Discovering the Best of Soul Music in the UK

Discover the best of soul music in the UK with this comprehensive guide. Find out where to find the best soul music clubs, bars and events in the UK.

What is soul music?

In the simplest terms, soul music is a genre that combines rhythm and blues and gospel. The first recordings of soul music were made in the 1950s, but the term “soul” wasn’t used to describe this type of music until the late 1960s. Although there are many different subgenres of soul music, the common thread that binds them all together is a focus on emotion and feeling.

The origins of soul music can be traced back to the African-American community in the American South. Gospel and blues were two of the most popular genres of music among black Americans at this time, and many of the early soul artists got their start singing in gospel choirs or playing in blues bands. Over time, these two genres began to coalesce into what we now know as soul music.

One of the earliest pioneers of soul music was Sam Cooke. A former gospel singer, Cooke achieved mainstream success with his crossover hit “You Send Me” in 1957. He would go on to have several more hits in both the gospel and pop charts before his untimely death in 1964. Cooke’s approach to writing and singing Soul songs was very different from other artists at the time. Rather than simply imitate what had come before, he created a unique sound that blended elements of both gospel and blues. This new sound was something fresh and exciting that spoke directly to the hearts of black Americans who were struggling with issues of racism and discrimination.

Other early soul pioneers include James Brown, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin. These artists took the sounds that had been pioneered by Sam Cooke and pushed them in new directions, creating some of the most iconic and influential soul songs of all time. In the 1970s, disco began to rise in popularity, leading some people to label it as “the death of soul music”. However, many Soul artists simply adapted their sound to this new genre, resulting in some truly classic disco-soul tracks like “Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn and “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead.

Even though disco eventually faded away, Soul Music has continued to evolve and remain popular throughout the years. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in classic Soul sounds among younger audiences thanks to films like Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997) which featured several well-known Soul tracks on its soundtrack. Artists like D’Angelo and Maxwell have also reintroduced Soul Music to a new generation with their cutting-edge R&B sounds. And with contemporary artists like Adele who are openly inspired by classic Soul singers like Etta James, it is clear that this genre still has a bright future ahead

The history of soul music in the UK

The history of soul music in the UK is often traced back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, when black American soldiers stationed in Britain brought with them the sounds of rhythm and blues and jazz. The style began to gain a following among British youth, particularly in the urban areas of London and Manchester. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, soul became one of the most popular genres in the UK, with artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder achieving mainstream success.

The popularity of soul music in the UK waned in the 1980s, but it experienced a resurgence in the 1990s and 2000s thanks to artists such as Jamiroquai, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Plan B. Today, soul music is once again hugely popular in the UK, with a new generation of British soul artists carrying on the legacy of the genre.

The best soul music artists in the UK

When it comes to soul music, the UK has always had a strong influence. From the early days of Motown to the more contemporary sounds of today, there have been many soul music artists that have found success in the UK.

So, who are the best soul music artists in the UK? Here are just a few of our favourites:

1. Marvin Gaye
2. Al Green
3. Aretha Franklin
4. Otis Redding
5. Sam Cooke
6. Stevie Wonder
7. Smokey Robinson
8. Marvin Gaye Jr
9. Luther Vandross
10. Darius Rucker

The best soul music albums in the UK

When it comes to soul music, the UK has produced some absolute classics over the years. From Motown-inspired sounds to more contemporary R&B, there are so many great soul albums that have come out of Britain.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best soul albums that have been released in the UK. We’ll be covering a wide range of different artists and styles, so there should be something for everyone.

Some of the albums that we’ll be discussing include:
-Al Green – Call Me (1973)
-Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)
-Otis Redding – Otis Blue (1965)
-Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
-Erykah Badu – Baduizm (1997)
-D’Angelo – Brown Sugar (1995)
-Alicia Keys – Songs in A Minor (2001)
-Adele – 21 (2011)

We could go on forever, but these are just a few of the amazing soul albums that have come out of the UK over the years. If you’re a fan of soul music, then you owe it to yourself to check out some of these classic records.