Northern Soul is often juxtaposed with its more serious down home brother Southern Soul and it is important to keep in mind that while "Southern" refers to where the bulk of the music was recorded, "Northern" refers to where the fan scene developed in the North of England. It so happens that most Northern Soul was recorded in the Northern United States (Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York especially) but that is a coincidence. [RYM]
The sometimes dubious task of Northern soul compilations is to distinguish what an accurate representation of the movement really sounded like and what is just a simple throwaway compilation laced with minor hits that may have had a few spins at the movement's major clubs. But The Best Northern Soul All-Nighter...Ever! strips away the guesswork and presents a diverse look at a rather large history. It's a fairly comprehensive survey for newer fans of the genre who want a balanced blend between the obscure classics that have collectors paying top dollar (Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You" has seen five-figure sums at auction houses and is considered one of the most rare records on the circuit) and the pop chart hits (by Jackie Wilson, Edwin Starr, Curtis Mayfield, and the Isley Brothers, just to name a few) that made their way from the all-nighter dancefloors to the commercial markets. [Rob Theakston]
SWEET SOUL MUSIC
