100 Greatest Northern Soul Songs

Criteria: This top 100 was put together by Kev Roberts as part of the Northern Soul Top 500. It's based on the records that were most popular in Northern Soul Dance Clubs in The United Kingdom from the mid-1960s and beyond.

Background: Northern Soul - In 1967 an underground movement developed via 'The Twisted Wheel Club' in Manchester, U.K. Regular all night 'raves' saw the introduction of rare soul 45's being played to a youthful 'fed up with the UK pop hit' syndrome. Soon, this bizarre youth culture turned the North of England into 'the place to be' every Saturday night, and following the closure of 'The Wheel' in 1970 saw a plethora of hip clubs such as 'The Catacombs' (Wolverhampton), 'The Golden Torch' (Stoke-on-Trent) and the daddy of them all - 'Wigan Casino'. The latter (1973-1981) was the scenes most famous all night venue from where the most popular singles emerged.

Last Updated: 2008-01-12
Greatest Northern Soul Songs
  1. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson
  2. Out on the Floor - Dobie Gray
  3. You Didn't Say a Word - Yvonne Baker
  4. The Snake - Al Wilson
  5. Long After Tonight is Over - Jimmy Radcliffe
  6. Seven Day Lover - James Fountain
  7. You Don't Love Me - Epitome of Sound
  8. Looking for You - Garnet Mimms
  9. If That's What You Wanted - Frankie Beverly & the Butlers
10. Seven Days Too Long - Chuck Wood
11. The Right Track - Billy Butler
12. Stick By Me Baby - Salvadors
13. I Really Love You - Tomangoes
14. Time Will Pass You By - Tobi Legend
15. Landslide - Tony Clarke
16. Too Late - Larry Willaims & Johnny "Guitar" Watson
17. You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies - Dana Valery
18. Walking Up a One Way Street - Willie Tee
19. If You Ever Walk Out of My Life - Dena Barnes
20. There's a Ghost in My House - R. Dean Taylor
21. Here I Go Again - Archie Bell & the Drells
22. Hit and Run - Rose Batiste
23. What - Judy Street
24. Tainted Love - Gloria Jones
25. Girl Across the Street - Moses Smith
26. You're Gonna Love My Baby - Barbara McNair
27. You've Been Away - Rubin
28. She'll Come Running Back - Mel Britt
29. Double Cookin' - Checkerboard Squares
30. It Really Hurts Me Girl - Carstairs
31. If You Ask Me - Jerry Williams
32. Unsatisfied - Lou Johnson
33. Our Love is in the Pocket - J.J. Barnes
34. Come on Train - Don Thomas
35. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up - MVPs
36. You're Gonna Make Me Love You - Sandi Sheldon
37. I Got to Find Me Somebody - Vel-vets
38. I'm Gonna Love You a Long, Long Time - Patty & the Emblems
39. Better Use Your Head - Little Anthony & the Imperials
40. Dance, Dance, Dance - Casualeers
41. Dearly Beloved - Jack Montgomery
42. Crackin' Up Over You - Roy Hamilton
43. My Sugar Baby - Connie Clark
44. Cashing In - Voices of East Harlem
45. That's My Girl - Dee Clark
46. Lend a Hand - Bobby Hutton
47. Just Loving You - Ruby Andrews
48. Cause You're Mine - Vibrations
49. A Little Bit Hurt - Julian Covey
50. What Kind of Lady - Dee Dee Sharp
51. A Lil' Lovin' Sometimes - Alexander Patten
52. You Just Don't Know (What You Do to Me) - Chubby Checker
53. Just Like the Weather - Nolan Chance
54. Night Owl - Bobby Paris
55. Bari Track - Doni Burdick
56. I'll Always Need You - Dean Courtney
57. She's Wanted - Larry Clinton
58. I Travel Alone - Lou Ragland
59. They'll Never Know Why - Freddie Chavez
60. I Still Love You - Seven Souls
61. I'm On My Way - Dean Parrish
62. Baby Hit and Run - Contours
63. Open the Door to Your Heart - Darrell Banks
64. I'll Always Love You - Spinners
65. I'm Gonna Run Away from You - Tami Lynn
66. You Don't Want Me No More - Major Lance
67. Love, Love, Love - Bobby Hebb
68. Blowing My Mind to Pieces - Bob Relf
69. You Got to Pay Your Dues - Drifters
70. Skiing in the Snow - Invitations
71. She Blew a Good Thing - Poets
72. In Orbit - Joy Lovejoy
73. Stranger in My Arms - Lynne Randell
74. Nothing Can Compare to You - Velvet Satins
75. I Need You - Shane Martin
76. Hey Girl Don't Bother Me - Tams
77. I'm Comun' Home in the Mountain - Lou Pride
78. I Can't Help Lovin' You - Paul Anka
79. I'm Not Strong Enough - Four Perfections
80. I Got the Fever - Prophets/The Creation
81. Crazy Baby - Coasters
82. Heartaches Away My Boy - Christine Cooper
83. You've Been Cheatin' - Impressions
84. Get Out - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
85. Run For Cover - Dells
86. Girls Are Out to Get You - Fascinations
87. I Never Knew - Eddie Foster
88. Save My Love for a Rainy Day - Van Dykes
89. Send Him Back - Pointer Sisters
90. Gonna Be a Big Thing - Yum Yums
91. If I Could Only Be Sure - Nolan Porter
92. Next Line - Hoagy Landis
93. Time Marches On - Lainie Hill
94. I Walked Away - Bobby Paris
95. I Can't Make It Anymore - Spyder Turner
96. You're Ready Now - Frankie Valli
97. Thumb a Ride - Earl Wright
98. Gotta Have Your Love - Sapphires
99. Man Without a Woman - Michael & Raymond
100. My Man is a Sweet Man - Millie Jackson

singers Frank Wilson and Dobie Gray







Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) by Frank Wilson record lable
Out on the Floor by Dobie Gray record lable
You Didn't Say a Word by Yvonne Baker record lable
The Snake by Al Wilson record sleve
Walking Up A One Way Street by Willie Tee record lable



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About Kev Roberts: Kev is a Radio DJ/Promoter who joined Wigan Casino in 1973 and became an integral part of the Northern Soul Golden Era, working with acts such as Jackie Wilson, Betty Wright, Temptations, Four Tops, Major Lance etc. Coming to the U.S. he produced more than 100 Dance tracks during the 1980s, owned his own labels ELECTRICITY and BLUE CHIP, compiled more than 200 albums for 'Goldmine' and other record labels during the Soul revival in the 1990s, MC'd shows in the U.S., Germany, Italy & Ireland. Kev currently syndicates a weekly radio show in the U.K.








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