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Northern Soul: An Illustrated History

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Published in Victoria Cosner Love

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Northern Soul is a genre of soul music that originated in the north of England in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by its fast tempo, heavy beat, and soulful vocals. Northern Soul has a strong following in the UK and around the world, and there are many clubs and events dedicated to the music.

Origins

The origins of Northern Soul can be traced back to the early 1960s, when American soul music began to be played in clubs in the north of England. These clubs were often small and intimate, and the DJs would play a mix of soul, R&B, and funk records. The tempo of the music was often faster than the soul music that was being played in London and other parts of the country, and the DJs would often play extended versions of the songs.

Northern Soul: An Illustrated History

by Victoria Cosner Love

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	39804 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	224 pages

As the popularity of Northern Soul grew, so too did the number of clubs that played the music. By the mid-1960s, there were hundreds of Northern Soul clubs across the UK. The clubs were often located in working-class areas, and the music became associated with the working-class youth culture of the time. Northern Soul clubs were often characterized by their dark and sweaty atmosphere, and the dancers would often wear their finest clothes.

The Northern Soul Scene

The Northern Soul scene reached its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, there were many influential Northern Soul DJs, including Ian Levine, Dave Godin, and Kev Roberts. These DJs would often travel to the US to find new and rare soul records, and they would play these records at their clubs. The Northern Soul scene was also helped by the release of several compilation albums, which introduced the music to a wider audience.

In the 1980s, the Northern Soul scene began to decline. This was due in part to the rise of disco and other new genres of music. However, the Northern Soul scene has never completely died out, and there are still many clubs and events dedicated to the music. Today, the Northern Soul scene is a thriving subculture, with fans from all over the world.

Characteristics of Northern Soul

Northern Soul is characterized by its fast tempo, heavy beat, and soulful vocals. The tempo of Northern Soul records is typically between 120 and 130 beats per minute, which is faster than the tempo of most other soul music. The beat of Northern Soul records is also often heavy and driving, with a strong emphasis on the bass drum. The vocals on Northern Soul records are typically soulful and passionate, with a strong emphasis on the lyrics.

In addition to its fast tempo, heavy beat, and soulful vocals, Northern Soul is also characterized by its use of rare and obscure records. Many of the records that are played in Northern Soul clubs are not available on CD or digital download, and they can only be found on vinyl. This makes Northern Soul a unique and special genre of music, and it is one of the few genres that is still based on vinyl records.

Northern Soul is a unique and special genre of music that has a strong following in the UK and around the world. It is a music that is characterized by its fast tempo, heavy beat, and soulful vocals. Northern Soul has a rich history, and it continues to be a popular genre of music today.

Northern Soul: An Illustrated History

by Victoria Cosner Love

4.7 out of 5