70's Soul - what was it about that era and it's genius

Will it ever be repeated??

FTR...Sly and the Family Stone
Curtis Mayfield
Issac Hayes
Superfly
Aretha Did her best work during this era
Marvin Gaye did his best work during this era (although What's going on came out in 68)
George Clinton

soul has never EVER been close to this since. The 80's turned soul into pablum, and then the 90's took what shreds of soul were in soul and cast them aside.

Even songs like Marvin Gaye's album length "What's Going On" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Don't Call Me Nigger" hell even Curtis Mayfield's Superfly soundtrack had positive messages. none of this bust a cap in yo ass crap.

Although the music was key too. None of this single bass drum beat shit. Complex rhythms, intricate grooves the stuff was years ahead of its time.

and the asses they bust in.

certainly India Irie and Macy Gray are exceptions - but would anything they've done begin to even tough Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"?

I am just reacting to people categorizing contemporary soul as being about busting a cap in an ass. That's utter bullshit.

What is this, Mr. Rogers? Why does something have to have a "positive" message?

Now I stop in my tracks whenever I hear it. The musicianship, the recording and mixing quality, the overall goodness...

You're right, it's seemingly gone.

But they weren't even close. Hats off to them for trying.

But may have run into more resistance for similarity than acceptance.

And he had some good tracks.

But it still never had the quality you'd find in an album like "Curtis,""What's Going On" or "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

My all time favorite era of music - I could listen to ONLY 70's R&B/soul/funk for the rest of my life and be happy.

Prince, although an 80's artist, had the style and talent of a 70's funkmeister.

There's also Donnie Williams, James Brown and many many others.

I could die happy listening to his voice. *swoon*

Bootsy!

there must be still others not yet mentioned...

Charles Wright comes to mind.

Yep, I was not exactly mainstream for my location. I was listening to a lot of soul, jazz, and blues at a time when my friends were listening to Grand Funk, Steve Miller, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart or even Kiss.

I have to got say, however that you overlooked some other good folks from that time like James Brown, Etta James, Koko Taylor and Alberta Hunter. George Benson released Breezin in 1977 and I think that won album of the year (might have been earlier, but I'm thinking it was 77.)

There was some great stuff coming out of that era, and I doubt we will ever see its equal again. I also think that I have become and old fart that is listening to an oldies station too often.


Regards!


Laura

There were sooo many

is a personal high-point for me. Can there be anything more perfect than that bass line?

And in general, I think the complete involvement from song, to playing, to arrangement, to *production* has a ton to do with it. That was an era of Wilsons and Gayes and Rundgrens etc, and the "complete vision" thing really stamped some notable hallmarks on artists allowed to follow that path. Not, "Here work with this songwriter, this guy's got some beats for your next project, have we got a producer for you, what's the follow up to the first single," and on and on and on.

Modern country is the worst for that. Everything by committee until there is no essence left.

Seamless....I don't think I've heard a key shift that smooth...EVER!

They had it.
Todays kids don't.

Music education was cut in part to dumb down students.And it shows in the music.

Agreed.

There's just as much quality music now as there was in the 60's and 70's. The boomers don't hold sole ownership over good music even though they like to think they do.

Give me 5 great Soul albums made after 1990. I will download them and listen to them - and not just skip through the first few bars and see how I like the intro, but truly listen to them

I'll admit today's indiepop is far better than the pop of the 60's and 70's.

But the one thing soul in the 60's and 70's had going for it were backup bands that were hands down perfectionists. Today those folks become Jazz musicians or session musicians.

I was just talking music in general. I think that one may have to dig for the good stuff but it is there.

I eat music :) Seriously! I'm always looking for something new.

watch George Clinton descend from the Mothership

Flashlight! best funk song ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JbUP-skb7E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bLCGSSBzg








Tikki

And the countless groups from that era, like the O'Jays, the Spinners, the Stylistics, the Chi-Lites, the Brothers Johnson...

I can hear any other kind of 70's pop song from that era, and, yeah, they might bring back faded memories of the 70's, but nothing takes me *emotionally* back like hearing the soul songs of that era.

Can ya dig it?

And I love Teddy Pendergrass (aka Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes) for their songs..."Wake Up Everybody" and "The Love I Lost" (the latter apparently a prelude to disco for its use of the highhat).

Second, the Spinners: "Games People Play"...was that jazz that made the pop chart? And of course, "Then Came You" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love".

Pop music never soared so high.

The Isley Brothers
Isaac Hayes (Hot Buttered Soul)
Barry White
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
The Temptations
The Four Tops
Ohio Players
Teddy Pendergrass
Kool and the Gang (the "Jungle Boogie" phase)
Eddie Kendricks
The Staple Singers
Bill Withers

...and I remember a cousin who practically worshipped Chaka Khan (as in Rufus w/Chaka), an uncle who practically worshipped Earth, Wind & Fire....

Before they got wussy, Elton John, Hall & Oates and Rod Stewart had occasional flashes of soul, too.