Arthur Conley’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ Album

Arthur Conley’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ album was released in 1967 and is considered one of the best soul albums of all time. Here’s a look at the making of this classic record.

Introduction

Arthur Conley’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ is a timeless classic that still resonates with audiences today. Released in 1967, the album topped the R&B charts and reached #2 on the Billboard 200. It remains one of the most influential soul albums of all time.

Featuring Conley’s signature hit, “Sweet Soul Music,” the album is packed with other soulful gems like “I’m Living Good,” “Cry to Me,” and “Funky Street.” If you’re a fan of classic soul music, this is an album you need in your collection.

Conley’s Background and Motivation

Arthur Conley was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1946. As a teenager, he was a member of the soul group the Fairlanes. The group recorded one single, “A-Side B-Side,” which was released on the 45 RPM format in 1965. After the group disbanded, Conley began working as a solo artist. In 1967, he recorded a cover of Otis Redding’s “Respectable,” which became a Top 40 hit.

Conley’s debut album, Sweet Soul Music, was released in 1967 on the Atco label. The album featured covers of soul songs by Otis Redding (“Respectable”), Wilson Pickett (“Mustang Sally”), and Percy Sledge (“When a Man Loves a Woman”). It also featured Conley’s own composition “Sweet Soul Music.”

The album was produced by Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd, who had previously worked with Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Conley later said that Wexler and Dowd “taught me how to produce myself.” Sweet Soul Music was Billboard magazine’s Album of the Year for 1968.

In 1969, Conley had his second Top 40 hit with “Funky Street.” He continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but did not achieve the same level of success as he did with Sweet Soul Music.

The Making of the Album

On sweet soul music, Arthur Conley aspires to the sound and delivery of Otis Redding, one of his vocal idols. The album was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama – the famed recording studio that served as a Mecca for R&B performers in the 1960s. The sessions were produced by Tom Dowd, who had previously worked with Redding. The backing band on the album was Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the in-house band at Muscle Shoals who had also played on many of Redding’s recordings.

The Album’s Legacy

Arthur Conley’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ album was released in 1967 to critical and commercial acclaim. The album peaked at #2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the US R&B chart, and spawned the titular hit single, which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album is widely considered to be one of the greatest soul albums of all time, and its impact is still felt today.