Meet Craig Thomas – Soul Searching, One 45 at a Time

Meet Craig Thomas – Soul Searching, One 45 at a Time
From the Northern Soul dancefloors to the fairways of his local golf club, meet a man with a lifelong passion for music, vinyl and discovering something special.

Some DJs are happy playing the records everybody knows. Others spend years searching through record boxes, hunting down forgotten gems, obscure labels and those elusive little 7-inch singles that most people have never heard of.

Craig Thomas is definitely one of the latter.

A familiar and well-respected figure on the Northern Soul scene, Craig has spent many years collecting, researching and sharing the music he loves. His specialist programme, Soul Searching, on Love Soul Radio London is a reflection of that passion.

And when it comes to soul music, Craig certainly knows his stuff.

A Man Who Knows His 45s
For Craig, collecting records is about far more than simply owning a piece of vinyl.

It's about the artist, the label, the year it was pressed, the musicians behind the recording and, quite often, the story of how a wonderful song managed to slip under the radar.

His particular passion lies in early soul, Northern Soul and crossover, that fascinating period when the raw, energetic sounds of the 1960s began evolving into the smoother, more sophisticated soul recordings of the early 1970s.

Craig has developed an impressive knowledge of artists, record labels, release dates and those wonderful little details that serious collectors love discussing.

He's also got something you can't necessarily learn from a book: a great ear for a good record.

He digs deep, and that's what makes his musical selections so interesting. You might hear a familiar Northern Soul favourite, followed by an obscure B-side or a forgotten crossover recording that leaves you wondering how on earth you missed it.

That's the beauty of Soul Searching.

A Familiar Face on the Northern Soul Scene
Craig's involvement in Northern Soul goes back many years, and he's built a great reputation among fellow collectors, DJs and enthusiasts.

He's very much part of the community, regularly playing records at local soul nights, clubs and events, sharing his passion with people who appreciate the music as much as he does.

And anyone familiar with the Northern Soul scene will know that it's about much more than simply turning up and playing a few records.

It's a culture built around friendships, dancefloors, discoveries and a shared appreciation of music that has stood the test of time.

Craig understands that culture because he's been part of it for so long.

From the RAF to the Record Box
Away from the turntables, there's another interesting side to Craig's life.

In a previous chapter, he served in the Royal Air Force, an experience that forms part of a varied and interesting background.

These days, when he's not searching for another elusive soul record or preparing his next radio show, you're quite likely to find him pursuing his other great passion: golf.

A keen golfer, Craig enjoys spending time at his local club, whether that's out on the course, helping in the golf shop or simply getting involved with the everyday life of the club.

It's clearly a place where he feels at home.

Mind you, we wouldn't be surprised if the conversation occasionally turns from birdies and bogeys to rare British soul releases and obscure American record labels!

Soul Searching – More Than Just a Radio Show
What makes Craig's programme so appealing is its authenticity.

There's no chasing trends, no predictable playlist and certainly no shortage of musical knowledge.

Instead, listeners are treated to a carefully selected collection of records from someone who genuinely understands and appreciates the music he's playing.

Soul Searching is a programme for the serious record collector, the Northern Soul enthusiast and anyone who enjoys discovering music beyond the obvious.

It's also a wonderful introduction for those who might be curious about the deeper side of soul music.

And that's something we particularly value at Love Soul Radio London.

Craig Thomas represents everything that's special about specialist music radio: knowledge, experience, individuality and a genuine passion for the records.

Whether he's behind the decks at a Northern Soul night, searching for another rare 45 or enjoying a round of golf, Craig is somebody who clearly enjoys the things that matter to him.

And fortunately for us, one of those things is sharing great soul music.

Join Craig Thomas for Soul Searching on Love Soul Radio London.

Mondays at 2pm

From London to the World – and always with soul.