1960 Soul Music Hits: The Best of the Best

The 1960s were a decade of great soul music. Here are some of the best soul hits from that era, as well as some interesting facts about the artists who performed them.

Introduction

The term “soul” has been used to describe a wide variety of popular music written and performed by African American artists since the late 1950s. The style is distinguished by its use of call-and-response patterns, intimate grouping of instruments, moist and limber bass lines, closeknit harmony singing, and simple but emotionally expressive melodies.

In the 1960s, soul music developed in a number of different directions. Alongside the gritty, hard-edged soul sounds coming out of Detroit and Chicago (made famous by artists like James Brown and Smokey Robinson), a more polished, pop-oriented style was taking shape in Philadelphia (led by groups like the Delfonics and the Stylistics). In Memphis, a loose collective of musicians including Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the MGs were perfecting a distinctly southern take on soul that would come to be known as “Memphis soul.” And in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a group of session musicians known as the Swampers were backing up everyone from Percy Sledge to Wilson Pickett with their signature brand of “muscle Shoals sound.”

Though soul music was flourishing in dozens of cities across America, New York City remained the epicenter of the genre throughout the 1960s. The city’s vibrant record industry kept churning out hits, while legendary clubs like the Apollo Theater continued to showcase the latest talent. It’s no wonder that so many of the decade’s best soul songs came out of New York.

What is soul music?

Soul music is a genre of African American popular music that led to the development of funk and later disco. It originated in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and developed from a combination of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

The history of soul music

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a number of African American musicians began to mix R&B with gospel music to create a new genre called soul. This new music was characterized by its earthy, groove-based sound and its emphasis on emotion and personal expression. Among the most famous soul artists of this era were Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.

The popularity of soul music exploded in the 1960s, as artists like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Marvin Gaye took the genre to new heights. Over the course of the decade, soul music would come to dominate the charts, as artists like Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Roberta Flack, and Michael Jackson found massive success with their own unique takes on the sound.

To this day, the best soul songs of the 1960s continue to be some of the most popular and beloved music ever recorded. From classic tracks like “Respect” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to forgotten gems like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “For Once in My Life”, these are the tunes that defined a generation.

The best soul songs of 1960

The early 1960s saw the birth of soul music, which quickly became one of the most popular genres of the decade. Here are some of the best soul songs of 1960.

– “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke
– “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
– “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
– “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops
– “My Girl” by The Temptations
– “Shop Around” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
– “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

The legacy of soul music

Soul music is a genre that arose out of the African American experience in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of gospel, R&B, and pop to create a sound that is both unique and grounded in tradition.

Some of the most well-known soul artists include Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. These artists helped to define the sound of soul music and create an enduring legacy that has influenced generations of music lovers.

1960 was a watershed year for soul music, with many artists releasing classic hits that are still beloved today. Here are just a few of the best 1960 soul music hits:

“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
“Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” by The Four Tops
“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by The Temptations
“My Girl” by The Temptations
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
“What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin