The Dying Art of Soul Music
Posted: Thursday, June 01, 2006
by Peggy Butler
PSB COMMUNICATIONS
June is Black Music Month, a time to reflect on a sound that has captured the attention of music lovers for six decades and remains a vital element of our melodic culture .
In the 60s, soul music captured the hypnotic edginess that embodied the decade of war, assassinations and racial unrest. But today those sounds are just a memory, replaced by the pestilence of hip-hop.
In the 1950s, Americans of African descent, found a lively, stimulating expression for their thoughts and feelings through music. The songs which resulted, now known as soul music, has not only been a powerful, musical influence, but have become cultural pillars. Thus, it is important to remember that soul owes as much to its words as to the music. It marks the beginning of melodic expression as influential on early singers as the music has been on later artists.
Characterized by searing vocal intensity and extravagant bravado, soul music captured the attention of music lovers everywhere, and created artists of amazing talent and influence. From 1950-1979 Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green, Marvin Gay, Teddy Pendergrass and other artists contributed their vocals to this unique art form. Unfortunately, those voices are no longer a vital integral of the musical repertoire. According to experts, American Idol alum Ruben Stoddard is a singer whose voice has a similar twinge of the deep roots associated with the legends of yesteryear. But music lovers maintain Stoddard pales in comparison to the early pioneers.
They maintain that if the great Otis Redding was alive today, his sound would be considered “too Black." Listening to Redding on “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long," one can hear the gritty, guttural rawness of love gone wrong, love gone awry. Many say that type of emotion is plainly missing from today’s artists. They contend that singers are so concerned about their image, the idea of singing to the point where they are sweating profusely like James Brown in his heyday is unthinkable.
Another criticism levied against today’s superstars, is that they are more interested in the number of people they are playing to, rather than pleasing the audience and giving a worthy performance.
When Brown and Redding burst onto the scene, there were no videos or million dollar contracts. Similarly, when they appeared before a live audience they didn’t lip synch like today’s artists, they actually sang. They were thrilled their music was so inspirational and brought such pleasure to their audience, they just kept giving more of themselves.
If you are fortunate to have parents in their late 50s to early 60s, congratulations. They might have a few of these musical gems tucked away in the attic. WARNING: After listening to these nostalgic recordings, you’ll agree that this is soul music at its best. Below is a list of 20 all- time favorites. How many do you remember?
1. Dock of the Bay……………………………………………………………………………....Otis Redding
2. Rainy Night in Georgia…………………………………………………………………...Brooke Benton
3. Hold On I’m Coming……………………………………………………………………….Sam & Dave
4. I Wish It Would Rain…………………………………………………………………...The Temptations
5. When A Man Loves A Woman……………………………………………………………..Percy Sledge
6. Stand By Me………………………………………………………………………………….......Ben E. King
7. This Is A Man’s World………………………………………………………………….....James Brown
8. Everybody Loves A Winner………………………………………………………………...William Bell
9. R-E-S-P-E-C-T………………………………………………………………………….......Aretha Franklin
10. Midnight Train to Georgia………………………………………………...Gladys Knight and The Pips
11. When Doves Cry ..............................................................................Prince
12. The Chokin Kind……………………………………………………………………………..Joe Simon
13. Show and Tell………………………………………………………………………………...Al Wilson
14. Drown In My Own Tears………………………………………………………………..…Ray Charles
15. The Midnight Hour………………………………………………………………………Wilson Pickett
16. A Change Gonna Come …………………….………………………………………………Sam Cook
17. For Your Precious Love…………………………………………..........…..........Jerry Butler
18. I Stand Accused…………………………………………………………………………….Issac Hayes
19. Love & Happiness ……………………………………………………………………………..Al Green
20. Lonely Teardrops………………………………………………………………………....Jackie Wilson
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