Soul Genre Assessment Task
Soul music is a popular genre that originated in the United States in the 1950’s and early 60’s. It uses different parts of African American gospel music, jazz and rhythm and blues. The term “soul” relates to African-American pride and culture. The music that preceded was blues and jazz. This is where soul comes in because soul music used blues and jazz in the music but in a more pop music style.
Typical instruments played in soul music were Electric Guitar, Bass guitar, Piano, Drums, Horn section, Saxophones, organ, keyboards and vocals. The structure of soul music is very similar to pop music. The structure of these songs were Verse/Chorus/Verse/Middle8/Chorus. The lyric content of soul songs were mainly about love. Call and response was used a lot during the era of soul, the singer or musician "calls" out a phrase or saying, and another singer or musician provides a "response. Singers used a lot of different tones using their voices. Sometimes they made their voices husky or smooth. Soul music was played in discos, nightclubs and if the artist had huge success they would play in concert halls.
Artists during this soul genre were Aretha Franklin (I say a little prayer), Marvin Gaye (I heard it through the grapevine), James Brown (I feel good), Otis Redding (Siting on the dock of the bay), Ray Charles (Hit the Road Jack) and Sam Cooke (Cupid). Record companies that produced soul music during this time were Stax records, they were founded in 1957, and it was originally called Satellite records. The founder of this record company was Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. Some of the artists signed to this record was Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Isaac Hayes. Another recording company is Atlantic Records, it is a major record label best known for its numerous recording of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, jazz and hip hop. They signed artists such as Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles who were around during the 1960’s, Atlantic records is still going today and signing some of the best artists in the world such as Ed Sheeran, Skrillex and Bruno Mars. Atlantic records were slightly different to other record companies because they signed black and white artists. They also signed British artists such as Dusty Springfield and Lulu in the late 1960’s. Another leading record company specialising in soul music was the Motown label founded by Berry Gordy Jr in 1959. Artists signed to this record label were The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and the Temptations.
Recording techniques were basic during the 1960’s, they had a completely different way of recording there music. They would record a few songs in a day unlike today where artists can take weeks or months to record one song. Vinyls were the popular way of listening to music. Radios were also used to listen to music.
The great thing about soul music is it gave black artists and musicians a wider audience than they had previously. The music was played regularly on National radio and the artists and musicians got to play their music in large concert halls and venues, where as previously black music was normally only played in small clubs. There was more choice of record labels to be signed so artists chose the best deal they were offered.
Subgenres-
Detroit Motown Soul is a strongly rhythmic and influenced by gospel music. It includes clapping, violin and bells. Pop soul is a style of soul music with raw vocals. Artists of this style included Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder. This was very popular during the 1960’s.
Deep soul and Southern is the next sub-genre, it refers to a driving energetic soul style combining R and B energy and gospel music sounds. Stax records who I spoke about above used a distinctive sound which included putting the vocals back in the mix than most R and B records, using horn parts.
Memphis soul is a style of soul produced in the 1960’s and 70’s at stax records. It features organs, bass, drums and horns. This style has its own sound
New Orleans soul came after rhythm and blues era with artists such as Little Richard. This made a huge impact on pop and R and B and influenced funk music.
Chicago soul generally had a light gospel influenced sound. It started in the 1960’s in Chicago. Typical instruments used electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, horns and vocals. This genre used laid back harmonies for groups while solo artists exhibited a melodic/pop approach to their songs. The accompaniment used highly orchestrated arrangements with horns and strings.
Philadelphia soul is a genre of soul music influenced by funk. It started in the late 1960’s. It used instrumental arrangements often using strings and horns. Vibraphone can be heard in the background of some music. Typical instruments were strings, horns and vocals. This genre started the genre of disco.
Psychedelic soul was a blend of psychedelic rock and soul music in the late 1960’s. Typical instruments used Bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, vocals, studio sound effects, horns and percussion.
Blue eyed soul is an R and B or soul type of music performed by white artists. This genre was around I the mid 1960’s, white artists performed soul and R and B that was similar to Motown. Modern singers such as Adele and Christina Aguilera are modern day singers using this subgenre.
British Soul has been a major influence on British popular music since the 1960’s including bands likes the Beatles. There was a lot of British acts that were very successful such as Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones.
Caroline Richardson
