Soul City was a

British soul British soul, Brit soul, or (in a US context) the British soul invasion, is soul music performed by British artists. Soul has been a major influence on British popular music since the 1960s, and American soul was extremely popular among some yout ...

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

run by

Dave Godin David Edward Godin (21 June 1936 – 15 October 2004) was an English fan of American soul music, who made a major contribution internationally in spreading awareness and understanding of the genre, and by extension African-American culture. Biog ...

, David Nathan and Robert Blackmore, from a record shop of the same name in London. It is not to be confused with the US

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

of the same name, run by the singer

Johnny Rivers Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella; November 7, 1942) is an American musician. His repertoire includes pop, folk, blues, and old-time rock 'n' roll. Rivers charted during the 1960s and 1970s but remains best known for a string of hit sing ...

. Its first release was Don Gardener & Dee Dee Ford's "Don't You Worry" in March 1969. The label released a further 18 singles, the biggest hit being

Gene Chandler Gene Chandler (born Eugene Drake Dixon; July 6, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, music producer, and record-label executive. Chandler is nicknamed "the Duke of Earl" or, simply, "the Duke." He is best known for his most successful son ...

's "Nothing Can Stop Me" which reached Number 41 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Soul City records were initially distributed by

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

and then

Philips Records Philips Records is a record label founded by the Dutch electronics company Philips. It was founded as Philips Phonographische Industrie in 1950. In 1946, Philips acquired the company which pressed records for British Decca's Dutch outlet in A ...

. The releases were extremely popular with fans of Northern Soul and

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

music. In the 2000s the name and label design was used by another company to issue Northern Soul records. This company had no connection to the Dave Godin label.

Discography

* SC 101

Don Gardner Donald Gardner (May 9, 1931 – September 4, 2018) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and drummer. His records included the 1962 pop hit " I Need Your Lovin'", with Dee Dee Ford. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Gardner star ...

& Dee Dee Ford - Don't You Worry / I'm Coming Home To Stay 7" * SC 102

- Nothing Can Stop Me / The Big Lie 7" * SC 103 Sylvia - I Can't Help It / It's A Good Life 7" * SC 104 Chuck Edwards - I Need You / Downtown Soulville 7" * SC 104DJ Chuck Edwards - Chuck I Need You / Downtown Soulville 7" (DJ Copy) * SC 105

Bessie Banks Bessie Banks (born February 8, 1938) is an American soul singer, best known for her original 1964 recording of "Go Now," successfully covered in the same year by UK band the Moody Blues. Life and career She was born Bessie White in New Bern, N ...

- Go Now / It Sounds Like My Baby 7" * SC 106 The Valentinos -

It's All Over Now "It's All Over Now" is a song written by Bobby Womack and his sister-in-law Shirley Womack. It was first released by The Valentinos, featuring Bobby Womack, in 1964. The Rolling Stones heard it on its release and quickly recorded a cover versio ...

/ Tired Of Living In The Country 7" * SC 106DJ The Valentinos - It's All Over Now / Tired Of Living In The Country 7" (DJ Copy) * SC 107

Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during which he ba ...

- Greazee / Greazee Part 2 7" * SC 107DJ Billy Preston - Billy Greazee / Greazee Part 2 7" (DJ Copy) * SC 108 Shirley Lawson - One More Chance / The Star 7" * SC 109 Soul City Executives - Happy Chatter / Falling In Love 7" * SC 110 Thelma Jones - The House That Jack Built / Give It To Me Straight 7" * SC 111 The Packers - Hole In The Wall / Go Ahead On 7" * SC 112 Chris Jackson - I'll Never Forget You / Forever I'll Stay With You 7" * SC 113 Billy Butler - The Right Track / Boston Monkey 7" * SC 114

Major Lance Major Lance (April 4, 1939, 1941Soul music A-Z 1995 p. 185 or 1942The golden age of American rock 'n roll: Volume 3; 2002 p. 556 – September 3, 1994) was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monk ...

- The Beat / You'll Want Me Back 7" * SC 115 Mighty Sam - Papa True Love / I Need A Lot Of Lovin' 7" * SC 116 Chuck Brooks - Black Sheep / I've Got To Get Myself Together 7" * SC 117

The Staple Singers The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (April 11, 1934 – February 21 ...

- For What It's Worth / Are you Sure 7" * SC 118

Erma Franklin Erma Vernice Franklin (March 13, 1938 – September 7, 2002) was an American gospel and soul singer. Franklin was the elder sister of American singer/musician Aretha Franklin. Franklin's best known recording was the original version of "Piece of ...

- Don't Wait Too Long / Time After Time 7" * SC 119

Allen Toussaint Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...

- We The People / Tequilla 7" * SC 120 Chris Jackson - Since There's No Doubt / We Will Be Together 7" (Unissued)

References

{{Authority control Defunct record labels of the United Kingdom Soul music record labels Record labels established in 1969 British companies established in 1969

Discography

See also

References