BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE SECOND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH AT 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
Many thanks to our September guests, Henry Lovoy and Ross Gagliano. They shared many stories about their early days together as cousins and how they came about playing in bands and then the formation of The Rockin’ Rebellions. They have many great memories about those days and thank goodness they are willing and able to share them with us.
This month BRC member David Shoemaker will be presenting a program on the Group Harmony sound. He came across a video that he wants to share that is loaded with interesting information about the early days of the group sound. Drop by and enjoy.
THE GENRE KNOWN AS SOUL
The first I remember hearing a song called ‘soul music’ was when Otis Redding started being played on the radio. The term ‘soul’ had been used but not as a genre of music or to the extent that Otis, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, The Righteous Brothers, Percy Sledge and others brought about. I am not saying ‘soul’ started with these performers. I look back at ‘Lonely Teardrops’ by Jackie Wilson, ‘Cry To Me’ by Solomon Burke, and ‘Bring It On Home To Me’ by Sam Cooke and now know that those songs are ‘soul’ to me. I think the difference between R&B and Soul Music is mainly the delivery by the singer. I decided to talk to and get opinions from some people who were in the business as this genre or term ‘soul’ was coming about. Guys who are in the BRC Music Hall Of Fame for a reason. They were there when this was starting. This will be a two-part series with this months’ interviewee being Bunky Anderson. Bunky has played drums for many of the top performers and also did production and owned a booking agency. Here is his version or opinions about R&B compared to Soul.
When I first started thinking about the subject “when rhythm and blues became soul music,” I tried to think about Google, any videos, or other media that would educate or remind me about this evolution.
Then I thought about how no one really knows the identity of the first person to call music Soul music.
I thought about how the term “blues” came from the workers in the fields and camps in the South. Many of the rhythms came from Africa on slave ships to the US. They expressed their blue feelings in song. Somehow this morphed into gospel in the black churches, and later in the house parties and small jazz clubs in the 1920’s through the 1940’s. The music we call rhythm and blues? Who named it rhythm and blues? I haven’t got a clue.
In 1942 Billboard’s new chart was called the Harlem Hit Parade. Later, from 1945 through 1949 it was renamed Juke Box Race Records. In 1949 the official introduction of the Rhythm and Blues chart was finalized.
In the 40’s and 50’s, radio introduced jazz and doo wop. I guess it was a natural evolution. “Negro” musicians were on the move from the deep South, north to big cities. One of the biggest was Chicago, which of course became the electric Blues capital of the world.
This process was put in motion by the huge popularity of “Black” radio stations and recording studios. And oh yeah, the “new” electric guitar and bass made it easy for a few to play for many. Even white folks were beginning to listen, sing along, and dance to the new music, which many say was named “Rock and Roll” by DJ Alan Freed.
In 1958 came “I Got a Woman” by Ray Charles, which many consider the first Soul song/record ever. Who declared it Soul? I haven’t a clue.
The 70’s brought Funk and Disco, and later Rap, Electronics, Metal, and Punk. Where did these names come from? Again, my guess is that the natural evolution of music categories just happens. Somebody hears a name or phrase or lyric, and it just sticks. How does it happen? I haven’t a clue.
All of this history is great, but I remember very little, if any of it. Born in 1947, for my first 10 years I listened only to Dad’s car radio and Mom’s radio at home playing country music. I sang gospel in church on Sunday mornings early, late and at night. And of course, Wednesday nights and revivals. I guess I sang patriotic songs in grammar school, but it seems that they left no lasting impression. I never thought about what kind of music I was singing.
Elizabeth Bates lived two houses away, was 4 or 5 years older, and had records. My Aunt Frances, who was always a rebel and in trouble, had great records. I would visit her as often as possible. These were the first Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard records I heard. I was scarred for life!!
Fast forward 3 or 4 years. I was listening to everything. My uncle, Jones Anderson, gave me an RCA transistor radio with an earplug, so I could tune in late late late at night to WJLD and WSGN to hear the newest songs. I never thought about the kind of music or category, only that it felt good. And how in the world do you play it?
I started playing drums at bars and hops when I was 15. I remember they were all “whites only” in 1962-3, and the first and only Soul song we could play at the roughest bars was “Crying Time” by Ray Charles. It was requested over and over. That was the first Soul song I played in front of an audience.
After this the flood gates opened. I played Soul songs by everybody, including the Tams, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, The Temptations, the Drifters, and of course, James Brown, who somehow changed from R & B to Soul. Who declared that he was now Soul? I haven’t a clue. I guess Big Mama Thornton was a Blues singer, and Janice Joplin and Etta James were Soul singers. Who decided? I haven’t a clue.
I got to hang out with some guys at a studio in northwest Alabama, and they were Soul musicians. They were white, but played on ‘Respect’ and many many other Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett hits. They also played for Paul Simon, Bob Seger, and Joe Cocker.
When I saw the Beatles in Atlanta, they opened with ‘Twist and Shout’, originally by the Isley Brothers. Were the Beatles a Soul band? Sly Stone did ‘Dance to the Music’ and ‘Want to Take Ya Higher’—Blues band? Charley Pride did ‘Kiss an Angel Good Morning’. Was Charley a Blues artist? In 1955 when Chuck Berry released ‘Maybelline’, was he a Blues artist?
So it’s not what you played or how you played, but what year and what crowd you played for that determined what label was attached to your career. Why? I haven’t a clue.
Thanks, Bunky. Next month I will include thoughts and opinions from other musicians who I talked to about the difference between R&B and Soul Music including Travis Wammack who recorded, performed with and knew many of the early ‘Soul’ singers and we will hear from our guests from last month, Ross and Henry.
Probably a prime example of a song not written a s a ‘soul’ song but became known as one in that genre is ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ Written in 1932 and first recorded in 1933 by Jack Payne & His Band and over the years recorded by pop singers such as Bing Crosby, Eddy Duchin, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tomre and Patti Page, it came to light as a ‘soul’ song’ in 1966 when Otis redding recorded it. His version went to #25 on the Pop Chart and #4 on the R&B Chart. Here’s a clip of the Frank Sinatra verion and then the full Otis version. Click to play. ‘Try A Little Tenderness’.
Also, give a listen to Tammy Wynette’s #1 C/W song, ‘Stand By Your Man’ as done by Candy Staton. By the way, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL. First a clip from Tammy then Candy. Click to play. ‘Stand By Your Man’.
See ya,
Charlie