Modern soul
Encyclopedia
Modern soul is a style of music with associated clothing and dance styles (precursors to the Disco
era), that developed in Northern England
in the early 1970s.
Modern soul developed from the northern soul
scene, when some DJs began looking in record shops of the United States
and United Kingdom
for something more complex and contemporary. What emerged was a richer sound that was as lyrically and melodically soulful as northern soul, but more advanced in terms of Hi-Fi and FM radio technology. Another benefit was that unlike northern soul, it offered a steady stream of new releases. Modern soul records are not necessarily modern at any one point in time; some current modern soul favourites are over 30 years old. The records are simply modern-sounding relative to the traditional northern soul sound.
A large proportion of modern soul's original audience members came from the northern soul scene, retaining their adoration of underground and rare, independent label soul music. One of the first modern soul clubs was Blackpool Mecca
, which was fronted by the DJ Ian Levine. He broke from the northern soul mould by playing a new release by the Carstairs ("It Really Hurts Me Girl") in the early 1970s. Around the same period, Colin Curtis
played The Anderson Brothers' "I Can See Him Loving You", and another key modern soul track emerged: Don Thomas' "Come on Train".
The main protagonists of the two soul genres had a falling-out and went their separate ways, with soul clubs generally siding either with modern or northern. Modern soul became a major force, drawing more people towards the music and its venues. Liverpool, the only major northern city of the West-East swathe of England, had remained largely immune from the northern soul scene in the 1960s and 1970s, preferring Motown and funk. The city showed itself to be a more fertile area for the modern soul sound.
Despite their initial differences, northern and modern soul remain inextricably linked genres. Some DJs, such as Richard Searling and "Soul Sam" (Martin Barnfather), have championed both the northern and modern soul scenes for several decades. Nowadays, most UK soul venues play music from both genres. A Greg Perry track, could immediately follow a track by The Vibrations, a mix that would not have happened in the 1970s. Some venues also have a main room for traditional northern soul favourites and a separate modern room for the newer sound.
Modern soul has yielded more crossover hits than northern soul, and many of modern soul artists have had lucrative careers, unlike the northern soul artists.
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era), that developed in Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
in the early 1970s.
Modern soul developed from the northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
scene, when some DJs began looking in record shops of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for something more complex and contemporary. What emerged was a richer sound that was as lyrically and melodically soulful as northern soul, but more advanced in terms of Hi-Fi and FM radio technology. Another benefit was that unlike northern soul, it offered a steady stream of new releases. Modern soul records are not necessarily modern at any one point in time; some current modern soul favourites are over 30 years old. The records are simply modern-sounding relative to the traditional northern soul sound.
A large proportion of modern soul's original audience members came from the northern soul scene, retaining their adoration of underground and rare, independent label soul music. One of the first modern soul clubs was Blackpool Mecca
Blackpool Mecca
The Blackpool Mecca was a large entertainment venue on Central Drive in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire in the North West of England, first opened in 1965. In the 1970s, it was particularly known for The Highland Room, which was a major Northern Soul music venue...
, which was fronted by the DJ Ian Levine. He broke from the northern soul mould by playing a new release by the Carstairs ("It Really Hurts Me Girl") in the early 1970s. Around the same period, Colin Curtis
Colin Curtis (DJ)
Colin Curtis is an influential British DJ whose career spans several decades and musical developments. He was born and grew up in Madeley in Staffordshire, UK...
played The Anderson Brothers' "I Can See Him Loving You", and another key modern soul track emerged: Don Thomas' "Come on Train".
The main protagonists of the two soul genres had a falling-out and went their separate ways, with soul clubs generally siding either with modern or northern. Modern soul became a major force, drawing more people towards the music and its venues. Liverpool, the only major northern city of the West-East swathe of England, had remained largely immune from the northern soul scene in the 1960s and 1970s, preferring Motown and funk. The city showed itself to be a more fertile area for the modern soul sound.
Despite their initial differences, northern and modern soul remain inextricably linked genres. Some DJs, such as Richard Searling and "Soul Sam" (Martin Barnfather), have championed both the northern and modern soul scenes for several decades. Nowadays, most UK soul venues play music from both genres. A Greg Perry track, could immediately follow a track by The Vibrations, a mix that would not have happened in the 1970s. Some venues also have a main room for traditional northern soul favourites and a separate modern room for the newer sound.
Modern soul has yielded more crossover hits than northern soul, and many of modern soul artists have had lucrative careers, unlike the northern soul artists.
Notable artists
- Leroy HutsonLeroy HutsonLeroy Hutson is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and instrumentalist, best known as former lead singer of the R&B band, which came to fame vocal group, The Impressions....
- Greg PerryGreg PerryGreg Perry is a prolific author of computer and real estate books and disabled advocate.Greg Perry may also refer to:* Greg Perry , music producer...
- BreakwaterBreakwater (band)Breakwater was a funk and soul American band from Philadelphia, formed in 1971. The band consisted of Gene Robinson, James Gee Jones, Linc 'Love' Gilmore, Steve Green, Vince Garnell, Greg Scott, John 'Dutch' Braddock, and Kae Williams, Jr....
- Johnny BristolJohnny BristolJohnny Bristol , was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
- Johnnie TaylorJohnnie TaylorJohnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
- Bessie BanksBessie BanksBessie Banks is an American soul singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now".-Life and career:...
- Jean CarneJean CarneJean Carn is an American jazz and pop singer known for her unique vocalising and her impressive interpretative and improvisational skills...
- Phyllis HymanPhyllis HymanPhyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
- Chapter 8Chapter 8Chapter 8 was a Detroit soul group of the 1970s and '80s formed by Michael J. Powell and Derek Dirckson. Anita Baker was featured as lead vocalist on their first, self-titled album on Ariola entitled Chapter 8 in 1979, produced by Michael and Derek...
- The ControllersThe Controllers (R&B band)The Controllers are an American soul and R&B vocal group, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, who had a series of successful recordings in the late 1970s and the 1980s.-Career:...
- Terence Trent D'Arby
- William DeVaughnWilliam DeVaughnWilliam DeVaughn is an American R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for the hit song "Be Thankful for What You Got".-Biography:...
- Lamont DozierLamont DozierLamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
- Sam DeesSam DeesSam Dees is a soul singer, songwriter and producer.Dees was born into a large family and quickly distinguished himself with his voice. At the age of 9, already champion of several singing contests, he founded his own vocal group, the "Bossanovians"...
- Loleatta HollowayLoleatta HollowayLoleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
- Willie HutchWillie HutchWillie McKinley Hutchison, known professionally as Willie Hutch was an American singer, songwriter as well as a record producer and recording artist for the Motown record label during the 1970s and 1980s....
- Al JohnsonAl Johnson (musician)Alfred Orlando Johnson is an American R&B singer, writer, arranger and producer.Born in Newport News, Virginia in 1948, Johnson attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. and while there, co-founded the soul group, The Unifics. The group, with Johnson as lead singer, scored three hits on the...
- Anthony WhiteAnthony WhiteAnthony White may refer to:* Anthony Walton White , American cavalry officer in the Revolutionary War* Anthony Wilbur White, or Tony White, former West Indian cricketer...
- Gloria Scott
- Leon WareLeon WareLeon Ware is a soul music singer, songwriter and producer. Best known for crafting the hit album, I Want You, originally recorded for Ware, until friend and Motown icon Marvin Gaye was assigned to the album in 1976...
- We the People
- Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
- Bobby WomackBobby WomackRobert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
- The WhispersThe WhispersThe Whispers are a long-established R&B-dance vocal group from Los Angeles, California, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s.-Career:...
External links
- Soul Source Mick O'Donnell www.souldiscovery.co.uk