Manchester University Press
Introduction
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Abstract
This book examines the relationship between popular music and everyday life. Northern soul was just one of a multiplicity of music scenes, genres and trends that were central to working-class experiences, feelings and identities. The introduction provides a critical reading of the sociological and historical literature on post-war youth culture and popular music. It argues that listening to music was a coping strategy in dealing with the rigours and exhaustions of school, work and domestic alienation as well as a soundtrack that accompanied memories of particular time periods, episodes and events. In presenting northern soul as more than just a hobby or cultural diversion for its consumers, the book is unashamedly empathetic. As the working class continue to be caricatured, marginalised and, notably, largely absent from the upper realms of academia it is important that their experiences, emotions and histories are recorded, published and disseminated.
Abstract
This book examines the relationship between popular music and everyday life. Northern soul was just one of a multiplicity of music scenes, genres and trends that were central to working-class experiences, feelings and identities. The introduction provides a critical reading of the sociological and historical literature on post-war youth culture and popular music. It argues that listening to music was a coping strategy in dealing with the rigours and exhaustions of school, work and domestic alienation as well as a soundtrack that accompanied memories of particular time periods, episodes and events. In presenting northern soul as more than just a hobby or cultural diversion for its consumers, the book is unashamedly empathetic. As the working class continue to be caricatured, marginalised and, notably, largely absent from the upper realms of academia it is important that their experiences, emotions and histories are recorded, published and disseminated.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Mods, Motown and ‘rare soul’ in northern England 17
- 2 In the days before Wigan 51
- 3 The beating heart of soul 82
- 4 Soul explosion, fragmentation and decline 110
- 5 The chosen few 140
- 6 Locating northern soul 175
- 7 Race, gender, sexuality and the politics of northern soul 209
- 8 Going back and checking it out 247
- Conclusion 274
- Bibliography 279
- Index 295
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Mods, Motown and ‘rare soul’ in northern England 17
- 2 In the days before Wigan 51
- 3 The beating heart of soul 82
- 4 Soul explosion, fragmentation and decline 110
- 5 The chosen few 140
- 6 Locating northern soul 175
- 7 Race, gender, sexuality and the politics of northern soul 209
- 8 Going back and checking it out 247
- Conclusion 274
- Bibliography 279
- Index 295
