Just one thing, I agree this site is full of people buying records made by white artists but one point I would make is that by and large these records were probably made at the direction of the record company to try and get the said artist a hit on the back of the success of motown at the time.
I think you would agree though some of the pop played at wigan had F**k all to do with soul music in any form or fashion and most people today are a bit embarrassed what was danced to back then.
I own some great records produced by white artists who I would call soul singers , Eddie Hinton, George Soule come to mind .
I did not know who Sam Smith was till this topic came up and I do not think I will be buying any of his stuff after giving it a listen
Mayer Hawthorne , Paper Boy Reed now I,m listening