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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"
Released1967
RecordedFAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, January 1967[1]
GenreSoul, rhythm and blues
Length2:20
LabelAtco
Songwriter(s)Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley and Otis Redding

"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song first released by American singer Arthur Conley in 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding,[2] 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]

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

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".[5]

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

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ The Muscle Shoals Sound CD Liner Notes, Rhino Records, 1993
  2. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 218. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ "The Hot 100: the week of May 13, 1967". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley | Official Charts". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "British single certifications – Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.