One of the earliest and most iconic examples of soul music was Percy Sledge’s 1966 hit song “Respect”. This track blended gospel-influenced vocals with R&B and Blues instrumental accompaniment.
This collaboration produced a slow track that highlights the power and fervor of love, featuring call and response vocals for an inimitable and dynamic sound that captures emotion through its music.
Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Soul music touches every emotion imaginable, not only romance. It can provoke heartbreak and rage while celebrating joy and hope for a brighter future. The best soul songs take you on an enlightening journey from young romance and relationship drama through social injustice to dancefloor freedom and beyond.
Sam Cooke’s soul classic, “A Change Is Gonna Come”, stands as an ideal example of using soul music to spark positive change. Composed in 1963 during a volatile time in American civil rights history, its lyrics and orchestral intro were inspired by various events from Cooke’s life such as being denied access to white-only motels. Cooke was an ardent supporter of equality issues and wanted his music to inspire other people in fighting back for equality.
Like many of the great soul tracks, this track features a strong gospel influence – no surprise considering Cooke began his career singing gospel music! Cooke’s vocal ad-libbing and improvisation gave the song its depth and power; their style recalling both traditional gospel as well as jazz elements. Furthermore, their track also recalls Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s 1927 Broadway musical Show Boat by using an melody similar to “Old Man River.”
Though this song draws from various influences, including gospel and other styles, its soulful characteristics were clear. With its high-register vocals evoking feelings of being lifted away by love, its feel-good energy makes it ideal for weddings today and demonstrates how versatile soul music can be.
Although released four years before Elvis Presley’s version of “Hound Dog,” many consider Clyde McPhatter’s rendition to be one of the earliest recordings in soul music – also referred to as proto-soul or proto-funk, and later developing into funk genre – making this tune one of the earliest recorded examples of its genre.
Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog”
Soul music has grown increasingly popular nationwide. Drawing from gospel, blues, and jazz influences to form its unique genre with various styles and messages. Instrumentation used most frequently includes drums, guitar, keyboards, saxophone and vocal performances that range from emotional heartbreak to joyful celebrations.
Victrola recommends adding these soul songs to every playlist:
Clyde McPhatter was one of the pioneers of soul music, and “A Lover’s Question” by him is an iconic example. Released prior to Motown becoming mainstream, this tune combines organ music with doo-wop for an infectiously catchy dance track that remains popular today.
Barbara Lewis released “La-La Means I Love You,” an example of soul music’s ability to transcend genre boundaries. It features elements of ballad and dance hit styles with powerful vocal performances by Barbara. Additionally, its lyrics express emotions associated with longing for someone you care about to come home again.
Soul music’s original form was R&B; however, its modern iterations combines elements from gospel, blues and jazz music as well. One example is Otis Redding’s melancholy Civil Rights anthem “(Sitting On) the Dock of the Bay”. Another great example is Sam Cooke’s 1965 hit “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” another classic example between soul and gospel music that resonates today.
Soul music can elicit all manner of feelings, from yearning and anger to loneliness and dizzying happiness. Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” is an outstanding example of soul music’s power to move people emotionally; both its melodic melody and dynamic lyrics conveying energy can leave listeners invigorated and inspired.
Al Green’s “Lean on Me”
Be it happy or sad, soul songs have the ability to bring out both sides of emotions in you. This expressive genre features sensuous vocals with intricate instrumentation that showcases any artist at their best. Their emotive messages of love, anger and yearning have resonated through decades, giving this music such an inimitable appeal.
Aretha Franklin remains one of the best-known soul music artists of all time. Her 1967 hit “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” remains popular to this day and has been covered by other artists; its message of being In Love remains relevant even today; no wonder Rolling Stone listed it among their 500 Greatest Songs Ever.
Erykah Badu’s 1997 track “On and On” is another stunning soul song. This single was the first ever to reach number one both on the Billboard Hot 100 and soul charts simultaneously, inspired by her Five-Percent Nation heritage and is considered an important track in the development of neo-soul subgenre – its unique blend of hip hop, R&B, and soul earning Badu a Grammy Award as well as impacting many musicians around the globe.
Classic soul music captivates listeners through its alluring blend of brass instruments, bass drums, and piano to create its unique sexy groove. Together they produce an emotive depth that complements soulful vocals perfectly.
Bill Withers changed the face of soul music with his 1972 track, “Lean on Me.” This hypnotic number rose to number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and soul charts; its simplicity and captivating hypnotic sound have since made it a fan-favorite, including being covered by numerous popular artists such as MC Hammer.
Smokey Robinson was another prominent figure in classic soul music, known for his incredible songwriting abilities and ability to convey diverse emotions through lyrics. Perhaps his crowning achievement is the iconic “Move On Up,” an incredible example of how soulful tracks can stand alone as powerful tracks.
Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”
Stevie Wonder’s 1972 hit “Superstition” stands as an outstanding example of soul and funk music. The song features a powerful groove created by its combination of pulsing bass, static harmony, and Hohner Clavinet (an electronic harpsichord). Furthermore, its lyrics urge listeners to believe in themselves instead of subscribing to superstitions that prevent personal development and hinder spiritual progress.
Wonder draws upon spiritual themes in his music to inspire his listeners and demonstrate that faith in God can overcome any difficulty they may be facing. Additionally, its musical arrangement clearly exhibits gospel influences; specifically with regard to its call and response vocals which emulate church services as well as hand claps and simple steps which are hallmarks of gospel music.
Wonder stood apart from many of his peers by writing and recording “Superstition” himself. This milestone marked his first solo number one hit and marked an important step on his path toward adult performance. Later on he would go on to become a staple of soul music during his classic period, which encompassed albums Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life.
As with his previous hits, this song’s message is both inspiring and empowering, while simultaneously highlighting gospel’s influence on soul music. Vocals are raw yet emotional compared to Ray Charles or Little Richard who use more produced sounds; additionally, its lyrics address systemic poverty and racial injustice.
This song’s horns and piano provide depth to its performance, while the guitar solo showcases how soul music incorporates elements from other genres, like rock and blues music. Furthermore, its final note played by saxophone adds intensity.
This song serves as an excellent illustration of how soul music has affected so many lives, shaping popular culture like disco, funk and hip hop along the way. Thus it’s crucial that individuals study examples of soul music so as to gain a greater insight into this unique genre of American music.