What is Northern Soul? “Northern Soul is a term that was originally coined to describe ‘rare soul of the type enjoyed in the North of England’” Quote from “Soul Survivors” by Russ Winstanley & David Nowell. In the mid 60′s, Britain began embracing American Soul music, the Motown sound appealed more than earlier 60′s soul records that had been hits in the states. A club scene built up around the country that was dedicated to dancing to these records (which included Motown and other sounds from Detroit). When the rest of England moved on to either Funk or Progressive Rock, hardcore soul fans in the North stayed with fast, four-beat, and sometimes 100mph, dance music; searching out ever more rare examples of the sound they loved. It’s difficult to describe what Northern Soul is. Just how the term came about is easy to write down but the essence is in the sounds themselves. The best way to find out about Northern Soul is to listen to the music, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like it after they had heard a few of the more popular tracks. For Me, Northern Soul means danceable, smoochable, BIG PRODUCTION sounds.. including all my favorite drums, brass, woods, glocks, Xylophones, strings and a bloody good black vocal. Need I say more? More so it means to hell with the bollocks of what the elite’ests say! It’s not about how much the record costs, what label it is on or even what media you choose to use. It’s about the music… simple as that! Just because you don’t collect doesn’t mean you’re not worthy. This scene will die soon if everyone keeps up this pretence that northern soul is about a small black piece of vinyl/acetate! Play it how you like and let it live on.I’m getting into the raw 60′s R&B sounds at the moment, and hate to admit it but the modern sounds are coming forward for me a bit too!

Are You A Northern Soul Fan? Well, I read this on www.nightowlclub.com that doesn’t seem to be around anymore! … and thought to myself, in my own inimitable nauseating way.. yeah – I’m Class One! (rediscovered at http://www.northern.soulfans.co.uk/Collect.htm).

Quote Steve Sayles 1997: “I put forward the hypotheses there are four classes or types on the Northern Soul Scene, which are as follows”

The sub-class
This class of person is not a soul fan; they became involved with the Northern soul scene during the hey-days of 1975-79. The sub-class is often referred to as ” plastic-Soulies ” having no real passion for the music. The plastic-Soulies are part of the soul scene because of social ties. They will have friends who belong to the other classes of persons on the scene. The majority of this sub-class left the Northern soul scene when other musical styles became popular.

Class one (the soul fan)
The Soul Fan is driven by the love of the “sound”. The Soul Fan loves to listen to the sound irrespective of the medium. The Soul Fan does not care if the medium is original vinyl, pressing, CD, etc The soul fan will have a collection that will contain the sounds on many medium. Because it is the love of the sound that is the driving force not the love of a particular medium. The Soul Fan may sell a favorite sound that is on an original label, because it is available on CD and with the extra money he/she can purchase more CD’s or pressings or originals containing other loved sounds. Therefore driven by the love of soul music, the original is sold to be replaced by more sounds.

Class two
This is the overlap class; Some Soul Fans are also Original Soul Record Collectors. Both the love of soul music and the love of collecting original soul records drive them. This Class of person will have more conflict in his/her purchasing i.e. to buy the three pressings or the original? This Class may replace pressings as and when they can get hold of the original records. There is a tendency though in this class to be influenced by the third class in their purchasing practices.

Class Three (the original soul record collector)
The Original Soul Record Collector this is the elitist class, this class do not belong to the class of Soul Fans, they are not soul fans . They are not driven by the love of soul music. But by the love of collecting (viz. soul records). This class comes over as “snobs” as regard to soul records and may well refuse to own pressings or CDs. This class once belonged to the second class but have lost sight of the nature of soul music and have been caught up by pride and vanity. They love nothing better than telling you the value of a record and how few copies exist. Contrast the Soul Fan who loves nothing better than listening to the record and loves to play them for you too.

This class have an elitist attitude. Any Club policy of playing only original recordings stinks of this elitist class value, it can only have a detrimental effect, the person on the dance floor or sat listening to the sound don’t really care because ‘Its what’s in the groove that counts’ or “what hits the ears dude” Cliches concerning originals as being ‘the Real McCoy and not just being 7 inch of vinyl, but pieces of history’ may be true. But the truth is far greater, the Northern Soul scene owes a lot to pressings . The invention of the CD has preserved this unique music style and done much to make it available to the Soul Fan. Cd’s and pressings like everything else have their place in history. Argument’s using history are weak when trying to sell class values. The Soul Fan will keep the faith. The third class has a different faith to propagate.

Steve Sayles 1997