Northern Soul Direct

25/08/2026

Out now on Anorax records 6 track 10” vinyl shop now at northernsouldirect.co.uk

05/08/2026

THE SOUL OF CENCO In stock now, the brand new Northern Soul LP from Soul Direction records -

The first-time tracks from the West Coast label “Cenco Records” have ever been compiled on one album.
13 tracks from the soulful side of this hidden gem of a label which includes many highly collectable and very rare releases.
What we have here is a real enigma of a label. Only really coming to light for Northern Soul fans and collectors around the 80s and 90s with the emergence of the “Stafford Era”. The label had an eclectic variety of releases that mostly lent toward the blues genre from its owners’ previous ventures, but it had ties to the world-renown Ike & Tina Turner with their 45 releases and album release. The label was certainly never much of a commercial success even after numerous releases.- Soul Direction

SIDE ONE
1. Fred & The Turbins – Bernadine
2. Gene & Eunice – Soul Loving
3. Al McKay and The Turbans – Rubber Legs
4. The Turbines – What More Can I Say
5. Shades of Jade – Is It Wrong
6. Carbo Brothers – Soul Serenade
7. The Wheelers – Once I Had A Girl
SIDE TWO
1. The Turbines – We Got To Start Over
2. Gene & Eunice – Walking Away
3. Shades of Jade – Affection
4. Made in Japan Band – What It Is
5. The Leftovers (Gene & Lou) – Searchin’
6. Carbo Brothers – What Can I Give Her



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29/07/2026

John Edwards – Tin Man – The Unissued Second Aware LP Vinyl Album (Kent)

Released Friday 31st July 2026

Side One
1. How Can I Go On Without You
2. Ain’t That Good Enough
3. It’s Got To Be The Real Thing For Me
4. Come Back Strong
5. Tin Man
6. Walls That Separate Our Love

Side Two
1. Time
2. Cold Hearted Woman
3. Everybody Don’t Get A Second Chance
4. I Had A Love
5. The Way We Were

John Edwards’ early releases, mainly at Aware Records under the tutelage of Floyd Smith, thrilled soul lovers with his consummate vocals and impressed the multi-million selling Spinners enough to hire him to replace their revered vocalist Philippe Wynne.

Edwards’ first Aware hits, such as ‘Stop This Merry-Go-Round’ and ‘Careful Man’, led to his eponymous debut LP. As the label’s major male artist, the company followed up by recording a second album and were probably anticipating a further hit. But Aware collapsed thanks to the label owner’s criminal activities, putting paid to that proposed disc.

When the master tapes were uncovered in the ’90s, the tracks were issued on the 1996 Kent CD ‘Careful Man’ and handful of singles were issued to great acclaim.

At last, we have collected the tracks on vinyl and the beauty of ‘Tin Man’, ‘How Can I Go On Without You’ and ‘Cold Hearted Woman’ can be enjoyed as they were originally intended. Modern soul fans will be able to sleep easily again.

Only £24.99 Free UK Delivery

John Edwards’ early releases, mainly at Aware Records under the tutelage of Floyd Smith, thrilled soul lovers with his consummate vocals and impressed the multi-million selling Spinners enough to hire him to replace their revered vocalist Philippe Wynne. Edwards’ first Aware hits, such as ‘Sto...

22/07/2026

Open Your Mind – Various Artists LP Vinyl Brand new from Jai Alai Records - In stock now

Side 1
1. Aretha Franklin – The Boy From Bombay
2. Dionne Warwick – Someone Else Gets The Prize
3. Andy Bey – I Know This Love Can’t Be Wrong
4. Pieces Of A Dream – It’s Time For Love
5. Kleeer – Open Your Mind

Side 2
1. Leon Ware – Got To Be Loved
2. Teddy Pendergrass – Believe In Love
3. Phajja – What Are You Waiting For
4. Gerald Levert – What About Me
5. Etta James – Evening Of Love

The second Jai Alai album takes its name from a track on Winners (1979) by New York band Kleeer, who evolved from Pipeline via The Universal Robot Band before becoming a major force on the soul and boogie scene; their full-length “Open Your Mind” is simply sublime.

Two originally unreleased tracks will delight completists of Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick. Aretha co-produced “The Boy From Bombay” with Quincy Jones — perhaps a little too quirky at the time — while Warwick’s Ashford & Simpson-produced “Someone Else Gets The Price” has all the hallmarks of a missed hit.

Philadelphia’s Pieces Of A Dream, discovered by Grover Washington Jr., were fêted across Europe throughout the 80s. Their Elektra album Imagine This (1983) yielded the wonderfully moody “It’s Time For Love”. Further mining of the Elektra vaults yields a highly collectable Phat Phili Mix of Teddy’s “Believe In Love”, alongside a jewel from Leon Ware’s Rockin’ You Eternally (1981). I was fortunate to get to know this musical genius very well but he is still underappreciated as a master of sensuous soul; “Got To Be Loved” ranks among his finest.

There’s not enough space here to fully cover Gerald Levert’s “What About Me”, but my liner notes to the Jai Alai release JAR14 “Top Of My Head” detail just how talented he was — and this is further proof.

The two least-known artists make a strong impression. Andy Bey’s “I Know This Love Can’t Be Wrong” recalls Jon Lucien at his best, while Phajja — a promising Warner Bros. signing in 1997 — disappeared after just two albums; their Cutfather & Joe production here is as polished as any hit by The Emotions.

By the time Etta James recorded “Evening Of Love”, she was four decades into her career, delivering this beautiful ballad with total assurance.

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This new album was compiled by the late Francis T, Basil, Tim Everett and Joe Boy in celebration of 50 years of Northern Soul at Stoke's..

07/07/2026

*New Release 7" Vinyl**
The Family Brick – I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms / Ray Gant & Unknown Female Singer – Did She Do It To You 45 (Kent) 7″ Vinyl

‘I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms’ is a terrific, early 70s soul song written by George Rountree and Jack Ashford. Jack eventually cut it on himself for his “Hotel Sheets” LP in 1977. Prior to that he recorded two versions, one the Magnificents which we put out as a 100 Club anniversary single in 2017 and this version by the Family Brick which features both male and female vocalists and has never been on a single until now. When Jack recorded the song for his own LP he added some sensual backing vocals, whereas this take is more mainstream soul.
From around 1971, when Ray Gant recorded his version of ‘I Need A True Love’ on Jay Walking, we have a very different lyrical version of the song as ‘Did She Do It To You’ with a shared, but unknown, female vocal. The alternate recording sounds quite different to the original and will please Detroit soul buffs.

Only £13.99 (any 4 for £50 offer) Free Delivery on ALL orders within the UK


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‘I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms’ is a terrific, early 70s soul song written by George Rountree and Jack Ashford. Jack eventually cut it on himself for his “Hotel Sheets” LP in 1977. Prior to that he recorded two versions, one the Magnificents which we put out as a 100 Club anniversary single i...

07/07/2026

Rosie Lopez – I’ll Never Grow Tired / Too Hot To Hold 45 (Pulsar / Kent) 7″ Vinyl

*New Release 7" Vinyl**

Only £13.99 (Any 4 for £50 offer) Free Delivery on all UK orders

Long admired as a great soul ballad, Rosie Lopez’s ‘I’ll Never Grow Tired’ has become more desirable ever since the lowrider scene put this type of magnificent harmony backing into the spotlight.

As if that was not enough, Rosie’s updated version of Betty Everett’s ‘Too Hot To Hold’ has captured the imagination of the younger DJs on the soul dance scene, making for two very desirable sides.



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Long admired as a great soul ballad, Rosie Lopez’s ‘I’ll Never Grow Tired’ has become more desirable ever since the lowrider scene put this type of magnificent harmony backing into the spotlight. As if that was not enough, Rosie’s updated version of Betty Everett’s ‘Too Hot To Hold’ ...

07/07/2026

Leroy Hutson – Lucky Fellow (’94 Mix) / Reality 45 (Home Of The Good Groove) 7″ Vinyl

OUT NOW only £15.00 (any 4 for £50 offer)

The fourth instalment in the Hutson Sevens 7 inch series finds Home of the Good Groove Records taking a slight detour away from the vaults of unreleased material this time, but back to a pivotal moment in LeRoy Hutson’s creative journey.

Fear not: more unheard gems are on the horizon. But for this chapter, the label rewinds to 1994, a year that marked a meaningful renaissance for the soul legend.

After years of legal battles and persistence, Hutson finally reclaimed partial ownership of his catalogue in 1989 — a hard won victory that opened the door to a new era. Though celebrated as a musician, composer, lyricist and performer, the world of publishing was uncharted territory for the musical legend. By 1994, Hutson stepped confidently into that new chapter, signing his first licensing agreement with a Japanese label and publisher.

From that landmark agreement come two recordings now making their debut on 7 inch vinyl, presented with the care and reverence they deserve.

The A side brings us “Lucky Fellow (’94 Mix)”, a track with a storied lineage. First recorded by Maurice Jackson in 1971, it became one of Hutson’s signature moments when he released it on his 1975 album Hutson — a version that remains a fan favourite to this day.



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The fourth instalment in the Hutson Sevens 7 inch series finds Home of the Good Groove Records taking a slight detour away from the vaults of unreleased material this time, but back to a pivotal moment in LeRoy Hutson’s creative journey. Fear not: more unheard gems are on the horizon. But for this...

10/06/2026

New 4 track 7" Vinyl EP From Soul 4 Real Records

Reserva Especial – Malaco – Various Artists 45 (Soul 4 Real) 7″ Vinyl EP

A SIDE Eddie Floyd – It’s Got To Be That Way / The Unemployed – No More Kids Games
B SIDE Chad – I Just Want To Say / Right Combination – Storyteller

A new volume in the Reserva Especial series, this time dedicated to Malaco Records.
It features a previously unreleased song by The Unemployed, a semi-known track by Chad (originally available only on CD), an obscure cut by The Right Combination, and a dancefloor delight by Eddie Floyd, released for the first time on 45 rpm.



Only £21.99 Free UK Delivery

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10/06/2026

New 4 track 7" Vinyl EP From Soul 4 Real Records

Reserva Especial – Stax / Volt III – Various Artists 45 (Soul 4 Real) 7″ Vinyl EP

A SIDE Johnnie Taylor – Will You Love Me Forever / Mable John – Catch That Man
B SIDE Jimmy Hughes – It’s All Up To You / William Bell – Love Will Find A Way

The third volume dedicated to the legendary Stax/Volt label.
It features two originally unreleased tracks by Mable John and William Bell, alongside two beloved album cuts, available for the first time on 7-inch.



Only £21.99 Free UK Delivery

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09/06/2026

Back In Stock - CARMY LOVE You Gotta Understand / Thinking Of Leaving 45 (FYND / Acid Jazz) 7″ Vinyl

Acid Jazz is proud to present a stellar ’60s-style soul 45 on group label FYND, as Carmy Love joins PM Warson on the storming ‘You Gotta Understand’ b/w ‘Thinking Of Leaving’.

Carmy Love is one of the preeminent voices on the UK soul scene. Having sung with Cool Million, Charles and House Gospel Choir, and as an original member of New Street Adventure, she embarked upon a solo career in 2021 with a run of singles for the Big AC label. Her track ‘Thinkin’ About You’ featured on the Acid Jazz Totally Wired compilation last year.

PM Warson is described as ‘one of the leading lights of the modern R&B scene’ by Shindig! Magazine, with three records under his belt with Légère Recordings, and extensive live and international touring experience over the last 5 years. A true ‘60s stylist, he founded FYND with the support of Dean and Ed at Acid Jazz in 2024 as an outlet for his authentic and original R&B/Soul productions.

A thrilling new collaboration on wax, as Carmy soars over the driving A-side ‘You Gotta Understand’, backed by an infectious guitar riff, horns and a driving rhythm section. For the flip, she takes us into deep soul territory, with Southern-styled ballad ‘Thinking Of Leaving’. They’ve done it right: an essential for retro-classic soul fans.



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Hutson returns with his second 7″ single for Acid Jazz Records, this time recorded in 1982, it see’s the master veer into boogie territory.