Discoteca Imaginaria: Amphetamines & Soul 45s
12.05.23
While the global pandemic may have put a damper on our adventures in clubbing, music still has the power to transport us to places unknown. For now, the greatest club on earth may exist in our imagination – Discoteca Imaginaria. Each episode takes listeners to the scenes, clubs, regions and technology that have shaped our sonic history.
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The 1960s and 1970s were an economically dire time for Northern England. The working-class youth of what was once the birthplace of the industrial revolution were more concerned with finding well-paid jobs than hippie enlightenment. Desperate for an escape, a subculture began to emerge. A network of local DJs became increasingly obsessed with finding obscure 45-inch singles by American soul artists. The music’s high-octane rhythms and somber lyrics of heartbreak paired perfectly with amphetamines and pent-up rage. Disused dance halls like the Wigan Casino couldn’t sell liquor, but could also stay open until Monday. “Northern Soul” allowed a disenfranchised generation to process a complicated modern world, one ecstatic “all nighter” at a time.
Tracklist:
Booker T. & The M.G.’s – Let’s Go Get Stoned The Flirtations – Nothing But A Heartache Lee Dorsey – Ride Yor Pony The Incredibles – There’s Nothing Else to Say The Showstoppers – Ain’t Nothing But a Houseparty“Mainly in the north” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) Sandi Sheldon – You’re Gonna Make Me Love You Maxine Nightingale – Right Back Where We Started From Chuck Wood – Seven Days Too Long Freda Payne – Band Of Gold
“Small Labels in America” (The Way Of The Crowd, Northern Soul Prods 2004) Nolan Porter – Keep on Keepin’ On Shirley Ellis – Soul Time The M.V.P.’s – Turnin’ My Heartbeat Up Ramsey Lewis Trio – Wade In The Water
“Extremely Rare” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) James Fountain – Seven Day Lover Larry Williams & Johnny Watson – Too Late Gloria Jones – Tainted Love The Precisions – If This Is Love (I’d Rather Be Lonely)
“Sense of Community” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown The Contours – Just A Little Misunderstanding Ella Fitzgerald – Get Ready Major Lance – You Don’t Want Me No More
“Government Approved” (The Way Of The Crowd, Northern Soul Prods 2004) Edwin Starr – Time The Parliaments – Don’t Be Sore At Me Yvonne Baker – You Didn’t Say A Word Just Brothers – Sliced Tomatoes
“Hundreds Everyday” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) The Four Seasons – Beggin’ Nancy Wilcox – More Than a Memory Jackie Lee – Darkest Days The Brothers of Soul – I’d Be Grateful
“Clap Twice” (In the Club: Wigan Casino, IGTV 2004) The Jades – I’m Where It’s At Beverly Ann – You’ve Got Your Mind On Other Things Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There Helene Smith – Thrills and Chills
“Other things to do” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – The Night Curly Moore – You Don’t Mean Dana Valery – You Don’t Know Where Your Interest Lies The Trammps – Scrub Board
“Serious showing off” (The Way Of The Crowd, Northern Soul Prods 2004) Judy Street – What Frank Wilson – Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) Rita & The Tiaras – Gone with the Wind Is My Love R. Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In My House
“The Ending” (This England: Wigan Casino, BBC 1976) Tobi Legend – Time Will Pass You Jimmy Radcliffe – Long After Tonight Is Over Dean Parrish – I’m On My Way
