It was a movement which started in the 1970's. A period that generated much diversity in the music world of trends, fashion and brands like Punks, so called 'soul boys' and the resurgence of the Mod culture. Emerging from the 1960's, included the origins of early motown soul music rejections, Northern Soul was born from enthusiasts who collected the rejected vinyl 45's brought in from America and started playing them for their personal enjoyment in selective underground groups. I beleive they are now called, 'The Pursists!'
The advent of the Wigan Casino and its legendary 'all-nighters' run by Richard Searling and Russ Winstanley, amongst others, allowed a revolution to develop that began to spread like wildefire
throughout the UK's adolescents, long before the arrival of social media. I wasnt there, naturally, as I wasnt even born.!
However, emerging from the lockdowns of the 2020-2022 pandemic, I managed to secure a placement with a Northern Soul Band called 'The Signatures', as a featured singer, and I could see first hand just how much this genre still meant to Northern Soul fanatics and enthusiasts. They would all come together with one thing in common as flambouyant as their flared trousers, and that was the dancing.
I'd often jump down of the stage and join them when performing and I can only imagine what those days must have been like when most people were tucked up in their beds and these guys were out dancing until the wee hours of dawn. There was one particular song I used to sing with 'The Signatures' that really resonated with me.
It was a song called, "Gone With The Wind Is My Love'.
Originally released by Rita & The Tiaras, and written by Lou Barreto, I felt that it was a song that I could have written, or at the very least, I wish I had! I was in tune with the message and I felt that the song would really fit well within my album. So I recorded a version of the song and released around the 50th Anniversary of the birth of The Wigan Casino, September 1973. To my amazement It was played by Tony Blackburn on BBC Radio 2, naming it 'Future Gold' and his record of the week. he played it for five consecutive weeks on BBC radio London too. I was fortunate enough to meet
Richard Searling during BBC Breakfast's coverage, and I was also interviewed by BBC Midlands radio with Russ Wintanley. It was such an honour to receive such praise and endorsement by these legends for my version of a song that featured on my debut ablum.
KEEP THE FAITH people. Northern Soul is still out there and appealing to a new younger demographic. I know that first hand after reaching out to some dancers to feature in my music video which is shown at the start of this blog.
Georgia Crandon
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