Soul Finger
| "Soul Finger" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Bar-Kays | |
| from the album Soul Finger | |
| B-side | "Knucklehead" |
| Released | April 14, 1967 |
| Recorded | March 31, 1967 |
| Length | 2:18 |
| Label | Volt Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy King Phalon Jones Carl Cunningham Ben Cauley Ronnie Caldwell James Alexander[1] |
"Soul Finger" is the first single released by R&B group the Bar-Kays. It was issued by Stax Records on the Volt Records label on April 14, 1967.
Background
The song was written by the Bar-Kays while they were rehearsing with Norman West to perform a cover of J.J. Jackson's "But It's Alright".[2] It begins with the melody of the popular children's song "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and then cuts into the main riff, punctuated with a high trumpet trill. It features a chorus of neighborhood children who had been loitering outside the recording studio; they were instructed to shout "Soul Finger!" and were paid with Coca-Cola.[2] The idea for the title and the shouts came from the Stax songwriters Isaac Hayes and David Porter.[2]
Chart performance
"Soul Finger" was a hit in the United States, peaking at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The B-side of the single was "Knucklehead", written by Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper, which reached number 28 on the R&B singles chart and number 76 on the Hot 100.[3] "Soul Finger" and "Knucklehead" were the first two tracks of the Bar-Kays' first LP, Soul Finger, issued on July 10, after nine more tracks had been recorded on June 23.[4]
Cover versions
- The song was covered by Dexys Midnight Runners as the B-side to their 1981 single "Plan B" and is on the compilation The Projected Passion Revue.
In other media
- The song was featured in the 1985 film Spies Like Us during a scene in which Soviet missile control personnel hold a party. Dan Aykroyd, a star of the film, had previously covered "Soul Finger" with John Belushi and their band, the Blues Brothers, on their album, Made in America.
- The song was also used in the 2007 film Superbad
- The also was used in the 2009 film Soul Men.
References
- ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c Liner notes, The Complete Stax/Volt Singles, 1959–1968. Atlantic, 1991. p. 31.
- ^ a b Billboard Singles, Allmusic.
- ^ Review of Soul Finger, Allmusic
