Young Soul Rebels by Stuart Cosgrove

A familiar voice for many, Stuart Cosgrove looks into the enigmatic Northern Soul music scene in his latest book. From the musicians who echoed over the speakers, to the men and woman that danced all night in front of them, Young Soul Rebels charts in effortless detail the cosmic freedom that music provides.

Aptly opening with an inspiring quote from Maya Angelou, Young Soul Rebels is an exhilarating education into the music scene and culture that somehow transformed Britain. From the Wigan Pier of George Orwell’s infamous social commentary, to the 'energetic scrum' it became under the electricity of the Northern Soul scene, this book follows the rise of what would become the club scene in Britain, alongside youth growing into a commercial force to be reckoned with.

Standing on the sweaty shoulders of  these wasted youth is present day art and culture in Britain. As unstable a foundation as that may seem, its unexpected stability has fostered a soulful lineage that has defied the law, defied the charts and somehow defied time. You may just find yourself unable to resist making a playlist to accompany this book. In fact not so much a book, but an LP with pages and pictures. Cosgrove gives Northern Soul the loud, upbeat voice it deserves.