Tag: soul

434. The Staple Singers and Mavis Staples

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2022) Episode 434 is the STAPLE SINGERS and MAVIS STAPLES.  This family (patriarch “Pops” plus four siblings, including Mavis) is proof that blues, gospel and soul all share the same DNA. They began as a gospel group, but with a restrained, down to earth feel in contrast to normal gospel fare, grounded in Pops’ Mississippi blues guitar. They transitioned into soul and later funk. Mavis, already an accomplished solo artist, has had a revival in her golden years, with her best albums coming in the last decade.

Favorite Staple Singers album: Freedom Highway

Favorite Mavis album: One True Vine

Favorite Staple Singers song: John Brown

Favorite Mavis song: Can You Get To That

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: try the mid-60s albums for some good soul and sweet harmonies

422. Sam & Dave

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(July 2022) Episode 422 is SAM & DAVE. A top soul act with so many songs that have become American standards. The duo format, Sam high and Dave low, brought the call-and-response style over from gospel. It’s not my favorite soul, but it is still very good.

Favorite album: Hold On I’m Comin’

Favorite song: Hold On I’m Comin’

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: no soul playlist should do without

418. Otis Redding

~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(June 2022) Episode 418 is OTIS REDDING. Indisputably one of the top soul voices of all time, with a voice that could equally evoke happiness and heartache.  He died young, so all his recordings were in the mid-60s golden age of soul. While it would have been interesting to hear what he would have done as soul evolved in the 1970s, it means all his music hits that classic tone.

Favorite album: Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul

Favorite song: Hard to Handle

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: a must-have for any soul playlist

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408. Wilson Pickett

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(May 2022) Episode 408 of the “opus project” is WILSON PICKETT. One of my favorite soul singers; his voice has a right level of rawness that feels close to the soul ideal. The songs in his late 1960s prime are funky and danceable without resorting to schlock or saccharine. After the early 1970s the output becomes sporadic and forgettable.

Favorite album: The Exciting Wilson Pickett

Favorite song: Land of 1000 Dances

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: a must-have for any soul playlist

401. Barry White

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2022) Episode 401 is BARRY WHITE. “If chocolate fudge cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White” – the baritone-bass voice that catalyzed countless romances. Smooth, soulful, iconic. 

Favorite album: Stone Gon’

Favorite song:  Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up

Favorite instrumental (could it get any more 70s in here?): Love’s Theme (credited to Love Unlimited Orchestra)

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: essential in any spin of 70s soul

391. Isaac Hayes

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2022) Episode 391 of the “opus project” is ISAAC HAYES.  You can’t top his early 70s albums for sensuous soul and hot funk. Man I love that stuff. Not to mention his contributions to southern soul at Stax, development of disco, soundtracks (Shaft!) and as an actor, and a Chef.

Favorite album: Black Moses

Favorite song: Good Love

Best enjoyed: Making sweet love by the fire, with Chocolate Salty Balls

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: essential funk and sexy soul

388. Jackie Wilson

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2022) Episode 388 is JACKIE WILSON. This was a disappointment. He had a strong voice with a big range, and he was a hitmaker and showman. But his version of R&B and soul comes off as milquetoast, laden with sappy strings and chrome and lacking in emotional depth.

Favorite album: Jackie Sings the Blues

Favorite song: (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: look elsewhere for your soul

372. Al Green

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 372 is AL GREEN. Simply one of the best soul voices ever.  His early 1970s albums are canon for soul music. He later moved on into religious music which is not my cup of tea. 

Favorite album: I’m Still in Love with You

Favorite song: Take Me To The River

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: early 70s are a must for any soul review

328. Sam Cooke

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(April 2021) Episode 328 is SAM COOKE. There’s a reason they call him the King of Soul. It starts with that glorious voice, and continues with catchy tunes that bridged appeal across Black and White audiences (not to mention his civil rights activism). It’s a tragedy that we never got to see what he could do as soul music got more gritty, socially-conscious and funky in the later 1960s. 

Favorite album: Night Beat

Favorite song: Lost and Lookin’

Compared to expectations: same

315. Nina Simone

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2021) Episode 315 is NINA SIMONE. There is so much that is remarkable about Nina Simone. Her deep and expressive voice, best suited to the jazz tunes of her early career IMO. Her skills on piano, arranging and songwriting. The diversity and eclecticism of her musical tastes (from gospel and blues to The Beatles and Hall & Oates). Her independence and activism for civil rights.  She owned the 1960s.

Favorite album: Pastel Blues

Favorite song: Four Women

Compared to expectations: same