Keeping The Faith

I have been into Northern Soul since 1981, and I can honestly say that I have never looked back and thought what a waste of time. Northern Soul has provided me with some of the best highs (and lows) that I've ever had, it covers the whole spectrum of emotions from Barbara McNairs' You're Gonna Love My Baby (for the low times) to Frank Wilson's classic Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) (for the highs).
My first taste of Northern Soul was from a mate who lent me a tape with various tracks on it most of which I can't remember now, but it did include the Hawaii-5-0 theme. From there it was a short hop into the record buying phase and the essential first purchase for all Essex Soulsters at the time, 6Ts House Party (mine was the standard red vinyl) with Gloria Jones Tainted Love 12" on the flip side. I then discovered such class tracks as Condition Red, The Baltimore and Ohio Marching Band and Wayne Gibson's version of the Stones track Under My Thumb.
Along with the music came the change in clothing style, as I moved from the overly neat (but never sad) mod style to the more relaxed style that was more characteristic of the scooter boys. This meant jeans, army greens, flight jackets, cut-off denim jackets (with the obligatory patches) and the ever versatile deck shoes. Unfortunately other people, who weren't into the scene, adopted the fashion and the identity was lost a bit. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a uniform, not like the casuals Ronnie Corbet golf jumpers, but it did feel (and still does now) special to put on your flight jacket with all the patches that denoted your allegiance to the best scene around, it made you feel a cut above the rest.
There were a few clubs around that played some Northern Soul but they were strict about the age thing so we had to resort to the youth club discos and the weekly soul/mod night in Chelmsford. When we went to parties it was a fantastic feeling to either participate or stand and watch as 20 or 30 people would take over the dance floor for Dobie Grays Out On The Floor, what a crowd pleaser that was.
Some of the best times were when the national scooter rallies took place as you could guarantee that there would be a good club scene for the weekend, with some excellent music.
The scene started to fade away, except for the die hard devotees, after a few years and I started to move around the country, but where ever I went I was never disappointed as I would always find a fellow soulster. I remember walking into one pub in Cheshire and not knowing a soul, so I got a pint and went to the juke box where I chose the only good track on it The O'Jays Backstabber. Halfway through the song and two local lads were chatting to me about Northern Soul as if they had known me for ages.
Anyway I am glad to see that there are more people out there prepared not to let this fine institution die and it is also good to see it getting some commercial coverage again with the release of Russ Winstanleys Soul Survivors CD (40 class tracks). If there is anyone in the Romford area who is looking for a decent place to go then I suggest that Wednesday nites down the Cellar Bar in South Street. They don't play soul allnight but the DJ has a bloody good record collection and will normally play anything that is requested, especially Billy Butlers Right Track.
As far as I'm concerned Northern Soul was, is and always will be the definitive form of music, in this crazy, mixed-up world.
To all you Soulsters, both old and young, keep on keeping.
Steve.