It could, of course, be argued that the Twisted Wheel  was only one of a number of clubs employed in the development of this underground phenomenon known as Northern Soul.

However, one thing is for sure, the Wheel, as it was fondly known, had been in existence in Manchester from as early as 1963 in Brazennose  Street and from 1965 to 1971 in Whitworth Street.

In it's formative years, it had been a temple for contemporary Rhythm and Blues and Soul Music, playing host to a vast array of African American stars including John Lee Hooker, Mary Wells, Wilson Pickett, Marv Johnson, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Jimmy Ruffin and Edwin Starr.

Manchester also had a network of record shops which specialised in Black Music, so demand in the area was already well established.

The Free Trade Hall and the Odeon Cinema, in particular, were also  regular venues for top Atlantic, Stax and Motown acts.

After the early evening show, you could drop by the Twisted  Wheel for an incredible nine hours of top class rare soul music - and head for home at 7.30 a.m.!

Yes, Manchester was the place to be in 1970.

Notes thanks to David Meikle.