Jimmy Ruffin – What becomes of the broken hearted?
Classic early Motown. It came into my head today for no reason in particular but I am pleased that it did. It is perhaps a little heavy on pathos but a great song nonetheless.
RjK
Tag Archive for Soul
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Darondo – Didn’t I
There are predominately two types of song that I have featured on the blog. Ones that crept up on me slowly, requiring several listens before I eventually fell for them. Then there are the ones that kicked me in the butt the first time I heard them and I knew instantly that they were fly and my first reaction was to listen to them again (and again and again…) straight away.
This song fits into the latter category, in that I have been listening to it over and over since first hearing it recently. It is classic 70’s soul in the ilk of The Isley Brothers and Al Green. This guy’s voice couldn’t fit the song and genre any better.
RjK
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The Bar-Kays – Open your heart
I seem to be in the mood for funk this week. I was reminded of these guys by a friend this week and I thought I would revist them. I first came across them on a Stax compliation a while ago.
I love this track, it is upbeat and funky with that classic 80’s groove.
RjK
27th November
The Staple Singers – I’ll take you there
Classic soul tune. What an awesome, funky bass line!
RjK
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Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes – Wake up everybody
This is one of my all time favourite soul tunes. Socially conscious and still prescient today, despite being released in the mid-70’s.
It is classic Philly soul, written by McFadden and Whitehead and featuring Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals on what would be his last album before turning solo.
Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes (great name) are well worth some further investigation, having made some great and varied music from Disco to Doo Wop.
RjK
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The chairman of the board – Give me just a little more time
Perfectly crisp autumnal day in London today. I spent it shooting the breeze and enjoying a few frosty pale ales with some good buddies at Borough Market.
This put me in the mood to post some upbeat soul and I couldn’t think of anything better than this. Also, how good a name is The chairman of the board?
RjK
15th November
D’Angelo – Untitled (how does if feel)
I am aware this is somewhat cheesy (please forgive the rather naff album cover, the music video is even worse). Somehow I really like it though, it is smooth and mellow and the vocal, while at times bordering on the self-indulgent, is pretty great. It hit the spot and soothed me today when I needed something to help me return to an even keel.
I came across D’Angelo while trying to work out if there was any music that had been made since Disco was invented that was worthy of the name soul. I found that, in general, the answer was a resounding no (where did it all go wrong?) but I just about made an exception for this.
I would love to hear other suggestions of some fresh, modern soul? I am always happy to be proved wrong when good music is involved.
RjK
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Hot 8 brass band – Sexual Healing
I just got back from a meandering evening in central London. I started out at the southbank centre, where the London Jazz Festival was in full swing. There was an awesome brass band playing in my earshot while I sipped my Kronenburg, watched the Thames roll by and enjoyed the balmy (for November anyway) weather.
This is a clever cover. I first heard it last year in a bar in Islington. The DJ was blowing up, playing some classic soul, Stevie, Aretha and the like. In the middle of his set he dropped this and it took me about 30 seconds to work out what it was but once I got there, I got there.
Hot 8 brass band are from New Orleans, and I would love to see them play live sometime. I imagine it would be a lot of fun.
RjK
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Roy Ayers – Everybody loves the sunshine
Roy Ayers – What a beast!
This has been a favourite for longer than I can remember. It is one of the most mellow tracks I have ever encountered. It seems wrong to post it on a grey November day but somehow it still feels right. It was just the thing to soothe my midweek blues today.
RjK
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The Marvelettes – Please Mr.Postman
There is something that I find utterly irresistible about the early Motown vocal groups. Most notably The Supremes, but these guys, along with many others, are pretty great too. Their harmonies are so pure and strong I can’t get enough of them.
RjK