Both of the Marvin Gaye tracks I have previously posted (Come get to this and Mercy, mercy me) were from his later career. This is the period, highlighted by the classic albums What’s going on and Let’s get it on, where he had undergone an awakening following the tragic death of his long time collaborator Tammi Terrell.

This is taken from an earlier period (1963) where gospel-inspired  music was crossing over into the mainstream with what was to be know as soul music. While it lacks the depth of later work, he really brings the funk here. It makes me want to move.

/RjK

Aretha Franklin – Call Me

What can you say about Aretha? She makes it seem so effortless, shifting here from mellow warmth to soaring urgency with such ease it is amazing.

Call me the hour, call me the minute, the second that you get there…

/RjK

Barbara Lynn* – This is the thanks I get

This is just classic, smooth Northern Soul. I don’t know that I can add much to that, it kind of speaks for itself. One interestingly thing to note about Barbara Lynn is that she plays guitar left-handed, a fact which is rather awesomely captured below.

On a different note there was an interview in the Guardian this week with my musical hero Van Morrison, about his new record. It was conducted by Don Was of the utterly manic Was (not was), who I posted last year.

/RjK

*Artist #528

The O’Jays – Miracles

Today was one of the greyer days I can remember. It was throwing it down when I left the house for work and it’s still throwing it down as I write this. I now really know I am living in Dublin! I guess that means I had better get used to it!

Given both the inclement weather and the fact it’s a Monday mean I am in need of cheering up. This sunny little number goes some of the way to doing that. The O’Jays are big favourites having recorded some real classics from earlier soul like this to later Disco tracks like I posted earlier in the year.

/RjK

The Velvelettes* – Needle in a haystack

This is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of pop perfection.

The Velvelettes were one of a cadre of amazing female vocal groups that were releasing records on Motown around this time, along with The Supremes and Martha and The Vandellas amoungst others. I’m not sure it gets much better than this…

/RjK

*Artist #518

Four Tops – I can’t help myself

After a classic Stax track yesterday (in fact Sam and Dave’s final release on the label), I wanted to balance it out with a Motown stomper. And I will never get worried about posting too many classic Soul tunes.

Even though this perhaps feels a little naive now, it is still irresistibly smooth. This era produced so many amazing vocal groups, both male and female. The harmonies, the harmonies! They speak to me in a way few other things on this earth can compare to.

RjK

Sam and Dave – I thank you

Maybe I should change the past few days to be called classic week.

Stax legends Sam and Dave are one of my soul favourites. How could they not be? They were nicknamed The Sultans of sweat (!!!) or Double Dynamite, which probably sums them up more eloquently than I could hope to.

They really dial up the funk here, registering high on my basic scale of making me want to move.

RjK