Soul music runs deep at City Slicker Music, a dedicated specialist that has turned a lifelong passion into one of the North West’s most focused destinations for the genre. Based within the Charnock Farm complex on Wigan Road, on the edge of Leyland and Chorley in Lancashire, it is the kind of shop that rewards listeners who know exactly what they are looking for, as well as those keen to be pointed in the right direction.
Background / History
City Slicker Music is the work of Chris Walls, a collector and dealer whose involvement with soul stretches back some four decades. What began as a personal obsession with buying, playing and sharing the music has grown into a full trading operation, and Chris has built a reputation well beyond Lancashire through years of sourcing quality stock. Alongside the shop, he is a familiar figure on the local soul scene, running Modern Soul Sessions club nights at Chorley’s Filling Factory that champion everything from classic seventies to nineties soul through to contemporary midtempo dancefloor grooves.
What You’ll Find
The specialism here is clear and unwavering: modern soul, R&B, smooth jazz and fusion, carried across both vinyl and CD. With well over fifteen thousand items in stock and a range that is constantly refreshed, the selection runs from sought-after rarities to accessible entry points into the genre. Condition matters to Chris, and stock is kept to a high standard, which is part of why the shop has earned trust among serious collectors. Beyond the records themselves, you will also come across rare soul memorabilia, and the wider international soul community is served through worldwide shipping for those unable to visit in person.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing City Slicker Music feels like stepping into a private collection assembled by someone who genuinely lives the music. The focus on a single genre gives the shop a real depth that broader stores rarely match, and conversation tends to flow easily, whether you are tracking down a particular pressing or simply want to talk soul. Chris’s knowledge is the shop’s greatest asset, and recommendations come freely. Set within the character of the Charnock Farm site, it offers an unhurried, personal experience that suits collectors happy to spend time digging.
Why Visit
- A genuine specialist in modern soul, R&B, smooth jazz and fusion, rarely found in one place
- Over fifteen thousand carefully kept records and CDs, constantly changing
- Expert, owner-led guidance from a collector with forty years’ experience
- Rare soul memorabilia alongside the music
- Strong links to the region’s live soul scene through regular club nights
Summary
City Slicker Music is a destination shop for anyone who takes soul seriously. Its single-minded focus, deep and well-tended stock and the first-hand expertise of Chris Walls set it apart from more general record shops, making the trip to Charnock Farm well worthwhile. Whether you are a lifelong soul devotee or curious to explore modern soul for the first time, this is a place where the music, and the people behind it, come first.
