Soul
Music is Powerful, Rhythmic, Soothing, Energizing, Funky, Groovy, Unapologetic,
Spiritual, Essential, Expressive, Internal, and Enduring. For me, Soul Music has always been Memorable,
so for June, which is Black Music Month, I want to turn you on to some of my
reflections of Soul Music.
I am a child of the sixties and seventies when it comes to Soul Music. A lot of the music from those years still hold specific memories from fifty years ago, but it’s not just the iconic records by iconic artists that played on the radio for 3 minutes and 35 seconds that I remember. A lot of my memories come from what I call, “Soul Music You Probably Forgot About”.
Consider the song “Once I’ve Been There” by Norman Connors with Phillip Mitchell. In my adolescent brain, I thought the message of the song was cool. There was a song by Deon Jackson called “Love Makes the World Go Round” that had a Motown vibe. The incomparable Jackie Wilson had a hit song in the early seventies called “This Love Is Real” which was much different than his previous hits. Do you remember “Sweet Inspiration” by The Sweet Inspirations, a group that once included icon Dionne Warwick? There was Brenda and the Tabulations who softly and sweetly told us that it was “Right On the Tip of My Tongue”. Or how about “The Bells” by The Originals who also had the hit, “Baby, I’m For Real”. “Jealous Kind of Fella” by Garland Green was always a good record to play after you had “messed up”, and I also need to mention a little known group named The Fuzz who had one of the best love songs ever produced called “I Love You For All Seasons”.
The Dells put out a lot of good music during this time including the long “Stay in My Corner” and “Oh What a Night”, but “Always Together” was a pure song for lovers. The Dramatics also put out some good music including “Get Off My Cloud” and the melodic “In the Rain”, but the song, “Lady Love” was a masterpiece of love. Another masterpiece was “I’m So Proud” by the Main Ingredient. This song was written by the lyrical master of soul, Curtis Mayfield and originally performed by the Impressions.
There is lot more music in my adolescent life’s soundtrack including “Cowboys to Girls” written by Gamble and Huff, and performed by the Intruders; and “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell and the Drells from Houston, Texas, but I will end this essay with two songs. The first song is “Groovin’” by The Rascals. With the soul-enriched harmonica, this was the perfect song for cruising through Memorial Park on a Sunday afternoon. The last song I will talk about is probably the greatest summertime record ever produced. “All Day Music” by WAR was infectious. You couldn’t just play it once or twice; it had to be played over and over again. And every time it played, something different would grab your soul whether it was Papa Dee Allen on the congas, Lee Oskar on the harmonica, or Lonnie Jordan on the organ.
During Black Music Month, I encourage you to seek out and listen to some of that Soul Music you probably forgot about. It’s guaranteed to make you smile.
S. A. Miller
6.20.2023
For more Soul Music you probably forgot about go to: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulVisionTV/videos
Soul Perspectives is written by S. A. Miller, a motion picture producer and director,
author, and educator who has been writing commentary on Social, Economic,
Educational, and Political topics for over forty years.
