A Complete Introduction to Northern Soul
Universal/Motown 4 CD Box set
UK Release date: 17th November 2008

Wow! Here we go everybody. Legendary Wigan DJ Russ Winstanley so much a part of the northern soul legacy and someone who is still working the decks to this very day compiles this 4 CD set for those wanting a complete introduction to Northern Soul. On first glance this might look like another compilation of songs you can find almost anywhere – well, almost maybe as closer inspection reveals some real gems here. Let me point you straight towards Marvin Gaye’s stereo strings version of ‘Little Darling’ for starters. I haven’t heard that version before and will never play any other version again. Disc one is pure Motown opening with the Elgins and ‘Heaven Must Have sent You’, before moving through twenty five blistering Motown anthems including Kim Weston’s ‘66’ outing ‘Helpless’ Jr. Walkers pumping ‘I Ain’t Going Nowhere’ The Spinners ‘I’ll Always Love You’ and their gorgeous ‘What More Could A Boy Ask For’ as well as a couple of instrumentals in 6 x 6 from the infamous Funk Brothers, and also the Ric Tic classic 45 ‘Festival Time’ from the San Remo Golden Strings. Speaking of Ric Tic it’s great to see the inclusion of Real Humdinger by the legendary JJ Barnes and a nice tribute to Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops as the groups ‘I’ll Turn To Stone’ a classic Motown flip side from 1966.

Other classics include popular beat singles from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Smokey & the Miracles, R. Dean Taylor, Brenda Holloway, Contours, Isley Brothers, and Velvelettes but to name a few. Once you hit disc two things really do start to hot up with some tasty in demand Motown items with the inclusion of the much played ‘My Love Is Your Love’ from the Isley’s, Frank Wilson, David Ruffin’s pleading ‘You Can Come Right Back To Me’ and some unusual not often seen songs like Edwin Starr/Blinky ‘I See A Rainbow’, and Kiki Dee’s early 1970’s recording ‘The Day Will Come Between Sunday & Monday’ and Edwin Starr’s fabulous ‘I Have Faith In You’ (a song he told me was his all time fave) and for the first time I think with the Sisters Love outing ‘I’m Learning To Trust My Man’ made popular during the heady days of Wigan Casino. Check out too the alternative take of ‘Just Like Romeo & Juliet’ by the Reflections which has a totally different arrangement to the usual one found on the Golden World label.

It's not till you reach disc 3 do we stray away from Hitsville and find some real classic soul platters many of which have remained firm favourites for more than forty years such as the 1964 single from the Tams with ‘Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me’, a demo version of ‘Soul Self Satisfaction’ from ABC recording artist Earl Jackson although I can’t hear what the difference is. This disc is still interspersed with Motown favourites but worthy of mention must go to Chubby Checker’s ‘At The Discotheque’ The Dells with ‘Wear It On Our Face’ and even the frantic ‘Friday Night’ from the late Johnny Taylor recorded for Stax Records. More classics follow with ‘Tainted Love’ from Gloria Jones, William Bell’s finest moment with ‘Happy’ again for Stax records in 1969, and then stuck right in the middle we find ‘Real Love’ from Drizabone a piece of modern crossover soul showing just what changes the scene has gone through since the days of the Casino.

Lastly, disc four keeps up the good work and high quality of the three aforementioned discs opening with one of my all time favourites ‘You Didn’t Say A Word’ from Yvonne Baker which was one of the most requested weekly tracks on my radio show many years ago.

This last disc concentrates on a number of songs made famous at Wigan such as Tobi Legend’s ‘Time Will Pass You By’ Spyder Turner’s ‘I Can make It Anymore’ and Bobby Paris’ anthem ‘Night Owl’ but to name a few. I particular like the Sapphires with their HMV recording from 1966 and ‘Got To Have Your Love’ and a song from my early days on the scene I recollect the Pendulum club in Manchester in 1971 where Patti & the Emblems received a major amount of exposure with ‘I’m Gonna Love You A Long Long Time’ via DJ’s Barry Tasker and Martyn Ellis.

With such a huge choice of songs to choose from the compiler has gone more for Motown recordings than anything else but the other songs are a good representation of the more commercial northern soul singles that would hopefully attract new blood onto the scene. All too often compilers go on an ego trip and make up compilations for specialist collectors only and then wonder why there is no new interest in our kind of music. If there is to be a follow up to this edition then there will be no shortage of music to choose from.

Rating 8/10