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Rare Grooves – The Pet Name For Rare Soul Music!

Rare Soul Music or Rare Grooves is the alternative name for Classic Soul tunes from the 60’s to the early 90’s and it is also used to describe Northern Soul Music. This type of music was termed by Dave Godin. It has gained popularity in 1970 through his column in Blues and Soul Magazine. Also, Dave Godin owned a record shop named Soul City in the Convent Garden in London. During that time, Godin wanted to help his employees classify the more modern funkier sounds from the smoother soul sounds. This also led to the fondness for Motown music in his record shop by his punters.

In addition to its historical record, Rare soul music was mostly played by DJ’s at night clubs in Northern England. It was then called rare soul music because the playlist were mostly unknown 1960’s and 1970’s American soul music with an upbeat tempo. This particular style and tempo made it pleasant and enjoyable to the listeners. That tempo was based on the sound of Tamla Motown that was released only in limited numbers within the United States.

Some limited releases came from the labels of Okeh Records, Ric Tic, Cameo Parkway and Roulette. These releases came at a higher price of course. Notably, Motown and Stax labels had lesser known songs and artists. Such limited releases substantiated its name as rare soul music. Looking back, the true northern soul sound “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops was one of the earliest known recordings which was launched in 1965 by Tamla Motown.

Manchester’s Twisted Wheels Club together with its resident DJ Roger Eagle was the first nightclub that successfully defined northern soul sound. Its popularity peaked in the mid and late 70’s. This also led to the creation of Superstar DJ culture wherein DJ’s competed to play songs and music that were not common and popular in London. Most of the choice songs that they played are rare records. These records came from small independent recording labels with a much stronger and original sound.

Other popular and well known DJ’s of this era were Les Cokell of Twisted Wheel club, Russ Winstanley and Richard Searling of Wigan Casino, Ian Levine and Colin Curtis of Blackpool Meccah and Chris Burton of the Golden Torch and Stroke On Trent. Many of these DJ personalities and supporters were involved in the original northern soul music. They later became prominent and important figures in the later UK house and dance music scenes. To note one amongst the crowd is Mike Pickering who introduced house music to those who went to The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester in the early 1980’s.

Pete Waterman and Ian Levine were dance record producers. As quick as it was to be popular so was its end. The supply of rare recordings could not satisfy the demand that its appeal began to lose its luster. As a result a lot of the fans drifted away. Nevertheless, rare soul music or northern soul music had made a good mark in the music history of England. It has impacted a lot of pop musician from the 1980’s up to the present. One of the few enthusiasts was the British Electronic group named Soft Cell. This group had its influence with northern soul music. They had charted success by reviving two popular soul songs “Tainted Love” of Gloria Jones and “What” by Judy Street.

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TJ Grooves is author of this article on Rare Soul Music. Find more information about Soul Music CDs

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