When you think of the incredible influences soul music has had on our soundtracks of life, it’s hard not to take a moment to honor the sound and the stars who made the sound. We have had the Motown Sound, The Philly Sound, Muscle Shoals, the Chicago Blues and Beal Street influences, and last but not least the sound of New Orleans. We had ‘blue-eyed soul,’ psychedelic soul, Memphis soul, British soul and more. Check out our list and see if we got it right…
1. “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” and “Say A Prayer for me” by the Queen of soul Aretha Franklin.
2. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” “Mercy Mercy Me” or “Inner City Blues” by Marvin Gaye.
3. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” by the incomparable Otis Redding, or “Respect Yourself” by the Staple Singers
4. “September,” “After the Love is Gone,” and “Got to Get You Into My Life” by Earth Wind and Fire
5. “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” or “The Love I Lost” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
6. “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” and “It’s a Man’s World” by the hardest working man James Brown.
7. “Backstabbers” or ‘For the Love of Money” or “Love Train” by the O’Jays
8. “Superstition” by Stevie, “Me and Mrs. Jones” from Billy Paul, or “Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
9. “My Girl,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” or “Heatwave” by our favorite Motown stars
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