1968: The Year of Soul Music

In 1968, the world of soul music was rocked by a number of important events. Here’s a look at some of the most significant moments in the history of this genre.

Introduction

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of 1968 in music history. That was the year that saw the release of landmark albums by the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan, among others. It was also the year that saw the emergence of a new generation of artists, including Jimi Hendrix, cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Doors. And it was the year that saw soul music come into its own as a distinct and powerful genre.

In 1968, soul music was still very much in its infancy. The term itself had only been coined a few years earlier, and it wasn’t yet clear what exactly it meant. Was it simply another name for Motown? Or was it something more than that?

By the end of 1968, it was clear that soul music was its own distinct genre, with its own set of unique qualities. These qualities would come to define soul music in subsequent years, and they can still be heard in the best soul albums of today. Here are five of the most important qualities that made 1968 the year of soul music.

The Birth of Soul Music

1968 was a year of social and political upheaval. In the midst of all this, soul music was born. This new genre of music gave a voice to the African American community and quickly gained popularity. Let’s take a look at how soul music came to be and why it was so popular.

Motown Records

Founded in 1959, Motown Records was one of the most successful record labels of the 1960s. The company was founded by Berry Gordy Jr., who had previously worked as a songwriter and producer for other labels. Gordy assembled a team of talented musicians, songwriters, and producers, including Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder.

The label’s first big hit was Robinson’s “Shop Around,” which reached the top of the Billboard R&B charts in 1960. Motown’s success continued with a string of hits by Ross and Wonder, among other artists. By 1968, the label was dominating the charts with hits like Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and The Supremes’ “Love Child.”

In 1968, Motown released what would become its most famous album: Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You.” The album featured the title track, a haunting ballad about love and loss, as well as the hit single “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.” This album cemented Gaye’s reputation as one of soul music’s greatest artists.

1968 was a banner year for Motown Records. The label had its biggest hits yet, including Gaye’s “I Want You” and The Supremes’ “Love Child.” With its strong roster of talent, Motown was poised to continue its success into the next decade.

Atlantic Records

In 1968, things were bubbling in the music industry. Motown was still going strong, with hits like Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and The Supremes’ “Love Child” dominating the charts. But there was a new sound emerging from the underground that would soon take over the airwaves: soul music.

soul music was born out of the combination of gospel, R&B, and blues. Atlantic Records was at the forefront of this new sound with artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. These artists brought soul music to the mainstream with hits like “Respect”, “In the Midnight Hour”, and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”.

The year 1968 was a pivotal moment for soul music, as it saw the genre begin to take over the charts. This newfound popularity would continue into the 1970s, cementing soul music as one of the most popular genres of all time.

Stax Records

In 1968, the music world was turned upside down by the sounds coming out of a small record label in Memphis, Tennessee, called Stax Records. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records by brothers Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, the label had been churning out mostly country and pop records for a decade with little success. But that all changed in 1967 when they released two records that would change the course of popular music forever: Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and Carla Thomas’ “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes).”

With these two massive hits, Stax Records suddenly found themselves at the forefront of the burgeoning “soul music” genre. And 1968 would prove to be an absolutely banner year for the label, as they would go on to release classic albums by artists like Booker T. & The MGs, Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, and many others. By the end of the year, Stax had established itself as one of the most important record labels in America

The Pioneers of Soul Music

The year 1968 was a transformative one for soul music. With the release of groundbreaking albums like Marvin Gaye’s “In the Groove” and Aretha Franklin’s “Lady Soul”, the genre reached new heights of popularity and critical acclaim. But these albums were just the latest examples of the innovative, emotionally charged soul music that had been pioneered by a group of African American musicians in the early 1960s.

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1931. He began singing as a child and by the early 1950s he was a member of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers. He achieved great commercial success as a solo artist with pop crossover hits like “You Send Me” (1957), “Chain Gang” (1960), and “Wonderful World” (1960). His poetic and elegant songwriting, combined with his smooth vocal style, made him one of the most successful artists of his time. Cooke was also a trailblazer for social change, using his platform to speak out against racism and injustice. In 1964, he founded the independent record label SAR Records to promote black talent and control the creative direction of his own music. Tragically, Cooke was shot and killed at the age of 33 under mysterious circumstances. His influence on soul music is undeniable, and he remains one of the genre’s most beloved pioneers.

Aretha Franklin

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of Rev. C. L. Franklin and Barbara (Siggers) Franklin. Her parents had both migrated to Memphis from Mississippi in the 1920s as part of the Great Migration out of the rural south into northern industrial cities. Aretha’s father, C. L. Franklin, was a gospel singer and respected minister; her mother was a gospel singer whosometimes played piano for her husband’s sermons. Both of her parents were deeply religious. From an early age, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear; at the age of 10, she accompanied her father and his congregation at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, singing solos and occasional background vocals.

Otis Redding

Otis Redding is often referred to as the “King of Soul,” and it’s not hard to see why. His voice was one of the most emotive and distinctive in all of popular music, and his hits like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” are among the most beloved soul songs of all time.

Born in rural Georgia in 1941, Redding began his career singing gospel music in churches before he was discovered by record producer Phil Walden in 1962. He released his first single, “These Arms of Mine,” that same year, and he had his first major hit with “Respect” in 1965.

Redding continued to score hits throughout the rest of the 1960s, and he also began writing and producing his own material. His 1967 album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul is widely considered to be one of the greatest soul albums ever made.

Tragically, Redding died in a plane crash in December 1967 at the age of 26. He left behind a legacy as one of the most important and influential soul singers of all time.

The Legacy of Soul Music

The year 1968 was monumental in the progression of soul music. It was the year that saw the release of multiple albums that would go on to shape the sound and legacy of soul music. These albums would lay the foundation for the future of soul music and would help to solidify its place in American music history.

The Impact of Soul Music

The impact of soul music can be seen and heard not just in R&B, but also in rock, pop, and hip hop. It was the most popular music among blacks in the 1960s and it had crossover appeal with white audiences. Soul music was developed by African American musicians who were influenced by gospel music, rhythm and blues, and jazz. The sound of soul was created by impairment – making the music sound rough around the edges. This gave the music an emotional quality that was perfect for expressing the pain and struggles of black people in America.

While soul music is often associated with Motown records, the genre actually predates the label. Motown’s success did help to popularize soul music, but it was already being made by artists like James Brown, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding. These artists would go on to have long and successful careers, while helping to shape the sound of popular music for decades to come.

The Influence of Soul Music

In the late 1960s, soul music developed a more politically and socially conscious edge, as seen in the work of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Motown Records began to address social issues such as drug abuse, poverty and racism in their songs, while groups like The Temptations preached messages of love and understanding. These artists helped to shape the identity of an entire generation and their legacy continues to inspire musicians today.