SOUL & MOWTOWN

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ExHOoHeXRg

• “C.C. Rider” – Chuck Willis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7R-ck2LRWo

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mz_EXHKGHs

• “The Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmUhYSr-e4

• “Soul Man” – Sam Moore & Dave Prater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVx2i6jGzf8

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvRvSxsW-I

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.• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHaCnb33DY

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQvIfOQY6M• “Respect” – Aretha Franklin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0• “Elenor Rigby” – Aretha Franklin Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlHaX55wG0Y

• 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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vruy2GRUsV8• 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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVgeEHfuG0• “Get Up!” -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynfk7izWNE8• 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 Brother”• Died on December 25, 2006 - Congestive Heart

Failure.