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PODCAST

The Northern Soul Podcast

This Is the Northern Soul Podcast, its a journey back to the golden years of Northern Soul, featuring the rare, obscure and unforgettable sounds that filled dancefloors throughout the 1960s and 1970s. This isn"t a history lesson from someone looking in from the outside—it"s told by someone who lived it. I was there during the boom years of soul and dance music, working as a DJ in Manchester"s clubs between 1974 and 1979, including the legendary Soul Cellar. I also owned an independent record shop

music music history

All Episodes

00:36:27

The Top of The World

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/18

The Top of the World was unlike any other Northern Soul club. In this episode, we explore the unique sound, atmosphere and musical freedom that gave Stafford its own identity.From beautiful, slow soul to explosive stompers, from sixties rarities to seventies and eighties discoveries, the DJs could take the dancefloor anywhere. Stafford wasn’t about following the Northern Soul rulebook — it was about breaking it, finding something new and keeping the music moving forward.We look at the DJs, the

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00:39:36

1976-The Year Northern Soul was at the Top

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/13

We're travelling back to 1976 — arguably the commercial and cultural peak of Northern Soul.Wigan Casino was at the centre of the phenomenon, with packed all-nighters, coachloads of dancers travelling from across Britain and a growing obsession with rare American soul records. Blackpool Mecca, the legacy of the Twisted Wheel and venues across the North and Midlands were all part of a scene that had become a fully formed youth culture.We'll look at the records, the reissues, the labels and the

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00:42:25

1975-The Year Northern Soul Changed

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/12

1975 — The Year Northern Soul Changed1975 was a pivotal year for Northern Soul. The secret was beginning to get out, the media were taking notice, and the scene was growing rapidly.From the legendary dance floors of Wigan Casino and Blackpool Mecca to the all-nighters at Cleethorpes Pier, new sounds were emerging. Seventies soul was beginning to sit alongside the classic sixties stompers, disco was appearing on the horizon, and DJs were pushing the boundaries of what could work on a Northern Soul

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00:24:16

1974-The Northern Soul Years

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/10

1974 — The Year Everything ChangedIn this episode of The Northern Soul Years, we step back to 1974 — a pivotal year for Northern Soul, disco and British music.Wigan Casino was beginning to establish itself, Blackpool Mecca was developing its own distinctive sound, and the influence of the Golden Torch was still being felt. Record companies were starting to recognise the growing demand for rare soul, with Pye’s Disco Demand series helping bring some of those records to a wider audience.But 1974 was

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00:31:03

What makes Northern Soul Northern?

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/08

WHAT MAKES NORTHERN SOUL NORTHERN?What actually makes Northern Soul… Northern?Is it the beat? The speed? The emotion? The rare records? Or is it something much harder to define?In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we go back to basics and explore the question at the heart of the music.From the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Samantha's in Sheffield, to Va Va's in Bolton, the Catacombs in Wolverhampton, the Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino, we follow the

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00:27:20

London Calling- The 100 Club

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/07

Beneath the bright lights of Oxford Street lies one of the most important venues in Northern Soul history—the legendary 100 Club.In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we step down those famous stairs to uncover the stories behind the club that became London's home of rare soul. Discover how forgotten American records were rescued from obscurity, how legendary DJs and unforgettable live performances shaped its reputation, and why the 100 Club continues to inspire soul fans from around the

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00:34:27

Back To Basics -Rare Soul Discovery

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/06

This Is Northern Soul: Back To Basics – The Greatest DiscoveriesWelcome to a new chapter of This Is Northern Soul.After exploring some of the more familiar Northern Soul favourites, it's time to go back to where the magic began — discovering the unknown, the overlooked and the forgotten.In this episode, we leave the obvious classics behind and dig deep into the world of rare soul. Featuring artists whose names may not be familiar, but whose music deserves to be heard, we'll uncover the

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00:30:24

The Soul Cellar -Where Music Had Soul

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/08/01

The Soul Cellar – The Soundtrack of a LegendIn this special episode of This Is Northern Soul, we step back into one of Greater Manchester's most legendary soul venues—the Soul Cellar beneath the Birch Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne.From 1974 to 1978, I had the privilege of DJing in this iconic underground place , where the music, the people and the atmosphere created unforgettable nights. The Soul Cellar wasn't just about Northern Soul. It embraced the very best of Detroit soul, Chicago soul, deep soul,

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00:36:42

The 100 Club : London's Northern Soul Institution Pt 1

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/29

Step beneath the bright lights of Oxford Street and into one of the most iconic venues in British music history. In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we explore the legendary 100 Club—the London basement venue that proved Northern Soul wasn't just a movement of the North.Discover how the famous 6Ts All-Nighters transformed forgotten American soul records into timeless classics, while DJs such as Ady Croasdell and Randy Cozens unearthed some of the rarest and most sought-after 45s ever

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00:37:52

The Mod Soul Years Pt 3

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/27

We've saved the best until last.In the final part of our Mod Soul series, we celebrate the records that defined a generation of style, dance and musical discovery. From Motown gems and deep soul classics to rare American releases that became legendary on Britain's Mod club scene, this episode captures the sound that paved the way for Northern Soul.Featuring unforgettable tracks from Stevie Wonder, Percy Sledge, Brenda Holloway, Johnnie Taylor, Sam Dees and many more, we'll explore the music, the

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00:31:18

The Mod Soul Years Pt 2

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/26

The Mod Soul Years – Part Two: British Soul & Rare Soul ClassicsIn this second episode of The Mod Soul Years, we journey back to the vibrant Britain of the 1960s, when sharp suits, scooters, Carnaby Street and Ready Steady Go! provided the backdrop to a musical revolution.This programme shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked world of British soul, celebrating artists who took inspiration from American rhythm and blues and created a uniquely British sound. Along the way, we also feature

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00:29:21

The Mod Soul Years Pt 1

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/23

Before the all-nighters, before Wigan Casino, and before Northern Soul became a movement, there was the Mod scene.In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we travel back to the late 1950s and 1960s to explore the music, fashion and culture that laid the foundations for Northern Soul. From the sharp-suited Modernists and the Modettes of Swinging London to the dance floors of the Scene Club and the Twisted Wheel, we'll follow the journey from modern jazz and American rhythm and blues through Jamaican

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00:40:59

Wigan Casino :The Last Dance

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/20

Wigan Casino: The Last Dance Was Wigan Casino the club that saved Northern Soul... or the one that changed it forever?In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we step inside the legendary Wigan Casino on its final all-nighter in 1981 before turning the clock back to discover how an old Lancashire ballroom became the spiritual home of a musical movement.We'll explore the closure of the Twisted Wheel and the Golden Torch, the vision of Russ Winstanley, the unforgettable all-nighters, the resident

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00:31:57

The Birth Of Northern Soul

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/18

Before Wigan Casino became the most famous name in Northern Soul, there were two clubs that laid the foundations of a movement.In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we travel back to the mid and late 1960s to explore the legendary Twisted Wheel in Manchester and the iconic Golden Torch in Stoke-on-Trent. Discover how these groundbreaking venues became the home of rare American soul records, pioneering DJs, unforgettable all-nighters and a new generation of dancers searching for the perfect

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00:40:56

Blueprint For 1960s Northern Soul

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/09

In this episode, we rewind to the summer of 1966, tracing the roots of Northern Soul from Detroit's bustling studios to the underground energy of the Catacombs in Wolverhampton. Featuring rare cuts from Shrine Records, overlooked Motown gems from artists like Chris Clark and The Monitors, and the scene that shaped a culture, as DJs and dancers pursued the thrill of discovering the next forgotten record. Relive the sounds that defined a generation and kept the dance floors moving all night

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00:23:44

My Northern Soul -A Journey For All of Us

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/05

This week Episode ,I'm sharing my own Northern Soul story.From the unforgettable lunchtime school discos where I first heard those magical sounds, to the Sunny Coffee Bar in Ashton-under-Lyne and the legendary Birdcage nightclub, this is the journey that sparked a lifelong passion for soul music.Along the way, I'll be playing the records that shaped my life—rare, iconic and unforgettable tracks that eventually led me to become a DJ, own my own independent record shop, and spend the golden

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00:38:19

What Is Northern Soul?

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/03

"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

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00:41:47

The Golden Era 1968-73

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/07/01

This episode journeys back to the Golden Era of Northern Soul, a time spanning the mid-1960s through the early 1970s when rare American soul records found a second life on British dancefloors. Before the music was labelled, it was simply about discovery — DJs unearthing forgotten recordings, dancers responding to rhythm and emotion, and clubs becoming the focal point of a growing underground culture. We explore the sound of the era through tracks that defined the scene, from deep soul ballads to

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00:39:08

Secret Soul Discoveries -Detroit

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/06/30

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

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00:34:03

Northern Secret Soul : The Lost Tracks

The Northern Soul Podcast ·

2026/06/28

September 1981. The doors closed on Wigan Casino and many believed Northern Soul had reached the end of the road.The headlines faded. The cameras disappeared. In The 1990s The great all-nighters became memories.But something unexpected happened.Away from the spotlight, in smaller clubs, record boxes and late-night dancefloors, a new chapter quietly began.Tonight we explore the lost years and the lost tracks — forgotten soul records, overlooked dancers and rare discoveries that never became

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