The Best Southern Soul Music of 2015
Contents
Check out our definitive list of the best southern soul music of 2015. From established artists to breakout stars, these are the tunes that kept us moving all year long.
The Revival of Southern Soul
The Definition of Southern Soul
Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. It has its roots in gospel music and rhythm and blues, and it developed as a distinct style in the 1950s and 1960s.
Southern soul is characterized by its incorporation of elements from other genres, including country and rock. It is also known for its emotional, passionate lyrics and its focus on the African American experience.
Some of the most popular southern soul artists include Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Pickett.
The History of Southern Soul
Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. It combines elements of gospel, R&B, and country music. Southern soul grew out of the work of African American artists in the early 1960s who were looking to create a new sound that would appeal to both black and white audiences. The genre reached its height of popularity in the 1970s with artists such as Al Green, James Carr, and Otis Redding. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in southern soul, with artists like Janelle Monáe and Alabama Shakes finding success with this sound.
The Best Southern Soul Music of 2015
It’s been a great year for Southern Soul music, with new artists and old favorites alike putting out some great tracks. Here are some of the best Southern Soul songs of 2015.
The Revivalists
The Revivalists are a southern soul band that formed in 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band is composed of eight members: David Shaw (lead vocals, guitar), Zack Feinberg (guitar), Andrew Botts (bass), George Gekas (drums), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), Michael Girardot (trumpet, keyboard), Ed Williams (pedal steel guitar) and Eduardo Cabra (percussion).
The Revivalists have released three albums: “Careless,” “City of Sound” and “Men Amongst Mountains.” Their latest album, “Men Amongst Mountains,” was released in 2015 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
The Revivalists are known for their high-energy live shows and have earned a reputation as one of the best live bands in the business. They have performed at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Hangout Fest and Austin City Limits.
If you’re looking for some great southern soul music to add to your collection, be sure to check out The Revivalists.
The Suffers
The Suffers are a ten-piece soul and R&B band from Houston, TX. Their debut album, Gumbo, was released in 2016 to critical acclaim. The album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Stuart Sikes (The White Stripes, Modest Mouse) and includes the singles “Gwan” and “Don’t Wanna Fight”.
The Band of Heathens
The Band of Heathens is an American southern rock and jam band formed in 2005 in Austin, Texas. The band’s musical style is a blend of rock, blues, country, and gospel.
The Band of Heathens was formed in 2005 by Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, who had been playing together in Austin, Texas since 2002. They were joined by Colin Brooks (guitar), keyboardist Richard Millsap, and drummer Seth Whitney. The band’s name was taken from the 1968 film The Legend of Boggy Creek.
In 2006, the band released their debut album, live at Mother Egan’s Irish Pub in Austin. The album was recorded over the course of two nights in 2005 and features the band’s original lineup.
In 2007, the Band of Heathens released their second album, entitled Westside Baby. The album was recorded in Austin and features Jurdi on lead vocals and guitar, Quist on lead vocals and guitar, Brooks on lead guitar and vocals, Millsap on keyboards and vocals, Whitney on drums and percussion, and Jon Radford on bass guitar and vocals.
The Band of Heathens’ third album, Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son, was released in 2009. The album was recorded in Austin and Nashville and features Jurdi on lead vocals and guitar, Quist on lead vocals and guitar, Brooks on lead guitar and vocals, Millsap on keyboards and vocals, Whitney on drums and percussion, Radford on bass guitar and vocals,Duane Betts on slide guitar (son of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts),and Mark Trackingham on pedal steel guitar.
In 2012, the Band of Heathens released their fourth album, Sunday Morning Record. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and features Jurdi on lead vocals and guitar (tracks 1-5 & 7-10), Quist on lead vocals (tracks 2-3 & 5-9) & acoustic guitar (track 6), Brooks on electric guitars (tracks 1-5) & slide guitars (track 10), Millsapon keyboards (tracks 2-4 & 6-8) & harmonica (track 9), Whitneyon drums (tracks 1-4)& percussion(track 6), Radfordon bass guitars(tracks 2-8 & 10), Trackinghamon pedal steel guitars(tracks 3 & 7),and John Chipmanon drums(track 5).
The Band of Heathens’ fifth album,’Special’was recorded live at KGSR radioin Austin during SXSW 2013and released as a limited edition vinyl LP for Record Store Day 2013. The album features Jurdi on lead vocalsand guitar(tracks 1-2& 4-7),Quistonleadvocalsand acousticguitar(track 3),Brooksonelectricguitars(tracks 1& 5)& slideguitars(track 4),Millsapon keyboardsandvocals(tracks 2& 6B3 organon track 3),Whitneyondrumsandpercussion(tracks 1C6& 8D2 DD3 tomstoms cadencecymbalon track 4E2 FTamborineF3 Bongos G4 timbalesHcongasI5 trianglesJsnare drumsK4LY cymbalcrashZ1 ridecymbalM9 hi hat NahatsO6tambourineP1triangleQdiminishedtriangleR5cowbellSS5woodblockTdroppedLT2LDLKDsnaredrumUvibraphoneVwahwahpedalWWPedalsteelguitarXXTelecasterguitarYYGibsonguitarZZFenderRhodespianoAAAHammondB3organBBBBFenderPrecisionbassCCCCAmpeg ampsDDDDRolandSpaceEchoRE20 effectsunitEEEEKorgPolysixsynthesizerFFFFArp SolinaStringEnsembleGGGGYamahaCS80synthesizerHHHHMoogMinimoogIIIIIJARREOCEllipsoidalreflector spotlightOOOOOShureSM57microphonesPPPPPMagnetoOpticalDiscRecorderQQQQQAlesisHDFluidSynthRsoftsynthStt scompingpianouuu uelectricpianovvvvvvvShureBeta58microphone
The Band of Heathens is an American southern rock band from Texas that formed in 2005. Their music is a blend of rock n’ roll with bluesy undertones inspired by country music with a touch of gospel thrown into the mix. They have five albums out with their latest being ‘Special’, which was recorded live at KGSR radio during SXSW 2013.
The Future of Southern Soul
It’s been a great year for Southern Soul music. We’ve seen a resurgence of interest in the genre, and a number of new artists have emerged onto the scene. This has led to some fantastic new music being released, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for this genre.
The New Guard
There’s a new generation of Southern soul musicians making their mark on the music scene, and they’re keeping the sound and spirit of the genre alive. Here are some of the best new(ish) artists making southern soul music today.
-The Revivalists: This New Orleans-based band infuses their soulful sound with a healthy dose of rock and roll energy. They’re one of the most dynamic live bands around, and their debut album, City of Sound, is packed with catchy hooks and engaging lyrics.
-St. Paul & The Broken Bones: This Alabama-based sextet has been wowing audiences with their throwback sound since they formed in 2012. Their debut album, Greetings From St. Paul & The Broken Bones, is a masterclass in old-school soul, and their live shows are not to be missed.
-Leon Bridges: This Texas-based singer/songwriter is quickly gaining attention for his vintage style and classic sound. His debut album, Coming Home, channeled the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, and he’s become one of the most sought-after retro soul acts around.
The Legacy
The sound of southern soul has been around since the 1960s, when artists like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding helped to define the genre. This type of music is a unique blend of R&B, gospel, and country that has continued to evolve over the years. While some purists may argue that the golden age of southern soul ended in the 1970s, there are still many artists making great music in this style today. Here are some of the best southern soul songs of 2015.
