The Strange World of Northern Soul

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Film Title: The Strange World of Northern Soul

Description: A set of 3 videos, booklet and CD tracing the history of Northern Soul

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This film is an attempt to trace the history of Northern Soul and in order to do so Ian Levine has tracked down 129 original artists to perform on it. In addition he has also traced many other NS pioneers including DJ's, collectors, dealers and early club members. Bearing in mind that this video has been compiled 25 years after the event it gives as comprehensive a coverage as possible of Northern Soul's Golden Era. The often maligned Ian Levine deserves much credit for this enterprise, particularly because nobody else could have even begun to tackle it.

Although broadly welcomed by most of the NS fraternity there are some sections who remain critical of it. Their criticisms are probably justified, but in fairness to the producers it is difficult to see how they could have been avoided. Many of the artists are now old and decrepit but Ian Levine can hardly be held responsible for that. I am just grateful that he undertook the project before it truly became 'too late'. Mr. Levine is also heavily criticised for having used synthesised backing tracks, but had he employed full orchestration then the costs would have become prohibitive. The other main complaint seems to be about his 'special effects', and in a film about sixties music I have to concede that they are a bit of an anachronism. Again it is difficult to see what else he could have done as the film needed to be made visually exciting and at an economic rate. It is easy to pick faults with this film but its critics fail to offer any alternative solutions.

Having generally defended the video there are unquestionably some areas which could have been significantly improved. The endless interviews with people who basically say exactly the same thing can genuinely be faulted. It is also true to say that the film is unashamedly biased towards Blackpool Mecca but maybe this is justified in that it helps redress the balance of publicity afforded to the Casino. The Casino was unquestionably the most influential soul club of its time but this resulted in it receiving a wholly disproportionate amount of media coverage when compared to the other clubs. Not only has it had numerous TV documentaries and books based around it but also a whole series of CD releases. Maybe its time that Blackpool Mecca hogged a little glory. The part of the film I found most irritating were the interviews with ageing DJ's in baseball caps who described themselves as 'controversial'. They deliberately spoke in measured tones to give themselves an air of profundity then went on to state the 'absolutely-bleeding-obvious'. The section entitled 'Funniest Moments' was also a bit of a no-no.

Apart from the music itself the other feature of the film which I particularly enjoyed were the interviews with the Black Artists. Many of them were back working on production lines believing their records to have been monumental flops. It clearly came as a big surprise for them to discover that they were cult heroes here in Britain. What struck me most was how genuinely appreciative they were of the North of England. Rose Batiste could visibly be seen holding back her tears following her performance at Blackpool Mecca. Gene Chandler thought a promoter had got the wrong artist when he asked him to sing songs which he himself could not remember. The film included many similar tales from Willie Mitchell, Yvonne Vernee, Betty Lavette and the Four Larks. It is strange to think that these Artists which America has forgotten are still revered on the other side of the Atlantic.

Whatever his motives, whatever the weaknesses of the film, Ian Levine has done a fabulous job in making it and I believe he should be applauded for his efforts.