Last Friday afternoon, a bit tired of all the sniping, back-biting and navel gazing on my beloved Afterword site, I posted a real old fashioned thread. It was about the first soul music I got into, in the ’70’s. I’m going to use the name Blue Eyed Soul because that is what is was called. I understand that some people feel that phrase has racist implications but I can’t help it – that’s what it was called. The link to the thread is below.
Anyway, I described how this music, sung by white people, pulled me away from rock & prog and filled me with joy. A joy that led me to investigate back in time and look at all of those ‘pesky’ Motown & Stax records in a different light. That has become a 40+ year journey of joy and wonder.
I posted 3 examples of songs that started me on that journey and went out for the evening. I am delighted to say that the response has been amazing. Some fantastic music was posted (much of it, new to me) and several people said how much they loved the thread.
The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like it was crying out for a Spotify playlist. So, last night, I created one. Where possible I have included every song on the thread (Spotify is missing a few or only have different versions) barring the 2 or 3 tracks by black artists which, whilst deeply gorgeous songs, rather missed the point of the OP. I added a few more artists I thought of and expanded the number of tracks by a few suggested artists. I have made some wonderful new discoveries (how can I not only never have heard of Lari White or Frazey Ford, but never come across their gorgeous music before?) and the whole thing has been good for my soul.
So here is the playlist. It is 171 songs long and it will take a minute short of 12 hours to play. I have had it on shuffle today and it is genuinely wonderful.
Ladies and Gents, you should be very proud of yourselves.
https://theafterword.co.uk/the-first-soul-music/
https://open.spotify.com/user/1137099875/playlist/7kyys3W4MuUa8DknpkQKMx?si=CPf_PfvfTweuFLTgQ6elOA
Freddy Steady says
Nice one @niallb
I’ve never thought of “Blue eyed soul” as racist. It’s just music.
niallb says
Is the correct answer.
Apparently, it became ‘a thing’.
Billybob Dylan says
I saw your post on FB at lunchtime, Niall, and I’ve been grooving to the playlist all afternoon. The Robert Palmer selections were a nice touch. I’ve owned and loved his first three LPs (I have his others, too!) for about 40 years now, and I never tire of them.
Gary says
While I naturally enjoyed the navel gazing (although I would have preferred more focus on me), I think I must have somehow missed all the sniping and back-biting, dammit. Was it fun? I bet it was on the cricket thread. I’d love to look and see, but… cricket. I can’t be facing that.
Martin Hairnet says
Straight bat to a straight ball Gary. It’s easy. Just remember to steer clear of the corridor of uncertainty.
chiz says
A classic googly from Niall there. Looks like it goes one way, but it’s intended to go the other
Twang says
Nice one Niall
Lodestone of Wrongness says
As Gary Sobers once said “Most players would have missed it but I snicked it”
Lemonhope says
I’ll have some of that – cheers
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Thanks to the thread my music of choice this last week has been Abandoned Luncheonette. To howls of derision I will posit that almost everything else they did was distinctly average but AL is absolutely magnificent: and that rarest of albums, not a single duff track
nigelthebald says
*howls derisively*
Lodestone of Wrongness says
I hear your howls and dismiss them as mere howls. Let’s agree to disagree and instead celebrate the sheer wonder of Abandoned Luncheonette
Moose the Mooche says
That album rules!!!
My parents are moving (back) to Hull soon. The main reason I’m pleased is that I will have unrestricted access to my Dad’s LPs for the first time in 20 years. Including… Abandoned Luncheonette.
androo1963 says
You’re a hero, Niall. I was hoping someone would do this. That’s my weekend sorted.
niallb says
I’m playing it on shuffle now. Just had Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham singing I’m Your Puppet into Joe Cocker and Feelin’ Alright and then the mighty Southside & The Asbury Jukes and Bruce’s Next To You. Heaven
Sewer Robot says
I can still touch my toes and never forget my Mum’s birthday, so I was already proud of myself.
(Also I never contributed to your thread, Niall, but if I had, it would probably have been when my brother brought home There, There, My Dear and in the breakdown the geezer was going on about “soul” and I wasn’t sure what it was but I knew I wanted me some more of it…)
chiz says
So are we doing the Whites Only reggae list tonight or not?
Moose the Mooche says
I prefer Short Curtain Rail to Long House Mat.
Sewer Robot says
Except I can’t imagine many on here were introduced to reggae by white acts. Maybe if you’re young enough the first reggae you heard was the predominantly white UB40…
Mike_H says
There’s only a very narrow slice of time in which it would be possible to hear your first reggae from UB40. And even then Bob Marley was getting a lot of play.