Manchester, England's Twisted Wheel is the acknowledged ground zero of Northern soul. Upon opening in 1963, the club played a mishmash of soul, blues, and jazz but in 1967 adopted a strict up-tempo soul music policy. Led by DJs Roger Eagle and Bob Bellars, $the Twisted Wheel popularized records like Gladys Knight's "Just Walk in My Shoes," Archie Bell & the Drells' "Here I Go Again," and Earl Van Dyke's "All for You," all virtually unknown in their native U.S. The club was also the first to import records from American retailers -- technically an illegal activity in Britain prior to 1972 -- and was rewarded for its diligence with an amphetamine-loving mod clientele whose illicit behaviors prompted the Manchester city council to revoke the Twisted Wheel's entertainment license. On January 31, 1971, the club closed its doors for good, but its spirit lives on in every Northern soul club, one-nighter, and compilation CD assembled in its wake. The third and supposedly final volume in Goldmine's series spotlighting Twisted Wheel crowd-pleasers is low on rarities and rediscoveries, but the music is nevertheless extraordinary, proving Eagle and Bellars tastemakers of uncommon distinction. Highlights include Wilmer & the Dukes' "Give Me One More Chance," Deon Jackson's "Ooh Baby," Alvin Cash's "Twine Time," and Carl Carlton's "Competition Ain't Nothing." ~ Jason Ankeny|

Rovi