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Chapter 6

Chapter 6. Soul and Motown.

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Chapter 6

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  1. Chapter 6 Soul and Motown The infectious beat of rhythm and blues and the exuberance of gospel combined to enhance one another in soul music. Motown is generally considered separately from the other soul styles because the company intentionally toned down the gospel and blues influences to attract the much larger white audience

  2. Soul and Motown “It’s a force that can light a room. The force radiates from a sense of selfhood, a sense of knowing where you’ve been and what it means. Soul is a way of life—but it’s always the hard way” Ray Charles

  3. Soul • Soul developed out of Gospel use of melismas in solo voices Ray Charles (1930-2004), singer, songwriter, played keyboards and other instruments “What’d I Say” part II included gospel style responses and tributes to jazz greats Cab Calloway and Pine Top Smith Early 1960s style included influences of country and western music 6-3

  4. Ray Charles (1930 - 2004) He learned how to play the piano even before he became blind at age six. He also learned how to play trumpet saxophone and clarinet. An essential part of the talent that sets him apart from other soul artists is his ability combine country, rhythm and blues, and jazz styles with gospel music to create his unique soul sound

  5. Listening Guide “What’d I Say (Part Two)” by Ray Charles (1959) Tempo: 180 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: Introduction is 8 bars of call-and-response vocals as tribute to Cab Calloway 12-bar blues form follows Features: Vocal group responds to Charles’s vocals Piano accompanies the voice Lyrics: Singer is thinking about sex with allusions to dancing Charts: Pop, #6, R&B, #1 6-5

  6. Sam Cooke (1935 - 1964) He began his professional singing career in 1951, when he too the lead vocal role in the successful gospel group the “Soul Stirrers.” He went solo and released the first of his many popular hits “You Send Me” in 1957. This was also the beginning of a very successful singing career that influenced many future singers

  7. Sam Cooke (1935-1964), singer, songwriter • Began career as lead singer with the gospel group the Soul Stirrers • Light, high, pop and gospel vocal style • Teen idol for black teens in early sixties • “You Send Me” first pop hit • Teen idol image shattered by violent death in 1964 6-7

  8. James Brown (1933 - 2006) Another musical innovator who (like Ray Charles) started performing simply to make enough money to survive, he started by singing gospel music. His first hit song was “Please, Please, Please”, (1956) which was in a gospel style, but thematically secular. He went on to develop a wild stage act that involved rhythmic dance steps which was imitated by many later soul artists.

  9. James Brown (1933-2006), singer, songwriter, inventor of musical style Funk • Professional gospel singer • “Please, Please, Please” first pop hit • Dramatic performer with energetic dance and vocal style • 1964 - First funk recording “Out of Sight” • 1968 – “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud” • Often called the Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother No. 1, Mr, Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, and the Man with all of the Names 6-9

  10. Listening Guide “Please, Please, Please” by James Brown (1956) Tempo: 74 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: Introduction with rhythmically free vocals, 8-bar periods follow Features: Uneven beat subdivisions Strong backbeat in drums Brown’s vocals include dramatic melismas and free rhythms Doo-wop/gospel influences in backup vocals Instruments sometimes break for solo vocals Lyrics: The singer is begging for sex Charts: Pop, #105, R&B, #5 6-10

  11. Memphis Soul Stax and Volt labels • Booker T. and the MGs • Wilson Pickett (1941-2006), singer, songwriter • Otis Redding (1941-1967), singer, songwriter 6-11

  12. Wilson Pickett (1941 - 2006) In 1959 at age 19, he abandoned his gospel style shouts and grunts to sing rhythm and blues ballads with “The Falcons.” His old style of singing returned, however, when he went to Memphis to record his biggest hit “In The Midnight Hour” which included what later became known as the “Memphis horn sound” which was used on many subsequent Memphis Soul recordings.

  13. Listening Guide “In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett (1965) Tempo: 112 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: Section lengths vary Features: Booker T. and the MGs, guitar, organ, bass, and drums with horn section (trumpet and three saxophones) Horn section plays major chords in parallel motion, characteristic of the Memphis Soul style Even beat subdivisions Drums keep strong backbeat Pickett’s vocals in gospel style Lyrics: The singer looks forward to sex at midnight Charts: Pop, #21, R&B, #1, British hits, #12 6-13

  14. Atlantic Records • Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler co-producers • Aretha Franklin (born in 1942), gospel/soul singer • Often called “Lady Soul” 6-14

  15. Aretha Franklin (1942 - ) Sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Soul”, she was the daughter of a Baptist minister and much of her early singing career was was spent singing Gospel in her Daddy’s church. She became one of the most successful recording artists at Atlantic Records.

  16. Listening Guide “Respect” by Aretha Franklin (1967) Tempo: 112 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: 4-bar introduction, A, B, and C sections vary in length Features: Even beat subdivisions, but some uneven in Franklin’s vocals Memphis horn sound with parallel chords Active bass Strong backbeat in drums Tenor saxophone solo Lyrics: The song demands for respect and satisfaction from a lover Charts: Pop, #1 for two weeks, R&B, #1 for eight weeks, British hits, #10 6-16

  17. The More Commercial Style of Motown Motown Record Co. started by Berry Gordy Jr. (born in 1929), songwriter, producer, record company owner Most performers not formerly gospel singers International Talent Management Incorporated, finishing school for performers Choreographer for vocalists Glamorous clothing Funk Brothers background in jazz and r&b Performer’s stage names part of magical image (Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Four Tops, the Miracles) 6-17

  18. Otis Redding (1941 - 1967) Another Memphis Soul artist, he became the biggest selling singer and Stax records. He wrote many of his own songs including “Respect” which he recorded in 1965 and Aretha Franklin covered 2 years later. His biggest hit was “(Sittin on) The Dock Of The Bay” which he recorded two years after “Respect” in 1967.

  19. The Temptations Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins (not to be confused with another Motown group with the same name), the Temptations have always featured at least five male vocalists/dancers. Known for its recognizable choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy onstage suits, the Temptations have been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to Pop and Rock. Having sold tens of millions of albums, he Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history.

  20. Listening Guide “My Girl” by the Temptations (1965) Tempo: 112 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: Mostly 8-bar sections Instrumental section with vocal responses Features: Backbeat with finger snaps, then drums Orchestral string section and brass fills Vocal group responds to lead singer David Ruffin in more pop than gospel style Lyrics: The singer is fulfilled when he is with his girl Charts: Pop, #1, R&B, #1 for six weeks 6-20

  21. Other Motown Artists Stevie Wonder (born in 1950), singer, songwriter, producer, keyboard and harmonica player • Motown’s first child star (age 12) • Gained production control of recordings at age 21, rare for Motown company Michael Jackson (1958-2009), singer, songwriter, dancer • Lead singer with the Jackson 5 at Motown • Motown’s second child star (age 10) Marvin Gaye (1939 – 1984), singer 6-21

  22. The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5, later known simply as “The Jacksons” were an American popular music group from Gary, Indiana. Founded by Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Michael Jackson, they were initially known as the Jackson Brothers and it was just a trio of three brothers (Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine) Marlon and Michael were added later and the name changed. They were one of the biggest pop music acts of the 1970’s and the band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and Michael.

  23. Marvin Gaye (1939 - 1984) Starting his career as a member of the doo-wop group “The Moonglows” in the late 1950s, he ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960. He signed with a Motown subsidiary Tamla in 1960. He was the label’s top selling solo artist during the 1960’s, and he was crowned “The Prince of Motown” & “The Prince of Soul” Biggest hits: “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you).”

  24. Listening Guide “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye (1971) Tempo: 102 beats per minute, 4 beats per bar Form: Mostly 4-bar phrases Features: Party-like conversation, then 4 bar instrumental before Gaye’s vocals • Thickly arranged orchestra includes the Funk Brothers and backup singers • Electric bass and drums part of accompaniment • Subtle backbeat played by drums and clapped by singers at the end Lyrics: the song is a general plea for peace and understanding in a time of sorrow and unrest. Charts: Pop, #2 for three weeks, R&B, #1 for five weeks 6-24

  25. Discussion Questions In what various ways did soul music and its performers affect the civil rights movement? Civil rights leaders tended to admire James Brown much more than other great soul or Motown artists. What are some of the likely reasons for that?s 6-25

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