.................................the blog nobody reads: Soul for Dancers Volumes 1 & 2 [2015-2016] (4 x CDs)

VA - Soul for Dancers Volumes 1 & 2 [2015-2016] (4 x CDs)

Now we are all fascinated but the sources for Northern Soul dance house classics but this is special!

We know (most) of the artists but what about the songs!?

Butterboy says:

SOUL

"Released by the UK reissue label Fantastic Voyage, Soul For Dancers, Out On The Floor Firecrackers That Ignited The Northern Soul Boom [2015] and Soul For Dancers 2, Out On The Floor Firecrackers [2016] form one of the most accessible and historically grounded introductions to the early Northern Soul boom. Compiled by Lois Wilson, the sets gather the records that shaped dancefloors long before the term “Northern Soul” existed, focusing on the raw, high‑energy R&B and early soul sides that DJs prized for their drive, immediacy and emotional punch. The first volume opens with Ray Charles’ Tell The Truth and The Isley Brothers’ Respectable , signalling the curators’ intent: this is the sound of dancers discovering firecrackers, not the later, smoother club classics. The sequencing moves through Arthur Alexander, Don Covay, Aretha Franklin, Benny Spellman and Bobby Bland, each track chosen for its rhythm, urgency and floor‑lifting power.
What makes these compilations special is the way they restore the original context. Before Northern Soul became associated with rare Motown‑styled stompers, the scene was built on R&B intensity. Records like Bunker Hill’s Hide And Go Seek (Parts 1 & 2) , Eddie Bo’s Every Dog Got His Day, and Willie Cobbs’ You Don’t Love Me were the lifeblood of early dancers who wanted speed, grit and attitude. The first volume alone shows how broad that foundation was, stretching from New Orleans to Chicago, Detroit and the deep South. The second volume continues the story with the same philosophy, high‑octane R&B, early soul, and regional gems that ignited dancefloors long before collectors began chasing rarities.
Across both sets, the pleasure lies in the sequencing. Familiar names sit beside lesser‑known artists, and each track feels like a spark from a different corner of American rhythm and blues. Together, the two volumes form a single conversation between scenes, cities and decades. They capture the moment when dancers discovered that soul could be fast, fierce and unforgettable, and they preserve the raw energy that made Northern Soul a movement rather than a genre."

A Complete Northern Soul Primer. (Butterboy)

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check the link for track listing but really these are gems!