70s Soul Music: The Songs We Love
70s Soul Music: The Songs We Love is a blog dedicated to the best soul music of the 1970s. From Aretha Franklin to Al Green, we’ll be highlighting the artists and songs that defined the genre.
Introduction
The Songs We Love looks back at the history and sounds of 1970s soul music. From the righteous anthems of the civil rights movement, to the laments of a post- Vietnam America, to the birth of disco, 1970s soul music reflected the social and political turmoil of the decade. The greatest soul artists of the 1970s – Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight and many others – created a body of work that is timeless and influential.
What is 70s Soul Music?
Soul music emerged in the early 1960s from a combination of rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz. It is characterized by a heavy bassline, driving drums, and often dramatic or emotional lyrics. Often referred to as “black music” or “African-American music,” soul has had a profound impact on popular culture worldwide.
The term “soul” was first used in the late 1950s to describe a new style of African-American music that was distance from the more polished sound of artists such as Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr. The new style was rawer and more emotional, with a focus on the vocals rather than the instruments.
The early soul sound was typified by artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and Marvin Gaye. These artists took the basic elements of rhythm and blues and created something new that spoke to the experiences of African Americans in the United States.
The popularity of soul music grew in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the genre began to cross over into the mainstream. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, and Gladys Knight created music that had mass appeal while still staying true to the roots of soul.
Today, 70s soul music is considered some of the best music ever created. The songs we love from this era are timeless classics that continue to speak to us decades later.
The Songs We Love
From Aretha Franklin to Stevie Wonder, 70s soul music belonged to a golden era of rhythm and blues. The 70s is often considered the best decade for soul music, and there are countless love songs that remain popular today. Here are just a few of our favorites.
-“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
-“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
-“Love on Top” by The Jackson 5
-“My Girl” by The Temptations
-“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder
The Artists Who Made Them
The decade of the 1970s was a golden era for soul music, and many of the artists who rose to prominence during that time are still household names today. Here are just a few of the artists who made 70s soul music so special.
The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop groups of the 1970s, and their youthful energy and catchy tunes helped them to cross over into the mainstream. Led by the charismatic Michael Jackson, the group released a string of hits including “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “The Love You Save.”
Aretha Franklin is often referred to as the “Queen of Soul,” and she more than lived up to that title in the 1970s. Franklin released a number of classic albums during the decade, including Amazing Grace (1972) and Sparkle (1976). She also had a number of chart-topping singles, including “Rock Steady” and “Spanish Harlem.”
Marvin Gaye was another soul legend who achieved massive success in the 1970s. Gaye released a number of groundbreaking albums during the decade, including What’s Going On (1971) and Let’s Get It On (1973). He also had a number of hit singles, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Sexual Healing.”
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide to 70s soul music. The songs we love from this era are truly timeless classics that continue to resonate with fans around the world. Thanks for reading and we hope you’ll check out our other articles on all things soul music.
