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Northern Soul - An Illustrated History - Out Now Competition

Northern Soul - An Illustrated History - Out Now Competition magazine cover

A dual post just to pass on two soul related news items

 

First is that today see's the official release of Northern Soul: An Illustrated History

 

This has been mentioned on here a fair few times over the last year or so and today see's the official release day arrive.

A more detailed site article will follow in a day or two, but for now here's a few images and some release text from the publishers

 

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The story of Northern Soul is one of practically total immersion, dedication and devotion, where the plain concept of the 'night out' was elevated to sacramental dimensions. Where devotees pushed their bodies, their finances and sometimes their minds to brutal and unforgiving extremes. For those who went through that involvement every test of faith or endurance was worth bearing.

 

- From Northern Soul: An Illustrated History.

 

'It was a drugs scene, it was a clothes scene. It was about dancing. It came out of this thing. It was about pills that made you go fast. To go fast to make the scene happen.' - Chris Brick

 

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In the late 1960s, a form of dance music took a feverish hold on the UK, finding its heart in the north of England. The music of 1960s-70s black American soul singers combined with distinctive dance styles and plenty of amphetamines to create what became known as Northern Soul - a scene based around all night, alcohol-free club nights, arranged by the fans themselves - setting the blueprint for future club culture. Northern Soul tapped into a yearning for individual expression in northern teenagers, and exploded into a cultural phenomenon that influenced a generation of DJs, songwriters and designers for decades to come.

 

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Acclaimed photographer and director Elaine Constantine has brought the movement to life in her film Northern Soul - and that film was the starting point for this book, Northern Soul: An Illustrated History.

However, what started out as a project largely comprising of Constantine's stunning on-set photography, featuring her young, talented cast and highly authentic production, has turned into a unique illustrated history of Northern Soul. In its final form, the beautiful new photography holds the book together thematically, but its real depth lies in the material from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s that Elaine and Gareth have researched and pulled together.

 

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Available now at ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Northern-Soul-An-Illustrated-History/dp/0753541912

 

 

The Second bit of news is that thanks to the publishers Soul Source can offer to all members a chance to win 1 of 3 fresh copies of this new release.

 

3 Copies of Northern Soul: An Illustrated History to be won!

 

 

Here's how...

 

Each day for the next 3 days the site will be holding a daily draw open to all members of Soul Source

 

All you have to do is to like the daily post (link below) and after midnight each day a winner will be drawn from all those who have liked the comp daily post that day

 

The normal Soul Source competition rules apply, all you have to do is "like" the actual competition post using the onsite "like" feature - and you be in

 

This will open shortly with a link to todays competition being placed right here very shortly (which you then need to like)

 

Here's the day one link

 

 

day two now so here's the current link

 

 

day three is now so here's the link...

 

 

as said, to enter just go here and then just "like" the post!

 

all over - see later post for complete list of winners!

 

Good luck now

 

mike

soul source team





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Has the film been released yet or has it gone straight to DVD?

 

(Everyone probably knows but I've been out of touch a little while I'm afraid....)

 

 

Cheers,

 

Eddie

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Has the film been released yet or has it gone straight to DVD?

 

(Everyone probably knows but I've been out of touch a little while I'm afraid....)

 

 

Cheers,

 

Eddie

 

Not out yet

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The film's complete, all post production work done.  I think they're sorting out the distribution at the moment, with a view to an Autumn release.

 

Incidentally, the book is currently at No 49 in Amazon's Top 100 best selling books.

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Yep, got mine today too, but I`ve just started reading John O`Farrell`s "An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain: or Sixty Years of Making the Same Stupid Mistakes as Always" which I need to get through first.  :( 

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The picture in the Twisted Wheel section of the book (@ 1 min 34 secs in the above video) LOOKS LIKE four of the Hull lads who used to go to the Wheel (Mike Bird - big bro to Martyn aka Hullsoul on here + Stu Mumby and others).  I know Mike submitted a piece on the Wheel for inclusion in the book.

Looks like his piece made it into the finished publication, so no doubt my Donny mate (Tom Sleight) & I get a mention or two.

 

Ain't got the actual book yet, can someone confirm that Mike Bird's Wheel memories are in there & who the picture is captioned up as showing (I know I'm not on it but its too small for me to make out the other 2 guys).

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Whilst up at the Peebles Weekender, Elaine Constantine showed me a copy of the book. Look very well done, the page layouts are nice and the way the old photos have been cropped is neat. Also like the way the book takes an honest look at the scene warts n' all. One of the best book on the subject so far.

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The picture in the Twisted Wheel section of the book (@ 1 min 34 secs in the above video) LOOKS LIKE four of the Hull lads who used to go to the Wheel (Mike Bird - big bro to Martyn aka Hullsoul on here + Stu Mumby and others).  I know Mike submitted a piece on the Wheel for inclusion in the book.

Looks like his piece made it into the finished publication, so no doubt my Donny mate (Tom Sleight) & I get a mention or two.

 

Ain't got the actual book yet, can someone confirm that Mike Bird's Wheel memories are in there & who the picture is captioned up as showing (I know I'm not on it but its too small for me to make out the other 2 guys).

 

Mike Bird's piece is on page 53, three of the photos are credited to him but it doesn't say who's in them.  Mike's also acknowledged at the front of the book.

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Mike Bird's piece is on page 53, three of the photos are credited to him but it doesn't say who's in them.  Mike's also acknowledged at the front of the book.

Thanx for that. Guess I'll have to order a copy of the book right away then.

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Thanx for that. Guess I'll have to order a copy of the book right away then.

 

You're welcome, and as Alex Ferguson's autobiography has just jumped above it in Amazon's Top New Releases, get everybody you know to order one as well.

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I've come home from Devon and missed the bloody postman :( ! Oh well tomorrow will do :)

One nostalgic trip I am looking forward too.  Looks great.

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I got one last weekend at Peebles, and am really impressed, as I said on FB its very stylish, very well written and superbly edited in the way it weaves peoples comments in and out depending on timeframe. Some great pictures, both old and new, as you would expect. Its quite different in that it focusess on peoples experiences, rather than records/charts etc, and it reminds me very much of Gerri Hershey's great Nowhere to Run in context.

 

Off to buy one as a pressie!

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A piccy from the book ................

Mike Bird (on the right), Stu Mumby (left) & A.N.Other outside the Wheel back in the day.

Was in south of France with Stu & Mike about 2 years back.

post-22122-0-96481600-1378398899_thumb.j

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A piccy from the book ................

Mike Bird (on the right), Stu Mumby (left) & A.N.Other outside the Wheel back in the day.

Was in south of France with Stu & Mike about 2 years back.

John

Yep that's my big bruver & Stuart,don't know the other guy.

Cheers

Martyn

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On 28th sept  King Georges Hall  Blackburn, Wigan 40th ....  The book will be on sale, plus  a new Trailer and new never before seen scenes from Northern Soul  the film will be shown........   I am Told?       If you take your copy, Can you get it signed?          B  

 

Some good photos of Ethan in the book too!

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You're welcome, and as Alex Ferguson's autobiography has just jumped above it in Amazon's Top New Releases, get everybody you know to order one as well.

Who is Alex Ferguson? Got my copy today. Slipped it out of the Amazon box like it was a rare record. Felt like a real book with a hardback cover. Looked at all the photos then the credits at the back. If the best thing about Northern Soul is the music, the next best thing must be reading about the music... Well, whatever, I'm looking forward to reading it and watching the film. What label was Alex Ferguson on? Was his backing group the Hairdryers.
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There was a thread on here some years ago regarding whether  any film or video footage existed of the Northern scene prior to the This Is England documentary from' 77.

 

Someone posted and said that apparently there is  some footage of the original Wheel.

 

Anyone have any information on that ? 

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There was a thread on here some years ago regarding whether  any film or video footage existed of the Northern scene prior to the This Is England documentary from' 77.

 

Someone posted and said that apparently there is  some footage of the original Wheel.

 

Anyone have any information on that ? 

Once saw a documentary about British Blues that showed B & W Clips of Exterior,  obviously taken from 60s footage    .... So may very well exist as part of blues scene history  rather than Northern /Rare soul Scene, which was what the wheel was more famous for at the time....   IMHO.

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Has the film been released yet or has it gone straight to DVD?

 

(Everyone probably knows but I've been out of touch a little while I'm afraid....)

 

 

Cheers,

 

Eddie

DVD  ?  this one is going to be  .... , as far as I know ?  ... world wide cinema release .. they were doing sub titles for some markets , including USA lol  :) the accents are quite strong  .. and authentic too ..  so looking good Eddie !

 

pete

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Once saw a documentary about British Blues that showed B & W Clips of Exterior,  obviously taken from 60s footage    .... So may very well exist as part of blues scene history  rather than Northern /Rare soul Scene, which was what the wheel was more famous for at the time....   IMHO.

It was only the original Wheel (Brazenose St) that was really a blues club.

The Whitworth Street venue (home of the place from 1966 onwards) was just about always an R&B / mod / soul club.

Can well believe that the Brazenose St venue exterior was shot in blues related footage. Didn't Granada TV (Manc) shoot some blues related show at a railway station outside Manchester (near Chorlton-cum-Hardy) in 1964. So they obviously had their 'finger on the pulse' of local music tastes back then.

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D the Drug took some handheld Super 8 footage on the This England night....I believe it was Tom Hassets from Letchworth reels and machine.Wrote to him but no reply.I've got super 8 footage of the pre quad seventies northern scooter scene in colour from 75 76

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D the Drug took some handheld Super 8 footage on the This England night....I believe it was Tom Hassets from Letchworth reels and machine.Wrote to him but no reply.I've got super 8 footage of the pre quad seventies northern scooter scene in colour from 75 76

would be nice to see this mate,

is there any way you can get it on here .

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It was only the original Wheel (Brazenose St) that was really a blues club.

The Whitworth Street venue (home of the place from 1966 onwards) was just about always an R&B / mod / soul club.

Can well believe that the Brazenose St venue exterior was shot in blues related footage. Didn't Granada TV (Manc) shoot some blues related show at a railway station outside Manchester (near Chorlton-cum-Hardy) in 1964. So they obviously had their 'finger on the pulse' of local music tastes back then.

 

Yes, that was on the telly not too long ago...can't remember what channel though..Sky arts maybe

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There was a thread on here some years ago regarding whether  any film or video footage existed of the Northern scene prior to the This Is England documentary from' 77.

 

Someone posted and said that apparently there is  some footage of the original Wheel.

 

Anyone have any information on that ? 

 

 

Once saw a documentary about British Blues that showed B & W Clips of Exterior,  obviously taken from 60s footage    .... So may very well exist as part of blues scene history  rather than Northern /Rare soul Scene, which was what the wheel was more famous for at the time....   IMHO.

 

 

It was only the original Wheel (Brazenose St) that was really a blues club.

The Whitworth Street venue (home of the place from 1966 onwards) was just about always an R&B / mod / soul club.

Can well believe that the Brazenose St venue exterior was shot in blues related footage. Didn't Granada TV (Manc) shoot some blues related show at a railway station outside Manchester (near Chorlton-cum-Hardy) in 1964. So they obviously had their 'finger on the pulse' of local music tastes back then.

 

 Sorry Sunny   ....Rob  ..is correct as far as i am aware  ...  i was referring to footage from The Original Wheel...  Brasenose St   ...  as i thought that was the one you were looking for info about ......      Regards . Brent    ......      a bit of topic  but has anyone read the book yet ?    i havent got a copy .....     B       

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 a bit of topic  but has anyone read the book yet ?    i havent got a copy .....     B       

 

Started reading it last night.  Read the first 90 pages covering the Wheel, Torch, Mecca, Catacombs and Va Va's.  Also gives an insight into the early Mods, the social background, drug culture etc.  Lots of first hand accounts from the soul fans and DJs.  Next chapter Wigan, which was my era, but interesting to read about the early venues.  Well worth the asking price, IMO. 

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Reading mine now.Its a really well written book which covers the whole scene.It doesnt get too bogged down with the Wigan years and the Stafford and 100 club Chapters are excellent.Think they got it about right

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D the Drug took some handheld Super 8 footage on the This England night....I believe it was Tom Hassets from Letchworth reels and machine.Wrote to him but no reply.I've got super 8 footage of the pre quad seventies northern scooter scene in colour from 75 76

we never did get to the bottom of that legend, did we bro?, to quote the "x-files"...the truth is out there...... must get this book, not a ditchwater remark yet, proof that real soul people don't just judge by the cover.

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hi mark

just ordered a copy from amazon and says it is in stock

regards

dave lucas

Hi Dave.....interesting as it said 1 left when I ordered mine!

Good for you then. .....

Cheers,

Mark R

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Still available to buy from amazon, but instead of showing number in stock it's stating 'usually dispatched within 1 to 4 weeks'. Looks like the first batch went quickly ;-)

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Yep, got mine today too, but I`ve just started reading John O`Farrell`s "An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain: or Sixty Years of Making the Same Stupid Mistakes as Always" which I need to get through first.  :(

 

 

Try his other book "An Utterly Impartial History of Britain"

its a great laugh.

kegsy

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we never did get to the bottom of that legend, did we bro?, to quote the "x-files"...the truth is out there...... must get this book, not a ditchwater remark yet, proof that real soul people don't just judge by the cover.

 

I spoke to Mick about this yesterday and he says it's 100% true that the guy has the film, he just no interest in either NS or the film and is happy to keep it in his attic or wherever...

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I spoke to Mick about this yesterday and he says it's 100% true that the guy has the film, he just no interest in either NS or the film and is happy to keep it in his attic or wherever...

if it's his inclination.....personally i find it utterly selfish...it's denying people the opportunity to get a REAL glimpse of the past, filmed independantly and with no interference from a commercial perspective..that guy needs to search his soul and his conscience...he's whistling dixie whilst sitting on something unique...is he waiting for someone gullible enough to come along and start a bidding war then??...how does he, or anyone know for a fact, that after 36 years, it hasn't deteriorated?, rendering it bloody useless?.....he's says he's got it.....then SHOW US THE MONEY!!,...to quote a phrase.

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I took the trouble to track his address down and sent him a letter and a sae.I collect oddball super 8 footage and was very interested in buying it and having it transferred.In legal terms it is his footage as it was his stock...at the end of the day it is his.If it stays in the loft it will probably be junked...therefore lost.It's just a shame that's all.Maybe if I provide D the drug with a loft ladder and turn up on his doorstep his attitude might change.I had an antiques dealer contact me re a house clearance and it was a sixties Canadian female dj who had died...got some audio reel to reels from that plus some Super 8 ...Not viewed that yet but the audio threw up some great unreleased tracks from Little Diane.Super 8 was prevalent in the seventies and thank god Mick Pacey took his super 8 on those seventies rallies or there would be no footage.How much more is sitting in lofts.....

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Just as a finish note to this competition 
 
Here's the list of the 3 members who each have won a copy
 
day 1 winner
jkw
 
day 2 winner
Pete s
 
day 3 winner
dunmiedin 
 
If not already can you please confirm via pm where you want your copy sent to 
 
 
Thanks to all who entered, better luck next time
 
Big thanks to Ebury Publishing for passing on the 3 give away copies
 
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Just as a finish note to this competition 
 
Here's the list of the 3 members who each have won a copy
 
day 1 winner
jkw
 
day 2 winner
Pete s
 
day 3 winner
dunmiedin 
 
If not already can you please confirm via pm where you want your copy sent to 
 
 
Thanks to all who entered, better luck next time
 
Big thanks to Ebury Publishing for passing on the 3 give away copies
 

 

just as well i bought a copy in stockport on saturday :(

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My copy arrived this morning,looks really good.Not allowed a read yet as it's been bought for me as a birthday prezzie,so the boss has taken it off me til later in the month :(

Cheers

Martyn

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