SOUL & MOTOWN

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' electic, decidedly secular late-Fifties hits. •  The term Soul music includes a wide variety of styles.

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

•  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.

•  “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.

MOTOWN

•  Record company founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit, MI •  "The Motown Sound", a style of soul music with a

distinct pop influence. •  79 records in the Top Ten (‘60-’69) •  Moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1972

EARLY MOTOWN ARTISTS

•  “Dancing in the Streets” - Martha & The Vandellas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc •  “Heard it Through the Grapevine” - Marvin Gaye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPnZZTVp_2A •  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” – Stevie Wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvRwR-hZDVY

DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES

•  Motown’s greatest success •  Ranks third behind the Elvis & The Beatles

•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TiLJYH1qFQ

•  Motown Formula – - Lead Singer - Background Vocals - Orchestration - Strong Beat -Abrupt Key Change

MOTOWN SUMMARY

•  Motown’s style •  Slick •  Professional •  Polished •  Precisely coordinated •  Popular with both White and Black people •  Should not be confused with real soul music

•  How it differed from Soul Music •  Motown aimed at creating powerful Pop-influenced hits •  Carefully groomed groups to appeal to the widest market •  Artists were not given the freedom to improvise or vary.