Soulbot UK – get ready to read all about it!

Rare American imports were played both at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and the now virtually forgotten Blue Note Club, Manchester which was run by possibly the coolest club manager ever, John Fogel. Both these clubs became the  birthplace of what later became known as Northern Soul. One of the recurring themes of Soulbot is the debt that is owed to the DJ Roger Eagle who worked at both the Twisted Wheel and The Blue Note Club in Manchester. His influence on the popularity of black music in the UK especially the STAX label is often unsung but should never be underestimated. Years before it became known, Roger was importing American Blues, R & B and Soul singles and albums and playing them in Manchester for the first time. Many of these tracks were subsequently rediscovered and claimed by later soul movements as their own.

 

We went to both these clubs, firstly as young teenagers, still at school. Later we both DJ’d at The Blue Note and imported many rare records from the U.S. which later became adopted by the Northern Soul scene which is still flourishing today. The were exciting times with exciting music. Soul and Soul influenced music is one of the very few genres which still makes people of all ages want to hit the dance floor after all the years that have passed since. 

 

 It is our aim to have entries on every single artist whose music was played during the early to mid sixties and late at the soul clubs which began the movement now known as Northern Soul.Some of the stars of this soul and blues database have now passed away, some tragically and others peacefully. Some still survive and perform, often recapturing the magic that drew us to them in the first place – William Bell for instance and even Little Richard (`I’m 72 years old and I’m still beauuuuutiful!’). Soulbot  is idiosyncratic, partial and sometimes might be annoying – but there we are. And it includes ‘Northern’ and also more modern Soul artists and music: you can certainly believe that the music of all types included are well liked by us, but with a bias to the roots of our first taste of Soul: 60T’s Soul.

 

We hope it gives you a taste of the blues and a love of soul and an insight into the formative years of the soul movement. If it only gives you the desire to discover more before these memories fade away then it will be a job well done. Of yes almost forgot; there will be a little bit of Blue Beat, SKA some Latin and bit of Jazz.

 

You will find lots of information about the artists and their recordings  and no apologies are made for emphasising our favourites like this one: The MONKEY TIME

 

 

 

 You will find all these songs and many more within SOULBOT – The Blue Note DJ.

 

And that’s because as Dyke and his Blazers said – WE GOT MUCH MORE SOUL.

.