70's and 80's RnB, jazz-funk and soul music events and discos in Bristol and the South West

Soultrain is renowned for its large collection of 'soul' hits from the 70s and 80s. Below is a brief history of 'soul' music and the early Bristol scene together with a sample of the artists that you can expect to hear at a typical Soultrain event. Whilst we play a varied selection of songs at each event it may be that your particular favourite is not given a spin. So we are always happy to consider requests for individual songs and if you have a particular favourite then you can post your request or dedication on the soultrain message board and we will do our best to accomodate it. If that isn't possible you can always ask at the event.

A Brief History of Soul Music

During the late 60s and 70s a new brand of music emerged in the UK, particularly in the then named night club and ballroom circuit. It was sweet soul music a type of music that had originated from the USA. In the early sixties the radio listening audience of Britain were used to a popular music format from the BBC's light programme. Then came the pirate stations such as Radio Caroline and Radio London with a rebel approach to thier music policy, along with dear ol' 208 Radio Luxembourg mainly transmitting sponsored programmes paid for by record companies and major companies carrying their advertising slogans.

The pirates had created a fashion to give thier listeners a more varied approach to music listening. After the pirates were forced off the air by the Marine Offences Bill, a new station was to hit the airwaves, a similar output using many of the DJ's who had become household names during their illegal broadasting. That new station was named RADIO ONE and went on the air in September of 1967 with Tony Blackburn launching the station. By the way "pop pickers" you might like to know that the first record to be played on RADIO ONE was "Flowers In The Rain" by the Move. Hardly a SOULTRAIN classic we admit but nevertheless a useless piece of information for you that will make you sleep better at night. By this time clubs and ballrooms began to do "their own thing" and quickly picked up on a new trend in dance music. It was, as it is today called SOUL MUSIC. Suddenly American record labels packed the record shops with such names as Stax, Chess, and the London record label , who featured the wording......Recorded at Tamala Motown Records. The record companies introduced new recording artists,like Otis Redding, Mary Wells, William Bel, Jimmy Ruffin, the late Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston, Tami Terrell, Arthur Conley, James Brown and groups like The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, Sam & Dave, The Markeys, Booker T & The MG's to name but a few.

This new concept in popular floor filling music was on the move, and didn't stop at Bristol. Clubs such as TIFFANYS, The LOCARNO, MANDRAKES, and AUNT JEMIMAS built their reputations and their audiences by playing the best in SOUL MUSIC. One such venue was THE TOP RANK BRISTOL SUITE which opened with then Radio Luxembourg DJ Tony Prince (No relation to Bob Prince).Halfway through the 70's the Bristol club scene was at it's peak more clubs were opening and with a new illuminated sign above the door with the word DISCOTHEQUE built for smaller capacities and giving the people of Bristol and surrounding areas a wider choice for their night's out. Amongst these names were Platform One, Vadims, Lautrecs, Scamps and who could forget Tuesday nights in Yate at The Stirling Suite which went on to become Stars & Stripes and then Spirals, with the then famous Paul Snook who later emigrated to America. Soultrain DJ Johnny Stallard recalls "They were memorable days for me I had both residences in Scamps and Dreamland, the people and music said it all". Johnny was fortunate to work with SOULMASTER and EMPORER ROSKO who commanded a huge following each time he came to town with their BIG ROADSHOW, a fabulous batch of SOUL RECORDS and the often mimcked voice that spouted such poetry as "It'll make your back crack and your liver quiver" by Paul Alexander - Soultrain 2000

Also try these links for further info on the origins of soul music

Search on two of our favorite search sites

We have listed below the names of a selection of our favourite artists. Where possible we have put links to background information on the artist, some on the soultrain web site some external. The Amazon link will take you to their site with a list of available products by the artist, you can also find sample tracks there. If you have any interesting links on the artists please send them to us and we will try to include them.

Al Green

A Brief History of Soul Music

Also try these links for further info on the origins of soul music

Search on two of our favorite search sites

Some Of Our Favourite Artists