Sweet Soul Music

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"Sweet Soul Music"
Single by Arthur Conley
from the album Sweet Soul Music
B-side "Let's Go Steady"
ReleasedMarch 1967
RecordedJanuary 1967 [1]
Studio FAME, Muscle Shoals, Alabama [1]
Genre
Length2:20
Label Atco
Songwriter(s) Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley and Otis Redding

"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song first released by the American singer Arthur Conley in March 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding, [3] it is based on the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" from his posthumous album Shake ;[ citation needed ] the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven .[ citation needed ]

Contents

Overview

In the US, "Sweet Soul Music" reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "The Happening" by The Supremes), [4] and No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. Overseas, it peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. [5] "Sweet Soul Music" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. [3]

J.W. Alexander, Cooke's business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for appropriating the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke's name was added to the writer credits, and Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke–Alexander enterprise. [ citation needed ]

Lyrics

The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:

Additionally, James Brown is described as "the king of them all". [6]

At the end of the song, Arthur Conley sings, "Otis Redding got the feeling."

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [7] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 The Muscle Shoals Sound CD Liner Notes, Rhino Records, 1993
  2. 1 2 Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 417. ISBN   0-452-26305-0.
  3. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  218. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  4. "The Hot 100: the week of May 13, 1967". Billboard . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  5. "Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley | Official Charts". UK Singles Chart . Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  6. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 51 – The Soul Reformation: Phase Three, Soul Music at the Summit. [Part 7]: UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles . University of North Texas Libraries.
  7. "British single certifications – Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 21, 2023.