Entertainment For Lively Minds
Blue-Eyed Soul
Posted by Sour Crout on 5 February 2010 - 9:51am.
Big argument over this last night in the Bar.The massive shall have their say
What is it ? and prime examples please.Good luck but you won't beat this.This is what got us started on the subject.
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Lewis Taylor
Weirdly, there's nothing on YouTube, but several of his albums are essential. I saw him play live about a dozen times and he is one of the finest guitar players I ever saw. I hope he's enjoying retirement off the back of Robbie Williams covering 'Lovelight'.
Jazz Cafe, January 2003 (he played three nights. I was at all three)
Rats.
It doesn't matter how many times I click on the picture, it won't play.
Dang...
...rotten tech.
I seem
to go through a LT obsession every 3 years, I'm mid one now.
I can't see the YouTube link
so if I'm repeating what's in the video, I apologise.
I've always thought that blue-eyed soul was pretty much epitomised by Hall & Oates (or at least that's what my Dad always maintains)
Blue-eyed soul
I've got a real problem with this label. Actually, I think it's almost racially dubious. As far as I can see, it means 'black soul music performed by white people' and I wish the distinction didn't exist. In what way is, say, I Found My Way by Dusty Springfield or Soul Deep by The Box Tops anything less than 100% the genuine article in terms of utterly transporting, life-affirming soul music? Often played by the same musicians and overseen by the same producers that worked with Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin or Joe Tex; and yet we have to call it something different because said artists are white.
As far as I'm concerned, whether it's Charlie Rich or Sam & Dave singing When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, it all belongs in the same bag.
It's not racially dubious, I don't think;
you've described it as 'black soul music performed by white people'. Surely soul music, by its very nature, is black music? Born of the black experience in America? And therefore, a strand of it sung by white singers suits its own sub-genre? If it's prejudiced to anyone, surely it's all those great green and brown eyed singers who've contributed to the cause.
Anyway, I'm torn between the greatest examples being Hall & Oates 'She's Gone' and Travis Wammack's blistering version of 'You Better Move On', as featured on the wonderful Country Got Soul Vol 1 from a few years back. Sorry - no youtube/ spotify link for it.
Hmmm
I hear what you're saying. I just find the label uncomfortable when you think of the (way ahead of its time) racial balance evident in Booker T. and the MGs, for example. I mean, is Aretha Franklin's version of Son Of A Preacher Man somehow more 'authentic' than Dusty Springfield's?
What I'm saying is that the soul genre may have had black roots, but it was often quite multi racial and modern-thinking in its personnel and in its output; and I think that a crass term such as 'blue-eyed soul' puts us back decades.
Blue Eyed Soul
Hall And Oates - She's Gone is probably a classic in this 'genre'. Van The Man has been responsible for several classics, Weller (if you're a fan) has also done some pretty good takes.
There's quite a few nice little tunes that crossover from other areas into the Northern Soul thing - I'm at work so YouTube doesn't work so I might post some later but - The Human Beinz 'Nobody But Me', The Outsiders 'Time Won't Let Me', Ginger Thompson 'Boy Watcher' all are pretty essential.
I also can't see links to YouTube so sorry if I'm also repeating stuff, but the (Young)Rascals 'Groovin' is quite possibly the finest of blue eyed soul ever.
Tim Buckley's more commercial side from the early 70s moves into blue eyed soul territory too...
White boys trying to be Otis or Marvin or Al Green would be a pretty straightforward description...
Blue-eyed soul
Is this:
with a bit of this:
and a smidge of:
and, finally, a dash of Van 'Cleft' Morrison - who, of course, doesn't allow his videos to be streamed over the Interweb.
EDIT: Joe Cocker was the very definition of Blue-Eyed Soul - and was there any musical endeavour quite as doomed as the Mad Dogs And Englishmen venture?
Todd Rundgren
Listen to the medley on A Wizard A True Star. Roll on Saturday.
Strange
that you should say that. The aforementioned medley and my mates girlfriend's concurrent recommendation of Tamla Motown Chartbusters Vol. 3 started a life long interest in soul music. Roll on Saturday indeed.
3's a crowd
Roll on Saturday indeed. That's at least 3 of us. See you there. I'll be the bloke in his 50's not filming any of the gig on a mobile phone camera and listening during the songs.
Ladies & gentlemen.....
Spiral Starecase!
Never heard that..
brilliant! I wouldn't call that blue eyed soul, I'd just call it northern.
Another great "blue eyed" northern track http://open.spotify.com/track/2lQTfvkG48ASXXxMtrgv0B
and what about this?
This is great too. If you looked up "Scotsman" in a 1970s encylopaedia there would be a still of Hamish Stewart from this performance.
I'll get slated for this one but his first album was the real deal. (edit) OK maybe not "Didgin' out"!
Michael Bolton......
Blue-eyed (Arse)Sole!!
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Soul Music performed by two white men...
...but blue-eyed soul it ain't.
It's just 'Soul' music.
Good debate going on
Honourable mentions also went to this
And this
A couple of tunes that really float my boat...
Good call Patrick...
I haven't listened to Silk Degrees in years. Off to rectify that right now