SOUL MUSIC

SOUL MUSIC

• A merger of gospel-charged singing, secular subject matter, and funk rhythms.

• Soul grew out of Fifties rhythm & blues, spurred by Ray Charles' eclectic, decidedly secular late-Fifties hits.

RHYTHM & BLUES VS. SOUL

• Soul emphasizes an earthier sound with a strong influence of gospel

• Soul shouting• Call-and-response• Emphasis on the piano and drums versus guitars• Grit

ATLANTIC RECORDS

• Two iconic record companies that are credited with the birth of the Soul Music Genre.• Atlantic Records• - Started producing R&B records which were consistently in

the Pop Charts

• “Tweedle Dee” – Lavern Baker

• “C.C. Rider” – Chuck Willis

STAX RECORDS

• Jerry Wexler steered Atlantic in the direction of Soul Music during the 1960s.

• Decided to record in the South – He found an unusual blend of blues, gospel, and C&W in the racially mixed studio bands. Formed a relationship with Stax Records in Memphis, TN.

STAX RECORDS COLLABORATIONS

• “Land of 1000 Dances” - Wilson Picket

• “The Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding

• “Soul Man” – Sam Moore & Dave Prater

THE END OF STAX RECORDS

• Otis Redding – Died in an Airplane Crash 1967• Agreement with Atlantic Records Ended• Filed for Bankruptcy in 1971

• Isaac Hayes – would represent the final years of Stax’s success.• “Theme from Shaft” – Isaac Hayes

ARETHA FRANKLIN

• Born in Memphis, TN to a religious family (Father was a Pastor)

• Was influenced by Mahalia Jackson and other Gospel Singers

• Decided to crossover into the pop market and recorded her Demo at age 17

• Was offered a contract with Columbia Records and recorded 4 albums that didn’t do very well.

THE ATLANTIC YEARS

• Jerry Wexler (Atlantic Records) signed her at the end of her Columbia contract and transitioned her into a Soul singer. Known as “Lady Soul”.• “I Never Loved a Man” – Aretha Franklin

• “Respect” – Aretha Franklin

• “Elenor Rigby” – Aretha Franklin Version

• Aretha Franklin left Atlantic Records in 1979 and signed with Arista Records.

• She is still considered one of the most influential artists of the era.

• Musical Traits of Aretha Franklin:• Total Vocal Control• Remarkable Range• Shy, and Introverted

JAMES BROWN

• Known as the “Godfather of Soul” & “Soul Brother No.1” (AKA – “Mr. Dynamite”, “The Hardest-Working Man in Show Buisness”, and “Mr. Sex Machine”)

• A complete opposite in style to Aretha Franklin• Raspy Voice• Shouted a Raw and Basic Vocal Line• Flamboyant, Egotistical, Aggressive

• Born in Augusta, GA• Naturally musical and self taught. Formed the group

- The Famous Flames.• “Please, Please, Please” – The Famous Flames

• Brown’s style is referred to as “Southern Soul” – While most soul singers developed in the Major cities of the Midwest, Brown remained deeply loyal to his Southern roots.

KING RECORDS

• King Records – based in Cincinnati, OH served as “the pipeline for the loudest, rawest, and the most in-your-face soul”

• “Night Train” – Mid-1960s

• “Get Up!” –

• Was at the height of his career by 1967• Performed for about 3 million concertgoers• Sold over 50 million records• Had over 30 songs in the Top 40 between ‘67-’72

• By the mid-1970s, changing styles and life issues would push him to one side.• Disco’s popularity• Financial problems• Personal problems (death of his son Teddy and the death of

his close friend of 20 years, Elvis Presley)

• Re-appeared in the music scene after his appearance on the movie “The Blues Brothers”

• Died on December 25, 2006 - Congestive Heart Failure.

THE SWAMPERS

• A group of rhythm section session players• (bass, guitar, drums, keyboard)

• Created the unique sound of Soul & Southern Rock• Recorded with:

• Aretha Franklin• The Allman Brothers• Sam & Dave• Wilson Picket

SOUTHERN ROCK

• By the 1960s, most rock came from big cities: Detroit, LA, San Francisco, Philadelphia,

• In the 1970s, there was an effort to get back to basics of Southern Rock & Roll

• The Allman Brother’s Band• “Midnight Rider” -

• Lynyrd Skynyrd• “Sweet Home Alabama” -

• CCR’s southern sound was closer to Rockabilly and sometimes to Original Blues.

• Doobie Brothers• The Captain and Me (1973) -

• Good Vocals & Harmonies• Clean Playing with Sophisticated Recording Production

• Steve Miller Band• Steve Miller, originally from Dallas, TX• Achieved some success during the late-1960s but it wasn’t

until the 1970s that he reach his greatest success.• “The Joker” -

• Steve Miller’s Style• - Blues Roots, colored by touches of Country and the Old San

Francisco sound.