Tag Archive for Soul

2nd September 2012

Curtis Mayfield – Power to the people (Demo)

I opened my musical blogging odyssey with Curtis and it dawned on me this week that I haven’t gotten back around to him yet in my more than 600 subsequent posts.

Move on up, is probably my favourite song of all time. It’s certainly one of my Desert Island Disks and Curtis, the album it is taken form takes pride of place in my (admittedly modest) collection of LP’s. It’s sleeve is a real treat (see below).

This is a bonus track from the 2000 re-release of the album and it’s simplicity is perfect.

RjK

29th August 2012

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

28th August 2012

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 

22nd August 2012

Lee Fields and The Expressions – Wish you were here

North Carolina native Lee Fields has.been releasing music since 1969! This, like all his music is raw. It’s taken from his 2012 album Faithful Man.

How long ‘till I see your face?…

RjK

18th August 2012

Aretha Franklin – I say a little prayer

Such a classic. I heard this on the radio earlier and haven’t been able to stop hearing it in my mind’s jukebox since.

I don’t think I can say anything that will enhance it (as usual) so my advice is just to sit back and enjoy…

RjK

15th August 2012

Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators* – My four leaf clover

In posting this I am slightly backtracking on my earlier assertion that there is no good soul music being produced any more, having also posted Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings a few weeks ago.

Nicole Willis is an American singer, songwriter and painter who is currently based in Helsinki, Finland. Also, The Soul Investigators ranks as one of my favourite band names of all time.

This is just so damn infectious.

My heart I’m ready to give…

RjK

*Artist #503

11th August 2012

Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers – Jesus gave me water

There is something about gospel music from this era that I find utterly compelling. I think it is the purity of the vocal, which is particulalry exemplified here by the wonderful Sam Cooke who used the Soul Stirrers as a springboard to mainstream success before tragically passing away before his time.

On another note, what a performance by Mo Farrah tonight! He seems like such a decent bloke too, I was delighted for him.

RjK 

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings* – Nobody’s baby


NYC singer Sharon Jones is one of the few contemporary artists I know that makes soul music worthy of the name and heritage of Stax, Motown and the rest. This song is full of sass, which is pretty cool and reminds me a little of the Sunshine Anderson song I posted a while ago only with a much more classic sound.

I ain’t nobody’s baby, I ain’t nobody’s fool…

RjK

*Artist #497

24th July 2012

The Supremes – Stoned Love

It’s been too long since I last posted some soul music and far, far too long since I last posted The Supremes, who are my favourite Motown band. Maybe even my favourite band full stop. It really doesn’t get much better than the melodies and vocal harmony in this track.

A pretty good video here too with some super images of Motown’s heyday. I am sure that I’m in a very small minority of people that longs to visit Detroit (I don’t read many good reports) so I can see Hitsville USA. I’ll make it there someday though, some way.

RjK

14th July 2012

The Falcons* – You’re so fine

I was listening to an interview with Stax great Eddie Floyd on 6music tonight as I was packing, and he mentioned that he was in this band. I had never heard of them so it inspired me to investigate and I’m very glad I did.

This track was released in 1959, in the period where early rock’n’roll and gospel were leading to soul music and you can hear both influences here, especially in the purity of vocals.

In other news I came across this rather random sight in London this week. I’m not entirely sure what it was in aid of but I quite like it’s rather tongue in cheek quality:

RjK

*Artist #485