Album: Various Artists, Northern Soul 2 (Spectrum/Universal)

The meaning of Northern Soul grows ever more random and while there's some fast-paced "dancers" with a handclap beat on this well-researched cheapie collection, there's a few floor-clearers, too.

Best are the obscure, rare groove "floaters" and my life has already been improved by the Impressions' "Can't Satisfy Your Love" and Bobby Bland's "Shoes" (a song addressed to his footwear). The Temptations' "Girl" has the best drum-fill ever recorded.