The Northern Soul Podcast

Colin Skehan
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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 .Every episode features authentic Northern Soul and Soul music from the 60s and 70s

  1. 23h ago

    Soul City Secrets: Rare & Forgotten American Soul

    Soul City Secrets: Rare and Forgotten American Soul Somewhere in America, a soul record was made that the world never got to hear. A singer poured their heart into a performance, musicians laid down the groove, and a small independent label pressed a handful of copies. Then, for years, the music disappeared into the shadows. Tonight, we’re bringing some of those records back to life. On This Is Northern Soul, we’re crossing America’s soul cities, exploring the independent labels and discovering extraordinary artists whose music was overlooked, forgotten or never released at all. From obscure original singles to recordings rescued from the vaults decades later, every track has a story — and every one deserves a listen. Some were made for the charts. Others were destined to become dancefloor treasures thousands of miles from home, cherished by Northern Soul collectors who knew there was something special hidden in the grooves. These are the lost voices, the rare pressings and the music that refused to disappear. America’s forgotten soul — rare, real and ready to be heard.

  2. 1d ago

    Soul Cities after Dark :Rare Soul Discoveries

    Join us for another edition of Soul Cities After Dark, where tonight it's all about discovery — rare records, forgotten artists and the sounds that deserve to be heard again.From the driving rhythms of Detroit to the West Coast soul of Los Angeles and beyond, we're exploring a hand-picked soundtrack of American soul, bringing together different cities, independent labels and distinctive sounds.Featuring artists including Larry Atkins, The Remarkables, Ty Karim, Deana Lucas, Kenny and The Soul Gents, this episode celebrates the lesser-known side of soul music — the records that may have slipped under the radar when first released but found a new home among Northern Soul dancers and collectors.No obvious classics, no predictable playlist — just great soul music, fascinating discoveries and records with stories still waiting to be told.Different cities. Different sounds. One shared passion: soul.Tune in, turn it up, and discover something new on Soul Cities After Dark.

  3. 4d ago

    Soul Cities After Dark: The Rare Soul Special

    The Rare Soul Special: Tonight on Soul Cities After Dark, we're bringing together the sounds of Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, and beyond for a very special journey into the deeper side of soul music.Following our previous explorations of America's great soul cities, this episode takes a different approach. We're digging into the archives to uncover rare recordings, overlooked B-sides, forgotten releases, and lesser-known gems that deserve to be heard.Featuring a hand-picked selection of outstanding soul from artists including Vernon Garrett, Bettye Swann, Clifford Curry, the Delfonics, Timmy Willis, Celeste Hardie, James Carr, and more, this is a programme that moves between the distinctive sounds of different cities and labels, bringing together records that rarely share the same playlist.From the driving rhythms of Detroit and the smooth sophistication of Philadelphia and Los Angeles to the deep, gospel-rooted soul of Memphis, there's something special waiting in every groove.These are the records that remind us why soul music continues to fascinate collectors, DJs, and Northern Soul enthusiasts around the world. Beyond the famous hits and familiar names lies a wealth of extraordinary music, much of it overlooked for decades.Four cities. Countless hidden gems. One unforgettable soul journey.Join us for a very special edition of Soul Cities After Dark, celebrating the rare, the obscure, and the wonderfully unexpected side of soul music.

  4. 6d ago

    Soul Cities :Philadelphia -The Forgotten Side of Philly Soul

    Soul Cities: Philadelphia – The Forgotten Side of Philly Soul Tonight on Soul Cities, we travel to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to uncover a different side of its legendary soul music heritage. Before Gamble and Huff, MFSB and the Three Degrees made Philadelphia famous around the world, a wealth of independent labels were releasing fantastic soul records, many of which never received the recognition they deserved. We're exploring the sounds of Arctic, Philly Groove, Phil-L.A. of Soul and other smaller labels, discovering obscure artists, forgotten vocal groups and driving four-to-the-floor dancers that would later become treasured discoveries on the Northern Soul scene. This is Philadelphia beyond the familiar hits — a journey into the city's sixties soul recordings, where hidden gems, powerful vocals and irresistible rhythms tell another chapter of the story. Join me as we dig deeper into the music, celebrate the unsung artists and discover the records that helped make Philadelphia one of America's great soul cities. Soul Cities — exploring the music beyond the obvious.

  5. Oct 19

    Soul Cities After Dark : Chicago

    Soul Cities: Chicago After Dark – Rare Soul Gems from the Windy City This episode of Soul Cities takes us to Chicago, the Windy City, to explore the rich musical heritage of Chicago soul and its lasting connection with Britain's Northern Soul scene.From the sweet harmonies of Chicago's vocal groups to the driving rhythms, gospel influences and infectious dance-floor sounds of the 1960s and 1970s, we explore the artists and independent record labels that helped shape this distinctive sound.We'll look beyond the obvious hits and familiar classics, digging deeper into the record collections to bring you a selection of rarities, forgotten recordings and lesser-known gems from the city that gave us so much incredible soul music.With legendary labels such as Okeh, Chess, Brunswick, Constellation and Curtom playing their part, Chicago produced a wealth of music that would find a second life on British Northern Soul dance floors.So, if you love rare soul, obscure 45s and the excitement of discovering records that deserve to be heard, join us for a journey into the heart of Chicago soul.

  6. Oct 18

    Soul Cities after Dark : Washington DC-The Capital Of Soul

    Soul Cities: Washington, D.C. — The Capital of Soul Tonight on Soul Cities, we're heading to Washington, D.C., to explore the rich musical history of America's capital and uncover the soul records that deserve to be heard.Beyond the famous monuments and political corridors lies a fascinating story of independent record labels, talented vocal groups, forgotten artists and unforgettable recordings that captured the spirit of American soul.We'll explore the legacy of the legendary Shrine Records, whose rare releases became treasured discoveries among British Northern Soul collectors, alongside the wider regional story of Ru-Jac Records and the independent labels that helped keep soul music alive.Along the way, we'll discover artists including Barbara Long, Winfield Parker, Sir Joe,, alongside many more We'll also step back into Washington's vibrant nightlife, exploring the theatres, clubs and live music venues that helped create a thriving soul scene during the 1960s and beyond.From rare Northern Soul discoveries to smooth vocal harmonies and heartfelt deep soul, these recordings tell the story of artists whose music deserves to be remembered. Some found recognition in their own time, while others were rediscovered years later by dedicated collectors and DJs.Join us as we explore the artists, labels and hidden gems that reveal another side of Washington, D.C. — a city with a soul story all of its own. Washington, D.C. — the capital of America, and a city of soul after dark.

  7. Oct 17

    Soul Cities : Detroit -The Motor City of Soul

    Soul Cities: Detroit — The Motor City of Soul Detroit gave the world Motown, but there was another side to the Motor City’s soul story — a world of independent record labels, talented singers, innovative producers and extraordinary records that often slipped beneath the mainstream radar.In this episode of Soul Cities, we travel into the heart of Detroit to explore the music beyond the familiar Motown hits. From Ric-Tic, Golden World and Revilot to the legendary work of Pied Piper Productions, we uncover the artists and recordings that helped define Detroit’s rich and diverse soul sound.Featuring artists including Edwin Starr, J.J. Barnes, the Fantastic Four, the Reflections and Gino Washington, we celebrate the music that captured the spirit of a city and went on to find a devoted audience among rare soul collectors and Northern Soul fans in Britain.These are the sounds of driving rhythms, soaring vocals, infectious melodies and independent labels competing to make their mark. Some records found success at the time; others had to wait years before receiving the recognition they deserved.Join us for a journey through Detroit’s musical streets, discovering the stories behind the records and celebrating the hidden gems that make the Motor City one of the most important soul cities in America.Detroit: beyond Motown, beyond the hits, and straight to the soul.

  8. Oct 16

    Soul Cities after Dark : Pt 2

    Seven Cities : Join me on a journey through the soul cities of America as we uncover seven terrific tracks and the stories behind the artists who brought them to life.From the legendary sounds of Detroit to the streets of New York, this episode explores the singers, groups, independent record labels and hidden gems that helped shape American soul music. Some of these records may be familiar, while others are long-overlooked treasures that deserve a much wider audience.We'll discover the music that slipped under the radar when it was first released, the artists who never quite received the recognition they deserved, and the records that travelled across the Atlantic to find a second life on Britain's Northern Soul dance floors.Because behind every great soul record, there's a story — and sometimes the most fascinating ones belong to the records the world nearly forgot.Seven cities. Seven artists. Seven terrific tracks. And a whole lot of soul.Welcome to The Soul Cities — celebrating the music, the memories and the magic of American soul.

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About

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 .Every episode features authentic Northern Soul and Soul music from the 60s and 70s

Information

  • Creator
    Colin Skehan
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Colin Skehan
  • Show Website
    The Northern Soul Podcast

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