That's right. The term was coined in London.This was when Manchester United football fans and probably City as well used to seek rare fast old soul records from London secondhand record shops in the 60 and 70s.hence the term Northern Soul was born .
That's the source of were they came from. Many were imported by London record dealers. When they started drying up due to demand exceeding supply some collectors went to the States searching for them in cellars of various record outlets there.Many are unknown artists.Interesting as it was a white music culture seeking records sung by black artists.xx I will tell you some time of my one and only experience of Wigan Casino in 1980 it's final year . .