Berating Northern Soul

[wendyice 0]

i have noticed that a lot of you guys take the michael out of northern soul.

 

is this because you really dont understand it?

 

or you werent there?

 

it was /is an iconic music scene. the heart of underground music in the 70's.

 

a whole culture evolved around it not like the dross we play now to fill a floor.

 

i can fill a NS floor in a second with one song and keep it full all night.

 

can you do that with todays stuff?

 

change genres. different clubbies stuff, d&b, trance, dance........need i go on?

 

NS was a way of life!!!

 

so before you all besmirch it, research it.

[Scottydunk 0]

The thread I started wasnt berating anything, I was seeking clarification as to what people regarded NS as. Some I speak to say Tamla Motown is NS, others say different.

[dj.silver 0]

Wow, that's a tad harsh isn't it? Personally I've never said a bad or to mention it a good word about N S.

 

I would suggest though a lot is to do with geography. The few times I've played N S around my area (Dorset) I'm afraid it clears the floor pretty quickly, people just don't like it. In all the years I've been dj'ing I can hand on heart say I've been asked for N S once just ONCE. It's a genre that simply doesn't work here for me. So how can I go "Oh yeah N S is great, really cool, the best thing since sliced bread etc...."

 

 

[RichardP 0]

A lot of us? I've only seen one person slightly berating NS on this other thread, if that's the one you're referring to? If so I'm not quite sure why you created this topic especially, I'm no moderator but wouldn't it have been more appropriate to add your comment to that thread, to give it context?

 

Taking things positively though, for the educational benefit of us who aren't properly familiar with the NS - can you help inform us by providing your top 10 tracks from this genre?

[Robster 0]

I posted looking for guidance really not to berate any musical genre..

 

if i hear a record and it has a American guy speaks rhythmically and in rhyme to a hard beat i can identify it as Hip hop.

 

If i hear a record with a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, and emphatic beats vigorous vocals i can identify it as heavy metal.

 

If i hear a record and i did not know it was played at a certain venue in the 70's how would i identify from the sound that it was a northern soul record?

 

 

[Neil of the Roadshow 0]

I think this thread is aimed at me.

 

I wasn't berating Northern Soul its just my observation of it and yes you are right I just don't get it, but its not just me.

 

Its a specialist area and needs a specialist DJ. I personally don't understand it, but each to their own and its the only music I can't provide. Working in the North West the cult following for Northern Soul is still massive, which is hardly suprising as one of the countries most recognised Northern Soul Mecca's was the Wigan Casino.

 

I just wish if people are looking for a night full of Northern Soul they would book a specialist DJ. I find that when I tell people I haven't got any Northern Soul - I get the 'call yourself a DJ comments' and much worse. I now make a point on each booking consultation to make it very clear I don't do Northern Soul and I won't take work of the agency point blank if Northern Soul is on the booking form.

 

I will leave it to you specialists - which surely is the right thing to do for your business and the punters?

 

 

 

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

Wndyvice - what is this one track that you could guarantee a full floor with?

I'd like to try it down here and see what the response is, but I'm not too sure it would work.

 

There have been a few discussions now about Northern Soul, but no-one has yet succeeded in giving us a definitive answer.

 

As you so obviously 'understand' it, perhaps you could educate the rest of us? Please post this on the main NS thread running at the moment.

Thanks. smile icon

[Neil of the Roadshow 0]

Wndyvice - what is this one track that you could guarantee a full floor with?

I'd like to try it down here and see what the response is, but I'm not too sure it would work.

 

There have been a few discussions now about Northern Soul, but no-one has yet succeeded in giving us a definitive answer.

 

As you so obviously 'understand' it, perhaps you could educate the rest of us? Please post this on the main NS thread running at the moment.

Thanks. smile icon

 

 

Its not that easy Andy. As Wendyice said earlier it is a culture of its own and its pretty specific to areas of the country. You're either Northern Soul or you're not! which is where the Northern Soul till I die saying comes from.

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

No - I know it's not so simple to categorise, otherwise someone would have bunged it in a pidgeoh-hole by now!

 

Just hoping someone could have come close, and Wendy seemed to know more about it than most of us!

 

Anyhow, interesting stuff still being added on 'tother thread. :)

[deejaymitch 0]

 

i can fill a NS floor in a second with one song and keep it full all night.

 

can you do that with todays stuff?

 

 

Yes, many of us can and do on a regular basis.

 

As for Northern Soul, as far as I'm aware thee isn't really a NS scene here in Northern Ireland, and I doubt there ever was. Being a Soul fan I checked some out based on threads on this forum. I recognised some songs and discovered many new ones. I enjoyed some, I didn't enjoy others. I suppose the point is though that I only discovered it due to the promotion of it on this site. I've never seen anyone berating it and, even if I did, who cares? Look how much music gets slagged off on here on a daily basis If the one 12yo out there who actually likes Soulja Boy came on here and saw all the negative comments we've posted I doubt they would throw this sort of tantrum. We are all lucky enough to be exposed to a wide variety of music through our work and we will all have different tastes. Get over it.

[Kingy 0]

Personally I have always enjoyed Northern Soul.

[Mr P 0]

Hi Guys/Girls

 

I have not been on for some months, but i am a bit of a closet Northern Soul, it still appears to be a guaranteed floor filler here in the Midlands, the one club i do hold a Northern Soul Night every couple of months and it is always a sell out, also we ave just lost one of our DJ's off Smooth Radio (Mike Hollis) listening to his show which i stated on here months ago was always a good educational tool for people, he defined the differnce between Northern Soul and Motown etc.

 

Also i think that is why a couple of years back now that Kentuck Fried Chicken (KFC) were using some Northern Soul Tracks on their adverts.

 

On a final note have a listen to Stuart Maconie (not sure that is the correct spelling) on Radio 2 he is also an avid Northern Soul fan.

 

Sorry if i have sent you all to sleep now.

 

Thanks

 

Chris