Sweet Soul Music
| "Sweet Soul Music" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Arthur Conley | |
| from the album Sweet Soul Music | |
| B-side | "Let's Go Steady" |
| Released | 1967 |
| Recorded | FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, January 1967[1] |
| Genre | Soul, rhythm and blues |
| Length | 2:20 |
| Label | Atco |
| Songwriter(s) | Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley and Otis Redding |
"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song, first released by Arthur Conley in 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding, it is based on the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" from his posthumous album Shake; the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven.
It reached the number two spot on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard R&B chart and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] J. W. Alexander, Cooke's business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for appropriating the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke's name was added to the writer credits, and Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke–Alexander enterprise.
Lyrics
The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:
- "Going to a Go-Go", by the Miracles; the group is not explicitly mentioned.
- "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing", by Lou Rawls
- "Hold On, I'm Comin'", by Sam & Dave
- "Mustang Sally", by Wilson Pickett
- "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa", by Otis Redding. A brief instrumental version of the chorus for the song is quoted, after Conley says, "Hit it, Otis".
Additionally, James Brown is described as "the king of them all".[3]
At the end of the song, Arthur Conley sings, "Otis Redding got the feeling."
References
- ↑ The Muscle Shoals Sound CD Liner Notes, Rhino Records, 1993
- ↑ "Sweet Soul Music". Songfacts. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
- ↑ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 51 – The Soul Reformation: Phase Three, Soul Music at the Summit. [Part 7]: UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.