Northern Soul - Can anyone explain exactly what it is?

I used to think it meant Motown or something Motown sounding - uptempo, soul-pop. But I see artists listed as Northern Soul who are as white bread as they come. Beverly Bremers? Neither the least bit black or soulish. So, I don't get it. Can anyone give a definitive definition?

 

American R&B music that was played in the clubs in northern England in the 60s. It's a British term.

 

The Northern Soul movement is still alive and well today.

 

But there has to be some particular range of soul music that fits the "northern" aesthetic, right? I've been curious what sounds were particularly "northern soul" myself, since I've heard some obscure tracks that I really liked.

 

Northern Soul "hits" were really all about obscure American singles, in addition to Motown, Stax, and other R&B tracks (and even the obscure tracks from those labels). These were mostly up-tempo "floor-fillers" for the clubs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_soul

 

obscure, sometimes test pressing only uptempo soul tracks...

often big brassy numbers

each club (twisted wheel, wigan casino, mecca etc) has its own "sound", some were strictly 60s, whilst others were more progressive and played 70s "stompers" (like those from Invictus) as well.

 

Especially, "Do I Love You(Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson, a single on Motown subsidiary label "Soul", of which all but two copies were destroyed, following Wilson's decision to be a writer & producer.

 

It's part of the DNA of the Country I'm presently living in. Every weekend events are held in town and cities featuring all the obscure dancefloor tracks and a few no so obscure. I happen to know a few kingpins of the movement here actually:

 

The phrase originally came from record dealer Dave Godin.

Pretty comprehensive info here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_soul

 

If you are a fan check out releases by RiPete Records. They have released much rare "Beach Music" and "Northern Soul".

www.ripete.com/

 

Except what about people like Beverly Bremers and Johnny Caswell? They are not soul in the least.

 

I'm not familiar with those artists but I beleive if an artist made a song that was northern souly sounding then it would be played so possibly they have some tracks that fit in.

Eddie

 

It comes back to the excellent (for once) wikipedia article. There was a split between the purists and those who embraced funk and Philly. Put me in the latters camp.

 

You should check out Northern Soul on you tube. It will give you a feel for it. The music associated with the movement features in these. There was I think a particular type of dancing associated with the movement which was quite energetic. The style of dancing features in Duffy's single Mercy!!!!! Fantastic music generally but often rare. Well worth checking out.

 

obscure records from the west played at parties that were basically raves over in the UK.

northern soul records can be among the hardiest to find and priciest to collect.

the most rare northern soul record is frank wilson's do i love you (indeed i do).

http://www.discogs.com/Frank-Wilson-Do-I-Love-You-Indeed-I-Do-Sweeter-As-The-Days-Go-By/master/54303

"The Holy Grail of Northern Soul was recorded back in 1965 on Motown. The story goes that after recording it Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, ordered Frank to concentrate on writing rather than singing. The record never saw the light of day, because Gordy commanded to destroy all promo copies.

In 1977 Tom Dieperro, a Motown historian who worked for them in the mid 70's, found a surviving copy and later Simon Soussan discovered it while perusing Tom's record collection. Simon recognised this as being a perfect record for the northern soul scene where rarity was an integral part of the DJ's attraction. Northern soul dj's were constantly seeking new records that nobody else had. They even covered up the labels and changed the artist name to prevent other DJ's tracking down the same title.

So, Frank's one single, ended up getting credited to 'Eddie Foster', it became a huge hit in the scene, and it wasn't until 1978 that the truth was discovered. The one known copy changed hands for increasingly high prices, whilst a second copy was discovered in 1990. In 1996 the record was bought by Kenny Burrel for 15.000 pounds - making it the most expensive record ever. "

by (my pal) esteban morientes

 

Beverly Bremers did a couple of singles in the mid 60's ("You Got Your Mind On Other Things" and "Get Smart Girl") that are Motown type soul of the era. Same for Johnny Caswell with "You Don't Love Me Anymore". A lot of folks who went on to more bland type pop cut the obscure one or 2 singles that usually disappeared over here, only to be discovered by hard core Northern Soul collectors in the UK.

 

Beverly Bremmers had a hit in early 1972 called "Don't Say You Don't Remember", but it isn't anything close to soul music.

It's amazing how the Brits pull up scads of obscure American R&B. IMO, a lot of the stuff just wasn't good enough to make it big here in the U.S..

 

lotsa people don't care about stuff that just "wasn't good enough" to make it here.

count me in that crowd.

 

Obscure doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't good. Lots of small labels put out the Northern Soul type records. While not a true Northern Soul sound, take "Devil In Her Heart" by The Donays. I have been collecting records for over 40 years and have never come across a copy of the original 45, yet it found it's way to Liverpool in the early 60s and impressed a couple of musicians enough to cover it.

 

Before I knew better, I used to think "Northern Soul" referred to the US - as in Motown, Chicago, Philly, New York...basically any R&B that wasn't from Memphis, Muscle Shoals, or other points in the Deep South. It does sort of fit the true definition.

All I have to say is the Brits have wonderful taste when it comes to US soul music.

 

As for Beverly Bremers...if you look up "Beverly Bremers" and "Northern Soul", all roads lead to this song - "He's Coming Home", recorded as Beverly Ann.





Judge for yourselves....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOwfW5SW33c

This one too--- Get Smart Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdDG3k3HNg4

 

Not only don't people care but it's also a fact that some labels just didn't get good distribution/exposure - which is important to getting a hit. The records are good enough but they got no play in their time. The frenzy over some of the records classified as Northern Soul would indicate that a lot of people like them.

 

i agree 100%

 

Define good enough?

Northern Soul sounds to me, like what is known in the US as Beach Music. Popular in the dance clubs on the coasts of the Carolinas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_music

 

It's amazing just how stupid that comment is.