Soul brothers songs draw their inspiration from African rhythm and blues music with elements of British Invasion influences, often providing positive messages of hope for a brighter future.
Black Moses Ngwenya and David Masondo are at the helm of one of South Africa’s premier mbaqanga bands, producing new songs independently before meeting up before recording sessions to refine them together.
Sly & the Family Stone – Dance to the Music
Dance to the Music was Sly & the Family Stone’s breakout hit and helped establish what came to be known as “psychedelic soul” in the ’60s. It had an enormous effect on other R&B groups of that period such as The Temptations, Four Tops, Impressions and Jackson 5, who all began using psychedelic elements in their music.
Sly Stone began his career as a hip-cat disc jockey in San Francisco on KSOL, the soul station. With an instinctual sense for what would appeal to audiences and an arsenal of musicians at his disposal, he developed Sly and the Family Stone with a goal to produce music unlike anything available at that time on radio stations.
Sly & the Family Stone’s debut LP was 1967’s A Whole New Thing, followed by There’s a Riot Goin’ On in 1971 – both albums proved extremely popular, cementing Sly & the Family Stone as one of the premier acts in late ’60s/early ’70s music history.
This track is an iconic funk and soul classic, featuring Sly singing about how everyone wants to dance to the music. His band does an outstanding job with their guitars, bass and horns; their backing vocals may at times seem overwhelming but this only adds another layer of funky goodness!
Sly & the Family Stone appeared on an album released by The Red Hot Organization called Red Hot + Dance to raise funds for AIDS research. It included both an altered rendition that mimicked Chipmunks singing their tune and another track with lyrics referencing “Everyday People”.
Sly and the Family Stone parted ways in 1970 and although they attempted to regroup sporadically throughout the late ’70s (Family Affair and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough), none were successful enough to take them back to their previous peak. Sly eventually became a touring member with George Clinton’s Funkadelic for much of its later touring, but never managed to regain his old glory as bandleader.
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong’s classic song that almost didn’t see release was “Grapevine”, written by Gaye as his first solo hit and Motown’s biggest single of 1968. Gaye made this one his signature song with its touching combination of loss, defiance and desire that still resonates today; its nuanced artistry would later appear on eco-soul hits What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On among other popular singles by Motown Records.
Gaye had been performing since he was young, though his early hits with New Moonglows and later Miracles never really gained momentum. By 1967 he had found his niche as a soul singer-songwriter through this classic record that broke him out from Motown contemporaries such as Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell.
While The Miracles and Gladys Knight both had hits with “I Need You,” Marvin Gaye’s version was far superior both musically and commercially. From its funky production to Gaye’s heartbreaking vocal performance – which evoked feelings of anguish from listeners – to a tight groove featuring a killer bass line by the band behind him, his rendition stands alone among them all as an impressive song that continues to be covered by many artists, Creedence Clearwater Revival being one of its finest renditions so far.
Gaye’s incredible range is clearly on display here; his vocal range spans four octaves from honeyed baritone through raspy yearning tenor to heartrending falsetto within one continuous run – it truly showcases his talent! This single highlights all that made Gaye great. His talent was evident and can be heard throughout all his best work.
Bill Withers – Lean on Me
One of Withers’ goals as a songwriter was to craft lyrics that would be easily remembered, and “Lean on Me” certainly does this. The words are poetic yet straightforward enough so there is no confusion over what they mean. Withers wrote that the song was inspired by his rural upbringing in Slab Fork, West Virginia and sense of community there. He used gospel cadences within this tune for added uplift.
Withers’ musical journey was far from straightforward, yet he persevered until reaching success. His 1972 recording of Lean on Me made its way to #1 both soul and Billboard charts. Mary J Blige even performed it at President Obama’s inaugural and the group 2-4 Family recorded their own reggae version which became an instant classic during the 70s.
The song has also become widely adopted during times of crisis. For instance, health care workers wearing blue gowns at a hospital in Memphis sang it while standing swaying during their work shifts; country singer Tenille Townes recorded a special online rendition in support of hurricane relief efforts.
James Brown – Soul Man
James Brown stands as one of the most influential artists in musical history. Known for revolutionizing soul music with his trademark brand of funk music and becoming an international cultural icon during the 60s and ’70s. Dubbed “the hardest working man in show business”, Brown was an irrepressible performer, relentless bandleader, and gifted dancer; all while acting as an effective force of social change by using his songs to call for black pride and civil rights.
“Soul Man” showcases Brown’s impressive songwriting ability. It boasts a catchy melody and infectious groove, as well as an important message about loving oneself. Furthermore, Brown’s energetic soulful vocals add depth to this emotional composition and can transition seamlessly from slow soulful singing to electrifying screams – an amazing feat in itself!
Brown was initially heavily influenced by gospel and R&B music in his early career; later he developed his own distinctive style combining elements from blues, jazz and country music into dynamic live performances that often featured hard falls to his knees or half spins that increased emotion of each performance.
Although not the most widely known version, “Soul Man” remains an enjoyable track to listen to. The band members are all highly talented musicians who perform it enthusiastically; furthermore, its drumbeat is excellent and its chorus very catchy – even Drake Bell and Josh Peck from Drake & Josh covered this song! Additionally, its presence can also be heard in The Blues Brothers film!
Brown remains one of the most revered musicians ever. As one of the originators of funk, his sound shaped world music from reggae to Afrobeat. Additionally, his style can also be found in modern dance forms like house and jungle music – it’s easy to see why he remains revered today as well.