Written by Claude Lemaire
For Part-3: http://soundevaluations.blogspot.com/2021/12/diving-into-disco-part3.html
What you gonna play now?
Bobby I don't know but whats it ever I play
It's got to be funky!
"The Hardest Working Man in Show Business"
Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, James Brown had to hustle his way up and out from extreme poverty. Partly raised by a mostly-absent mother and abusive father-husband, young Brown bore the brunt of a rough tough childhood, shining shoes for less than a dime, and living with one of his aunts in a brothel; his mother leaving them for New York when he was only four. After winning a talent contest, he drew heavy inspiration from preachers and gospel singers, borrowing visual and oratory skills for future adoption into his exciting live shows.
In 1956, then framed as the Famous Flames, he got his first big break through Little Richard's manager, getting them signed to King Records' Federal subsidiary label.
The Flames' first single "Please, Please, Please" planted the seeds of soul music, earning him the monikers "The Godfather of Soul, as well as "Soul Brother No. 1". But strangely, soul was not the greatest gift the Godfather giveth.
One-two-three
Make it funky
As early as the mid-1950s, jazz musicians such as pianist Horace Silver, trumpeter Lee Morgan, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers' combo combined bebop elements with rhythm and blues, and earthy-infused gospel sounds.
Signed to Alfred Lion's Blue Note label, they coined this new hybrid style hard bop. By 1964, "Mr. Dynamite" was experimenting on a formula of his own, shifting emphasis from the 'two' and 'four' of the music measure to the 'one'; all the while prioritizing rhythmic groove and horn stabs, over melodic content and chord progressions. Guitar playing took on strictly rhythmic duties over any lead solos.
Released in July, "Out of Sight" featured Brown's first forays into funky territory–the album also containing the original version of "I Got You" a full year before the single hit the top of the charts. This new way of thinking and playing progressed with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" in June 1965.
Hold on I'm comin'
Harvesting the southern soul foods from the music fields of Memphis, singer Otis Redding digs up a lot of "Respect" in August of that year.
Aretha Franklin would earn even more respect with her defining version in March 1967, channelling the civil rights movement and spearheading women's rights through her adaptive lyrics and interpretation. Musically, Redding's version emphasizes the strong steady 4/4 time signature propelling its driving pace, predating disco's four on the floor pattern years in advance.
Backed by Booker T. & The M.G.'s, The Mar-Keys, and The Memphis Horns, things keep rocking on Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul, where the soul legend covers Cooke's "Shake" and "(A) Change Gonna Come", the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction", and Smokey Robinson's classic composition "My Girl".
In December of '65, he issues "I Can't Turn You Loose"–later discofied by Anthony White in May 1977. R&B and soul duo Sam & Dave, supported by Stax songwriters Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter pen the duo's first hit "Hold On, I'm Comin' " released in March 1966–Canadian singer Karen Silver would cover it in a colder electrofied style in 1979.
They would hit the jackpot once more with "Soul Man" in August 1967, appearing on the LP Soul Men, and a final time with "I Thank You" in January 1968.
Another Stax stalwart was Eddie Floyd singing his biggest hit "Knock on Wood" in September 1966 while Amii Stewart had even greater success with her discofied version in late December 1978. Guitarist Steve Cropper co-wrote the song with Floyd.
Next stop, put on your dancing boots, for we're going to a go-go!...
Reference List (Singles, albums, and labels):
"Please, Please, Please" [Federal 45-12258 or King Records 610]
"Out of Sight" [Smash Records DJS-5 or MGS 27058]
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" [King Records 45-5999 or 938]
"Respect" [Volt V-128]
"Respect" [Atlantic 45-2403]
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul [Volt S-412]
"I Can't Turn You Loose" [Volt 45-130]
"I Can't Turn You Loose" [Salsoul Records 12D-2030]
"Hold On, I'm Comin' " [Stax 45-189 or SD-708]
"Hold On, I'm Comin' " [Skyline Records SKY D 103]
"Soul Man" [Stax S-231]
Soul Men [Stax S725]
"I Thank You" [Stax 45-242 or Atlantic SD 8205]
"Knock on Wood" [Stax 45-194 or SD-714]
"Knock on Wood" [Ariola Records America, Hansa PRO 7736]
For the translated French version, visit: https://www.pmamedia.org/fr/accueil/plongeons-dans-le-disco-partie-4funk-et-memphis-soul
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