Neil Rushton
Encyclopedia
Neil Rushton is a British journalist, DJ, record dealer, record label entrepreneur, event promoter and author who is closely associated with the Northern soul
scene. He was born in the mid-1950s and originates from Walsall
in the West Midlands, UK.
Neil developed a passion for black American music during the late 1960s and first became involved in the Northern soul scene in the early 1970s, attending Northern soul events such as The Catacombs in Wolverhampton and the Golden Torch
in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent
.
In 1975, aged 21, Neil promoted a Northern soul event at the Queen Mary's Ballroon in Dudley Zoo. He then went on to found the Heart of England Soul Club (HESC) and organise and promote hugely successful Northern soul and Jazz Funk "all-dayers" at Tiffany's in Coalville, Leicestershire and later The Ritz in Manchester
and Blackpool Mecca
. The 1977 Blackpool Mecca Soul Festival was organised in conjunction with DJs Ian Levine
and Colin Curtis
, featured the US band Brass Construction
and was attended by 3200 people. HESC events were notable for their eclectic music policy, which was designed to appeal equally to fans of the traditional Northern soul sound along with those who followed the more contemporary sounds of Jazz Funk and Disco
. This split in the Northern soul scene was reflected in the schism between regulars at the Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino soul nights at the time.
Later that decade, he founded Inferno Records which specialised in the licensing and reissuing of music made popular on the Northern soul scene. Amongst Inferno Record's releases were two popular Northern soul compilation LPs, Out On The Floor Tonight and Soul Galore and a reissue of Freda Payne
's "Band of Gold
" on 7". The label also attained some minor success when it leased the rights for Gloria Jones
' "Tainted Love
" from AVI Productions in Los Angeles
and reissued the original song on 7" and an extended all-nighter version on 12" vinyl format. This was in the wake of Soft Cell
's 1981 UK#1 cover version and the Inferno reissue 7" sold 45,000 copies.
Later in the 1980s Rushton managed the band The Dream Factory and founded Kool Kat Music in 1986, a record label which specialised in importing house music
and techno
from the US. In 2001 he set up the SuSU record label, to cater for the vocal/soulful House music
market in the UK, and continues to be involved in the UK dance music and Northern soul scenes as both a DJ and promoter. In 2009 he authored and published Northern Soul Stories: Angst and Acetates, a history of the Northern soul scene from its origins in the early 1960s up to the present day.
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. He was born in the mid-1950s and originates from Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
in the West Midlands, UK.
Neil developed a passion for black American music during the late 1960s and first became involved in the Northern soul scene in the early 1970s, attending Northern soul events such as The Catacombs in Wolverhampton and the Golden Torch
Golden Torch
The Golden Torch, more commonly known as The Torch, was a mod nightclub in Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, England. The club opened on January 30, 1965 with the headline act of Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas...
in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
In 1975, aged 21, Neil promoted a Northern soul event at the Queen Mary's Ballroon in Dudley Zoo. He then went on to found the Heart of England Soul Club (HESC) and organise and promote hugely successful Northern soul and Jazz Funk "all-dayers" at Tiffany's in Coalville, Leicestershire and later The Ritz in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and 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...
. The 1977 Blackpool Mecca Soul Festival was organised in conjunction with DJs Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
and 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...
, featured the US band Brass Construction
Brass Construction
Brass Construction was an American funk group formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1968. They were originally known as Dynamic Soul, and went on to record a string of hit singles and albums through to 1985.-Career:...
and was attended by 3200 people. HESC events were notable for their eclectic music policy, which was designed to appeal equally to fans of the traditional Northern soul sound along with those who followed the more contemporary sounds of Jazz Funk and Disco
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...
. This split in the Northern soul scene was reflected in the schism between regulars at the Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino soul nights at the time.
Later that decade, he founded Inferno Records which specialised in the licensing and reissuing of music made popular on the Northern soul scene. Amongst Inferno Record's releases were two popular Northern soul compilation LPs, Out On The Floor Tonight and Soul Galore and a reissue of Freda Payne
Freda Payne
Freda Charcilia Payne Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944. is an American singer and actress best known for her million selling, 1970 hit single, "Band of Gold". She was also an actress in...
's "Band of Gold
Band of Gold
"Band of Gold" can refer to:*"Band of Gold" , a 1955 song popularized by Don Cherry*"Band of Gold" , a 1970 song popularized by Freda Payne and various other artists...
" on 7". The label also attained some minor success when it leased the rights for Gloria Jones
Gloria Jones
Gloria Richetta Jones is an American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She recorded the 1964 northern soul song, "Tainted Love", later a hit for the British synth-pop duo, Soft Cell. She was the girlfriend of glam rock artist Marc Bolan of the band T...
' "Tainted Love
Tainted Love
"Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965. It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, and has since been covered by numerous groups and...
" from AVI Productions in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and reissued the original song on 7" and an extended all-nighter version on 12" vinyl format. This was in the wake of Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
's 1981 UK#1 cover version and the Inferno reissue 7" sold 45,000 copies.
Later in the 1980s Rushton managed the band The Dream Factory and founded Kool Kat Music in 1986, a record label which specialised in importing house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
from the US. In 2001 he set up the SuSU record label, to cater for the vocal/soulful House music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
market in the UK, and continues to be involved in the UK dance music and Northern soul scenes as both a DJ and promoter. In 2009 he authored and published Northern Soul Stories: Angst and Acetates, a history of the Northern soul scene from its origins in the early 1960s up to the present day.
External links
- Cultures of Soul Interview with Neil Rushton about the book "Northern Soul Stories"
- Tamworth Bands Article about Neil Rushton by Mark Mortimer of The Dream Factory
- Discogs-Inferno Records Inferno Records label discography
- Discogs-Kool Kat Music Kool Kat Music label discography
- Discogs-Neil Rushton Incomplete discography of Neil Rushton's career as a label manager
- Northern Disco Web article including a reprint of an article written by Neil Rushton for Disco Magazine in 1979