THE ODYSSEY: A NORTHERN SOUL TIME-CAPSULE
The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule is quite simply the most comprehensive overview of the Northern Soul phenomenon, ever. Featuring a mammoth 230 tracks, all of which have been re-mastered and documented, ‘The Odyssey’ is a truly unique compendium of a UK musical culture which has now lasted over 45 years and had spread across the world.
The current popularity of the film ‘Northern Soul’, a critical and mainstream success, has well and truly put Northern Soul at the forefront of people’s interest again. This very exciting musical culture now seems to be appealing to a younger generation of fans who love the energy that Northern Soul provides and have the energy to burn off. The scene still lives on and grows more each day, with new fans joining the originals in their love of the music.
Released 6th April on Harmless Records, across 8 x CD, 2 x DVDs and a 160 page booklet, this definitive box set follows the evolvement of Northern Soul, from its early beginnings at Manchester’s Twisted Wheel in 1968, through to The Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca, Wigan Casino and Cleethorpes Pier in the 1970s. From there, our journey takes us to Stafford Top of The World and the 100 Club in the 80s to the soul weekenders and the 100 Club (again) from the 90s to the present day.
Northern Soul music originally consisted of obscure American soul recordings, including lesser known songs from Motown Records, Stax Records, Okeh Records and many more obscure record labels. Based around all night, alcohol-free club nights, arranged by the fans themselves, devotees pushed their bodies, their finances and sometimes their minds to brutal and unforgiving extremes. The plain concept of the ‘night out’ was elevated to sacramental dimensions and it set the blueprint for future club culture.
Featuring over 10 hours of music, ‘The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule’ is curated by head of Harmless Records and 1970s Northern Soul DJ and aficionado, Ian Dewhirst. Very much a labour of love, the contributors to the release read like a who’s who of Northern Soul’s golden era. Tim Brown lends a friendly ear to the compiling of the track listing and myriad of licensing issues whilst Mike Ritson, publisher of Manifesto magazine, lent his comprehensive knowledge to document the history of the scene.
Journalist and broadcaster, Simon White, interviews the scene’s best known characters in the superb in-depth documentary, ‘Keep On Moving On’, featured on DVD 1, whilst DVD 2 features Northern Soul legend Richard Searling interviewing enigmatic record dealer, John Anderson, as well as Philadelphia International’s Kenny Gamble.
With the highly informative, 160 page accompanying booklet designed by Glen Gunton and overall package design by Jaffa – both long-serving Northern Soul stalwarts, ‘The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule’ is quite simply the most comprehensive overview of the Northern Soul phenomenon, ever.
