The third volume in Sony BMG's top-notch
The Northern Soul Story compilation series spotlights the Blackpool Mecca, which rivaled the Wigan Casino for taste-making supremacy as British club culture's fascination with forgotten American soul reached its frenzied apex. Opened in 1965, complete with a revolving stage, free coach service, and a capacity approaching 3500, the Blackpool Mecca was briefly the most popular nightclub of its day, but as the decade closed, smaller, more intimate venues became the vogue, and the larger dancehalls generally fell into disrepair. However, nestled within the Blackpool Mecca was a smaller hall, the Highland Room, located above the main arena; in 1971 the Highland Room opened as a Northern Soul venue, hosting acts ranging from
Isaac Hayes to
Edwin Starr to the
Chi-Lites and boasting the scene's arguably greatest one-two punch in DJs Ian Levine and Colin Curtis. Levine regularly accompanied his businessman father on overseas trips, scouring American record stores, junk shops, warehouses, and even recording studios to acquire music simply unavailable anywhere outside the U.S., and the Blackpool Mecca play lists would come to represent Northern soul culture at its most musically progressive and socially far-ranging. Restricted by conservative licensing laws, the club also earned renown for introducing all-dayers, essentially all-nighters beginning at noon and ending at midnight -- soon all-dayers were de rigeur for all clubs, even those exempt from similar licensing constraints. This 25-track collection is a worthy tribute, complete with superb mastering and track-by-track liner notes by British DJ Ian Dewhirst -- highlights include Lorraine Chandler's "I Can't Hold On," Lynne Randell's "Stranger in My Arms," and
Lou Ragland's "I Travel Alone." ~ Jason Ankeny