting and the people who broadened my musical horizons, and 1974 becomes much more than just another year.It was the year everything started to come together.

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 dancers who helped turn obscure American soul records into something completely new.

We look at the crate diggers searching for forgotten records, the all-nighters that kept the dance floors moving until morning, and the DJs who could transform an unknown record into a dance-floor anthem.

And there's a personal journey too.

The first time I heard the term Northern Soul, I assumed it meant Northern America. Then, in around 1975, I walked into Blackpool Mecca and discovered a very different side of the scene — modern soul, Philadelphia influences and a sound that was already evolving.

Most of the music had been recorded in the mid-1960s.

Yet more than sixty years later, those records are still being played, still being danced to and still creating waves.

So perhaps Northern Soul isn't simply a place.

Perhaps it's a feeling.

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 the changing culture of 1975.And there's a personal connection too. I was there — running our family record shop, travelling to Manchester to source imports from Global Records, and working as a club DJ during one of the most exciting periods in the story of Northern Soul.1975 wasn't just another year.It was the year Northern Soul began to change.

The Top of the World 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 the Northern Soul story.Stafford had everything. This is the story of the sound of Top of the World.

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 their way onto the dancefloors.But 1976 was also the year another musical revolution arrived.Punk.We'll explore the growing tension between the established Northern Soul culture and the raw new sound emerging from London and Manchester — including the legendary Sex Pistols appearance at the Lesser Free Trade Hall.And I'll share one of my own memories from that extraordinary year, when I found myself chatting to a young Tony Wilson shortly before he headed off to see the Sex Pistols

1976 was the year Northern Soul reached its golden peak.It was also the year the future arrived.

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 right night, they became unforgettable.The clubs may be gone, but the music — and the memories — live on.

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-nav, no mobile phone and no guarantee the car is even going to make it.What they do have is soul. Lots of it.Tapes packed with Northern Soul provide the soundtrack as three Manchester mates head south, leaving behind the clubs, the dance floors and the familiar streets of home for an unforgettable road trip into Cornwall.This is more than a journey from Manchester to Newquay. It’s a snapshot of nineteen seventy-five, when Northern Soul was at its peak and anything seemed possible.Three lads. One ageing Mini. Three hundred miles of road.And enough soul music to get them there.

Packed with the sounds of Northern 45rpms