More than any other genre of popular American music, Soul is the result of the combination and merging of previous styles and sub-styles in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Broadly speaking, the soul comes from a gospel (the sacred) and blues (the profane). Blues was mainly a musical style that praised the fleshly desire whereas gospel was more oriented toward spiritual inspiration.
Origins Of Soul
According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is “music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky, secular testifying”.
Catchy rhythms, stressed by hand claps and extemporaneous body moves, are an important feature of soul music. The call and response between the lead vocalist and the chorus
It was formally introduced to American vernacular in 1949, when it was used in the Billboard chart listings. The charts in question encompassed a number of contemporary forms that emerged around that time.
However, it’s clear that R&B has its origins in the secular folk music of Black American culture – the Blues.
Soul Influencers
Without doubt, James Brown would be a name that sticks out when soul music is mentioned. With hits like Its a mans mans world:
Of course the new styled video isnt the original but still, the sound is the same. It does sound much better on vinyl of course though…
Otis Reading is another superstar of the Soul world, “The Dock Of The Bay” and “Can’t Turn You Loose” are just some of the songs he’s written and sold wolrld wide.
Soul Music In The Shop
I’ve got plenty of Soul on the shelves down at Legacy Records. If Soul is what you’re in to then I’ll have something for you. Come on down to the shop and I’ll give you a guided tour.
See you soon.