A Northern Soul is the second studio album by English rock band The Verve. The album was released in the United States on June 20 1995 and in the United Kingdom on July 3 1995 (see 1995 in British music). In 1998 Q magazine readers voted it the 53rd greatest album of all time.
Northern Soul is the term used in the UK for a type of mid-tempo and uptempo heavy-beat soul music (of mainly African American origin) that was popularized in northern England in the mid 1960s. The term also refers to the associated dance styles and fashions that emanated from the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester and spread to other dancehalls and nightclubs; such as the Golden Torch (in Stoke-upon-Trent), the Blackpool Mecca, and the Wigan Casino. Northern soul dancing was usually athletic, resembling the later dance styles of disco and break dancing. Featuring spins, flips, and backdrops, the northern soul dancing style was inspired by the stage performances of visiting American soul acts such as Little Anthony & The Imperials and Jackie Wilson.
