60s Soul Music: The Sound of a Generation

60s Soul Music: The Sound of a Generation is a blog dedicated to the best soul music of the 1960s. Here you’ll find articles, reviews, and recommendations of the best soul albums of the decade.

The Birth of Soul

The early sixties were a turbulent time. The country was in the throws of the civil rights movement, and many young people were rebelling against the status quo. The sound of soul music reflected the feeling of the times, and it resonated with people of all ages. Soul music was a new sound that blended rhythm and blues with gospel, and it quickly became a sensation.

Motown

The Motown sound was the brainchild of Berry Gordy, who founded the Motown record label in 1960.He had a keen ear for talent, and his stable of artists included Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. The music they created was a perfect blend of R&B, pop, and gospel, with a heavy dose of groove. It was infectious, danceable, and most importantly, it spoke to the experience of being young and in love.

The Motown sound dominated the pop charts in the 1960s and early 1970s, and its influence can still be heard in today’s music. If you’re looking for some soulful tunes to add to your collection, here are 10 essential Motown tracks.

Stax

The Stax Records sound was a major factor in the creation of what we now know as soul music. The label was based in Memphis, Tennessee and was founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. The name “Stax” is a combination of the first two letters of their last names. The label’s first hit was “Cause I Love You” by Rufus Thomas.

In the early 1960s, stereo recordings were still a relatively new technological development and Stax grabbed onto the format with both hands. The use of reverb and echo became trademarks of the so-called “Memphis sound” that Stax records was known for. One of the label’s most successful releases during this period was Carla Thomas’s “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)” which reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.

During the mid-1960s, Stax began signing more black artists and releasing more socially conscious material. One of their most famous signings was Otis Redding, who recorded some of his biggest hits at the Stax studios, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “I Can’t Turn You Loose.” Redding tragically died in a plane crash in 1967, but his music continues to be popular to this day.

Other notable Stax artists from this period include Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, Booker T. & the MGs, and The Bar-Kays. In 1968, Stax released what is arguably their most famous single: Otis Redding’s posthumous release “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Sound of Soul

The sound of Soul music came to be in the early 1960s, and it is a genre that is still popular today. The sound of Soul music is a combination of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and sometimes even jazz. This genre of music was created by African-American musicians who were looking for a way to express themselves and their culture.

Gospel

Gospel music is a genre of Christian music that is characterized by strong, impassioned vocals and is deeply rooted in the African-American church experience. Gospel music has been a part of the African-American musical tradition for more than 200 years and is one of the most influential genres in American music. Gospel music is mostly based on the Christmas story, but it also includes other religious themes.

Gospel music first gained popularity in the 1920s, when it was referred to as “ race records ” because it was created by and for black audiences. The genre reached its widest audience in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was popularized by Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, and the Soul Stirrers. Gospel music has continued to evolve since then, incorporating elements from other genres such as R&B, rock, and hip hop.

One of the most famous gospel songs is “Amazing Grace,” which was written by English poet John Newton in 1779. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and LeAnn Rimes.

Funk

The Funk music genre originated in the mid to late 1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music with Rhythm and Blues to create a more danceable sound. The term “funk” derives from the word “fungus”, meaning musty or rotten, which was used to describe the earthy,wnaty smell of Soul music. Funk is typified by a strong, repetitive bass line, soulful vocals and a driving rhythm.

Rhythm and Blues

In the 1960s, a new type of music called “soul” emerged from the African American community. This genre combined elements of gospel, R&B, and jazz to create a sound that was both powerful and emotive. convey both the joy and the struggle of the African American experience. The term “rhythm and blues” was coined by music journalist Jerry Wexler in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that soul music came into its own.

Many of the biggest names in soul music got their start in the churches of the American South. Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding were all influenced by gospel music, and they brought that passion to their soul recordings. Thanks to artists like these, soul became one of the most popular genres of the 1960s.

During this decade, soul music evolved significantly. In the early 1960s, artists like Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson were creating records that incorporated elements of R&B, pop, and jazz. These records were more sophisticated than earlier rhythm and blues recordings, and they helped to broaden the appeal of soul music.

As the 1960s progressed, more and more young people began to gravitate towards soul music. This was partly due to the fact that soul artists were often able to convey both the joy and the struggle of the African American experience. Artists like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder used their music to address social issues like poverty, racism, and inequality. At the same time, they also created some of the most danceable records of all time.

The impact of soul music can still be felt today. In many ways, contemporary R&B is simply a modern version of what artists like Sam Cooke were doing in the 1960s. Soul continues to evolve as a genre, but its roots can be traced back to this important decade in musical history.

The Legacy of Soul

Few musical genres can claim to have had as much of an impact on popular culture as soul music. Originating in the African American communities of the southern United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, soul music became the voice of a generation, with its distinctive sound and themes of social change. In the decades since its inception, soul music has continued to evolve, finding new audiences and influencing other genres. Let’s take a closer look at the history and legacy of soul music.

The Civil Rights Movement

During the 1960s, soul music became the soundtrack of the civil rights movement. The music conveyed the emotions and struggles of a generation fighting for equality and social justice. Soul artists used their platform to speak out against racism and oppression, and their songs helped to unify and empower people of all colors.

The impact of soul music was far-reaching, and it continues to be an important force in the world today. The genre has been influence by many other styles of music, and it has produced some of the most timeless and iconic songs in history. If you’re a fan of soul music, then you know that its legacy is truly timeless.

The Vietnam War

By the early 1960s, the United States had become deeply involved in the Vietnam War. American military advisors had been sent to help the South Vietnamese government fight the Communist North Vietnamese and their Viet Cong allies. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson committed troops to the conflict, and over the next decade, more than 500,000 American soldiers would serve in Vietnam.

The war had a profound impact on American society. For many young people, it was a source of great anxiety and uncertainty. In addition to the death and violence associated with war, draft eligibility meant that many young men were at risk of being sent to fight in a faraway country. The conflict also led to widespread protests against the war, dividing the nation.

The Vietnam War also had a significant impact on music. Many artists used their music to express their opposition to the war, while others wrote songs that sought to boost morale or offer comfort to those who were fighting. Soul music was particularly affected by the war; many of its biggest stars, including Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, wrote songs that addressed the conflict directly. The Vietnam War would ultimately change the course of American history—and soul music would never be the same.