This week I decided to put up my favorite soul songs from the sixties (and perhaps a few from the succeeding decade). (Don’t ask me to define the genre: I know a soul song when I see it.) Let us hear no dissent about this endeavor, though, as always, I welcome dissent about my choices or nominations for your favorite soul song.
There will be one tune per day, and I’ll start with what is perhaps my favorite soul song of all time. As always, I favor live versions over recorded ones. (There’s a strong chance that, given my list of great soul music, this will last longer than a week.)
This has to be in the top five of anyone’s list: “Ooo Baby Baby,” recorded in 1965 by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (It was written by Robinson and his co-Miracle Peter Moore.) A live version is below, and you can find the released Motown version here.
Wikipedia notes (I”m always chuffed at how silly the songs look when you simply describe their content):
A slow, remorseful number, “Ooo Baby Baby” features Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson lamenting the fact that he cheated on his woman, and begging for her to overlook his mistakes and please forgive him. The song’s highly emotional feel is supported by the Miracles’ tight background harmonies, arranged by Miracles member and song co-author Pete Moore, and a lush orchestral arrangement that accents The Funk Brothersband’s instrumental track.
On the 2006 Motown DVD The Miracles’ Definitive Performances, Pete comments on the song’s creation: “In the songs that Smokey and I wrote together, Smokey and Berry kinda left the background vocals to me. And this song “I’m On The Outside (Looking In)”, which was one of The Imperials’ bigger hits…. When I heard that song,as far as the background (harmonies) were concerned and how (they were structured),I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with Smokey’s vocal.So I called Bobby, Ronnie, and Claudette over, and we did the backgrounds for it.I kinda had that particular song in mind…so I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with ‘Ooo Baby Baby’.”
The most famous cover was by Linda Ronstadt in 1978, also a big hit. Note how closely, though, she sticks to the original phrasing. It’s almost impossible to improve Motown songs by interpreting them in a radically different way.
Soul music (with disco in second place, though I’m not keen on the genre) is the best music to dance to of all time—and I did my share of hoofing.
To great dance music (which surely depends on the drug of choice), I’d add reggae. Summer’s here and the time is right for dancin’ah on the patio, next to the barbecue. And aint’ Kingston Hitsville, Jamaica? Loads of Motown covers on Trojan and other labels.
Here’s a cover of Smokey’s ‘Tears of a Clown’ by The Chosen Few; hope it doesn’t embed. Glug a Red Stripe and get slowly puddled to the lolloping groove.
Little-known fact; no middle eights in reggae.
“-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5HvRsY04I”
This is a fabulous choice. My selection for the top 5 Soul – Otis Redding “When a man loves a woman” (even though it isn’t my favorite Otis Redding song).
Nice choice! I’ve recently been rediscovering the delights of Otis’ version of the Stones Satisfaction. Very different to the original but brilliant in its own rights (although, likewise, not my favourite Otis tune).
My iTunes has no soul. It has RB/Soul. I confess sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. Does soul place greater emphasis on vocal? Is it slower? Is it about love?
Not sure if these all qualify, but I’d still call them soul because of the visceral effect they have on me; “In the Stone” by Earth Wind and Fire has the best instrumental introduction ever,ever; “Can’t give you anything (but my love)” by the Stylistics, again with a stunning trumpet intro and mesmerizing falsetto singing from Russel Thomkins Jr; and a lesser well-known Lou Rawls number called “Stop me from starting this feeling”, a beautiful song with a disco beat.
I’m an atheist, and I ain’t got no soul (ya just knew someone would post this, dincha?).
Hmmm, ‘Have You Seen Her’ by the Chi-Lites,
‘Fantasy’ by Earth, Wind & Fire,
‘You Don’t Know Me’ by Ray Charles.
I agree with the first selection being in a list of the top soul songs. I would add:
Papa was a Rollin’ Stone (Temptations)
I got you, I Feel Good (James Brown)
Bring it on Home to me (Sam Cooke)
Take Me to the River (Al Green)
And anything by Jackie Wilson whose voice was the only one in the genre that was non-stop electric. Even his yawns probably sounded like bubbling, flowing lava.
For pair dancing, sure, but for that I would add latino rhythms of all kinds.
For the expressive side, disco is certainly up there, but right now I prefer dubstep for expressing myself. (I’m pretty sure it will change with the next evolution of genres. I used to like techno for the same reason…)
But for pure joy, latino is rivaled by some african dances. You can’t get more happy then when you can get your feet, legs, pelvis, breast, arms, hands and head moving to the beats – separately. It sounds like an epileptic seizure, but it works! (Or to paraphrase Newt: ‘it’ll be dark soon, and it mostly works at night… mostly.’)
Totally agree on those. Also I collect various pop songs from India, which can be very fun. Try Punjabi MC, or Asha Bhosie.
Dude. The Cuban All-Stars. The real Cuban stuff. Put it in a needle and shove it in my veins.
If this is just day one, I am really looking
forward to the rest of the week. The dozen or so suggestions already posted make for a great YouTube juke box!
Just happened to come across Smokey introducing Human Nature as they perform “Ooo Baby Baby.”
Just happened to come across Smokey introducing Human Nature as they perform “Ooo Baby Baby.”
“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCHo8ClU4lQ”
Let’s see if this one works without embedding so that #10 can be deleted.
Very nice choice. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles are definitely one of the greats.
It would be impossible for me to select a favorite, or even top three. But, a great one that just popped into my mind is “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. And for sentimental reasons, “Kiss & Say Goodbye” by the Manhattens, which still brings a tear to my eye when I hear it.
And if we slide a little thataway, could we include “Give Up The Funk” by Parliament? If you want to be motivated to move that is the song you have been looking for.
And back that mutha up with ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ by the Four Tops. ‘An just when that is winding down, send ’em out with ‘(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher’ by the great Jackie Wilson.
Mind you, Tom Paulin did once memorably describe dance, on The Late Review, as ‘leppin about’. Some intellectuals are just so…well, intellectual.
Anything, and I mean *anything* by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. If you want just one song – “Is It Still Good To Ya?” Here’s a rare 1978 promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upFziNa48Jc
There was a “soul song” done in ’67 by a lady named Aretha, possibly the greatest soul song ever…I hope she gets a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Oh, and Ray Charles’ version of “Georgia on My Mind” was released in 1960, does that count (although many list this as jazz)? I hope Ray makes the list, some say he had the first soul song with “I Gotta Woman” in 1954.
Narrowing the best soul songs of the Sixties down to 5 is no easy task. I couldn’t do it, too many great songs of this genre back then. Sam Cooke “Chain Gang”, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”, Wilson Pickett…too many to narrow down to 5.
Sometimes words are not necessary. Have some Squib Cakes.