Resources
Literature, Film, Media & Community
Essential Books
Young Soul Rebels: A Personal History of Northern Soul
By: Stuart Cosgrove
Publisher: Polygon
ISBN: 9781846973338
Authoritative, informed, opinionated history from inception to global phenomenon
Soul Survivors: The Wigan Casino Story
By: Russ Winstanley & David Nowell
The definitive account of Wigan Casino from its co-promoter
The Northern Soul Top 500
By: Kev Roberts
Year: 2000
ISBN: 0-9539291-0-8
Authoritative collector's guide to the 500 most celebrated records
Searching For Soul
By: Reg Stickings
Publisher: SAF Publishing
Year: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-946719-87-7
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
By: Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton
Year: 1999/2000
Significant chapter on Northern Soul including "the world's rarest record"
Feature Film
Northern Soul
2014 • Directed by Elaine Constantine
Cast:
Elliot James LangridgeSteve CooganAntonia ThomasJames Lance
Runtime: 1h 42m
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Setting: 1974 Lancashire
""Constantine catches the energy of the dancehall with aplomb"
A 15-year passion project; Constantine was herself part of the scene in the late 1980s
Television & Documentaries
Northern Soul: Living For The Weekend
Channel: BBC Four
Year: 2014
Documentary exploring the genre's history, focusing on the 1970s peak and Wigan Casino
Northern Soul – Keep the Faith
Channel: BBC Two (The Culture Show)
Year: 2013
Highlighted underground dance clubs and rare soul record culture
Keep the Faith
Channel: BBC
Presented by Paul Mason
Omnibus (Northern Soul episode)
Channel: BBC One
Year: 1978
Features footage from Wigan Casino
This England
Channel: TV
Year: 1977
Primary visual record of the scene at its peak
Wigan Casino
Year: 1977
Tony Palmer documentary; primary visual record
Music Videos
"Familiar Feeling" — Moloko
Set against a Northern Soul backdrop; directed by Elaine Constantine; choreographed by Keb Darge
"Stay Too Long" — Plan B
From: The Defamation of Strickland Banks
Year: 2010
Features backdrops, spins, and flips; the album has significant Northern Soul influence
Online Resources & Community
Primary Reference Sites
Soul Source →
www.soul-source.co.uk
The major Northern Soul news, features, community forum, and marketplace.
Soul Scene →
soulscene.net
Comprehensive Northern Soul hub: venue histories, DJ profiles, Northern Soul Top 500 list
Thames Valley Soul Club →
thamesvalleysoulclub.com
Long-form scholarly history of the scene; comprehensive DJ profiles; Northern Soul Top 500
DJHistory / Red Bull Music Academy →
daily.redbullmusicacademy.com
Major 2016 oral history piece
Soul Spinners →
soulspinners.co.uk
Northern Soul history resource including venue pages
Nostalgia Central →
nostalgiacentral.com
Northern Soul overview
Historic England Blog →
heritagecalling.com
A Beginner's Guide to Original Northern Soul Venues
Wigan Building Preservation Trust →
www.wiganlocalhistory.org
Detailed historical analysis of the Casino and cultural geography
Collector & Dealer Sites
Soul Source
www.soul-source.co.uk
Rare Northern Soul
www.rarenorthernsoul.com
Inksplat Records
inksplatrecords.co.uk
Soul Mountain 45
www.soulmountain45.co.uk
Midas Touch Records
www.midastouchsoul.co.uk
Selectadisc
www.selectadisc.co.uk
Vinylnet
www.vinylnet.co.uk
Collectors Weekly
www.collectorsweekly.com
Record Collector Magazine
recordcollectormag.com
Active Northern Soul Weekenders
Prestatyn Weekender
Location: North Wales
Started late 1980s; still running; blends Northern and Modern soul
Cleethorpes Pier Weekenders
Location: Cleethorpes
Known for relaxed, inclusive atmosphere
Comprehensive Cited Sources
Full Bibliographic References
Cosgrove, Stuart. Young Soul Rebels: A Personal History of Northern Soul. Polygon, 2016.
The authoritative, informed, and opinionated history of Northern Soul from its inception to its status as a global phenomenon.
Roberts, Kev. The Northern Soul Top 500: An A–Z Guide to the Music, Venues, DJs and Legends of the Northern Soul Scene. Kev Roberts Publishing, 2000. ISBN: 0-9539291-0-8
The definitive collector's guide to the 500 most celebrated Northern Soul records, with detailed notes on rarity, pressing variations, and cultural significance.
Winstanley, Russ & Nowell, David. Soul Survivors: The Wigan Casino Story. Record Collector Magazine / Goldmine Publishing, 2000.
The definitive account of Wigan Casino from its co-promoter Russ Winstanley, documenting the venue's history, impact, and legacy.
Stickings, Reg. Searching For Soul: A Social History of Soul Music in Britain. SAF Publishing, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-946719-87-7
A social history examining the cultural impact of soul music on British youth culture and identity.
Brewster, Bill & Broughton, Frank. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey. Headline Book Publishing, 1999/2000.
A comprehensive history of DJ culture with a significant chapter on Northern Soul, including discussion of "the world's rarest record" (Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You").