The Northern Soul Podcast

"In this episode, we ask: What is Northern Soul?Its a music and dance movement that took root in the UK in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It’s built around rare, often forgotten American soul records—mostly from the 1960s—characterized by a fast tempo, an upbeat rhythm, and a deep, emotive feel. But it wasn’t just about the sound—it was also about community: working-class youth from Northern England found a sense of belonging on the dance floors of small clubs, which spread throughout the whole of the UK and now Europe ,Australia and beyond

Welcome to a special journey into the heart of the Detroit sound.This episode steps away from the obvious hits and shines a light on the records that lived in the shadows — the deep cuts, collector favourites, forgotten voices and Northern Soul discoveries that helped define Detroit’s musical legacy.Expect powerful performances, raw emotion and that unmistakable groove from artists including Darrell Banks, Barbara McNair, J.J. Barnes, Stanley Mitchell, These are the records that didn’t always dominate the charts but found a second life on turntables, dancefloors and in the collections of soul fans who kept the music alive.From Motown classics hiding in plain sight to independent Detroit recordings with grit and heart, this is a celebration of the city’s deeper soul story.Less of the hits. More of the feeling.Welcome to Detroit — beyond Hitsville.

This episode returns to the foundations of a real working DJ culture between 1974 and 1978, drawn directly from original setlists played at the Soul Cellar (Del Cellar) beneath the Birch Hotel.Often overlooked in the wider history of Northern Soul, funk and early disco, venues like this were part of a much larger underground network of clubs, cellars and pub rooms that kept dance music alive across the UK. While the famous venues dominate the story, it was these smaller, uncharted spaces that formed the backbone of weekly club culture.This set is an authentic replay from the original DJ box — not a reconstruction or a curated “best of,” but the actual records played on the night. Each track was selected in real time to serve one purpose: to hold the groove and keep the floor moving.Across this episode, you’ll hear a broad spectrum of soul sounds — deep soul, crossover tracks, dancefloor cuts and early disco influences — reflecting the reality of how DJs worked in the mid-1970s. There were no fixed playlists or digital shortcuts, just instinct, record knowledge, and a reading of the room.The Soul Cellar, like many of its kind, no longer exists, lost to redevelopment and the changing landscape of the UK. But the music remains, preserved in setlists and memories, and now brought back to life through this archive series.This is The Del- Cellar Collection — an authentic replay of DJ sets that filled those nights between 1974 and 1978.please follow it really helps .

Step back into the 1960s and 1970s and discover the music that lived beyond the radio playlists.In this episode, we explore the records that weren’t always heard on mainstream stations but became legendary in clubs, dance halls and all-night sessions. From American soul imports and obscure 45rpm singles to the excitement of discovering sounds that felt exclusive and different, this is a journey into a hidden side of music culture.We look back at the influence of Radio Luxembourg, pirate radio and the changing world of record buying, where independent shops helped shape musical taste before the major retailers arrived.And before streaming, downloads and playlists, there was another ritual — recording your favourite 45s onto compact cassette in real time to create your own portable soundtrack.Join us as we revisit the clubs, the collectors, the records and the memories that created a soundtrack away from the spotlight.The music radio missed… but the dancefloor never forgot.

Soul, Surf and Bernadette: The Great Cornish Road Trip of 1975In this special episode, we leave the dancefloors of Northern England and head for the Atlantic coast on an unforgettable summer adventure.It's 1975. Northern Soul is at its peak, with thousands of young people travelling through the night to venues like Wigan Casino and Blackpool Mecca. But three friends from Manchester have a different destination in mind.Armed with a single road map, a stack of homemade C90 soul tapes, and an ageing bright red Mini Cooper called Bernadette, they set off at midnight for Cornwall. Inspired by The Italian Job, fuelled by friendship and driven by a love of soul music, the journey takes them through Bristol, Newquay, Perranporth, Cornwall's rugged coastline and into Devon.Along the way there are overheating engines, freezing dawn arrivals, questionable surf conditions, pints of "Steam" in Cornish pubs, breakdown dramas, and plenty of laughter. Bernadette may not be the most reliable travelling companion, but she becomes the fourth member of the team as three lifelong friends chase waves, adventure and freedom on England's south-west coast.The soundtrack comes from the golden age of soul, featuring the sounds that filled British clubs and all-nighters during the mid-1970s. This is a story about more than just a road trip. It's about friendship before adulthood took over, about the excitement of discovering new places, and about a time when a battered Mini, a handful of soul records and a sense of adventure were all you needed for the holiday of a lifetime.Join us for a journey back to 1975, when the roads were longer, the music was louder, and every mile felt like an adventure.

In this special episode , we journey back to the golden age of the British seaside and the unforgettable world of Northern Soul.From steam trains and deckchairs to trams, illuminations and ballroom dancefloors, this is a deeply personal trip through the sights, sounds and strange magic of Blackpool in the 1960s and 70s.Through childhood memories of family holidays beside the sea, we explore how places like Blackpool became far more than holiday resorts for working-class Britain — they became places of escape, excitement and musical discovery.At the centre of the story stands the legendary Blackpool Mecca.Part nightclub, part ballroom and part dreamscape, the Mecca became one of the most important and controversial venues in Northern Soul history, helping reshape the sound of the scene throughout the 1970s and beyond.This episode blends nostalgia, humour, forgotten memories and iconic soul music, featuring sounds inspired by the Blackpool Mecca alongside classic early 60s soul favourites. this is the story of how the British seaside and Northern Soul unexpectedly collided.So step aboard the steam train, grab a stick of Blackpool rock, and join us beneath the illuminations for a journey into one of the most magical chapters of British music culture.Please follow on Spotify

Tonight it's back to the source - No polish No Compromise .Just rare soul-the records that never made the charts ,but made the dance floor move .This is the sound of forgotten America ,pressed in small runs buried on obscure labels ignored at the time ......then rediscovered by DJs who knew exactly what they were looking for .Fast beats ,raw vocals Pure emotion .built for dark rooms wooden floors ,and all night sessions where the music did all the talking .From the sixties vocal groups to the deep driving dancers -every track tonight is here for one reason : it still works so turn it up.we're in the heart of Rare soul

This was the beginnings of Britains underground soul movement .In the basement clubs and hidden dance halls like the Twisted Wheel,King Mojo,and the Blue Orchard , Young music fans discovered rare soul from Shrine Record label and many more Tracks that became legends from records pressed in tiny numbers and forgotten in America -but here in the North and the Midlands they became something special . Please follow as this really helps ....

Tonights episode dives deep into the world of Northern Soul Collecting -where rare records ,hidden gems and timeless dance floor anthems define the culture .From its underground roots in the 60s and early 70s ,built in legendary clubs like wigan casino ,the twisted wheel ,the torch and Blackpool Mecca ,Northern soul has grown into a global movement -yet it still holds its core : discovery ,passion and authenticitywhether you are a lifelong collector or just discovering the scene this is a journey through the music

Tonights episode celebrates 20 years of Spotify, and the massive impact its had on how we discover and experience Northern Soul music.From the days of vinyl, All-nighters ,and DJ -led discovery ... to a world of instant access and algorithm -driven playlists ,this episode explores the journey from underground to global streaming .we dive into the iconic labels that helped shape the northern soul sound-including Okeh records,Ric Tic Records, Golden World records ,and Mirwood records -and how their once-rare releases found new life in the digital age .This is a story of evolution ....from scarcity to accessibility ...from local scenes to global reach .It's still all about the music . so whether you found it on the dancefloor ....or through your headphones .....this one is for you

A personal journey through the early Northern Soul Scene -long before Wigan Casino ,The Torch ,or the Blackpool Mecca became part of the story .This episode traces the real beginnings of a passion for soul music in Manchester ,from first hearing those powerful American voices in 1960s to basement clubs church halls, and early dance nights where the sound truly took hold .its a story of discovery -record shops ,DJs ,imported vinyl and growing underground culture that would later be called Northern Soul .From the first 45rpm to DJ sets ,radio appearances, and running a family record shop in 1974,this is a lived in experience of a scene built on records ,movement ,and feeling -not headlines .Raw personal and rooted in music that defined a generation no myths ,no shortcuts Just Soul .

From the raw emotion of southern soul to the polished grooves of Chicago and Philadelphia ,from gospel roots to northern soul dance floor favourites ......every track in this episode carries a story .This episode we revisit the spirit of the scene itself -its unique atmosphere and the theme is love..........

Tonight, we dive deep into authentic Northern Soul from Chicago Detroit and Memphis - the grooves ,the harmonies ,and the heart of 1960s and 70s soul scene .from rare Philly harmonies to Chicago gospel -infused tracks .discover the stories behind the artists ,the labels and the music that crossed the Atlantic to become Northern soul classics