Unearthing Illinois Soul: A Deep Dive into the New Book by Numero & Dante Carfagna
The soul music history of Illinois runs deeper than most collectors realize — and thanks to a stunning new release by Numero Group, there’s finally a definitive guide to the obscure 45s and long-lost labels that once brought soul to every corner of the state.
Illinois Soul, a new book by renowned record historian and longtime friend of our shop, Dante Carfagna, digs deep into the archives of small-town presses, long-gone studios, and overlooked geniuses of Illinois soul. For serious collectors, DJs, and music lovers, it’s a treasure trove of stories and discoveries.
What Is Illinois Soul?
Published by Chicago’s own Numero Group, Illinois Soul is a meticulously researched 400+ page survey of the state’s under-the-radar soul scenes. While Chicago is a known epicenter for R&B and soul, this book goes beyond the big city, highlighting more than 45 different labels from all across Illinois — including cities like Peoria, Springfield, East St. Louis, and Rockford.
Dante Carfagna — whose work on soul music ephemera and vinyl documentation is legendary — spent years uncovering the rarest 45s, compiling label scans, interviewing key players, and organizing a history that was at risk of being lost forever.
Why This Book Matters to Collectors
Whether you're into northern soul, deep soul, or funky gospel, Illinois Soul offers a map to records most people have never even heard of. It features:
High-quality scans of original label artwork
Artist bios and label histories you won’t find online
Rare pressings that are now gaining renewed attention from collectors and DJs
It’s a true labor of love, built with input from some of the deepest collectors in the game — including our own Brian Cote, who contributed both rare scans and label information from his personal archive to help bring this book to life.
We Know Illinois Soul — and We’re Buying
At We Buy Records Chicago, we specialize in soul, funk, and R&B vinyl — especially obscure and regional 45s from the Midwest. If you’ve got rare Illinois soul records, we’re always looking to buy.
We’ve purchased many of the very titles featured in Illinois Soul, and we’re always on the hunt for more — from local Chicago labels to small-town imprints from every corner of the state.
We pay fairly, treat sellers with respect, and are especially interested in:
Private press and small-label soul 45s
One-of-a-kind pieces like acetates or unreleased demos
Want to see what kinds of records we’re most interested in? Check out our guide to the types of records we buy.
Final Thoughts
Illinois Soul is more than just a book — it’s a celebration of a scene that deserves the spotlight. Whether you’re a DJ, collector, or just a fan of underdog music history, we highly recommend checking it out.
Grab your copy from Numero Group’s website — and if it inspires you to dig through your old crates, reach out. We’d love to hear what you’ve got.