Hot on the heels of the 2014 release of the film Northern Soul and its soundtrack, Demon Music Group’s Harmless Records imprint is celebrating the R&B subgenre with what’s likely its most exhaustive chronicle ever: the 8-CD/2-DVD box set The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule. This massive set, due on February 16, has been co-compiled by Harmless’ chief and 1970s Northern Soul DJ Ian Dewhirst, and features diverse tracks from artists including The Spinners, Chuck Jackson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bunny Sigler, Paul Anka, The Pointer Sisters, Timi Yuro, Joanie Sommers, The Drifters, and Daryl Hall (with The Temptones).

What is northern soul? The late journalist Dave Godin is credited with coining the phrase, which he used to describe music in the mid-1960s soul vein preferred by enthusiasts in the northern part of England. Godin told Mojo in 2002 that he had first devised the term in 1968, to help employees at his Soul City record shop differentiate the rapidly-proliferating funk style of RandB from the smoother, Motown-influenced soul of just a few years earlier. (In The Soul Stylists, renowned DJ Ady Croasdell described the prototypical Northern Soul song as The Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” although the song was too mainstream to achieve much popularity in the Northern Soul scene.) The movement championed lesser-known tracks over big hits, and it soon spread, with clubs popping up throughout the north and midlands of England. More than 45 years after Godin first coined the term, the movement has experienced a spike in popularity thanks to the success of the Northern Soul film and soundtrack.

The contributors to The Odyssey include co-compiler Tim Brown of Anglo-American, Manifesto publisher Mike Ritson, and journalist-broadcaster Simon White, who oversaw the numerous interviews included on the set’s DVDs. Richard Searling interviews John Anderson, described as “the world's longest-standing and most enigmatic record dealer,” and also pays a visit to Philadelphia International Records co-founder Kenny Gamble, who is filmed perusing Searling’s record collection and discovering many of his own U.K. releases for the first time! (Gamble is heard on the set with his 1966 single “The Joke’s on You.”)

A 150-page book designed by Glen Gunton accompanies the set; the overall package has been designed by the single-named Jaffa. Per Harmless, “the music follows the evolvement of Northern Soul, from its early beginnings at Manchester's Twisted Wheel club in 1968, through to The Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca, Wigan Casino and Cleethorpes Pier in the 1970s, Stafford Top Of The World and The 100 Club in the 1980s and the huge dearth of Soul weekenders and the 100 Club again from the 1990s to the present day.” This story is told via 222 tracks, all of which have been licensed from current rights holder and newly remastered.

The exhaustive The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule arrives from Demon and Harmless on February 16 in the United Kingdom. You can peruse the track listing below, with its impressive array of artists both familiar and all but unknown, but for discographical annotation, you’ll have to turn to the box set itself! You can pre-order this exciting chronicle of a still-vibrant musical scene below.

Various Artists, The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time Capsule (Harmless, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1

1. Open The Door To Your Heart - Darrell Banks
2. Walking Up A One Way Street - Willie Tee
3. I Dig Your Act - The O'Jays
4. I Feel So Bad - Jackie Edwards
5. 60 Minutes Of Your Love - Homer Banks
6. I Spy (for the FBI) - Jamo Thomas And His Party Brothers Orchestra
7. Barefootin' - Robert Parker
8. She Blew A Good Thing - The Poets
9. First I Look At The Purse - The Contours
10. I'm Gonna Run Away From You - Tami Lynn
11. (At The) Discotheque - Chubby Checker
12. I'll Always Love You - The Spinners
13. Looking For You - Garnet Mimms
14. The Boogaloo Party - The Flamingos
15. I'm Gonna Miss You - The Artistics
16. There's Nothing Else To Say - The Incredibles
17. Baby Do The Philly Dog - The Olympics
18. That Beatin' Rhythm - Richard Temple
19. Love Love Love - Bobby Hebb
20. You've Been Cheatin' - The Impressions
21. Investigate - Major Lance
22. Just Walk In My Shoes - Gladys Knight and The Pips
23. Ain't No Soul (In These Old Shoes) - Major Lance
24. A 'Lil Lovin' Sometimes - Alexander Patton
25. The Right Track - Billy Butler
26. Baby Reconsider - Leon Haywood
27. Cigarette Ashes - Jimmy Conwell
28. Wear It On Our Face - The Dells
29. Seven Days Too Long - Chuck Wood
30. These Chains Of Love (Are Breaking Me Down) - Chuck Jackson
31. Long After Tonight Is All Over - Jimmy Radcliffe

CD 2

1. Here I Go Again - Archie Bell and The Drells
2. You're Gonna Make Me Love You - Sandi Sheldon
3. The Same Old Thing - The Olympics
4. Hit and Run - Rose Batiste
5. Quick Change Artist - The Soul Twins
6. You Just Don't Know - Chubby Checker
7. You Get Your Kicks - Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels
8. Sliced Tomatoes - The Just Brothers
9. Keep On Keeping On - N.F. Porter
10. Exus Trek - The Luther Ingram Orchestra
11. Psychedelic Soul Pt 1 - Saxie Russell
12. 'Cause You're Mine - The Vibrations
13. Honest To Goodness - Herb Ward
14. My Dear Heart - Shawn Robinson
15. Festival Time - The San Remo Golden Strings
16. Groovin' At The Go - Go
17. Cracking Up Over You - Roy Hamilton
18. Love On A Mountain Top - Robert Knight
19. I'm Satisfied With You - The Furys
20. I Can't Get Away - Bobby Garrett
21. Head and Shoulders (Above The Rest) - Patti Young
22. Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You - Darrell Banks
23. You Don't Want Me No More - Major Lance
24. What Would I Do - The Tymes
25. Shing - A
26. This Beautiful Day - Levi Jackson
27. Everything's Gonna Be Alright - P.P. Arnold
28. Baby Boy - Fred Hughes
29. Purple Haze - Johnny Jones and The King Casuals
30. Thumb A Ride - Earl Wright and His Orchestra

CD 3

1. If You Ask Me (Because I Love You) - Jerry Williams
2. Skiing In The Snow - The Invitations
3. The Girl Across The Street - Moses Smith
4. Blowing My Mind To Pieces - Bob Relf
5. Our Love Is In The Pocket - J.J. Barnes
6. I Got To Find Me Somebody - The Vel
7. I Hurt On The Other Side - Jerry Cook
8. I'm Gonna Love You - Edward Hamilton
9. Let Her Go - Otis Smith
10. She's Puttin' You On - United Four
11. Psychedelic Soul Pt 2 - Saxie Russell
12. Breakaway Pt 2 - The Steve Karmen Big Band
13. Get It Baby - Stanley Mitchell
14. Please Operator - Tony and Tyrone
15. I Really Love You - The Tomangoes
16. Crazy Baby - The Coasters
17. Stick By Me Baby - The Salvadors
18. You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me) - Alice Clark
19. Baby Don't You Weep - Edward Hamilton and The Arabians
20. I Can't Hold On - Lorraine Chandler
21. Satisfied - Ben Aitken
22. There's A Ghost In My House - R. Dean Taylor
23. They'll Never Know Why - Freddie Chavez
24. I Just Can't Live My Life (Without You Babe) - Linda Jones
25. Can't Help Loving That Man Of Mine - Ila Vann
26. Seven Day Lover - James Fountain
27. She'll Come Running Back - Mel Britt
28. It Really Hurts Me Girl - The Carstairs
29. California Montage - Young Holt Unlimited

CD 4

1. Breakaway Pt 1 - The Steve Karmen Big Band ft Jimmy Radcliffe
2. You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies - Dana Valery
3. Night Owl - Bobby Paris
4. Help Me - Al Wilson
5. Afternoon Of The Rhino - The Mike Post Coalition
6. Tainted Love - Gloria Jones
7. I'll Always Need You - Dean Courtney
8. Serving A Sentence Of Life - Carl Douglas
9. Dance Dance Dance - The Casualeers
10. The Night - Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons
11. You've Got Your Mind On Other Things - Beverly Ann
12. Interplay - Derek and Ray
13. Born A Loser - Don Ray
14. When We Get There - Paul Anka
15. As Long As You Love Me (I'll Stay) - Ronnie and Robin
16. Bari Track - Doni Burdick
17. (It's Against) The Laws Of Love - The Volcanoes
18. Heartaches Away My Boy - Christine Cooper
19. Don't Take It Out On This World - Adam's Apples
20. All Of My Life - Detroit Soul
21. You Didn't Say A Word - Yvonne Baker
22. Baby Hit And Run - The Contours
23. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson
24. Double Cookin' - The Checkerboard Squares
25. Country Girl - Vickie Baines
26. Girl, Don't Make Me Wait - Bunny Sigler
27. You Don't Love Me Anymore - Johnny Caswell
28. I'm On My Way - Dean Parrish

CD 5

1. Turning My Heartbeat Up - The MVP's
2. You Don't Love Me - Epitome Of Sound
3. Burning Sensation - Robby Lawson
4. Baby Without You - Danny Monday
5. I Was Born To Love You - Herbert Hunter
6. I Lost A True Love - Danny Wagner and The Kindred Soul
7. I Wanna Know - John E Paul
8. Tear Stained Face - Don Varner
9. She's Wanted (In Three States) - Larry Clinton
10. Where I'm Not Wanted - Eddie Holman
11. This Gets To Me - Pookie Hudson
12. I Don't Like To Lose - The Group featuring Cecil Washington
13. It's Better To Cry - The Appreciations
14. Please Stay - The Ivorys
15. Happiness Is Here - Tobi Lark
16. Love Slipped Through My Fingers - Sam Williams
17. Cool Off - Detroit Executives
18. Love Factory - Eloise Laws
19. Sad Girl - Carol Anderson
20. Strange Change - Herb Ward
21. I Am Nothing - Al Williams
22. The Jokes On You - Kenny Gamble
23. I Really Love You - Jimmy Burns
24. That's No Way To Treat A Girl - Marie Knight
25. A Changed Man - The Rotations
26. This Won't Change - Lester Tipton
27. Gone With The Wind Is My Love - Rita and The Tiaras

CD 6

1. Elijah Rockin' With Soul - Hank Jacobs
2. I Can't Change - Lorraine Chandler
3. They're Talking About Me - Johnny Bragg
4. My Heart Cries For You - Porgy and The Monarchs
5. You're Never Too Young (To Fall In Love) - The Modern Redcaps
6. Send Him Back - The Pointer Sisters
7. Do The Pearl Girl Pt 2 - The Matta Baby
8. All The Way Home - Dee Edwards
9. Look At Me Now - Terry Callier
10. So Is The Sun - World Column
11. The Gig - Raw Soul
12. Wrong Crowd - Prince George
13. Hung Up On Your Love - The Montclairs
14. Ton Of Dynamite - Frankie 'Loveman' Crocker
15. Lady Lady Lady (Are You Crazy For Me) - Boogie Man Orchestra
16. I Don't Know What Foot To Dance On - Kim Tolliver
17. I Wanna Be (Your Everything) - The Pretenders
18. Cuz It's You Girl - James Walsh Gypsy Band
19. You Sexy Sugar Plum (But I Like It) - Rodger Collins
20. Cut Your Motor Off - Black Nasty feat Herbie Thompson
21. I Got The Vibes - Joshie Jo Armstead
22. Have Love Will Travel - Rosey Jones
23. Do What You Feel Pt 1 - The Rimshots
24. Wash And Wear Love - Lynn Varnado
25. Elusive - Babe Ruth
26. Are You Ready For This - The Brothers
27. I've Got The Need - The Moments

CD 7

1. Please Don't Go - Willie Tee
2. Since I Found My Baby - The Metros
3. I Need My Baby - Jackey Beavers
4. I Still Love You - The Seven Souls
5. Suspicion - The Originals
6. Let's Talk It Over - Spencer Wiggins
7. I'll Never Stop Loving You - Carla Thomas
8. Talkin' Woman - Lowell Fulson
9. You Just Cheat And Lie - Z Z Hill
10. Oh How I Love You - Little Johnny Hamilton
11. Too Much For You - Bobby Angelle
12. Naughty Boy - Jackie Day
13. Losing Control - Mary Saxton
14. You Really Made It Good To Me - Ty Karim
15. Girl I Love You - The Temptones
16. Wrapped Tied and Tangled - Lavern Baker
17. Try Me For Your New Love - Junior McCants
18. The Magic Touch - Melba Moore
19. Dearly Beloved - Jack Montgomery
20. Packing Up - Damon Fox
21. Because Of My Heart - Frankie Beverly
22. You Shook Me Up - Roy Hamilton
23. My Love Gets Stronger - Tommy Ridgley
24. I'm Steppin' Out Of The Picture - Johnny Maestro and The Crests
25. Rat Race - Gino Washington
26. I Don't Do This (To Every Girl I Meet) - Sidney Joe Qualls
27. I'm Having So Much Fun - Willie Tee
28. Deep Dark Secret - Dee Dee Sharp
29. What Should I Do - Little Ann
30. Such Misery - The Precisions

CD 8

1. If I Could Only Be Sure - Nolan Porter
2. Home Is Where The Heart Is - Bobby Womack
3. Something New To Do - Bobby Sheen
4. Too Late - Mandrill
5. The Game Is Over (What's The Matter With You) - Brown Sugar
6. Because Of You - Jackie Wilson
7. Pour Your Little Heart Out - The Drifters
8. Think It Over (And Be Sure) - Liz Verdi
9. What's That On Your Finger - Kenny Carter
10. Baby - A
11. I Can't Break The News To Myself - Ben E King
12. The Stars - Barbara Lewis
13. Something's Wrong - Chris Clark
14. Don't Pity Me - Joanie Sommers
15. Here Are The Pieces Of My Broken Heart - Gladys Knight and The Pips
16. In Love - Tony Galla
17. Tune Up - Junior Walker and The All Stars
18. Beggin' - Timebox
19. Stolen Hours - Patrice Holloway
20. Call On Me - The Dynells
21. How - The Masqueraders
22. Talkin' 'Bout My Baby - Dottie and Millie
23. (Just A Little) Faith And Understanding - The Magicians
24. Dynamite Exploded - Honey and The Bees
25. I'm Slowly Moulding - Cody Black
26. What's With This Loneliness - Chuck Jackson
27. If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) - The Precisions
28. It'll Never Be Over For Me - Timi Yuro