Tag Archive for Soul

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Gil Scott-Heron – The Bottle

Sorry I have been slack in posting over the past few days. It has been a hectic week.

I was sorry to hear that Gil Scott-Heron had passed away last night. He was one of the pioneers of rap music, making socially conscious and challenging music. The revolution will not be televised made a big impression on me the first time I heard it as a very green teenager unaware of much outside my bucolic immediate surroundings.

This, however, is my favourite track of his. It strikes the perfect chord between funky and profound.

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Wilson Pickett – In the midnight hour


I would have happily posted the Donald Fagen song again from a few days ago as I have been unable to shake it.
However, I met an old friend for dinner and he had come across a pristine original Atlantic 7” version of this track for me (thanks Davy). Pretty exciting! It is a classic soul tune – if I had to make only one CD to convince you of the merits of soul music this would definitely be there or thereabouts. 

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Jill Scott – Family Reunion

I love this song’s warmth. It is languid and full of rich imagery. Every time I hear it I feel like I am at the barbeque, eating the green potatoe salad, listening to uncle Jerome and watching Cousin Ruby shaking her good hip and body.

It is taken from the excellent album Beautifully Human, which has a paricularly good cover (the backdrop of this video).

The Isley Brothers – Shout


People ask me why I love soul music so much. If I wanted to answer succinctly (not likely) I might just play them this song. It is amazing, boisterous and fun, it makes me want to MOVE. You might be more familiar with Lulu’s more recent cover version, but for me this is far superior. I can’t believe it was released in 1959!

Also, they employ a classic soul technique here of call and response. A little bit louder now…

/RjK

 

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Sam and Dave – Soul man

I’m a soul man. Or so I would certainly like to think.

I think the test of a great song, certainly a great soul tune, is that it makes you want to move. Well, this makes me want to MOVE. I can’t see how it wouldn’t. Those horns and that base. Yikes!

I was brought up on a side street. I learned how to love before I could eat…I’m a soul man

Stevie Wonder – Signed, sealed, delivered (I’m yours)


It was a glorious day today in London, the weather felt like summer had arrived. I also had a fun evening catching up with an old friend over a couple of beers.

I thought I would post something suitably upbeat to match my mood and this came to mind.

/RjK

Sam Cooke – A change is gonna come


The first time I heard this song was a startling experience. It is one of the most powerful songs I have ever encountered. It has a slow, quiet urgency. It is said that this song inspired Bob Dylan to write The Times They Are a-Changing.

Sam Cooke’s life was tragically short but he managed to released so much great music. From his early gospel days with The Soul Stirrers to when he threw off the shackels of less enlightened times and began to release tracks like this he blazed a trail for all that great soul music that was to follow.

A little trivia that may only interest an anorak such as myself but apparently Sam Cooke was the inspiration for Marvin Gaye to add the “e” to the end of his surname.
/RjK

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Donny Hathaway – Jealous Guy

I like covers that give songs a fresh sound, particularly one as fresh as this. Posting John Lennon yesterday made me think of this. Donny Hathaway’s was something of a tragic story but he still managed to make some great music.