The Best of 70’s Soul Music
A look at the best of 70’s soul music. From Marvin Gaye to Stevie Wonder, the 70’s soul music scene was full of incredible artists.
Introduction
The 1970s was a golden era for soul music, with a host of iconic artists producing some of the genre’s greatest ever songs. From the emotional depths of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” to the celebratory feel of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”, 70s soul music is truly timeless.
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best 70s soul songs, as well as exploring the genre in more depth. So whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting started, this is the perfect place to start learning about and appreciating 70s soul music.
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 was an American pop band composed of four brothers: Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Michael. The group was formed in 1965 under the name the Jackson Brothers, with youngest brother Michael as the lead singer. They toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1968, developing a following among African American audiences. Motown record company founder Berry Gordy signed them to Motown’s Tamla Records label in 1968 and renamed them the Jackson 5. The band’s first single, “I Want You Back”, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1970.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)”, and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross, and Tammi Terrell. During the 1970s, he recorded the concept albums What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On. Gaye’s later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. Following a period in Europe as a tax exile in the early 1980s, Gaye released the 1982 Grammy Award-winning hit “Sexual Healing” and its parent album Midnight Love.
On April 1, 1984, Gaye was shot to death by his father Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is one of the most iconic soul artists of all time. He got his start in the early 1960s, and by the 1970s, he was a global superstar. His hits “Superstition,” “Living for the City,” and “Higher Ground” helped define the sound of soul music in the 1970s. Wonder is a master of both funk and ballads, and his albums Talking Book and Innervisions are considered to be among the best soul albums ever made.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has been referred to as The Queen of Soul and Lady Soul. Her recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, especially those with Atlantic Records, revolutionized the genre of rhythm and blues. Franklin’s hits include ” Respect”, “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)”, “Chain of Fools”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Southern Man”, “Spanish Harlem” and “Rock Steady”.Franklin has won a total of eighteen Grammy Awards.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best of 70’s soul music is a genre that is truly timeless. The artists that created this music were some of the most talented and influential musicians of their time, and their legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences today. If you’re a fan of soul music, be sure to check out some of the best of 70’s soul music. You won’t be disappointed.
