Spot on Manus, particularly the "being able to jive to" part - my personal criteria exactly!
Can never forget an "old soul" venue in Northants (The George, at Wilby), prior to the Northern Soul tag I was going there and listening to the likes of the Invitations, Major Lance, Superlatives,Poets, Jackie Lee, etc, etc. The venue had been frequented by my cousin a few years earlier ('66/'67?). When she found out I was going she said "Oh, you like R&B then?". "Is Gibby Dj'in there? Does little Gilly still go?"
There you go, same dj's, same crowd, same core music, different titles - R&B / Old Soul / Northern Soul. I guess it's evolution.
Personally I think Ady Croasdell has it right with "Rhythm and Soul"
- Kev