Paul-s

Indeed. There is market for everything. Has there ever been a Northern Soul Cruise? If not, it will be coming soon I reckon...

Maybe it's a pool revivalist movement then..

Brilliantly put...... Not a funeral plan, but a planned funeral: https://en-gb.facebook.com/northernsoulfunerals/

It's possibly my age, but I wasn't aware of a Northern Soul Pool Party scene. But it's advertised here. I would be interested to hear what this is if anybody knows. Perhaps there are certain tracks that are played such as: Wade in the Water - Marlena Shaw C'mon on and Swim - Bobby Freeman Waterfall - Jimmy Cliff It Keeps Raining - Fats Domino Maybe there are certain DJ's like Russ Swimstanley? Who knows....who knows?

I have no idea about a lecture, but imagine that could be painful. There is no one author for the book. It has three co-editors but multiple contributors from different eras across the scene. You may have seen a lecture by one of the editors. I think the book is intended to address the Wigan-centric reflections that precede it, my chapter certainly is. Whether it succeeds or not is up to the readers I guess, but hopefully it starts the ball rolling. Sociologist and criminologists engage with it on many levels I think, drugs are an obvious one (but more retrospectively nowadays) but also cultural capital passed on through generations via records, knowledge and other things. I agree it's all a bit tame nowadays but perhaps the criminally soul-less events of some promoters would qualify or the development of criminally tasteless Northern Soul 'Pool Parties' which I just saw advertised. It's all getting very glitzy, so maybe 'luxury Northern Soul events' will be the next evolutionary stage.

It's encouraging to see the discussion on here and my respect to those taking the time to read and critique it. It was, I believe, compiled to present Northern Soul as a clear field of academic study, which it has now been for quite a while. Northern Soul exists on the popular dance dance syllabus at quite a few universities and is also of great interest to sociologists and criminologists at university/research level. Not surprising really, as much has happened over five decades and it is a very deep and nuanced scene that belies the narrow lens and approach that many commentators have applied to it to date. Within the scenes history (and future) there are multiple avenues of study that contain valuable insights into social, political, historical, musical, corporeal and cultural developments in the UK (and elsewhere). The book will hopefully start a conversation and invoke critique(s) and responses that allow the subject area to grow and, in doing so, articulate the importance of the contribution that Northern Soul has made to the sub-cultural and cultural landscape of the UK (and beyond).

'fandango' made me chuckle.....thanks...

You can in a 'live' situation I think. Harder on video and films, in these cases, the music is dubbed over afterwards and rarely are the dancers in synch with the music and it is often a different track, (or due to the edit a number of tracks) they were dancing too.

Not sure what you mean, the NS film had no instructor(s) teaching steps, it was a monthly gathering where people danced and exchanged through observation. It pretty much developed like observing on the scene, inviting older dancers in so that the younger ones could absorb, ask questions and create and develop. No one stood at the front teaching steps. More importantly, the film was trying to show a historical period (in the 70's) a few set years in time and a specific historical setting, trying to present a certain tiny moment in the scenes history. Therefore the dancers were given indicators of what generally happened and what didn't in that period, but this was only from the perspective of those in the room and other viewers people who went to Wigan might have had very different experiences. In fact this was shown when some people tried to claim the film showed too much drug use and that it didn't represent what happened...well for many of us it presented exactly what happened. The film never claimed to be Northern souls past, present and future and was focussed on one major venue. It was, like any historical film, attempting to represent a few short years in history.

Couldn't resist the urge......but within me responding to Rhino's last line with these tracks, I also think the music demonstrates just a tiny part of the breadth of Northern Soul and there lies the debate. I think it's the claims of authenticity within the scene that are problematic. You can even see it on this thread with people pontificating about 'proper dancing'. I recently tried to have this debate with a woman running an Instagram 'Northern Soul Dance Course', reminding her that she cannot claim to teach 'Northern Soul dancing' but merely her way of dancing to Northern Soul (which is fine and more specific and honest). She deleted my questions/comments because they threatened her income stream. People love to claim authenticity within Northern Soul and it is usually via the Casino-centric lens, be it dancing, music or dress styles. But, I argue that it is a much wider debate/experience and, personally, I resist the dominant projection of the Casino years as emblematic of the scene. Really it depends on a point of view, but that point of view is bound within the existence/experience of multiple-venues, records, artists, DJ's, dancers and movements and, in recents decades, countries.

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No, not everybody wore them and they were worn (by those who did) only for a brief period. The sad fact is that the historico-pastiche scene goers, (a lot of returnees included in that bracket) try to claim Northern soul past, present and future using this re-imagined look as an identifier/motif for a scene that spans five decades. The lazy media love to present this clownish look too, as it is easier than historical research and very easily caricatured and ridiculed. It's the narrow Casino-centric lens being applied once again, as if that was all the scene ever was and will be. The same happens with the music and so called top 500's, World Northern Soul Dance Championships or whatever. It's linked to the industry of Northern Soul, it reifies it for commercial/economic reasons and is not representative of Northern Soul's rich and nuanced history: which includes music, venues, fashion styles, dancing styles and more. In Chapter 16 of this book I write about, amongst other things, the Casino-centric lens and its mis-use : https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/northern-soul/ and interestingly enough, I start with an anecdote about playing Jonathan Capree in 2005 at Middleton all-nighter...

Well, for me, knowing who was playing what dates back to the 70's when I went to particular events just to hear a particular tune(s). In order to do that you needed to know who was playing what. At DDA I once had a couple travel a very long way to hear Chick Carlton....they knew who was playing what in oder to do that and hear a very rare 45.

Spot on!

Yes, I agree mate. Just, on the odd occasion, its just too blatant and ridiculous and I had a bit of spare time to write about it. Plus the thread turned up info about the singer that I was not aware of, so worth it!

Hi Mike, I picked it up of Steve Smith (I think thats his name, Gloucester way) at a different event (the specifics elude me though). I was djing there and as soon as I put it on the turntable that night it packed the floor. Enjoying this thread/debate and thanks for the info about the singer which I didn't know. At one stage I thought he may be blue eyed as the B side is not very good (to my ears) and I also heard another release by Jonathan Capree that was poor and a bit country sounding as I remember (again to my ears).

Im not on here much anymore (phew I hear some say). But, I just saw this and it inspired me to set the record straight (no pun intended.) https://onelp.com/one-45--northern-soul/SEAN-CHAPMAN_wb_-WILLIAM-ELLIS-copy/ Now, I really like and respect Sean, he's a top bloke. But this is all so inaccurate. It was myself and Mik Parry who owned the first two copies of this rarity in the UK and were breaking/playing it at many venues from 2004/5 onwards. It was a Soul or Nothing and DDA standard and played out a lot by myself at many venues, including at bigger nighters like Middleton, Rugby, Lifeline etc. I sold mine to Flanny many years ago. Got mine for £300 as I remember. This type of historical appropriation happens a lot on the soul scene and also happened with John Harris & the Soul Sayers which I was playing out a lot around the same time (also a DDA staple) and when there was only me doing that in the UK (I had gone all the way to OZ to trade a copy for Bernetia Miller). Have top 2020!

I totally agree with Tatchell....honours are just a naff establishment trying to own and legitimise people and movements......Benjamin Zephaniah refused his on grounds that it was more representative of a VBE (victim of the British Empire) ..........opening up a great date here for all the jingoists who miss the old colonies I guess....well debate is always nice...... By the way, Godin, a political activist his entire life and a vocal one at that, would have outright refused any award from the Empire....

Bloody hell, do people not known the difference between an original, intricate, complex professional production and an amateur dramatic re-staging? My original production took years to build and stage correctly in order to portray what I remembered and felt. The text was just an off -shoot written form weeks of improvisations by incredible professional actors like Sally Carmen. Mick Martin was never there, it was me. My production used a giant screen and original footage of Wigan Casino, edited transition shots and 52 track as a cut up narrative device........I sometimes despair at peoples lack of understanding at the mammoth effort staging something like the original 2003 -2006 'Once Upon A Time in Wigan' stage play took or Elaines film. I actually lost my flat on the second tour of Wigan because of being ripped off by so many people, producers, playwrights, or venues not promoting properly,like Blackpool Grand. Still, I donate regret it. Elaine made massive sacrifices to make the film too! The original play was Urban Expansions 'Once Upon A Time in Wigan' directed by Paul Sadot. Anything following that is an attempt at cashing in or an amateur mess around with Martin's dislocated script and Binstanley advising. Without the original director who generated the scenes through improvisation and recall, the play is always going to fall short and soul-less. best Paul-S

https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/northern-soul/

So, if your tired of the same old stuff floating about at so called rare or underplayed nights these may be for you. Firstly they are LPs..yes..LPs and the tracks are not available on 45, hence playing the LPs, first hurdle for some who care more about format than quality. Anyway, each to his/her own. They are all f--k off rare and good tunes on LP only. Forget the pappy, hand clappy, two step, Jesus gospel that springs to mind...this is not that! The prices reflect the rarity and how long they took to find and when you see how much is paid for overplayed oldies, they are cheap. Mighty Jubilations - If You Make One Step is the track on an LP entitled I Found The Answer on a Jacobs Music VG++ Sleeve is battered. I have had three in 5 years and they are all watermarked. Lets face it, if Soul Sam played this many would suddenly want it and start raving about it. Quality production and soul. £220 (SOLD). Rev Jerry Washington and The Mighty Mighty Flames of Calvary - Hot Hot Hot The track is entitled 'The Mighty Flames of Calvary' and is an uptempo, frenetic stormer! VG++ £70 Its at 27mins on Deans show link The Twilights - Stand Up LP has a couple of tracks but 'Thank You' is the one, uptempo soul! When I first played this out Guy called me the next day to grab the other copy I had located online, its instant. Its tough and brilliant, perfect for the dance floor anywhere and I have proved that when its played out. On Rae Cox and VG++ £150 you can hear it at 3.45mins on Deans show i've linked in post. The Motivations - First Message LP and the track is 'Get Ready', its quality, beautiful 1983 modern soul and a few of the European Dj's have it, Greg B, put me onto it a good while ago. Its the first track on side 2, not the second as listed on the sleeve (misprint). Floor filler! As with the others listed its a tough one! £100 The Inspirational Ensemble - He Will Save You LP and the track is 'Come Holy Ghost' with Mamie Thomas on lead vocal and man oh man is it a storming, floor filling, thrilling ride! Ultra-rare on a private press and in VG++ condition. Only ever seen two and I had both. £150. Check it at 5.05 mins on link below. Its a sales mix from 4 years ago when I had it covered up and sold the spare I had (too cheap). Not seen another since. This is my copy (HOLD) Email me if any interest as I don't really check on here much. paulsadot@hotmail.com Thanks for listening (if you did) Paul-S

Nothing took its place it merely went underground after Wigan closed and has been going ever since. You just needed to look for it. Really make sure you do some real research and don't buy all the myths that are floating around and perpetuated on the scene (there are many, even down to the coining of the term!). Wigan was good, but Stafford, KGB, Parr Hall, Cleethorpe's and many other clubs were brilliant too. The 100 club is still going, far outlasting all other clubs right on Oxford Road in London. UK, Japan, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy, Russia, Australia, Brazil and more, have all have continued to develop thriving scenes full of young participants....please don't go for the easy article as is normally wheeled out...baggy trousers, Wigan, 4/4 beats, heydays, acrobatics, etc. A scene that has lasted nearly five decades is obviously full of complexities , nuances and a long and varied history and deserves delving into conscientiously for such an article....good luck best Paul

Hi Paul, any idea when this was (roughly)? cheers Paul-s