WORKSHEET 8

Welcome to Worksheet 8. Make sure you open the worksheet here: HIS:ROCK WORKSHEET 8.pdf Download HIS:ROCK WORKSHEET 8.pdf

This week we look at soul music. This exciting style grew out of R&B. To me, Ray Charles was the pioneer of soul music. There was an explosion of soul music in the 60s.

During that decade, there were 2 geographic and stylistic centers for soul music. One was Detroit, Michigan, home of Motown Records. Motown was called such, because the automobile industry was centered in Detroit (hence Detroit = Motor City = Motown).  Motown was created by Berry Gordy, who had a great vision for his company. He was going to produce music that appealed to ALL people, not just one group, and it worked. Some of our greatest recordings came from Motown. Watch these 2 clips about Motown and Berry Gordy:

Motown: How It All Began | Oprah’s Master Class | Oprah Winfrey Network Links to an external site.

v=5Vs437fJZYY&list=PLu4D96Nj7RcAxa9gDJRtZr-vbmjrNu9rq&index=10&t=0s Links to an external site.

The most successful Motown group was the Temptations.

First on our Music Journal (#57) entries is "My Girl," by the Temptations. This was written by Smokey Robinson, who had an earlier hit by singer Mary Wells, called "My Guy." There is a great picture on the 2nd page of your worksheet of Smokey Robinson rehearsing backstage with the Temptations, on "My Girl."  Here is a story of that meeting:

The Motown Story: The Temptations Links to an external site.

The song remains today a pop classic. Here it is:

57. MY GIRL

THE TEMPTATIONS MY GIRL STEREO Links to an external site.

Here is a short look at Smokey's background:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEV8AkrtVk8 Links to an external site.

Next, we have Smokey Robinson doing one of his many hits: "I Second That Emotion"

58. I SECOND THAT EMOTION

I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson Links to an external site.

Smokey had a worldwide influence, even to the Beatles! Watch this clip:

Smokey Robinson -- "Beatles Stories" Links to an external site.

The most successful female Motown group was the Supremes.

They started out as the Primettes, and it took awhile for them to make it on the charts, but when they did, they did it explosively. Here is a short look at the group:

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go? | BIO Shorts | Biography Links to an external site.

Here is their 3rd number 1:

59. COME SEE ABOUT ME

THE SUPREMES COME SEE ABOUT ME Links to an external site.

Marvin Gaye was also a major Motown star. He actually got started as a drummer for other artists.  Many hits, like the one here. Unfortunately, he was murdered by his own father. He was fatally shot by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., on April 1, 1984, at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles, California. Gaye was shot twice following an altercation with his father after he intervened in an argument between his parents. Here is a short clip of that story: MARVIN GAYE SHOT AND KILLED BY HIS FATHER Links to an external site.

Our next song:

60. TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY

Too busy thinking about my baby - Marvin Gaye (lyrics) HD Links to an external site.

Stevie Wonder is a one of a kind artist, kind of like Ray Charles.

wiki : "Stevland Hardaway Morris, born May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. A prominent figure in popular music, he is one of the most successful songwriters and musicians in the history of music."

Here is a short bio of him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZqdGDmS4EE Links to an external site.

His first hit:

wiki:

In 1963, the single "Fingertips Links to an external site." was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Links to an external site. when Wonder was aged 13, making him the youngest artist ever Links to an external site. to top the charts.

61. FINGERTIPS

Fingertips Part 2.(Live)-Stevie Wonder-1963 Links to an external site.

Stevie grew up, and got funkier. Here is how "Superstition" was written. 

wiki: "British guitarist Jeff Beck was an admirer of Wonder's music, and Wonder was informed of this prior to the Talking Book album sessions. Though at this point he was virtually playing all of the instruments on his songs by himself, Wonder preferred to let other guitarists play on his records, and he liked the idea of a collaboration with Beck. An agreement was quickly made for Beck to become involved in the sessions that became the Talking Book album, in return for Wonder writing him a song.

Between the album sessions, Beck came up with the opening drum beat. Wonder told Beck to keep playing while he improvised over the top of it. He improvised most of the song, including the riff, on the spot. Beck and Wonder created a rough demo for the song that day."

Here it is:

62. SUPERSTITION

Superstition - Stevie Wonder with Lyrics Links to an external site.

As we stated at the beginning, there were 2 centers for soul music in the 60s.  We already discussed Motown. The second location was called Memphis Soul, or sometimes Southern Soul, because there was great music being made throughout the South. Kind of like the Brill Building being a real place, but also representative of other office buildings putting out good pop songs. There was a record company in Memphis called Stax, that put out many great soul hits. Many of these artists had the same backup group for their recordings: Booker T and the MGs

(remember "Green Onions?") Here is a clip about Stax and that group:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE_KLe3MfB8 Links to an external site.

The biggest star to come out of the Memphis soul scene was Otis Redding. His biggest hit was "Dock Of The Bay." Here it is for our music journal:

63. DOCK OF THE BAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iwL8dKl2MU Links to an external site.

Another great artist from the Memphis scene was Wilson Pickett. 

His breakout hit was "In The Midnight Hour," which was co-written by Pickett and guitarist Steve Cropper (of the MGs)

63. IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixhkdO_IdU Links to an external site.

Another one of a kind artist now, Aretha Franklin. Her father was a well known minister, who eventually settled in Detroit. Despite a challenging childhood, she ended up with the title "Queen Of Soul." Her career did not take off until Jerry Wexler, a producer for Atlantic Records, took her down to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to a legendary recording studio called Fame. Watch this trailer about that place:

MUSCLE SHOALS TRAILER.

Muscle Shoals Trailer Links to an external site.

Her first number one hit, "Respect," was recorded in Muscle Shoals, and even today is regarded as one of the greatest recordings in popular music.

65. RESPECT

Aretha Franklin - Respect [1967] (Original Version) Links to an external site.

By the way "Respect" was written by Otis Redding!

This worksheet is full of amazing singular talents, whose influence was monumental.         

Our last artist is James Brown, who had many nicknames: Soul Brother Number One, Godfather of Soul, and The hardest working man in show business. I have long thought that he created funk music, and is still today the top artist in that realm. He was known for his high energy, non-stop shows that featured his many hits, with his crazy dancing skills. Watch this short video showcasing his dancing:

JAMES BROWN DANCING

James Brown - I Got The Feelin' Links to an external site.

Although he was long established on the R&B charts, James Brown became a superstar with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag." which reached the Top Ten on the pop charts. Characteristics of JB's songs included a syncopated rhythm section, with the bass guitar brought up louder in the mix. The band would often stop suddenly, and jump back in after a short vocal. See if you can spot these characteristics.

66. PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_o7bL2Op7g Links to an external site.

This is a pretty heavy worksheet, with lots of information and great songs.  Try to finish this as soon as you can, as we have 2 more worksheets to get to before the final. Worksheets 9 & 10 are fairly short, however.

EXTRAS

Now, if you want to explore soul music a little more, check out these videos.

Here is a good biopic of the Temptations. The background on this group is fascinating, and more interesting than whatever is on TV.

The movie is presented here in episodes. Here is the playlist:

TEMPTATIONS MOVIE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-EPpwC3r1nds5Bv7FEkvwRwAhZxol4tv Links to an external site.

Here is Otis Redding appearing at the Monterey Pop Festival (The 1st outdoor rock festival) a few months before he unfortunately died in a plane crash:

OTIS REDDING AT MONTEREY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIoQDG-iRn4 Links to an external site.

There was an 80s movie called the Blues Brothers, which featured many great soul/funk artists (Remember the clip we saw of Ray Charles, the pawn shop owner, singing "Shake A Tail-feather?")

Aretha does a great cameo in the film, singing "Think."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vet6AHmq3_s Links to an external site.

Hang in there, hope to see you soon!