By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 08:38 pm:

GREETINGS ALL!!!...IF I CAN'T GET BLOOD BOILING OVER THIS TOPIC...THEN I GUESS I'M JUST ONE INCAPABLE BLOOD BOILING SUCKER!!!...WHO...I SAY WHO...WAS THE GREATEST "SOUL" SINGER OF ALL TIME!!!...NOT THE LEAD SINGER (MALE) IN A GROUP...BUT A SOLO ARTIST (RUFFIN CAN BE CONSIDERED SINCE HE DID SOME SOLO MATERIAL)!!!...YOU HAVE SO MANY TRUE LEGENDS TO CHOOSE FROM...INCLUDING THE GREAT MARVIN GAYE...SAM COOKE...JERRY BUTLER...JACKIE WILSON...THE LIST GOES ON AND ON!!!...MY CHOICE...NEXT POST!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 08:43 pm:

STUBASS CHOICE!!!...AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION..AND A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE...AND I DO EXPECT SOME FLAK FROM THIS...IS THE INCOMPARABLE...*OTIS REDDING*!!!...OTIS FELT EACH AND EVERY NOTE OF EVERY SONG HE SANG!!!...HIS PHRASEING WAS OF AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT OF SINATRA!!!...HE COULD REACH DOWN AND BRING TRUE SOULFUL EMOTION TO ANY VOCAL PERFORMANCE...AND THE BELIEVEABILITY OF EVERY LINE HE SANG SURPASSED THE MATERIAL ITSELF!!!...SOUL MUSIC FANS WERE ROBBED OF A GENUINE TREASURE WITH HIS TRAGIC DEATH...AND ONE CAN ONLY WONDER JUST WHERE HE WOULD HAVE EVOLVED WERE HE STILL WITH US TODAY!!!...OTIS REDDING...RIP!!!...STUBASS

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.17) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Stu
I shall take the cowards way out Sir.
No way in a million years could I possibly name my greatest soul singer of all time.
I couldnt commit myself to ever naming any no1 artist in any form of music that I like.

But it sure will be interesting to see who is chosen.
Regards
(yellow belly)MEL

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 08:57 pm:

THATS OK MEL!!!...WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU'RE A "CLOSET" DAVID RUFFIN ADMIRER!!!...AND DAVID MIGHT BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR SOME!!!...BY THE WAY...HAVE YOU EVER TRIED EL "POLLO LOCO" CHICKEN???...STU(GIVIN THE 5TH...TAKIN THE 5TH)BASS

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.41.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

Stu,

Any fool knows that Leadbelly is the greatest.

Big Bill Broonsey was next.

Then comes Josh White.

These artists created the real music.

This forum now talks of such "POP" games as "How many songs can you think of that include in the title the word "Vagina."

It is sad that the original intent of David has degenerated into the present reality.

When are you going to call me for lunch?

Mike McLean

By Vickie (198.81.26.231) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:03 pm:

Mr. Marvin
Ms. Billie
Ms. Aretha
Ms. Tammi
Mr. Otis
Ms. Patti
Both Mr. Ruffins

gosh! in soul music can you give first names
and everbody knows who you are talking about..

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

Somewhere I once read,
After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

And then... there was Sam Cooke.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:14 pm:

TAKIN THE DIPLOMATIC (EASY) WAY OUT...HUH VICKIE???...COME ON ALL...STEP UP TO THE PLATE...OR TO QUOTE A LINE FROM A POPULAR 60'S SOUL HIT..."VOICE YOUR CHOICE"!!!...MIKE...I'M READY...EXCEPT THAT I HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE COLONOSCOPY TESTS THIS WEEK...AND I DON'T THINK THAT DR. HOGGLY WOGGLY BAR B QUE IN MY INTESTINAL SYSTEM WOULD GIVE THE DOCS A REAL CLEAR PICTURE...BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!!...STU

By stubass (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:16 pm:

NICE ONE JIM...AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE WITH THAT CHOICE!!!...stu

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.13.98) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

...just 2 many 2 choose from...Each one had his or her own style, rhythm, moves, serenades, screams & hollers, it would B like choosing from the Lillies' of the Field (or maybe the Valley).
all I know is they all R just ~~2 Good
2 B
4Gotten or
4Saken

By SB (206.214.1.235) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:42 pm:

Greetings to you too STUBASS,

It's good to make your acquaintance.

I agree w/Mel in that it would be hard to name just one. Plus - some would want to name their favorite singer - and therefore claim he or she as the greatest singer.

What would constitute a great singer in some folks' eyes? I already know what would constitute a favorite singer.

For the greatest singer - would it be the hit records made? Would it be based on popularity? Would it be the way said artist sounded and came across? Would it be the range and soulful emotion the artist had � like what you admired in Otis Redding? Would it be whether said artist sang - tenor - falsetto - soprano, etc?

I also agree that it is a great thread idea. And that it will indeed be interesting to see what folks will come up with.

I am tempted to choose whom I think it is, and only because - I think it should have to do with the quantity and quality of the songs sang by the singer that one thought were great. And in saying that - the appreciator of the artist would have to love the songs sang by the artist, and therefore and ultimately � love mostly all of said artist�s works, when forming an opinion on whether said artist was the greatest?

Should consideration be given to how well received the songs and artist were, how much money the artist made, how many hit records artist had, and the amount of artist' records that crossed the charts?

Or should it solely rely on what artist sang the best in one's eyes. In other words, may haps one just loved the sound of said artist' voice, and loved the way said artist belted out a song - whether fast or slow?

I think - I'll hold off for now. Again - this is a very interesting topic.

Peace & Blessings and Prosperity for all.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:51 pm:

If we're talkin'1950's & 1960's then I'd have to chose the incomparable one & only late & great Jackie Wilson.

If we're talkin'f
40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's,90's new millinium, hell for all time, then it could only be The Legenday Jimmy Scott !

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:00 pm:

THANKS SB!!!...THE CONCEPT HERE IS...WHO DO *YOU* THINK IS THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER EVER!!!...THE FEELING THAT I GET WHEN I LISTEN TO OTIS REDDING SINGING "I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG"...OR "THESE ARMS OF MINE"...ETC...ETC...EVOKES AN EMOTIONAL STRAIN THAT NO OTHER SINGER CAN REACH IN MY HUMBLE OPINION!!!...OBVIOUSLY...RECORD SALES AND THE LIKE CAN BE AN INDICATOR...AS THE MASSES USUALLY HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF THESE THINGS...BUT IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE...I'D SURE LIKE TO HEAR IT!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:20 pm:

THATS WHAT I LIKE SOUL SISTER...AN "ANGEL" WHO ISN'T AFRAID TO EXPRESS HER OPINION!!!...STUBASS

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:35 pm:

Thanks DaddyAngelSTUBASS! Just a little taste!
S.S.

By SB (206.214.1.235) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

Okay STUBASS - you're making me work here.

First of all let me say, that when I was in Germany - I partied w/Archie Bell. He was a regular E-4 in the Army. He used to give a jam session every Sunday, and we would pull every trick in the book to insure we got to go see him and his German band. He used to sing Otis's "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay", every Sunday. LOL! Archie knew he used to love him some Otis. Plus - he sang some of his other songs as well. He sounded good singing them also.

Now - back to your point on who I think is/was the Greatest Soul Singer of all time. (The Muhammad Ali of singers) There are so many that I love(d) and admired - so needless to say, it is hard to choose. Below is a list of the ones I admired, and in no particular order. So you see how hard it is for me.

1. Jackie Wilson
2. Sam "The Smooth" Cooke
3. Marvin Gaye
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Michael Jackson
6. Lionel Ritchie
7. Eddie Kendrick
8. Smokey Robinson
9. Curtis Mayfield
10. David Ruffan
11. Sammy Davis Junior (Maybe not all soul)
12. Frank Sinatra (Maybe no soul)
13. Bobby Womack
14. Jerry Butler
15. Percy Sledge
16. James Brown
17. Brooke Benton
18. Otis Redding
19. Edwin Starr
20. Lou Rawls
21. Wilson Pickett
22. Gene Chandler
23. Al Green
24. Dennis Edwards

Again - there is my favorite and there is the one I think is the greatest.

My favorite is Eddie "Cornbread" Kendrick. I think the greatest singer was Sam Cooke. Although - I can change my mind - right? LOL!

It really isn't fair to choose - because some folks feel that a Soul Singer means that a singer would have to have gotten down singing the faster numbers, for the most part. (Like Sam & Dave sung - "I'm A Soul Man") David Ruffan sang mostly slower songs - but he also was a great singer.

That's the best I can do for now though. I'll come up w/a female list later. LOL!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:43 pm:

Well then, Stubass, I think I'll express my opinion, umm, let me see..... umm.....still thinking...greatest soul singer...that is a hard question, but....ARETHA is probably the "greatest soul" singer of all time.

By Nish (216.148.244.38) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:44 pm:

My criteria for greatest soul singer may be useful in determining my picks (these are necessary and sufficient, you need not have all of these traits, but most of them have more).
1. I'm judging vocal ability STRICTLY.
2. You have to have expanded the vocabulary of soul to a certain extent. That makes Clyde and Sam a no-brainer, since they were there before soul was even called soul.
3. You have to have left imitators in your wake. Clearly Sam, Marvin, Clyde, Eddie have this working in there favor.
4. Or your vocal style can be so inimitable that it's impossible that you would have imitators. Smokey, David and Jackie and Jerry fit this.
5. You've got to have a wide emotional range. Everyone in this list has a wide emotional range (Clyde McPhatter going from hilarious storyteller in "Money Honey" to mournful in "The Bells" to fervent in "Without Love"; David Ruffin going from buoyant in "My Baby" to tortured in "I Miss You."
6. This is kind of intangible and subjective, but your voice must compel me to listen to you. When I hear any of these men sing a song... I may have heard it a thousand times, I may have had a ton of water, my AC may not be working and it's 100 degrees outside (120 in the car), and there is a pizza waiting for me to devour it, but I still stay in the car to hear it when I hear the opening strains of the song. Each and every one of these guys do that to me.
7. Gotta be distinctive. I think it's fair to say we KNOW when we hear any of these men.
8. Gotta do the thing with sssssoulllll!
With those criteria in mind, I select David Ruffin. Jerry Butler. Jackie Wilson. Smokey Robinson. Eddie Kendricks. Sam Cooke. Clyde McPhatter. Marvin Gaye.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 10:47 pm:

GOOD WORK SB!!!...NICE ARCHIE BELL STORY!!!...SIS "ANGEL" DETROIT!!!...I THINK THAT "LADY SOUL" WOULD BE THE OVERWHELMING FEMALE FAVORITE...THATS WHY I'M FOCUSING ON MALE SOUL SINGERS...BUT GOOD PICK!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:00 pm:

HEY NISH!!!...SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE LAWYER!!!...YOU'VE CERTAINLY "MADE YOUR CASE"...BUT...LEFT ON A DESERT ISLAND...ONLY ROOM FOR ONE RECORD OR CD...I KNOW "YOU'RE FRIGHTENED AND CONFUSED...BUT WHICH WAY WILL YOU CHOOSE"...BOOM BOOM...BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOMM...BA BOOM BA BOOM BOOM!!!...STUBASS

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:14 pm:

Stu!!!! Gee, thanks! I may pass the bar after all! If left on a desert island... it would HAVE to be Smokey Robinson - but my decision regarding the best soul singer is separate and distinct from my decision of which one's cd I'd have to take with me on the desert island. Smokey is my FAVORITE singer. But all in all, I think David Ruffin is the "Epitosoul" as I dubbed him awhile ago.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:16 pm:

Nish & Stu;
Mind if I get in on this one? ONE "CD", It would have to be a long compilation of all the favorites!
S.S.

By Caleb (171.75.81.5) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:26 pm:

Stu,this is a tough one.All of the above mentioned are strong candidates for the top spot.Personally for me,Marvin Gaye is the man.Peace

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:27 pm:

NOW SOUL SISTER!!!..."ANGELS" SHOULDN'T THROW A "FLY INTO THE OINTMENT"!!!...WE GOTTA "VOICE OUR CHOICE"!!!...STU(GOTTA FILL THOSE LOOPHOLES)BASS

By Nish (170.224.224.102) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:27 pm:

S.S. - why didn't I think of the compilation CD! Genius.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:28 pm:

SEE HOW CALEB DOES IT SOUL SISTER???...STU

By motown01 (216.208.81.29) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:28 pm:

My favorite soul singer would have to be Gladys Knight. She has such power in her voice and makes you believe every line of the song. She sings from the very depths of her soul.

Billy

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:49 pm:

Ok Ok Stu; well, I already gave you my very top two!! Well, if I don't want to be love sick all the time I'll have to leave all of Jimmy's CDs at home, so I'll take Jackie's "The Chicago Years" CD with me, but don't tell Jimmy, He-He-He...
Soul(keepinítonthedownlow)Sister...(smile).

By Vonnie (141.151.85.235) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:13 am:

I agree with my S.S. Jeanie. The greatest Soul Singer is Aretha, there is no other. She is the only person that can take a song recorded by some one else and make it a mega hit of her own. I do not know of many other artists male or female that can claim that honor.

Vonnie

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:19 am:

WELL I GUESS THE LADIES WILL HAVE THEIR SAY!!!...AND I'D BET THAT ARETHA WILL BE THE TIGER WOODS OF THIS COMPETITION!!!...STU

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:20 am:

Sis Vonnie;
I agree with you on Areatha for female vocalist of the 60's, but we're talkin'male vocalists here. So please girlfriend tell us your favorite male soul singer (and we don't mean favorite guitarist) He-He. Sorry, Bro Eli.
Von, how ya'doin'today girl? Miss you, love you guys!!
Soul Sis Jeanie

By Nish (216.148.244.38) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:30 am:

For girls... Let me actually be a dissenting voice. I think Linda Jones or Dee Dee Sharpe take the female soul cake for me. I love Aretha, and I know people think she's undisputed, but I do think her competition from Linda and Dee Dee is quite stiff. Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Brenda Holloway and Kim Weston round out my list. But I'm giving the advantage to the late, great Linda Jones all the way. Her voice was so cathartic. But, she's not all screams and shouts; she could also give a "straight" performance too ("Hypnotized" is the shining example of that)

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:52 am:

Ok if we are now doing female singers:

1940's:
Little Miss Cornshucks

1950's & 60's: Tourch/Soul:
#1. Dinah Washington
2. Big Maybelle
3. Nancy Wilson

1960's R&B/Soul:
#1. Linda Jones
2. Laura Lee
3. Gladys Knight
4. Areatha Franklin

By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:59 am:

Okay, torch/soul
1. Savannah Churchill
2. Ruth Brown ("Shine On" is so baaaad!)
3. Etta James

I should have added Baby Washington into my soul list. She's another one who rates high with me.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 01:02 am:

You go gurllll! I love Savannah & Etta too!!

By Eli (141.151.85.235) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 01:08 am:

I love to listen to Otis doing Ive been loving you too long and These arms of mine.

Percy Sledge..Warm and tender love
Sam and Dave..When something is wrong...
Sam Cooke

Lorraine Ellison..Stay with me
Linda Jones..Hypnotized and For you precious love
Jackie Moore ..Precious, Precious
Denise Lasale, Ann Peebles

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 01:53 am:

OK BOBBY!!!...IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE LET THE LADIES..."ANGEL'S" AND OTHERWISE...TAKE OVER THIS THREAD!!!...I'LL HOLD OFF ON MY FEMALE CHOICE...BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A "STUBASS" KIND OF THING IF I PICKED ARETHA!!!...PS TO "ANGEL" VONNIE!!!...SPEAKING OF TAKING SOMEONE ELSES MATERIAL AND MAKING IT A MEGA HIT...AND MEGA PERFORMANCE...DO YOU REMEMBER A GUY NAMED OTIS REDDING...AND A LITTLE TUNE CALLED "TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS"???...HUH???...NUFF SAID!!!...STU(I'VE BEEN AMBUSHED)BASS

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 01:58 am:

DO I SMELL "CAT FIGHT" POTENTIAL HERE???...

By David Meikle (81.130.211.124) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:35 am:

Aretha Franklin, Bettye Lavette and Jackie Wilson......Each and everyone a Detroiter.

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:37 am:

My list would have to include just about all of the above, but at the very top would be:

Al Green
Gladys Knight
Sam Cooke
Marvin Gaye

Honorable mentions:
Teddy P.
Bill Withers
James Brown
Stevie Wonder
Aretha Franklin

...and about 3 or 4 more but I can't think of their names right now :o)

By Vonnie (141.151.71.70) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:00 am:

STU DADDY ANGEL...I agree to a point with you(no dissenting Angel here) but Daddy, Aretha took several male vocalists songs and made them a mega hit. Taking a males song and turning it into a female mega hit is quite a feat. "Elanore Rigby" and yes the Might "O's" mega hit "Respect" these are just a couple.

Your Angel Vonnie

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:09 am:

Hey STUBASS!

My picks are:

Aretha Franklin
Gladys Knight
Marvin Gaye
Al Green

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:43 am:

DOES STUBASS DETECT A TREND DEVELOPING HERE???...LATE PRECENCT'S REPORTING...SOME LATE SUPPORT FOR AL GREEN...ARETHA...GLADYS (COULD BE DISQUALIFIED DUE TO HER STRONG "PIP'S" CONNECTION)...MARVIN AND SAM RUNNING STRONG!!!...LETS SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT!!!...STU(FLORIDA VOTE COUNTER)BASS

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 12:50 pm:

OK ALL!!!...THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MOMENT WHERE STUBASS SELECTS THE BEST OF THE BEST OF "ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE"!!!...THE GREATEST *FEMALE* SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME!!!...
BARBARA STREISAND!!!...JUST KIDDING...JUST KIDDING!!!
O.K.!!!...DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!...MY SELECTION IS!!!...
*ARETHA FRANKLIN* (TRIED TO AVOID THAT CHOICE...BUT COULDN'T DO IT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE!!!
RUNNERS UP!!!
CHAKA KAHN!!!...
MAVIS STAPLES!!!...
GLADYS KNIGHT!!!...
GLARIA GAYNOR!!!...
STUBASS "ANGELIC" CHOIR!!!...
STU(TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT)BASS

By stillsoulin (81.132.245.240) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 01:22 pm:

hi all, in my humble opinion;
guys...jackie wilson
david ruffin
levi stubbs
gals...linda jones
patti hamilton
bettye lavette
cant really decide and besides it depends on what mood i,m in.
best rob hurcomb uk.

By SB (67.201.103.136) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:15 pm:

Greetings,

How could I have forgotten Nat King Cole - as being a great singer? That man was toooooo for real. And I love(d) his voice. And Ray Charles was/is too much also.

By Reese (12.15.168.115) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:18 pm:

For me, the greatest soul singer, male or female, is Aretha Franklin. None of the others move me the way she does. Even when she's "phoning it in", she still puts other vocalists to shame. Seeing her in concert last night just reconfirmed my opinion (not that it really needed reconfirming) that she is indeed the greatest.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

Reese, whenever I play some Aretha (especially from her Atlantic years), I have to make me a drink...seriously! I can always feel the emotion & gut wrenching from her singing.

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.153) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

I have considered this very carefully, and whittled it down to my single allowed choice of MarvinAlOtisArethaGladys GayeGreenReddingFranklinKnight

Regards,
Ken

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

LOL....Good choice Ken! I love how you did that!

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:05 pm:

It was not hard for me to come up with this answer. The greatest soul singer of all-time: Aretha Franklin. I believe that she has sung the heart of the black eperience with her music without being self-pitying and the victim. In doing so she has opened up the vocabulary of "soul" to people of all races, ages, creeds. For those who doubt this, take a journey through her recordings and play these songs back to back:

Lee Cross
Respect
I Never Loved A Man
Chain of Fools
Since You've Been Gone
Daydreamin
Bridge Over Troubled Water
I Get High
Jump to It
Young Gifted and Black
A Brand New Me
The Masquerade is Over
You're All I Need to Get by
Willing to Forgive
Reverend Lee
The Thrill is Gone
Share Your Love
The Night Life
A Rose is Still A Rose
Dr. Feelgood

There are others like Gladys Knight (I am huge fan of this lady) and Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding but I think that Aretha's music will in the future carry the special legendary status in musical history of Billie, Bessie and Dinah. Even when she is bad (and there have been bad albums like Almighty Fire) she is good.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:19 pm:

Michael/Cleoharvey, I concur with your list, and also include these:

Drown In My Own tears
Ain't No Way
Call Me
Baby, Baby, Baby
Going Down Slowly
Soul Serenade
You Made Me Love you
Today I sing The Blues
Don't Let me Lose This Dream
Until you come back to me (That's what I'm gonna do)
Love All The Hurt Away
The Woman

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

Stu:
Alright.....here are my choices.

Jackie Wilson - no matter what he sings, he does it with soul.

Aretha - 'nuff said.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

GOOD PICKS KEV!!!...BUT GUYS AND GALS!!!...AREN'T WE BEING A BIT "COMMERCIAL" WITH THE ARETHA SHOO IN???...I GUESS I'M AS GUILTY AS EVERYONE ELSE!!!...STU

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 05:58 pm:

Everybody has their own "greatest" and for good reasons, so I was just going to say Otis, and let everyone else fill in their favorite last name, but....
...it's gotta be Otis Redding. I love the Memphis "style" anyway, and the way he rips into a "ballad" like "I've Been Loving You Too Long" just tears me up into an emptional stew.
I got a mess on the ladies side. Etta James, Carla Thomas, Gladys Knight, Kim Weston, et. al. I can't cut that list down to one.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 06:09 pm:

DOUG!!!...YOU GOT MY HEART DUDE!!!...STU

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 06:40 pm:

Great thread!!

Suprised that no one mentioned Solomon Burke yet!!!

Just listen to "Cry To Me" when he breaks into that succession of rapid fire "crycrycrycrycry"...gives me the chills!!

But..he isn't my favorite... ;)

Marvin...definitely. The king...the "Holy Ghost" of soul music.

MichaelOH

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

MICHAEL: I TOO THOUGHT THAT SOLOMON BURKE WOULD COME UP AS WELL!!!...STU

By Nish (128.239.47.75) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 06:51 pm:

No one mentioned Wilson Pickett - who gave an ultra huge dose of soul to our ears with his torrid lead vocal on "I Found A Love," now, talk about chill-inducing performances when he sings "The way that woman walk set my lil' soul on fire"... you KNOW he means it!

Chuck Jackson deserves to be mentioned as do TOmmy Hunt and Freddie Scott. Michael - we are all guilty of a HUGE oversight in forgetting about Solomon Burke!

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 06:56 pm:

Stu...
....I'm taken.
How bout Ben E. King? I'm not changing my choice, but it's wavering a bit.....

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 07:08 pm:

OK!!!...NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE MORE OBSCURE!!!...DOUG!!!...TELL THE MRS'S THAT SHE'S TOTALLY SAFE...BUT BEN E. MIGHT BE A STRETCH...SINCE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE HAD THE BODY OF WORK TO QUALIFY!!!...ONE *HUGE* SOLO HIT SHOULD NOT QUALITY ONE FOR THIS TYPE OF DISTINCTION!!!...NISH!!!...I'M SURE THAT WILSON PICKETT WOULD BE ON SOME PEOPLE'S LIST...EXCEPT...TO MY LIKING...THE "WICKETT" ONE WAS JUST TOO ONE DIMENSIONAL...AND SCREAMS TOO MUCH...ALTHOUGH HE IS GREAT!!!...STU

By SB (67.201.103.136) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:05 pm:

In tribute to STUBASS's love for his favorite SOUL SINGER of all time - anyone game on posting each line of Otis Redding's "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay?" Those interested, list the next line to the song.

For Instance - I'll start it, and I get two lines, and we have to complete the entire song, eventually.

Here we go. Like I mentioned - I used to hear Archie Bell sing it so much, until I remembered all the lines, and still do. When we used to go see Archie - we used to say - "Oh no - he ain't gonna sing SOTDOTB again. Lord have mercy." LOL!

"Sitting in the morning sun"
"I'll be sitting when the evening comes"

NEXT:

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:08 pm:

I'M IN!!!...
"WATCHIN THE SHIPS ROLL IN"...
"AND I'LL WATCH EM ROLL AWAY AGAIN"...
HEY SB...THIS IS FUN!!!...STU

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:08 pm:

OOPS SORRY!!!...
NEXT:

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:36 pm:

Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tiiide roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time......

we've done the easy part. NEXT!

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

"I LEFT MY HOME IN GEORGIA"...
"HEADED FOR THE FRISCO BAY"...
AM I SPEAKING OUT OF TURN HERE???...STU

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:45 pm:

NEXT:

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:48 pm:

I've got nothin' to live for
Looks like nothin's gonna come my way, yeah.....

(we need some bleeding horns here)

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:50 pm:

Hey SoulfulDetroiters,
While some of you may be pondering on your next personal 'soul' preferences on this very page, let's all take a little moment for just a short break....

Stu, won't you please allow me... Jim, to drop this little soul R&B 'ditty' on the turntable platters-- this 'classic' hit was from the very "good year", in 1969.

Meanwhile... kick back, relax, and enjoy this beautiful 'soulful' memory from way back when, and it was by the "WINSTONS', it's one of my all-time R&B (one-hit wonder) faves!

You'll sure to agree, they just don't make them like this one anymore....
In the meantime I want everybody here to listen, turn this baby up-- and just enjoy!
http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/colorhim.ra,

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:53 pm:

MY SPEAKERS AREN'T SET UP HERE JIM...BUT CAN I ASSUME IT'S "COLOR HIM FATHER"???...
NOW...BACK TO OTIS!!!
"LOUD"(LORD) I'M JUST SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY"
"WATCHIN THE TIIDE ROLL AWAY"
NEXT:

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 09:05 pm:

Jim - It sounded nice, and really brought back lots of memories. Thanks for that treat.

DAVID RUFFIN - One of the Greatest of the greats.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 09:50 pm:

GLADYS GLADYS GLADYS--I feel it in my bones-power,passion,subtlety,longevity and voice quality--I saw her a few months ago and she sounds exactly the same as 25 years ago. Then Aretha and Mr D Ruffin.

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.60.46) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 10:38 pm:

Stu,

Lets go to lunch. You must have gotten back to normal by now.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:18 pm:

OK MIKIE!!!...LIKE I SAID BEFORE...I'M IN...HOWEVER...MY TEST IS FRIDAY...AND I'M ON CLEAR LIQUIDS UNTIL THEN...AND I AIN'T LETTIN YOU OFF THAT CHEAP...A COUPLE BOWLS OF JELLO...BUT I'LL BE BACK TO NORMAL NEXT WEEK...SO LET'S TALK THAN!!!...OK???...STU(SERIAL CAP TYPER)BASS

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.60.46) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 11:29 pm:

It sounds wonderful! I wall wait for your call. I am in the Sunland area telephone book under "Mike McLean."

By Marv (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 12:29 am:

Ok since your force me to exclude truly the greatest male Soul Singer Mr. Levi Stubbs because he is in a group. I'd have to say the greatest solo Soul Singer was Mr. Jackie Wilson! He had one of the most versatile voices in recent memory.

The greatest female Soul Singer is The Queen, Ms. Aretha Franklin. Check out one of my favorites of hers "Master of Eyes" from 1973 and you will discover again why she is the all time greatest!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 12:34 am:

YEAH MARV!!!...WERE IT NOT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THREE OTHER "TOPS"...LEVI WOULD HAVE BEEN ELEGIBLE!!!...THE FOUR TOPS (FEATURING LEVI)...HOWEVER... ARE STILL A VALID ENTRY IN THE "MALE GROUPS" CATAGORY!!!...STU

By stephanie (64.63.221.95) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 12:50 am:

Marv!!!
My GOD I was waiting for someone to mention that song...Master of Eyes by Aretha I remember when I first heard that I ran out and bought it. It should have been a MUCH bigger hit I dont know why it didnt go top ten!!!
Thank you so much for mentioning that song!!!!
Best Soul Singer hands down Otis Redding ..I wanted to say Solomon Burke but I have to make Otis the first and honorable mention to the wicked one Wilson Pickett. If I had to pick voice and showmanship I would say Jackie Wilson but I put him more in the vein of pop and the incomparable Levi Stubbs would be next..

With the women there is no competition its Aretha but I would have to say if given the chance and if she had lived Linda Jones could have given Aretha a run for her money...I noticed no one said Patti Labelle. Patti has a great voice but there are many more who sing with more emotion like the great Gladys Knight WOW you cant get more emotion than that..
Stephanie

By R&B (138.238.41.154) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 09:33 am:

GOOD ONE STU,THERE ARE ALOT OF LEGENDS TO CHOOSE FROM,BUT FOR MY MONEY THE BADDEST OF EM ALL HAS GOT TO BE THE GODFATHER HIMSELF,JAMES BROWN WHO HAS GIVEN US SO MANY FUNKY GROOVES OVER THE YEARS,WHO HAS TRULY EARNED THE TITLE[THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS]FOR ME HE SITS AT THE HEAD OF THE SOUL TABLE.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:11 am:

RAY CHARLES He even made Country soulful.

By StingBeeLee (155.139.50.14) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:27 am:

I've wondered and wondered on this question for a couple of days. To me, the greatest male soul singer ever is Ray Charles. I believe he is one of the few people that you can mention who say they pioneered/invented/made soul music. He is one of the first who brought gospel, blues, r&b, and country together to make soul music. I'm glad that Atlantic records basically left him alone to make his own brand of music. His influence cannot be underestimated. For the women, although she is probably the best selling woman in soul music, it's still Aretha. She is still the standard today for which all soul/r&b/hip hop singers are judged. When she came out in '67 with "I never loved a man", although I was a small child then, she is the only artist that I have known to where both the young and the old wanted her record. Both "I never loved a man" and "Lady Soul" are two of the top ten albums in Rock and Roll history. Her voice is unparalleled and when the Sweet Inspirations are added to it, what more could you want? Any more and you would not be able to stand it, Northville psych hospital is your next stop. "The Queen of Soul" is one designation that is unquestioned, in my opinion.

By girlbassplayer1961 (208.8.159.215) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:46 am:

Aretha and Otis are my choices!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

NICE PICKS GBP!!!...I AM SURPRISED HOWEVER THAT NO *STONG* CASE HAS BEEN MADE FOR STEVIE WONDER!!!...RAY CHARLES...I SUPPOSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOORS HE OPENED IN THE GENRE...THAT IT COULD BE VIEWED AS A LOGICAL CHOICE!!!...NOW BACK TO SOME BUSINESS AT HAND!!!

"SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY....WASTIN TI-II-IIM!!!
"LOOKS LIKE...NOTHING"S GONNA CHANGE"
"EVERYTHING STILL REMAINS THE SAME"
NEXT:

By girlbassplayer1961 (208.8.159.215) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 12:59 pm:

StuBass, you are 100% right, Ray Charles did start it all and I still love his piano playing too. So many greats how does one choose??????

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 01:03 pm:

WELL GBP!!!...THE FEMALE VERSION LOOKS LIKE A "NO BRAINER" TO MOST OF US...BUT IN THE MALE CATAGORY...I JUST DON'T KNOW!!!...FOR ME...WITH *ALL* THE GREATS OUT THERE PAST AND PRESENT...OTIS REDDING JUST EPITOMIZES WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF SOUL SINGING IS ALL ABOUT...A GENUINE ARTICLE WITH HIS VOCALIZING COMING *STRAIGHT* FROM THE SOUL!!!...STU

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 01:16 pm:

I didn't mean to put down or denigrate the great men of soul like Solomon Burke and Ray Charles when I chose Aretha as the greatest soul singer. They are absolute giants. And I did not choose Aretha because she was the most "commercial" or sold the most records. It is simply when I sit and think about a catalogue of music that seems to hit the nail on the proverbial head emotionally and soulfully over and over again, Aretha's name comes up more than others.

Also, and this is something that you esteemed Forum members may want to discussm it seems the women of soul get to express a wider range of subjects and emotions in their music. Do you think this is true? Do the men of soul get hemmed in and limited by the traditional subjects "that men are supposed to sing about." Subjects like:

Baby I Gotta Leave
Your stuff is wonderful but I gotta move on
I can't be tied down
I have several lovers
Hey, c'mon let's do it
I'm married but I'll cheat
Booty (in all forms)
It's so good it makes you wannna cry

Now don't attack, LOL!!!! I just want to see what you guys think.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 01:25 pm:

MICHAEL!!!...I THINK THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP A SUBJECT THAT LIES AT THE VERY ROOT OF OUR CULTURE...AND THAT IS...WHY DO MALE SINGERS TEND TO DOMINATE THE MUSIC CHARTS...MUCH MORE SO DURING THE MOTOWN ERA!!!...THE REASON IS SIMPLE ON ONE HAND...FEMALES PURCHASED MOST OF THE RECORDS DURING THAT TIME...WHICH WAS BEFORE "CRANKED OUT AUDIO SYSTEMS THAT GUYS NOW PUT IN CARS"...AND THE FACT THAT MOST GUYS WERE PLAYING SPORTS WHILE GIRLS WERE SITTING AROUND THEIR HOUSES PLAYING RECORDS!!!...THUS...MOST SONGS WERE WRITTEN (BY MALES) WITH A FOCUS ON WHAT GIRLS WANTED TO HEAR!!!... ALSO...WOMEN AT THAT TIME WERE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO SING SONGS WITH POLITICAL MESSAGES (THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO PONTIFICATE ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT IN A MALE DOMINATED SOCIETY IN THOSE DAYS)...YES...AS JAMES BROWN SAID..."IT (WAS) A MANS WORLD"!!!...TODAY...AS MORE AND MORE FEMALES ATTAIN POSITIONS IN BUSINESS...GOVERNMENT...AND EVEN ATHLETICS...THERE ARE MORE WOMEN WRITING...PRODUCING...AND PERFORMING SONGS WITH A GREATER ARRAY OF DIVERSITY!!!...THUS...THAT'S PROBABLY ONE REASON WHY ARETHA STANDS OUT SO MUCH ON THIS TOPIC...VERSUS...ALL THE MALE PERFORMERS THAT PERFORMED A MUCH GREATER SPECTRUM OF MATERIAL!!!...MY TAKE!!!...STU

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 02:06 pm:

Looks like nothin's ever gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me
So I guess I'll remain the same.....
(someone want to hum the horn part?)

Good point, Stu. Outside of Aretha, I can't think of a DOMINATE female voice of the era, although there are any number of male nominees. This is not to say that she was the best (I'm not saying she wasn't, either, so put the brick down), but for sheer output, diversity, and popularity (and skill) she very much deserves the "Queen Of Soul" label.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 02:10 pm:

"SITTIN HERE RESTIN MY BONES"!!!...
"AND THIS LONLEINESS WONT LEAVE ME ALONE!!!...
OK HERE GOES DOUG!!!...FA FA FA FA FA FA FA FA FA...OOPS...WRONG HORN PART!!!
NEXT:

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 02:15 pm:

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WHEN WE GET TO THE WHISTLING PART???...SB...YOU STARTED THIS!!!...
NEXT:

By SB (206.215.13.18) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 04:07 pm:

Hey Stubass,

The best I can do is this:

dududududududududududududududududududududu! LOL!

I also think Aretha is the "Queen Of Soul." She done held the title so long now until, it doesn't make much sense to take it away from her now.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.53.39) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 04:13 pm:

Well said girl bass player
how can you choose only one from so so many greats.
mel

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

GEEZ MEL!!!...WE HAVE A PLACE OVER HERE THAT SELLS 31 FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM...CALLED BASKIN AND ROBBINS!!!...REMIND ME WHEN YOU COME OVER HERE TO VISIT US *NOT* TO TAKE YOU THERE...WE'LL NEVER GET OUT OF THAT PLACE!!!...STU

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 05:17 pm:

Marvin P. Gaye

Nuff said......then there was
Dennis
Teddy
Eddie Levert
David R
Eddie Kendricks
Smokey
Al Green
Jackie Wilson

Love em all. but had to cast my vote for The Master MPG

ps:loved this thread...:-)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 06:05 pm:

MARVIN GAYE
MARVIN GAYE
MARVIN GAYE
SAM COOKE
THEN THERE is DAVID RUFFIN.
Finally, there is Walter Jackson, Billy Paul, and used to be Teddy.

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.231) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:53 pm:

two thousand miles I roamed
just to make this dock my home
NOW...

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:59 pm:

"(Somebody) Ease My Troublin' Mind" / Sam Cooke.

...Ladies and Gentleman, here he is, the incomparable golden 'soulful' voice of one... Mr. Sam Cooke:
http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/easemytr.ra,
Without question-- in my opinion he was the GREATEST there ever was.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:58 am:

DAR!!!...NOW THATS THE SPIRIT!!!...I'M BRINGIN IT HOME
"I'M JUST-A- SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY...
WATCHIN THE TI-IDE ROLL AWAY!!!...
SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY...WASTE'N TII-III-IME"!!!...

OK SB...YOU GOT US INTO THIS...NOW GET US OUT...TIME TO WHISTLE!!!...STUBASS

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.55) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:30 am:

All right Stu
what about the lead singer of the Dells
or the Radiants people like Betty Harris
Irma Thomas theres loads that should be on these Lists man.Doris Duke wheres she then?
I take my hat off to everyone that can name there top all time faves but I cant.
And by the way I love strawberry ice-cream,no banana no its vanilla oh I Dont know I guess I cant name that either.
mel.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.51.133) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 05:23 am:

What about
Ruth Brown
Esther Philips
the superb one and only Big Maybelle.

Solomon Burke
Clyde McPhatter
where would Darrell Banks be now if he was still with us.
mel.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (212.159.50.98) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 05:36 am:

The great grrrruffin of course gets a mention
and even the great Otis once said that he was always getting pushed vocally by Sam and Dave on the Stax Volt Revues.
I havent even started
yes you certainly got my blood boiling old stu boy,
I shall now go back to my chicken farm.
mel.
great stuff though Stu!!!!

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.49.168) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 06:36 am:

then theres
Oscar Toney Jnr
James Carr
Maxine Brown
Jean Wells
Betty Lavette
Jackie Lee
Edwin Starr
Jerry Williams
Betty Swann
Roy Hamilton
Johnny Moore
Eddie Floyd
William Bell
Wilson Pickett
Betty Everett
Gene Chandler
Sir Mack Rice
and more.
mel.

By MEL&THENSOME (212.159.49.168) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 06:39 am:

Oh and by the way,
every one mentioned
I have personally heard a lot of tracks by and not just the one or two by them.
I could really keep going but wont.
mel.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:02 am:

EVEN THOUGH HIS CAREER WAS SHORT,JOHNNY ACE SHOULD BE ON ANY LIST OF GREAT SOUL SINGERS!

By P.M. Berton (208.39.161.193) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:14 am:

ARETHA

By Horse (159.53.238.241) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:33 am:

Stu,


Hands Down.......MICHAEL BOLTON...

By Horse (159.53.238.241) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:34 am:

That was for you Ralph... I couldn't resist.
Actually...I wouldn't touch this thread with a ten foot pole. Too many greats.

By Giuseppe (217.136.40.32) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:52 am:

Hello fans of Soul Music, I am Giuseppe, Young Dj and Collector of Soul 60s '. I search for correspondents, with that I could discuss of disk 45 rpms.

I wait for an answer of your part

Thank you

A hello of Belgium.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:57 am:

Thanks Horse. I was wondering when the Michael Bolton card would get played.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:10 am:

HEY GIUSEPPE,WELCOME,WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW CONCERNING 45 RPM'S?

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:39 am:

GOOD STUFF MEL...BUT YOU STILL GOTTA PICK ONE!!!...LEAD SINGER'S IN GROUPS ARE REALLY NOT ELEGIBLE...RUFFIN GETS IN DUE TO HIS SOLO EFFORTS!!!...HORSE...IF YOU REPEAT MICHAEL BOLT-ON...I'M GONNA HAVE TO RAISE YOU A GINO VANELLI!!!...HEY SB!!!...LIKE THE WAY WE FINISHED "DOCK OF THE BAY"???...GOOD IDEA!!!...GUIESPPE FROM BELGIUM!!!...DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SOUL SINGER (JUST ONE) OF ALL TIME???...PLEASE...NO WAFFELING ON THIS ONE!!!...STUBASS

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:56 pm:

Mel&ThenSome
Hi! Oscar Toney Jr.- few people know about his work. It's the cream of soul, the very gospelly side of it. I really can't add to that. It's not only that one album (For Your Precious Love) but much, much more music. I was lucky enough to meet him in 2000 in Alabama.
Heikki

By Giuseppe (217.136.40.32) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

Dear Stubass, me Giuseppe I have 20 and I am DJ in the Soul music of years 60. I like all singers but in particular a singer (Baby " Justine " Washington). I initiated to this music thanks to my father who rocked his/her/its youth while leaving in dancingses as the Groove (Ostende), the Popcorn (Vrasene) (that is exists again today and that is a reference for our music)..

Is what someone could answer me in French or in Italian it would be easier for me.

In a friendly way Giuseppe ( Belgium )

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.170) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

Heikki
the guy justs oozes soul(andthensome)
he used to tour a lot over here in the uk at the various all nighters and all dayers and would never give a bad show.
mel.

By bmiller360 (64.164.174.44) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 02:50 pm:

How could this whole group of soul admirers miss (except for a quick mention a few posts ago) the indisputable leader of this category.....RAY CHARLES.
I generally dislike making "who's best" judgement calls, but in this case....one listen, for those for whom it may have been a while, should be enough to close this thread.
bru-bro-of-STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:04 pm:

WELL BRO!!!...JUST TO GET YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS THREAD ILLUSTRATES YOUR STRONG FEELING IN THIS REGARD!!!...I AM AWARE OF YOUR FONDNESS FOR SIR RAY...AND ONE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE A STRONG CASE FOR HIS NAME AT THE TOP OF THIS LIST!!!...RAY WOULD CERTAINLY BE SOMEWHERE IN MY TOP 5 OR 6...BUT MY NOD STILL GOES TO OTIS!!!...IT IS INTERESTING...HOWEVER...THAT ANYTHING BELOW THE MASON-DIXON LINE WAS LARGELY UNKNOWN IN OUR FAMILY (THE ONLY CORNBREAD WE WERE FED WAS OF THE JEWISH VARIETY)...AND HERE WE GO...CALLING TWO SOUTHERN SOUL SINGERS OUR FAVORITES!!!...YEAH...RAY IS GREAT...BUT IN MY HUMBLE OPINION...OTIS REDDING...MORE SO!!!...STUBASS

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:09 pm:

I have always thought that someone should lock Aretha and Ray Charles away in a studio and see what they come up with. Years ago (late sixties), it was rumored that they were going to do it and nothing happened. They only thing that they did was that famous Coca-Cola radio commercial that was a tantalizing peak at what they might create. With all the two of them have been through they would probably throw down the definitive soul album of all time. Someone needs to put Aretha and Ray together, and Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder. Brother, I am getting chills already!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

TWO NICE CONCEPTS MICHAEL!!!...AND AS FOR RAY AND ARETHA...IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN...NOW IS THE TIME...BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!...STU

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

PS!!!...JUST TO CLARIFY!!!...BY "BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE"...I MEANT TO SAY THAT BEFORE RAY GETS TOO OLD OR ARETHA EXPLODES (MY BAD...SORRY)!!!...STUBASS

By irvingtongroove (12.22.43.240) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 06:45 pm:

Well, why bother to split (nappy) hairs between Marvin, Jackie, Sam... these are the "smooth" soul stylists. If you want the "soulful" soul stylists, you got to go with Otis.

By DetroitDar (198.81.26.231) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 08:43 pm:

Hey Stu: I just returned from spending the day in San Francisco (weird timing, Huh?!), and thanks to you guys I couldn't get SOTDOTB out of my head...I felt like a total tourist! LOL
Is everything OK with you...i.e. clear liquids? (I'm still catching up here.)

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:44 pm:

RIGHT ON IRVINGTON...WELL PUT!!!...DAR!!!...I'LL BET YOU GOT EVERY LYRIC RIGHT...AND WERE PROBABLY WALKING AROUND EMBARCADERO WHISTLING THE ENDING!!!...HA HA HA HA!!!...OFF THE LIQUIDS...LOOK FORWARD TO A NICE RIBEYE TONIGHT...AND A SCREWDRIVER!!!...THE DOCTORS OFFICE THOUGHT I WAS "NUTS" WHEN I CALLED THEM THE OTHER DAY TO ASK IF VODKA WAS CONSIDERED A CLEAR LIQUID (IT WASN'T)...DAMN!!!...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.58) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 04:54 am:

What about JJ Jackson?
mel.

By phillySOULman (141.151.73.11) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 10:00 am:

Yup!!
If I had to pick just one , it would have to be Otis, hands down!!

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 10:59 am:

Mel...
...agreed about J.J. Jackson's nomination. I'd toss in Bobby "Blue" Bland for consideration, but Stu'd probably get upset again, and in his precarious health I don't want to upset the poor boy....

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 11:37 am:

OK MEL AND DOUG!!!...YOU'VE BOTH MENTIONED TWO FINE SOUL SINGERS (YOU COULD ALSO THROW TYRONE DAVIS INTO THAT GROUP)...THAT DEFINITLY BELONG IN THE *TOP 50*...BUT # 1???..."BUT IT'S ALRIGHT" GUYS...THE DOCTOR SAYS MY CONSTITUTION CAN STAND UP TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING (WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF GARY LEWIS SINGING "THIS DIAMOND RING")...SO DON'T WORRY!!!...I THINK PHILLYSOULMAN HAS IT RIGHT...BUT IT IS YOUR CHOICE!!!...STUBASS

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.84) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:37 pm:

dougalasm
I was going to mention Bobby Bland ages ago but thought Stu would of said he was a blues or strictly R&b Singer which wouldnt of counted.
Has anyone mentioned General Johnson?
what about OV Wright
or ZZ Hill there are just so many.
mel.

By SB (206.215.14.160) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 12:45 pm:

Joe Williams, Johnny Hathaway, Lloyd Price and Luther Vandross, are a few other great singers.

I'd like to apologize to STUBASS for writing in my second post of this thread - that his question may have not been fair, as it relates to the "Soul" part of the title. There for a undefined minute - I thought he was referring to singers that sung hard and raw soul, but I quickly learned how wrong I was. Sorry SB the first.

Besides - from what I've read up on my choice, Sam "The Soul Stirrer" Cooke - was the greatest Soul Singer and was the man that invented soul, to many folks. So - I was safe in my choice and assumption after all. Sam was loved by his peers - and when they partied - they would put on Sam's records. I mean, men like Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, James Brown and many other singers and artists.

Some will attribute much of his success to the pop genre - but that boy had soul all the way down to the tips of his toes. More than half of the folks that loved him and his music were of his people.

I'm gonna have to buy that "SAM COOKE LIVE AT THE HARLEM SQUARE CLUB, 1963", and some of his other cds. Below are some quotes I picked up from his fan site. I admit I'm cheating a little bit. LOL!


�No singer has equaled him in natural talent. Just listen to the vocal control he demonstrates in his songs. He could hit any note, and he brought a genuine freshness to gospel and pop music. It was he who lived and created "Soul."

�I bet Sam Cooke is the featured lead singer in the "Heavenly Choir," and he has those female angels falling out when he steps in front of the microphone and begins, "Wonderful, Goooooooooood is so wonderful.� (STUBASS - note female angels - LOL!)

�Not only is he musically and interpretively superb, but his enunciation is flawless.�

�Jerry Wexler called him the "best singer who ever lived, no contest," and it's hard to argue.�

�With Sam, every note, every utterance, every vocal inflection was designed to further the song itself ... not to call attention to the singer.�

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:01 pm:

OK SB!!!...STRONG CASE MADE FOR THE "CUPID" MAN!!!...WHILE OTIS IS STILL MY #1...MANY OF YOUR POSTS ARE HELPING ME ROUND OUT MY TOP FIVE...WHICH WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE AFTER OTIS....SAM...MARVIN...RAY...AND I'LL LEAVE # 5 OPEN FOR NOW!!!...EASY LADIES...THATS JUST THE MALE SINGERS!!!...FOR THE FEMALES...IT'S OBVIOUSLY ARETHA...THEN ALL OTHERS!!!...STUBASS

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:09 pm:

Hey brother Mel,

You and I, we're gonna venture back in time, it's June 20, 1966... and WKNR adds this (now) Detroit R&B 'classic' on their playlist as it debuts at #30 spot on the "Keener 13" Music Survey Guide, "for the week of"....

Mel this one is going out, especially just for you--
http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/openthed.ra,

So let us enjoy this little soul 'gem' right here, of course... all together, once again!

By Diego (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Here's another vote for Sam. I love Otis, but Sam showed how to do it first, and just about everybody else who followed gave it up to him--big props.

By melandthensome (217.14.178.65) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:24 pm:

Right-on Jim
just played it.
YOUR THE MAN JIM.
yet another golden era
the magic of 66.
your uk buddy
mel(always opening the door)

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:25 pm:

Hi SB and Diego!
See my thread above, for Thursday, June 19, 2003 10:59 PM:

And thanks for your own personal SAM COOKE preferential induction, likewise... and show for his 'most deserving' support!

By melandthensome (217.14.178.65) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:28 pm:

Has anyone mentioned Ben E King?

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:53 pm:

Tried that, Mel, and Stu slapped me down with a wet rag, but I'll try again.
Spanish Harlem
Young Boy Blues
Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
I Who Have Nothing
What was essentially solo work with the Drfters.

I won't mention the "one" hit Stu alluded to. I think he's at least worthy of a nomination.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

YES MEL!!!...BEN E KING HAS BEEN MENTIONED...AND AS I POINTED OUT...MUCH OF HIS GREAT WORK WAS WITH "THE DRIFTERS"!!!..."STAND BY ME" CERTAINLY GOES DOWN AS A TRUE SOUL CLASSIC...BUT MY PERSONAL TAKE IS THAT OUTSIDE OF THAT SUPREME EFFORT...BEN E DOESN'T HAVE THE LARGE BODY OF SOLO WORK TO FALL INTO MY TOP 5!!!...STUBASS

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.33) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 02:15 pm:

Ben E King
for Douglasm if Stu cant open his ears.
Hermit of misty mountain
The Record(baby I love you)
Cry no more(what an absolute gem,and then some)
forgive this fool.
Hey little one
I Cant break the news to myself(yet another gem)
Seven letters
Tears teare tears
a man without a dream
river of tears
goodnight my love
when you love someone
dont take your love from me
(theres) no place to hide
dont play that song
Teeny weeny little bit
what can a man do
katherine
theres a few soulful tracks for you Stu
not a drifter in sight.
mel.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 02:51 pm:

OK MEL!!!...NOW I DON'T KNOW JUST WHAT TO BELIEVE...YOUR IMPRESSIVE LIST...OR MY OWN LYING EYE'S!!!...TRUE...BEN E WAS ABLE TO AFFORD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STUDIO TIME...BUT OTHER THAN "STAND BY ME"...WHERE ARE THE "TIMELESS CLASSIC'S" ON THAT LIST???...STU(LOOKIN FOR A BULLET)BASS

By SB (206.215.14.160) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 03:00 pm:

Why didn't someone check and clean up my error about claiming that Johnny Hathaway was a great singer? Who is that? Donnie's cousin? LOL! I was thinking of Johhny Taylor.

Bill Withers.

STUBASS - I hear 'ya. I am not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking. I am just rediscovering and honoring a man and singer that was utterly outstanding and superb in his craft and in his short life. It's enough for me to know that I feel the way I do.

Btw - Sam might just knock Eddie K. out the water as my fave too. But in the case of my love for Eddie - it is deeply rooted in the fact that he sung lead w/my fave male group of all time - and he is my homeboy. I met him in 1973 in Hampton, VA. Some of my relatives and friends attended the same high school that he did in Ensley, AL. I attended the school for two days w/my best friend in March 1970, after leaving Germany early, on a visit home.

My three nieces and nephew all graduated from the school within the last 10 years. I know where Eddie is from and where his parent's live. And all of us from my home town, and AL, loved him to no end - along w/Paul and the rest of them.

I loved Eddie as being the best 1st tenor and falsetto singer in mine eyes. I love Smokey and William Hart of the Defonics and the like for the way they sung 1st tenor and falsetto also.

But Sam "The Bam" Cooke, was the main man - IMO. And if you reread my first post - you'll see the basis and criteria of how I deducted my analysis and arrived at MY conclusion and decision. Sam's voice - style and presence, answers and fits all the questions of wonderment, that was proposed in that post.

But I loved me some Otis too. Maybe we can send out an "SOS" for Archie to visit us and whistle the ending to SOTDOTB, because he would certainly do it when we were in Germany. LOL! We almost got tired of hearing "Tighten Up", all the dang blasted time 2. LOL! I heard that record on my way to work Friday morning. Folks were calling in to the station stating - "Whoa - that record certainly woke us all the way up." It was the first record the radio host played for the day.

By Diego (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

I'm having an out of body moment here, reading these delicious posts with the Motown channel on AOL-RADIO("Stand by Me"--Jimmy and David Ruffin) at the moment--

Jim Feliciano, did I know you in another life? I'm looking for your June 19 thread, and I see the Wed. post about the Winstons "Color Him Father" which I had missed..but heard it just moments ago, and filled with its joy,wanted to seek more info on these cats from the board...Richard Spencer was the lead singer, and the group also included a couple veterans of Otis Redding's band, they were out of Washington, D.C. and signed with Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label..--What else, please, somebody.
but I digress--Jim, my man, I can only salute your astuteness on Sam Cooke. The SAR Records Story CD is simply a primer on gospel into soul. I love the story about when Sam was with the soul stirrers and they used to pick out the sister in the crowd who they were going make shout for joy from the sheer force of their singing--"Sister Flootie", I believe they called her. When Sister Flootie jumped up,(usually right after Sam hit that yodel) the fellas knew they had done their job. When Sam hooked it up with the Rhythm beat he got Sister Flootie and her 16-year-old daughter up too!

Sis Detroit--I feel you on David. In the first interview I ever saw of David he talked about how much Sam had infuenced him, and how when the Soul Stirrers would come to his hometown in Mississippi, his family of gospel singers would hook up with them. Said he remembered sitting on Sam's knee! The thread back to Sam is long and deep, and i think we are hapily going to experience it again when G.C. Cameron joins the Temps!...

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 03:42 pm:

Stu...
....If I (me, myself, alone) can name 4 King songs without "Stand By Me", there's GOT to be a good catalogue out there. "Don't Play That Song" and "I Who Have Nothing" stand out for me, and remember, "I" was so strong that Terry Knight(eerrgghh) had a hit off it and the Mouldy Blues co-opted it. I'm not changing my vote--I wouldn't dare, you'd sic the angles on me, but.....
Oh, don't tell Dora about the Moody Blues crack. I want to keep my mariage intact...

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 04:51 pm:

OH DORA!!!...DORA!!!...OK...I'M ALL DUMMIED UP!!!...I CERTAINLY "RESPECT" (CATCHY TITLE) EVERYBODY'S OPINION...AND THATS THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD!!!...MY PICK IS NOT GOSPEL (NOT THE MUSIC ANYWAY)...AND I VALUE EACH AND EVERY OPINION EXPRESSED HERE!!!...SOME GREAT...GREAT NAMES IN THE HISTORY OF SOUL MUSIC HAVE COME UP (ALTHOUGH NOBODY HAS MENTIONED RICKY NELSON ON THIS THREAD)...BUT I'M STICKIN TO MY PICK...AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO STICK TO YOURS!!!...BY THE WAY...HAVE I GAINED ANY OTIS REDDING "CONVERTS" VIA THIS THREAD???...THOSE WHO HADN'T CONSIDERED OTIS # 1 UNTIL PERHAPS READING SOME POSTS...AND THEN PULLING OUT AN OLD OTIS RECORDING OR HEARING HIM ON THE RADIO???...JUST CURIOUS!!!...STU(NO"SAD SONG" HERE)BASS

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 06:56 pm:

Diego my friend,
I here 'ya... loud and clear!

WE must be on the exact 'wave' length here, I actually think the 'WINSTONS' deserve another play here, again... for the benefit of those who have found themselves totally inmersed, like, in 'soul' deep into this continuing thread, so whatta 'ya say we just go ahead and play it, eh?

So here it is, again, one more time-- "Color Him Father" by the 'WINSTONS' (a beautiful R&B record hit) from 1969!
http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/colorhim.ra,

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 07:00 pm:

Again, this is going out to Diego....

Check this out, it's-- The Ultimate Sam Cooke Website:
http://clarkkauffman.tripod.com/index_t.htm

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 07:47 pm:

StuBass--
Now here's a man, who, at one time was personally considered by Dick Clark to be "the 'greatest soul' singer there ever was", and Clark said it was none other than... Mr. Otis Redding ["Loving By The Pound"].

http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/lovingby.ra,

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 09:27 pm:

SEE GUYS!!!...DICK CLARK HIMSELF...NO WONDER HE LOOKS SO YOUNG!!!...HE HAS GREAT TASTE IN MUSIC!!!...SERIOUSLY...DICK CLARK'S OPINION SHOULD BE HIGHLY VALUED...IN THAT HE HAS LITERALLY SEEN EM *ALL* COME AND GO!!!...GOING BACK TO DOUG'S LAST POST!!!...IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MAKE A STRONG CASE FOR BEN E KING...WHEN TWO OF THE FOUR SONGS YOU RELATE TO HIM WERE MADE *BIGGER HITS* BY OTHER ARTISTS!!!...THAT ASIDE...I THINK BEN E KING WAS GREAT...JUST NOT IN THE SAME CLASS AS OTIS!!!...STUBASS

By MEL&THENSOME (217.14.178.5) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 04:44 am:

Ill leave you to name the classics Stu out of my list of Ben E Kings.
If were talking of someone that can reach every emotion in a song then your brother Bruce hit the nail on the head when he nominated Ray Charles.
What about this guy that has cut some mighty fine soulful tracks
Johnny Sayles.
mel
ps
Douglasm
I think were wasting our time regards Ben E King here.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.5) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 04:53 am:

Marv Johnson,
I think has been mentioned but yet another truly great singer worthy of another mention.
mel.
ps
how would you class
Howling Wolf Stu?
because this guy is the man.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.121) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 06:49 am:

Jean Stanback
Freddie Hughes
Otis Leaville
Lee Dorsey
Laverne Baker
mel.

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 09:29 am:

Jim Feliciano--man, you are not kidding about that Sam Cooke website! Thanks for that link--and of course I enjoyed that opening riff on "Color Him Father" one more time--so its already a good day!

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 10:44 am:

SOME MORE NICE LISTS!!!...ALL TALENTED ARTISTS OF THEIR DAY!!!...HOWLING WOLF???...IF WE'RE TALKING BLUES HERE...THAN I MAY GIVE OUT A HOWL MYSELF...OR ASK MY DOG TO SIT IN!!!...NOW YOU GO AND AGREE WITH MY BROTHER...HELL...I NEVER AGREE WITH MY BROTHER...UNLESS FORCED BY FAMILY CONSIDERATIONS (HA HA)...BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT MANY SUCCESSFUL MUSICIANS THAT I'VE MET...FROM A GENERATION JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE ME...ALL SEEM TO LOOK TO RAY CHARLES AS "THE MAN"!!!...RAY (I BELIEVE) CAUGHT THEM AT AN EARLY AGE...SHIFTED THEIR THINKING FROM OLD ROCK & ROLL TO A MORE SOUL AND BLUES ORIENTATION!!!...THOSE MY AGE AND YOUNGER...WERE INUNDATED WITH MOTOWN...STAX... AND PHILLY TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE IN OUR "FORMATIVE MUSICAL YEARS!!!...JUST A FEW YEARS DIFFERENCE MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN OUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES TO SOME EXTENT...ESPECIALLY IN THE 50'S AND 60'S WHEN SOCIETAL CHANGE BEGAN TO MOVE AT A MUCH MORE RAPID PACE DUE TO TELEVISION...MORE ADVANCED RECORDING TECHNIQUES AND OTHER MASS MEDIA INFLUENCES!!!...BACK TO YOUR LIST MEL...IT'S YOUR LIST...AND WHO AM I TO ARGUE WITH YOUR SELECTIONS...JUST EXPLAIN MINE!!!...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.91) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 11:53 am:

Should of known better than to pull the wolf onto you Stu.
Where would Little Willie John of been today especially after that great track of "fever"
just a thought.
Then again there is his talented sister with that wonderful voice of hers
Mabel.
well stu,
its been fun mate,
but I shall leave it there as I will go through every singer known to me.
great stuff
mel.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

Stu,
I believe Ray Charles was responsible for taking Rock AND soul to it's next level. When I first heard " What'd I Say " that fateful day at Edgewater Amusement Park I knew I was listening to something completely new to pop music to date. When Ray fused his Jazz influences ( Art Tatum ) with his unique soulful style, in my opinion, the seeds of modern R&B were sown.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

NOW *THAT* COULD BE THE LONGEST LIST EVER ASSEMBLED BUDDY!!!...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.94) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 12:49 pm:

Stu Ralph
I have a full discography of all of Ray Charles work and man is it some list.
The same with James Brown
the stuff they have recorded is phenomenol to say the least.
mel.

By SB (205.186.133.88) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 02:31 pm:

STUBASS - I just ran across my Otis' "SOTDOTB" album, when looking for the Mandrells album. I'm playing it now - and "Tramp" is on. LOL! Take me on home Otis!

What about - Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson - and last but neva least - Mr. Barry White? Surely - he and Luther are in our prayers today and always.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.101) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 02:54 pm:

Jim Feliciano
many thanks for the Sam Cooke Link
great site.
mel.

By SB (205.186.133.88) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 03:10 pm:

I ordered Sam Cooke's - "Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 (Hybrid) [SACD]", from Amazon this morning. $17.97 - including shipping. And - needless to say - I can hardly wait!

Thanks Jim and Livonia Ken, for the heads up.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 03:26 pm:

SB - Interesting at Amazon where they post "Customers who purchased this CD also purchased recordings by these artists." The names are:

Otis Redding
Jackie Wilson
Solomon Burke
Aretha Franklin
The Soul Stirrers

By SB (205.186.133.88) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 04:08 pm:

SisDetroit - you are so right, for I noticed it last night. If you read �The Day Sam Cooke Died� on The Ultimate Sam Cooke site - it starts with a quote from Solomon Burke, stating that he was w/Sam the night before he died. Boohoo.

Check out this link and article on Aretha.

http://www.rhino.com/features/liners/72576lin.html

By SB (205.186.133.88) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 04:55 pm:

Sam & Aretha. Wow!

http://www.eyeneer.com/Labels/Abcko/night.beat.html

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 05:37 pm:

One more time, the smooth 'soulful' voice of the 'legendary', Mr. Sam Cooke....
http://www.melingo.com/thesoulnet/easemytr.ra,

Sam Cooke was taken away from us on December 11, 1964. He was only 33 years old.
It is without further debate, that-- look here, Sam Cooke was THE GREATEST 'soul' singer-- of our lifetime....

--Jim Feliciano

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

Well, Jim Feliciano, I'm not going to argue with you. Sam has been in my blood since I can remember first hearing recorded music. He was my number one. I just added a couple more during the 60's. :o)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 05:53 pm:

And then a couple more in the 70's.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 11:28 pm:

"TRAMP"...THATS WHAT THEY CALL ME!!!...I ACTUALLY HAVE NO OTIS REDDING MATERIAL IN MY MEAGER CD COLLECTION OTHER THAN A TUNE OR TWO ON A COUPLE OF COMPILATIONS...THINK I'LL HEAD OVER TO "TOWER RECORDS" THIS WEEK AND PICK UP A GREATEST HITS CD OR SOMETHING!!!...RALPH!!!...YES...THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT RAY THAT PLACES HIM IN A UNIQUE STRATA OF EARLY SOUL MUSIC AND I AGREE WITH YOUR ASCESSMENT!!!...I ALSO AGREE WITH MANY OF THE OTHER NAMES MENTIONED...ESPECIALLY BARRY WHITE...LOVE HIS MATERIAL AND SONGWRITING..BUT FOR THE SINGLE "GREATEST"... IF YOU COULD PLAY JUST ONE L.P. TO SOME UNINITIATED PERSON IN AN EFFORT TO EXPLAIN WHAT SOUL MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT...I'D REACH RIGHT FOR THE OTIS REDDING TRACKS!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 12:26 am:

Stubass - I can't believe you. (LOL) A couple tunes by Otis! Yes, run out and get a complete cd by him. Then come back and put your bid in as to who is the greatest soul singer of them all. (LMAO) He was great though. Otis Redding is the only singer my older brother talked about or ever listened to, and this particular brother was not into music at all.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 01:52 am:

HEY SIS!!!...I STATED MY CASE...AND I'M STICKIN TO IT!!!...JUST BECAUSE MY CURRENT (AS I STATED...MEAGER) COLLECTION OF RECORDED MUSIC DOES NOT INCLUDE MUCH OTIS REDDING MATERIAL...MY GOLF EQUIPTMENT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CONTAIN MUCH TIGER WOODS PARAPHENILIA EITHER...BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT TIGER IS NOT THE "BADDEST" GOLFER ON THE PLANET ("SLUMP" AND ALL)!!!...AND BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSIC WORLD...I DON'T CARE HOW FAR BACK...OTIS WOULD NEVER FAIL YOU...FROM A MUSICAL POINT OF VIEW!!!...AND THROUGH THE YEARS...HIS TALENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS COMBINE TO PUT IT ALL INTO IT'S PROPER PERSPECTIVE...ALTHOUGH... BEFORE I BECAME AWARE OF THIS FORUM...I MAY NEVER HAVE EVEN SERIOUSLY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS QUESTION!!!...NOW I HAVE...AND FORMED AN OPINION!!!...THANKS FOR ASKING!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Well, I aint' arguing with you either. Your opinion is just as good as any. We have or had great soul singers during our lifetime. It's going to be hard to beat in the next lifetime. As a matter of fact, it is hard to beat in our life time.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 01:34 pm:

AGREED SIS!!!...

By Jim Feliciano inDetroit. (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 10:56 pm:

StuBass-- whaassup dawg,

Here's the 'official' Otis Redding website:
http://www.otisredding.com/images.html

Man Stu, you're really gonna love this site!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:02 pm:

I'M ON IT LIKE STINK ON S%&* JIM!!!...THANKS...STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:15 pm:

REALLY NICE SITE JIM...AND IT'S INTERESTING JSUT HOW BIG OTIS WAS ABOUT TO BECOME...WITH SEVERAL AWARDS AND HUGE APPEARANCES...INCLUDING NEW YORKS PHILHARMONIC HALL SCHEDULED JUST PRIOR TO HIS DEATH!!!...THE ONE NICE THING...WAS THAT OTIS INVESTED HIS MONEY WISELY, UNLIKE MANY MUSICAL ARTISTS, AND PROVIDED FOR HIS FAMILY WELL!!!...THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!!!...STU

By DrMotown52 (131.183.168.2) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 02:40 pm:

Dang a very hard question.
I would have to give the title(s) to Sam Cooke and Aretha

Honorable mention: Luther and Patti
Johnny Taylor and Gladys
Otis and Carla Thomas

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

ALL NICE CHOICES DOC!!!...HEY KEVGO...JUST PICKED UP THE "ULTIMATE OTIS REDDING" CD...DIGITALLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL ANALOG RECORDINGS!!!...DAMN...ALL THOSE "REDDING-CROPPER" COMPOSITIONS...BUT HAVEN'T EVEN LISTENED TO IT YET!!!...WHY???...BECAUSE ON THE SALE RACK AT BORDERS...CHARLES EARLAND "BLACK TALK" JUMPED OUT AT ME...AND FOR ONLY $ 9.99!!!...HAD TO TEE THAT ONE UP!!!...FIVE EXTRAORDINARY CUTS...FEATURING...IN ADDITION TO CHARLES...HOUSTON PERSON...IDRIS MUHAMMAD (NICE SYNCOPATIONS...ESPECIALLY ON "AQUARIUS"...MELVIN SPARKS (ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE JAZZ "PICKERS")...BUDDY CALDWELL ON CONGAS...AND VIRGIL JONES (TRUMPET)!!!...CRANKED IT...AND THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS SOMETHING BURNING FROM MY FINGERS...OH WELL!!!...THANKS FOR THE INFO ON ALL THAT!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.186.130.187) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 04:57 pm:

STUBASS - you tickle me talkin' bout "Tower Records." My first trip to the west coast was in Nov. 2001. My daughter and I spent Thanksgiving week with my cousin - who lives in Torrance.

Anyway - my daughter mentioned that she wanted Brandy's latest cd earlier in the week - but we didn't get around to going to the record store until early a'noon on Thursday (TG day). When I asked my cousin if she minded running us ova there for a short - she said "Sure." But....she didn't seem too enthusied - because we still had to finish cooking, stop by "Ralphs" (grocery store), and we were expecting company.

Anyway - we gets there - and straight away - my daughter finds the cd she wants, but Lord and behold - my cousin, perused that shop for ova an hour. I kid you not. I was like - "What in the beans and franks?" And you know, I had to suck it up - but I was ready to go. She spent about $80.00 bucks on all she bought. And this child already had every cd and video imaginable in her stash, it appeared. I even bought two - and I had no intention. LOL!

She even had the nerve to bring home the sales paper. LOL! She loved herself some Tower Records. I don't think they are as big in this area as they are in Cali. But don't quote me on that.

The next day - we went to Disney Land. And it turned out to be another long day. We didn't leave that place until they were about to close. LOL! We had a great and memorable time and vacation.

Yeah - babeee - I used to love "Tramp", by Otis. That has to be one of my all time faves by him - and I gots plenty.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

COOL SB!!!...SOUNDS LIKE YOU DID THE ENTIRE SO CAL THING!!!...TOWER IS UNBELIEVABLE...BUT I WENT OVER TO "BORDERS BOOKS" NEAR MY HOUSE TODAY...THE NEAREST "TOWER" IS DOWN IN THE VALLEY...AND BORDERS IS 5 MINUTES...AND THEY HAD A NICE CD INVENTORY AS WELL!!!...I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO LISTENING TO "TRAMP"...AND LETS NOT FORGET CARLA THOMAS PERFORMED ON THAT PARTICULAR STEVE CROPPER PRODUCTION...ALONG WITH OTIS!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

EXTRA, EXTRA, Read all about it: Man picks Otis Redding as "The Greatest Soul Singer," then runs out to the Tower and buys the Ultimate CD tracks. When asked why he had gone to the Tower to get the Ultimate, he said "JUST BECAUSE MY CURRENT (AS I STATED...MEAGER) COLLECTION OF RECORDED MUSIC DOES NOT INCLUDE MUCH OTIS REDDING MATERIAL."

Stay tuned! :o)
(LOL)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 07:28 pm:

*Borders. :o)

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 10:57 pm:

YOU AIN'T GONNA QUIT ON THIS ONE SIS (YOU LITTLE "ANGEL" YOU) ARE YOU???...BUT "LETS GET IT ON" (THATS ANOTHER GREAT SOUL SINGER)!!!...TELL ME... WHAT COULD BE A *GREATER* TRIBUTE TO OTIS REDDING...THAN STUBASS...AFTER ALL THESE YEARS...SOMEWHAT SEPERATED FROM THE MUSIC THAT HE USED TO PLAY AND DEVOUR ...REMEMBERING THE INSPIRATION AND SOULFUL FEELINGS THAT THE INCOMPARABLE OTIS REDDING USED TO ENERGIZE A "FLEDGELING" LITTLE STUBASS WITH!!!...SO THERE YOU HAVE IT...OTIS IS THE MAN!!!...STU(AIN'T NO MR PITIFUL)BASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 11:29 pm:

Stubass - I couldn't pass that up. I had to put that in there. I remember buying all of Otis's albums. I was married at the time. So, when I left, I also left those albums. I remember seeing Otis perform on a couple of those shows similar to showtime or shindig. He was great. Just as with Sam Cooke, my heart was broken when Otis was killed. Yes, he was a great soul singer with his own style. I have a cd with all of his hits on it.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 12:14 am:

AND ACCORDING TO THE LINER NOTES...SIS...OTIS'S INSPIRATION CAME FROM LITTLE RICHARD AND RAY CHARLES (THERE YOU HAVE IT BRUCE AND ALL THE RAY FANS)!!!...OTIS...OF COURSE...GREW UP WITH A MINISTER FOR A FATHER...AND GOT HIS START IN THE CHURCH...LIKE MANY OTHER ARTISTS!!!...BUT THERE IS A STORY THAT UPON DECIDING TO STOP PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AND DEVOTING HIMSELF TO SINGING...OTIS ENTERED A BIG TALENT SHOW IN MACON GEORGIA...AND WON THE COMPETITION 18 OUT OF 18 TIMES...UNTIL THEY DECIDED NOT TO LET HIM ENTER ANYMORE!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.186.128.49) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

STUBASS - I suppose you included "Ralphs", as being part of the entire So. Cali thing we did - huh? LOL! I'll tell 'ya - 'cause you know, we had to stop by Ralphs shortly after we got in town. And I know we must have hit that store four or five times while we were there. Even today - if I could just stay out of that darn grocery store - I'd have a really sweet savings account. Of course we did the entire touring thing too.

Btw - when Archie Bell used to sing "SOTDOTB", when we stayed in Germany - he would sing "Just to make old K-Town my home", instead of "Dock." LOL! The name of the military housing area where we lived was called - Vogleweig, in the city of Kaiserslautern, GE. Folks used to eat that up.

You know - he took a break after forty minutes or so of performing - so in essence - he would do two or three sets - therefore singing "SOTDOTB" & "Tighten Up", twice during his entire performance. We had to hear them tired 'ole songs twice. LOL! 'Cause you know - we weren't going nowhere.

I remember, when he left GE for thirty days. We were told by some of the GIs we knew, that he had gone back to Houston, TX to cut a record. Sure enough - when he came back - he started singing "I Just Can't Stop Dancing", and we had to hear that one ova and ova. LOL!

Archie was something else. And talk about cheap! We used to sit w/him in the cafeteria. We used to ask him to buy us something to eat - but he always said that he didn't have any money on him. Months later - he finally broke down and bought us what we wanted. I'll neva forget it. I ordered a hamburger - french fries - bowl of chili and a soda. LOL! I guess Archie was tired of everyone trying to bum off of him. He once said - "I don't know why folks think I'm rich or something." He sported a gold tooth in the front of his mouth. I still have a "8X10" autographed pic of him w/a tambourine in his hand - and his German band in the background.

The cafeteria was where we all hung out - and/or met up w/others before going elsewhere. It is also where I met several of my boyfriends. Ooooh-la-la. LOL!

I also saw a live show featuring O.C. Smith - and his "God Didn't Make Little Green Apples", and I think we say Clarence Carter perform at Ramstein Air Force Base. Talk about memories.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:07 pm:

SB',
Man oh man.... seemed that it was forevermore being heard on the radio, back when, in Detroit in 1968... now, because it was being played so much (back then), a lot of people grew to 'dislike' O. C. Smith's record 'pop' hit, "Little Green Apples".

Myself, I never grew tired of it.

I always thought that O. C. had one of the most 'mature', one of the strongest, soulful vocal chords of that given time, almost comparable to that of Lou Rawls....

"Little Green Apples", by O. C. Smith... well, I just gotta say that I love that song-- today, even still!

By common (208.8.159.228) on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

Tina Turner, she is soulful to the bone!!!!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 02:38 am:

HEY SB!!!...I HAVE A "RALPHS" NEAR MY HOUSE...BUT I GO TO "VONS"!!!...REGARDING ARCHIE BELL...DID HE EVER MENTION HIS BROTHER...RICKY BELL...RUNNING BACK AT SOUTHERN CAL...AND IN THE NFL...WHO MET A TRAGIC DEATH BY A RARE DISEASE???...ARCHIE WAS VERY CLOSE TO RICKY...AND HE WOULD SIT ON THE SIDELINES DURING MANY OF HIS GAMES!!!...THEY WERE TWO BROTHERS WHO WERE VERY PROUD OF EACH OTHERS SUCCESS AND NOTORIETY!!!...STU

By The real Common LOL (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 09:43 am:

I see I have a "twin". LOL! Interesting! LOL!

Peace!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:38 am:

"COMMONERS"!!!...LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MORE IN "COMMON" THAN JUST A "COMMON" INTEREST IN "COMMON" SOUL MUSIC THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THE "COMMONALITY" OF THE VARIOUS SOUL SINGERS...MANY WITH A "COMMON" PAST!!!...IT IS "COMMONLY" THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS THESE "COMMON" POINTS OF INTEREST...PERHAPS WE COULD SIT AROUND IN A "COMMON" AREA...AND DISCUSS JUST WHAT WE ALL DO HAVE IN "COMMON"!!!...STU(NOT "COMMON")BASS

By Common (152.163.252.68) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:46 am:

Stubass: LMAO! Whew wee! This forum gets crazier all the time! :oD

Peace!

By SB (67.201.101.228) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

Jim F. � I remember O. C. doing wonderfully in that concert. Folks ate it up. Since we were overseas � we were thrilled when artists came ova there to perform. I was 14 � 15 and 16 years of age when I was there � so I didn�t get to see all the performers that came whilst I was there, because we were too young, although � my two best friends and I were game and wanted to hang tough. And we eventually lived like grown women.

At first we snuck around w/GIs � until we begged our parents to at least meet some of our male friends. We started w/my girlfriend�s boyfriend Johnny. He was just 18. He turned 19 when Brenda turned 15. They were born in June. We worked on her mother � and she finally agreed to meet him. She even had a cookout for his birthday w/i two months of meeting him. We were stunned.

Pretty soon - we wondered whether we were right about them meeting later, because she and Johnny got too close. I remember one day � we were going out. I w/my boyfriend � our other friend w/hers � and we all met up at Brenda�s house. Johnny and Mrs. Mitchell got to talking, and he wouldn�t hurry it up and shut up. He intentionally sat there and charmed Mrs. Mitchell, until she practically fell off her chair. We started trying to send him secret signals � to hurry it up so we could go. LOL! Mrs. Mitchell caught one of us � and declared in front of all of us � that we were just too fast. And to our amazement � Johnny nodded his head and said something to the affect that � yes indeed we were � and that we should just relax and hold on a minute. We let him have it when we left the house. He just laughed.

One day � we went to the cafeteria to meet up w/Johnny and some of his friends from his company. (The same company and barracks where Archie was from) Shortly after we got there � the guys showed up � minus Johnny. Brenda asked them where Johnny was. The guys all hung their heads � and then one piped up and told us that Johnny was in the stockade (jail). He had paid someone to fill in for his Guard Duty from a couple of nights before � and the guy he paid neva showed up. LOL! Brenda was devastated and started crying. Can one imagine? Anyway � one of them gave Brenda Johnny�s ring, along w/the 45 - �Only The Strong Survive.� LOL!!!!! He told Brenda, that Johnny sent them to her, and that he would write her. I�ll tell �ya. Young love. When he got out � they shipped his butt to a post near Frankfurt, GE � and they neva really got it back together after that.

I remember the first time Brenda and I went to see Archie. I had been in GE for about a month before Brenda got there. I was hanging w/two girls younger than my fourteen years � and I had a chip on my shoulder. I had neva wanted to leave VA � and I asked my mother if I could go live w/my grandmother in AL. She in essence told me to get a grip. Anyway � one day my father came home and told my mother and I about the fact that his company mate and friend Sgt. Mitchell�s family had just arrived. He invited my mother to a party down the block that Saturday nite � and told me that I should come and meet the daughter. I was like � �I don�t want to go.� My mother had talked me into by the time the party rolled around.

Anyway � I went and Brenda and I met. She was from LA, or should I say � she arrived from GE after having lived in LA for a couple of years � and she was hip. I asked her if she�d like to go to my house and she agreed. I pulled out my ova a month old Winston�s cigs I had hidden in the top of my closet, and we sat in the kitchen w/the window open and got acquainted. Eventually � she asked if I wanted to go see Archie Bell. She said � he gave a jam session at the NCO club each Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00. I was like � �Archie Bell and the Drells?� LOL! She laughed and said that Archie had a German band backing him up � and that he was in the Army. So I said sure I wanted to go � because I was glad to meet a girl my age. She had just gotten in town the Sat. before and had already gone to see Archie the very next day.

Her stepfather, Mitch, took us to the club and left us on our own. We were in seventh heaven, until we found out that Archie wouldn�t be there that day. This other singer named John something, sung with his German band � �John and the Soul Sayers.� (Brenda started babysitting for John) They were pretty good, but not as good as Archie and his band. Folks would come from places not far from K-town to see Archie.

The second day after Brenda and I met � she got in trouble. While we were in the club � we noticed these two GIs watching us the entire time. Finally � right before 6:00 p.m., Brenda and I decided to call our mothers to see if we could go to the movies. They agreed � and told us to come straight home. When we left the club � we noticed the two guys following us. By the time we bought popcorn and what not and went in to find seats � we noticed the two guys had sat two seats apart. One of them asked if we wanted to join them � so after Brenda and I looked at each other � we both nodded and sat w/them. Afterwards � they walked us home. When we got to the sidewalk that led to our buildings/apartments � we noticed a man about 50 yards away - walking w/a German Sheppard dog. Lord � but it was Mitch. As we gained on each other � he yelled out Brenda�s name. One of the guys asked who it was? Brenda said � �Ohh no � it�s Mitch.� Those two fellows did an about face and walked into one of the stairwells of my building and disappeared. LOL! Ironically � Brenda and her parents lived down the block from my building. Mitch told on Brenda and she was put on restriction until school started. LOL! My mother neva learned the difference.

As you can tell � I can go on. I love to write and tell stories. LOL! I�m not trying to bore anyone though. I have about 70 pages to finish in writing about my experiences in GE. I fully intend to get it published, if it is in God�s will. Not many folks know what military dependents did to entertain themselves living and growing up on a military base � and especially overseas. I hope to complete it by the end of the year. I finally got my Children�s book published in 2001 in hardcover.

STUBASS � since you mentioned it � I realized, that I do remember Ricky Bell. And I must have heard about him from Archie. If I remember correctly, he was short and had a stocky built. He was shorter than Archie, and Archie was about 5�10�. As soon as I read your post � I knew I had heard of him. It had to have been from Archie. I remembered that he played football for USC. I�m sure I have seen a pic of him, and/or saw him on TV.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 04:57 pm:

THATS THE SAME RICKY BELL SB!!!...GREAT RUNNING BACK...TRAGICALLY DIED OF SOME SORT OF ILLNESS!!!...STUBASS

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 11:45 am:

THANKS TO MEL(&THENSOME) FOR ALL THE AMAZING OTIS REDDING STUFF HE SENT ME!!!...WHERE IN THE WORLD DOES HE COME UP WITH THIS STUFF???...ONE THING OF PARTICULAR INTEREST...A RECORD LABEL ON "OTIS REDDING AND THE PINETOPPERS"!!!..DON'T KNOW THE YEAR OF THAT MATERIAL...BUT IT'S ON THE "CONFEDERATE" LABEL...AND THE LABEL IS A REPLICA OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG(WEIRD)...WITH ALL THE HUBUB TODAY ABOUT TAKING DOWN THAT SYMBOL OF RACISM!!!...IT ALSO MAKES ME WONDER...JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS...BACK IN THAT DAY...FOR BLACK ARTISTS IN THE SOUTH...NOT JUST NORTHERN ARTISTS TRAVELLING THERE (THAT WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH)...BUT HOW TO FLOURISH IN A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT...WITH ALL THAT OVERT RACISM ALL AROUND THE ARTISTS???...WHAT EFFECT DID IT HAVE!!!...OTIS REDDING APPEARED TO TAKE A MORE COMICAL ATTITUDE ABOUT IT...WHICH IS AMAZING IN ITSELF...BUT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS COPING MECHANISM!!!...I THINK THE SONG "TRAMP" ILLUSTRATES THIS POINT...MAKING FUN OF HIS "COUNTRY" BACKGROUND!!!...IT'S ALL FASCINATING STUFF...AT LEAST TO ME!!!...THANKS AGAIN MEL!!!...STUBASS

By SB (67.201.101.69) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 02:22 pm:

I'd like to correct an opinion I said I had gotten concerning Archie when I had known him in Germany, and in an earlier post. I had no right to call the man cheap, and I apologize. Cheap was the wrong adjective to use. He was just tight - IMO. LOL!

STUBASS - I forgot to say - that I was sorry to hear that Ricky Bell passed. I'm not sure I remember hearing about it - but I might have.

I've been listening to Sam Cooke's "Portrait Of A Legend" CD today. Needless to say - I truly enjoyed hearing all 30 songs. They all were outstanding. There are so many adjectives I could use to describe them - but let's just say - that IMO - he sung w/such "Ease." His voice is clear and his words are articluate. And hearing his cd was soothing to my ears.

STUBASS - you need to go to "Tower" and cop it. "That's Where It's At", reminded me so much of Otis. In hearing Sam sing that song - one can see the similarities between them, for real.

He tickled me when singing "Little Red Rooster." He said that the rooster was too lazy to crow for days. He was too busy chasing the hens and was on the prowl. LOL!

On "Tennessee Waltz", he said - a dirty dog (a friend of his) stole his woman. LOL!

And although I loved them all - "A Change Is Gonna Come", is still my fave. That was one sweet - sad and pretty song, all wrapped up in one. Pretty is as pretty does.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

SOUNDS NICE SB!!!...MAYBE ARCHIE WASN'T TIGHT...BUT THEN DECIDED TO "TIGHTEN UP"!!!...SPEAKING OF SAM AND OTIS...I DO LIKE OTIS'S COVER OF "SHAKE!!!...NICE MEMPHIS STYLE GROOVE!!!...STUBASS

By SB (67.201.101.69) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 02:46 pm:

I forgot to add that after the 30th song plays - they list the # 31 - which = 33 seconds where one hears a DJ/Host asking Sam to hum 8 bars of what "Soul" means to him - and he does it. His humming sounds so beautiful. I have no clue who the man talking is. They don't indicate who it is within the cd jacket.

Initially - Sam is heard saying "That's true", after the DJ tells him that he has been knowing Sam for so long. And after that is when he is asked to hum 8 bars. Boohoo!

By stephanie (64.63.221.99) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 08:26 pm:

I know that both Otis Redding and Sam Cooke were pioneers when it came to black men owning a record label other than Berry Gordy but I think Sam was the first if Im wrong tell me. I have a question a friend of mine told me that many people wanted to kill Sam because they did not want a black man owning a record company in the industry is this true...also and guys PLEASE dont get mad at me for saying this but I have two friends in their 20s (Im 41) who swear up and down that Berry Gordy has something to do with Otis's plane crashing. Now before anyone gets mad at me Im bringing this up to show how conspiracy theories get started and for these two 20year old somethings to hear it there must be other people who think this or it got started somewhere. I told them I doubt if Berry would do something like that and they told me Stephanie when it comes to money there is no color. I believe the plane was faulty and I debated with them all day long but these two brothers are very intelligent and not stupid and they really think this but then we were on the phone one night for four hours discussing the Sam Cooke thing so I just wanted you all to know a lot of these conspiracy theories are not true but some folks believe them. I think the biggest conspiracy theory though and MANY of them is the Kennedy family I think they hold the record for conspiracies....

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 08:51 pm:

STEPH!!!...HAD BERRY GORDY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CRASH OF OTIS REDINGS TWIN ENGINE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA...HE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT IT CRASHED INTO A GRASSY KNOLL!!!...STUBASS

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

Stephanie

There is no point in sharing ludicrous conspiracies.

Personally I'm sick of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross'isms.

As far as SoulfulDetroit is concerned you need to take these accusations and bury them.

I'm surprised this is a Stephanie post. Is it?

David

By stephanie (64.63.221.99) on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 09:34 pm:

Yes this this is a Stephanie post and I apologize I will refrain forgive me I didnt mean to upset anyone I respect the people here to much for that I will never bring up anything like that again Im sorry..
Stephanie I guess Iwasnt thinking properly...again Im very sorry and if I offended anyone please forgive my actions there was no hurt or malice intended I feel stupid. I guess I dont think before I talk.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:58 am:

Hi SB!
In brief....

Didn't have time to get back to your interesting comments above, for Friday, June 27 at 4:54 PM, but I will return 'post' as soon as I possibly can, ok... was this well read?

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 01:10 am:

I PERSONALLY DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU WERE ESPOUSING ANY WIERD CONSPIRACY THEORY YOURSELF STEPH...JUST RECITING A THEORY THAT SOME ONE ELSE HAD SUGGESTED TO YOU!!!...THATS WHY I ADRESSED YOUR POST WITH A "TONGUE IN CHEEK" ANSWER!!!...AS LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE...THERE WILL BE WACKY CONSPIRACY THEORYS...AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT...SOME PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE SOME OF THIS STUFF...AND IT'S OFTEN HARD TO EVEN MAKE A LOGICAL ARGUMENT WITH THEM BASED ON SUCH AN ILLOGICAL ASSUMPTION!!!...SO...I FOR ONE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOUR HAVING HEARD SUCH LUNACY... REPORTING IT... AND REJECTING IT...ALTHOUGH....IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS...THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO BASE ANY MERIT ON THAT TYPE OF DISCUSSION...BUT SINCE YOU NEVER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS TRUE...IT'S NO SECRET THAT SOME PEOPLE DO BELIEVE STUFF LIKE THIS...AND I'M A BIG ENOUGH BOY TO DECIDE THE MERITS OF SUCH ISSUES...OR LACK OF...ALL BY MYSELF!!!...KEEP THE FAITH!!!...BEING A FORMER NEWS REPORTER...THESE DISCUSSIONS DON'T BOTHER ME...I SIFT THROUGH THEM QUITE WELL!!!... STUBASS

By stephanie (64.63.221.173) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:18 pm:

Thanks angel daddy but at the same time I respect the wishes of Mr David so I will no longer bring up that subject and continue to participate in this wonderful forum....
Stephanie
A(wise) STUBASS angel!!

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

Mel;
Gene Wells now thats a name I haven't heard in awhile. I was at a show she was on back in the day with The Barkays, Arthur Conley, Jackie Wilson, and I can't remember who else as I was hanging out in Jackie's dressingroom most of the time!

Roy Hamilton lived in JC,NJ his son Roy H.Jr. was a friend of Smitty & myself, use to come around the house every now and then. I heard he also passed after moving to Maryland back in the 70s. The rumor was drugs(?).
S.S.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 03:06 pm:

OK, Lets take this way back to late 40's thru 50's:

Jimmy Scott
Johnny Hartman
Arthur Prysock
Tony Williams (Platters)
Jackie Wilson(Dominoes & Solo)
Billy Ward(Dominoes)
Rudy West(5 Keys)
Bobby Lester(Moonglows)
Willie Winfield(Harptones)
Tommy Hunt(Flamingoes)
Cornshucks
Annie Laurie
Wini Brown
Lil Green
Madeline Green
Savannah Churchill
Big Maybelle
Dinah Washington
Little Esther
Etta James

I know I have some repeats from my previous post but some artists you just can't get away from!

By SB (205.186.128.196) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:02 pm:

"MAYBE ARCHIE WASN'T TIGHT...BUT THEN DECIDED TO "TIGHTEN UP"!!!...

STUBASS - you are such a character. LOL! And can you imgaine his homies and relatives that tried to bum off him before he went into the service? 'Cause man I'm telling you - that "Tighten Up" - record was a smash hit. It was badd! It came out shortly before we went to Germany - in the summer of 1968. We knew we were jamming off a hit when it hit.

Soul Sister - I hear 'ya. You done gone way back. You go girlie-girl.

Btw - "Malcolm X", is on BET now. I guess I'm gone cry when Sam starts singing.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:06 pm:

Denzel Washington played that part better than any other part he has played.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.18) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 04:33 pm:

Great List Soulsister
just the 2 names I am not familiar with
Wini Brown and Lil Green.

Not Gospel are they?
all the others I have material by in one form or another but mostly in record form.

You mentioned a while ago Harbour Lights by the Platters
I have this 45 on a uk Ember release by
Billy Ward and the Dominoes
featuring
Clyde McPhatter
and Jackie Wilson.

Cheers
mel

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

Melly Mel;
I just came back from diggin'out some stuff for you(smile)! Will send next week. Jimmy is in a hurry to take me shoppin'for a new car tomorrow, we're overdue! Then its catch up time with the booking info. for the band so after that I'll have a chance to run out & get some packaging.
Jackie with The Dominoes pure beauty! I have that album too. I think, I have 2-33's & 2-CDs, that are buried in my stash of storage boxes.
Wini was one of Lionel Hampton's featured singers before going solo, awesome voice.
Lil Green goes back to the 30s, she was the first to do "The Maquerade Is Over".
Skol,
S.S.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:29 pm:

SB - (Do you hear "Shot Gun?" It sounded great?)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:32 pm:

Sorry SB - I had to turn away from "A Change Is Gonna Come." Too powerful.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:37 pm:

HEY SIS & SIS!!!...YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT!!!...JUST A BRILLIANT SONG AT A MOST POIGNIENT MOMENT IN THE FILM!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:51 pm:

Yes, Stubass, and now during the credits, Aretha Franklin is singing a gospel song.

By SB (205.186.128.196) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 06:56 pm:

SisDetroit - I hear you. And this is why we cried. I can listen to that song on it's on - but when I watch the "Macolm X" movie - I always cry. Plus - Malcolm and Sam were close - and Sam was killed just a couple of months before Malcolm. They both loved us so. Too bad - too sad.

I mean - this man was driving to that last meeting to meet his death when that song played. (Many props go out to Spike Lee for that movie) Malcolm had so much hope by this point - but it was dashed - because his destiny was to die and leave this earth.

Of course he knew what was coming. He just didn't know when. Although - in the movie - he mentions that he didn't think he should go out there that fatal day to speak. Either way though - the evil ones that killed him would have kept trying until they got the job done. And though we will never understand it - it was in God's will that he met his fate or it wouldn't have happened.

He died standing up for his people. He went to Mecca (My daughter's name by the way), and he came back a changed man. He was no longer a racist. He no longer was angry w/a entire race of people. He would have still fought w/words for the rights of his people. He would have still stood up for Justice - yet it was just not meant to be. He would have gone in another direction - yet his number was up. God called him home.

Is it no wonder that we still remember? Will we ever stop? I doubt we will - in our life time.

Aretha is singing now. "Someday We'll All Be Free"

Ohh - pity the folks that commit evil and kill and murder - for their souls will never rest in peace. Their afterlife will consist of wondering in the wilderness.

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

Stephanie, ref. your earlier post about Sam Cooke being the first black man to own a record company.
Two very early (mid-1950s) black owned record companies were VJ and El Saturn (the latter owned by Sun Ra, mythic jazz God). Both were in Chicago.
If you want to go 'way back, W.C. Handy and Harry Pace owned and operated Black Swan records in NYC around 1920. And, if my memory is accurate, Don Robey owned Peacock records in the 1940s.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

SB - Abolutely! Sam and Malcolm. Broke my heart. So long ago, I think it was JFK first, then Sam, then Malcolm. Right?

Jim G - Peacock was owned by a black man? That's great. Did he continue to own it, or was it eventually taken over by someone else? At an early age, that used to be the only label I knew for years, because that was just about all my father would purchase. (LOL)

By Scratcher (65.238.127.94) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:01 pm:

Don Robey sold Peacock, Duke and Backbeat Records to ABC Dunhill in 1973. He started Peacock in 1949, gain control of Duke Records in 1953 after partnering with the two DJs who started the label a year earlier; he started Backbeat Records in 1957.

Harry Herbet Pace started Black Swan Records in 1921; it was the first black owned record company.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:06 pm:

DON'T FORGET MEDGAR EVERS SIS!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.186.128.196) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:19 pm:

I know some may have heard this interview - but for the ones that haven't. It was 1991, in the UK. David's last interview, and possibly Eddie's. Boohoo.

Check out Eddie down the line - after they discuss his last song w/the Tempts. (Just My Imagination) He says - "I don't know what happened to the Temptations after that - so ask me no questions." LOL! That was my homie.


Audio Interview: David Ruffin/Eddie Kendricks and Temptations Music.

http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/temps.htm

By Jim G (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 09:32 pm:

Yeah that's right; Handy and Pace owned a sheet music publishing concern. Pace left the partnership to start Black Swan.

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.15.124) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:17 pm:

Not Scared, Not really confused...If I were 2 name my all time favorite singers, I will B at this computer until 2morrow...there R just 2 many greats out there, that was, that is, and that R yet 2 come (but especially that WAS)!!!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Stubass - I remember, but it didn't affect me as much as the other two/three.

Scratcher - Then there was ABC Dunhill. :o) I don't remember Duke or Backbeat. I do remember a green label with black art/letters, and I believe it was Nashville.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:49 pm:

HEY SIS!!!...I REMEMBER MEDGAR EVERS REALLY WELL...IN THAT IT WAS A RACIST KILLING IN THE HEART OF THE DEEP SOUTH...VERY SAD...AND OCCURED AROUND THE TIME OF THE MURDERS OF THE THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS!!!...MR. EVERS WAS A REAL LEADER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AT A TIME WHEN HE WAS TAKING A HUGE RISK JUST WALKING OUTSIDE OF HIS HOUSE!!!...HIS BROTHER...CHARLES EVERS LATER BECAME THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF A CITY IN THE DEEP SOUTH SINCE RECONSTRUCTION!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:50 pm:

SB - I have had and heard that interview for a couple years now. It's always great to hear David's voice. I love hearing his dialect. As well as hearing my sweet Eddie.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:52 pm:

I remember Stubass. It was horrible. There was so much going on during those days. It breaks your heart. I do remember vividly the murders of the three civil rights workers.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:57 pm:

(Well, tomorrow is Aunt Winnie's final day) So, I am having the family over here at my house after services. I may just bring a couple of them to Soulful Detroit to say hello to everyone, especially if any interesting people show up.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:00 pm:

SIS!!!...PLEASE WISH AUNT WINNIE A FOND FARWELL FROM EVERYONE AT SOULFUL DETROIT!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:13 pm:

Stubass - I sure will.

We have the speakers set up in my garage. So, we will be singing for the neighborhood. (lol) We always do that when we get together. That's what Aunt Winnie and my father loved. (She always made me sing in church, and I couldn't sing.) I only sounded good one time. She was giving a program with big time groups from out of town. Local people always open up the show. She said "I wish my neice would get up and sing my favorite song. I know she don't want to but I just ask the Lord to touch her heart." (LOL) In my mind I was thinging all kinds of things as an excuse. (I ain't comin with you no mo.) But I prayed, scared, I said Oh God, please help me, please don't let me mess up in front of all these good looking guys. :o)

Stubass, that was the only I ever sounded really great. Everyone was surprise, and I went back to my chair felling like an angel. Haven't sounded that way since. That was the first and last time I sounded decent. :o)

See you all tomorrow. Good night all and to all a good night.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:15 pm:

Accapello (sp) mind you. :o)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:31 pm:

Come to think about it, I think it was the sound system. The mic, which belonged to the groups, was probably an expensive mic.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 11:37 pm:

HEY SIS!!!...JUST IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD HAVE SOUNDED WITH THE "FUNK BROTHERS" BACKING YOU UP (IF YOU COULD FIT EM ALL IN YOUR GARAGE)!!!...IF DEPUTY DAWG SOUNDED GOOD UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES...YOU WOULD HAVE SOUNDED LIKE ELLA FITZGERALD!!!...STUBASS

By David Meikle (81.130.211.124) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:09 am:

Only in Detroit!

Thanks Sis

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

StuBass, Medgar was gunned down in his front yard in Jackson, Miss., June, 1963;the four civil rights workers were murdered the next summer near Philadelphia, Miss.Medgar's brother, Charles, was elected first black mayor of Fayette, Miss. Medgar's killer was finally convicted by a bi-racial jury in 1994. The killers of the 4 civil rights workers were never convicted of that crime, but some were later convicted in another notorious civil rights murder, that of Vernon Dahmer in 1966.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:31 pm:

THANKS FOR THAT INFO DIEGO!!!...YES...DURING THAT PERIOD IN THE EARLY 60'S...MANY TRAGIC EVENTS LIKE THESE WERE TAKING PLACE...AS THE KKK AND OTHER SUCH GROUPS WERE REARING THEIR UGLY AND DISPICABLE HEADS...MANY TIMES IN CONCERT WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT!!!...THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MOVIES ABOUT THESE EVENTS..."MISSISSIPPI BURNING"...AND "GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI"...JUST TO NAME A COUPLE THAT PORTRAY THAT ERA PRETTY ACCURATELY!!!...STU

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:53 pm:

StuBass, yes, and in the case of Mississippi, one terrible KKK group, the White Knights, were responsible for at least 10 murders, including the 4 rights workers, and Vernon Dahmer. The feds finally got the ring-leader, a punk named Sam Bowers, in the Dahmer murder. The music we celebrate on this forum helped get us through the night!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:01 pm:

YEAH DIEGO!!!...THE KLAN IS DISPICABLE!!!...AS A NEWSMAN FOR WWWW-DETROIT...I ONCE COVERED A KKK RALLY OUTSIDE THE CHANNEL 7 STUDIOS IN SOUTHFIELD...AND WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET INTERVIEWING THE HEAD "JERK" POOBAH...A GUY NAMED BILL WILKERSON...WHEN ABOUT 30 COUNTER DEMONSTRATORS BROKE THROUGH AND ATTACKED THESE 8 OR 9 "KLAN CLOWNS"!!!...I WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT...AND KEPT MY TAPE RECORDER RUNNING...AND ACTUALLY MY STORY WAS PICKED UP AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH AP AND CBS NEWS SERVICES!!!...IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY ON ONE HAND...BUT I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR A WHILE...WITH VARIOUS PROJECTILES HEADED IN MY GENERAL DIRECTION!!!...I MOVED AS FAR AWAY FROM THE "HEAD CRACKER" AS POSSIBLE...AND KEPT ON REPORTING FROM A CROUCHED POSITION!!!...STU

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:10 pm:

Stu, LOL, I remember that jerk Wilkerson, from Denham Springs, La., as I recall. He tried to spread his hate to the North but as you know, they cleaned his clock in a lot of places. Channel 7--I remember a show back then "Black Talk," with Frank Ditto,on channel 7, i believe. Was Bill Bonds still the 7 news anchor?

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:14 pm:

Diego:
Who was the fourth Civil Rights Worker who was killed during what was then called "Freedom Summer"? I only recall the names of the three - Michael Schwerner, John Goodman and Ron Chaney.

Stu:
There was also a television movie that was aired on NBC-TV in the late 1980s which starred Blair Underwood as Ron Chaney called "Murder In Mississippi." It was an excellent film.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:29 pm:

KEVGO!!!...VIOLA LIUZZO...A WHITE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKER FROM DETROIT WAS GUNNED DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN A CAR ON A MISSISSIPPI (I BELIEVE) EXPRESSWAY...DRIVING WITH A BLACK MALE IN THE CAR!!!...DIEGO!!!...THE WHOLE CHANNEL 7 THING WAS ABOUT SOMETHING TO DO WITH FORMER BLACK PANTHER BOBBY SEALE...WHO HAD WRITTEN A COOKBOOK..AND WAS INTERVIEWED ON CHANNEL 7...THEN WILKERSON WAS BOOKED FOR AN INTERVIEW...BUT GOT CANCELLED OVER THE PUBLIC REACTION!!!...HE THEN DECIDED TO PICKET THE STATION!!!...BILL BONDS WAS AT CHANNEL 7 AT THE TIME...BUT THE INTERVIEWS WERE SCHEDULED FOR "KELLY AND COMPANY"...JOHN KELLY AND HIS WIFE...MARILYN TURNER!!!...STU

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:34 pm:

Stu:
Thanks, but from what I understand Violet Liuzzo's murderers were caught and brought to justice - it was supposedly one of the first Civil Rights murders that the FBI was able to solve during the C.R.E. Please someone correct me if I'm mistaken.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:47 pm:

ACTUALLY KEV...THERE WERE SEVERAL MURDERS DURING THAT ERA...LYNCHINGS...SHOOTINGS...AND BURNINGS!!!...I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC CASE THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO...BUT EVERY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED...IT WAS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY!!!...STU

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:52 pm:

Kev, you're right, Goodman, Schwerner, and (James, i think) Chaney. Dunno where I got 4 from. StuB,Liuzzo was killed in '65, during the Selma to montgomery march as i recall. Kev, i believe you're right on the case being one of the earliest solved, i believe one of the klansman's in the car turned out to be an fbi informer, Gary Thomas Rowe. I remember John and Kelly too, StuB.

By SB (206.214.2.154) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

STUBASS � I wrote a poem about the "Black Panthers" in 1971. I still have it - and here is some of it:

It was long ago when the thought was made
A man named Newton and a man named Seale - came up with the thought to start the day
The thought at first might not have made sense
But now it�s known as the Black Panther Party for Defense
The thought stuck and set off a sting
Their loudest cry was to let freedom ring

LOL!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:29 pm:

DAMN SB!!!...YOU'RE ALMOST A REGULAR MAYA ANGELOU!!!...I ONCE WROTE A POEM ABOUT SONNY LISTON CALLED "THE CHAMP THAT NOBODY WANTED"...IN THE 8TH GRADE!!!...I ONLY GOT A C+ ON IT...BUT I THINK THAT WAS BECUASE THE TEACHER DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I WAS TALKING ABOUT!!!...AND EVERY TIME I SEE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BOXING IN THAT ERA...IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT A GOOD POEM IT REALLY WAS...RIGHT TO THE POINT...REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STUPID TEACHER THOUGHT OF IT!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 07:35 pm:

Diego:
Gary Thomas Rowe was indeed an FBI informant who was with the Klansmen when they killed Violet Luizzo. It was Rowe's testimony that put the murderers behind bars.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 07:37 pm:

Diego:
You're right - James Chaney is the correct name.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 03:19 pm:

DMeikle and Stubass - I guarantee you, Aunt Winnie was smiling on Monday. After the final at Detroit Memorial West, everyone came over to my house. The neighborhood had to bring more chairs over. I have a big back yard, a sun porch, and of course the garage was the stage. :o)

I think the neighborhood was happy "not" to hear the boom boom rap from the cars of the young that day, and was happy to hear the gospel and soul music. While the elders were still over, of course we played gospel and sang gospel. Dixie Hummingbirds, and the Soul Stirrers. After the minister and the elders left, we played and sang Sam Cooke R&B, Fantastic Four, Detroit Emeralds, Classic Tempts, Laura Lee (who stopped by, bless her heart, and listened to some of the home grown singing.) My cousin from Georgia was elated at the Sam Cooke tunes we dished out which he hadn't heard in years. He is older than I am and he started remembering those good ole days. The kids wanted the classic tempts on, and they took the mic. The grown ups wanted Sam Cooke, and they took the mic. I only did one tune. A song recorded by "The Truthettes" which is "A Child's Prayer" I did that because that's the song Aunt Winnie always requested of me.

I can't stay up all night, so, about 9:00pm, I just started gathering the chairs, and the laggers got my hint, and finally left. (LOL) (honorable mention: Cyril, Pete, Percy)

A great "homegoing."

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 03:39 pm:

GOOD GO SIS!!!...WAY TO SEND AUNT WINNIE OFF N STYLE!!!...STUBASS

By DrMotown52 (131.183.168.2) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 04:15 pm:

Very relevant conversations about the movement over the last week or so, glad to see it. I was born and raised in Detroit during that time period and remember it well. I have one popular culture question. I am not living in the city now, but I heard through a student of mine (I teach criminal justice and law) that Levi Stubbs was very sick.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

DRMOTOWN!!!...AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED HERE...OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO...LEVI SUFFERED FROM PROSTATE CANCER...FROM WHICH HE WAS RECOVERING...AND THEN SUFFERED A STROKE!!!...HIS DAUGHTER REPORTS HERE THAT LEVI IS PROGRESSING WELL...AND EVEN HOPES TO PERFORM AGAIN...WHICH WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE!!!...STUBASS

By DrMotown52 (131.183.168.2) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 04:45 pm:

Hey Stu

I knew a fellow by that name in the music/media business some years back. You wouldn't happen to have a brother named Michael.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 04:48 pm:

I DO HAVE A BROTHER IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS...BUT HIS NAME ISN'T MICHAEL...BUT THANKS FOR ASKING DRMOTOWN!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.187.255.122) on Friday, July 04, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

Barry had so much to give. And give he did.

Two of my favorite songs by him:

"I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love - Baby"
"I've Got So Much To Give."

I am truly glad I mentioned his name in this thread.

My tears are both sad and joyous. What a gentle giant - great singer - and great human being. He was - Barry "The Sexual Healer", White. (He and Marvin were)

We love you Barry.

By Derrick (63.187.129.110) on Friday, July 04, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

Here is my conrtibution to the discussion , but the list is not in any particular order !

Some of the greatest soul singers are :

1 . Smokey Robinson
2 . Stevie Wonder
3 . Lou Rawls
4 . Diana Ross
5 . Marvin Gaye
6 . David Ruffin
7 . Dennis Edwards
8 . Sam Cooke
9 . Otis Redding
10 . Jerry Butler
11 . Levi Stubbs
12 . Ronald Isley
13 . Tammi Terrel
14 . Aretha Franklin
15 . Dionne Warwick
16 . Gladys Knight
17 . Lenny Williams
18 . Eddie Levert
19 . James Brown
20 . Johnnie Taylor
21 . Barry White
22 . Luther Vandross
23 . Jackie Wilson
24 . Martha Reeves
25 . Sam Moore

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Friday, July 04, 2003 - 07:26 pm:

HEY DERRICK!!!...MISSING FROM YOUR TOP 25!!!...
WILSON PICKETT...
JIMMY RUFFIN...
EDWIN STARR...
CURTIS MAYFIELD...
BEN E KING...
PATTI LABELLE...
LIONEL RITCHIE...
JOE TEX...
AARON NEVILLE...
CANDI STATON...

OVERSIGHT OR NOT WORTHY???...

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, July 04, 2003 - 09:54 pm:

When I would listen to "I've Got So Much To Give." Berry would tear my heart out. I listen to that song over and over and over, all night long. He will be missed.

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 06:44 pm:

Hey STUBASS - check out my main man - Archie Bell.
Wow - but did that bring back memories seeing his face. He was a handsome little fella now in retrospect. LOL!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307121504&sql=Bplm8b5b4tsqk

Also check out the first sentence attributed to the below artist - STU "I'm Sticking To My Guns", BASS.

"Sam Cooke was the most important soul singer in history � he was also the inventor of soul music, and its most popular and beloved performer in both the black and white communities."

Now! Although, I did love me some Otis too - and wish he was still here too. And a boohoo.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70307121504&sql=Bs7d4vwnva92k

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 07:28 pm:

Allmusic is getting fancy with it's site. They mentioned Sam's gospel group when he was a still in school. Has anyone seen my photo of Sam Cooke with the Teen Highway QC's? If not, who can I email it to so they can post it? Ritchie is gone for a couple days, so I'll email it to Ralph.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 07:50 pm:

HEY SB!!!...THATS ONE PERSONS OPINION...AND I HAVE MINE...ALTHOUGH IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SEPERATE SAM COOKE AND MARVIN GAYE FOR THE NUMBER 2 SLOT...SO I'D PROBABLY CALL IT A TIE...SPLITTING THE "SMOOTH SOUL" GREATEST SINGER...AND GIVING OTIS ALL THE "FUNKIFIED SOUL SINGER" VOTES!!!...MY BROTHER...AN ARDENT RAY CHARLES SUPPORTER AND I HAD A PLAY OFF THE OTHER NIGHT...ONE RAY CUT...ONE OTIS CUT...ONE RAY CUT...ONE OTIS CUT...ETC!!...FINALLY...IN DESPERATION...I THREW THE OTIS REDDING/CARLA THOMAS CLASSIC "TRAMP" INTO THE MIX!!!...ALTHOUGH HE WON'T ADMIT IT...THAT SMILE THAT CAME ACROSS HIS FACE TOLD ME THAT I HAD INDEED MADE PROGRESS IN PROCLAIMING OTIS REDDING THE GREATEST AND FUNKIEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 07:59 pm:

See - STUBASS - you cheat. Now you bring up the "Funkiest." LOL! But - I'd bet that "Tramp", did slow your man's roll. Even though it was a short number - it still stung and was a deep tune. I love that song.

Meanwhile back at the ranch - you will soon find that you are indeed outnumbered. I've been hesitating to say this - but it appears that even Otis proclaimed - admitted - declared and gave - that Sam "I'm Just Trying To Be Me and Sing From My Heart & Soul", Cooke, was his idol.

I see we are getting ready to have the battle of the singers and bands for real now. Get up your dukes.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:10 pm:

OK SB!!!...QUIT TRYING TO "SUCKER PUNCH" ME!!!...OTIS DID ADMIRE SAM...AS HIS RENDITION OF "SHAKE" WILL ATTEST!!!...OTIS ALSO PATTERNED HIMSELF EARLY ON AFTER RAY CHARLES AND LITTLE RICHARD!!!...BUT HEY...OTIS WAS NEVER ONE TO BRAG OR BOAST...AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS WAS VERY MODEST!!!...OTIS DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPARE HIMSELF TO ANYONE ELSE...BUT I WILL!!!...LETS GET READY TO RUMMMMMBBBBBLE!!!...STUBASS

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

X-cuse me STU "I Mean Biznez" BASS - but Otis's covering "Shake", was not what I meant. Otis knew Sam - and he Idolized him. Check out "Bring It On Home To Me" & "That's Where It's At", and see whom sounds like whom. Whom sung what first, and whom was older - and whom sang w/a gospel group in the early to middle fifties? When Sam died - Otis was what 22?

I'll tell 'ya another thing - hearing Sam sing those two songs - would put one in the mind of Otis - but again - whom came first?

And - I say this w/all due respect to you and one of my favorite singers of all time Otis "I Sang From A Deep & Soulful Place", Redding.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:28 pm:

WHICH VALIDATES MY POINT MY FINE FRIEND!!!...A YOUTHFUL OTIS WOULD CERTAINLY IDOLIZE ONE OLDER THEN HIM...WHO HAD A HEAD START!!!...WAYNE GRETZKY...THE GREATEST PLAYER IN NHL HISTORY IDOLIZED GORDY HOWE!!!...WHY???...BECAUSE GORDY COULD HARDLY IDOLIZE WAYNE...WHEN WAYNE WAS IN A CRIB!!!...BUT IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY ANYTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT SAM COOKE...OR ANY OF THE GREAT SOUL SINGERS!!!...THEY'RE ALL GREAT...BUT OTIS HAPPPENS TO BY #1 IN MY BOOK!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:40 pm:

My vote goes to Sam Cooke.
But I am enjoying this debate.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:42 pm:

BUT SIS!!!...CAN YOU *REALLY* SAY SAM COOKE WAS *BETTER* THAN MARVIN GAYE...SINCE THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR STYLES???...AND IF NOT...THEN AS I SAID...SAM AND MARVIN SPLIT THE "SMOOTH SOUL" VOTE...CLEARING THE WAY FOR OTIS TO PICK UP ALL THE OTHER VOTES!!!...TILT TO OTIS!!!...STU

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:45 pm:

I heard that STU "Otis Is # 1 In My Book" BASS. I ain't mad at 'ya bro. I totally agree that you most certainly and w/o question have the right to feel as strongly as you do about, whom you feel is the "Greatest Soul Singer Of All Time".

Everyone has the right to to their own perception on the matter, and that's what makes the world go round. And I ain't saying that you are wrong. How could I? I just disagree that's all. Matter-of-fact - you disagree w/my choice right?

So see - we are even. And we do agree about something - and that is - we will neva change our votes. LOL!

Now that wasn't so hard was it? It's not so hard to play nice and be fair.

Although - I still say that Sam "Look Out 'Cause I Bring A Lot Of Soul" Cooke, was special. LOL!

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:50 pm:

Sam and Marvin had distinctive styles indeed. I loved Marvin too - but Sam hit all ova the place - w/his singing. He could go here - there and everywhere. And that is why he gets my vote.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

Stubass - I've heard Sam all my life. He never changed because he was always great.

I began to know Marvin in the 60's. Marvin was a good singer then, but not a great singer. Marvin became a great singer. As Marvin got older, he got better. If I were to choose in the 60's, between Sam, Otis, Marvin, I would have chosen Sam.

Sam was always a great singer. From beginning to end. That is how I weigh it. Yes, Sam was before them, but no one out-did him as far as soul. I don't want to speculate on what if regarding Sam and Otis.

Soulful Otis is singing "I've Been Loving You Too Long." RIP to all of my three sweethearts.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:04 pm:

That's why I don't usually like to post under threads where I have to choose between singers or most this and that. If you leave someone out, you feel guilty. "David Ruffin, I love you too." :o)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:05 pm:

Levi Stubbs I love you too!

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:06 pm:

IT'S A PLEASURE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU SB...HOWEVER...IN MY OPINION...MARVIN AND SAM WERE CUT FROM THE SAME "SOUL CLOTH"...IN THAT THEY WERE BOTH SMOOTH SINGERS...SANG ABOUT THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS...LOVE SONGS...TO DANCE ORIENTED SONGS...TO PROTEST SONGS!!!...THEY EVEN HAD SIMILAR PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MOVES ON STAGE...ALTHOUGH MARVIN MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT MORE SHY IN EXPRESSING HIMSELF ON STAGE!!!...THEY BOTH SANG IN A SIMILAR REGISTER...AND BOTH HAD EXCELLENT ENNUNCIATION AND PRONOUNCIATION (CERTAINLY YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT OTIS WITH HIS STRONG SOUTHERN ROOTS...BUT THAT WAS A BIG PART OF HIS CHARM)!!!...I DO THINK THAT OTIS HAD MORE VERSITILITY...IN THAT HE COULD SING SMOOTH (THESE ARMS OF MINE)...AND SHOUT OUT TUNES (CANT TURN YOU LOOSE)!!!...OTIS DID IT ALL!!!...SAM AND MARVIN DID THEIR THING AND WERE GREEAT AT IT TOO!!!..STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

I mentioned before that my older brother was not into any kind of music, but he purchased Otis Redding's albums. If Otis touched the heart of my older brother, he was singing something. Whatever it was, it was deep.

Since the cd's have been in existance, my brother surely came over and brought in an Otis Redding cd. I don't think he had purchased any music at all since Otis's time, until the best of Otis came out on cd. (LOL)

By SB (205.187.255.62) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

Sis - you are right on. I loved them all too.

STUBASS - please get the "Legend" or "Night Beat", (Or the Harlem one - which I plan on getting), CD by Sam. I'll reimburse you. And yes - I love Marvin & Otis - but Sam is in a class all by himself - IMO.

There are numerous music heads and others that agree that Sam Cooke was the greatest singer - and this is even over Nat King Cole, which I am not sure if I totally agree with that, although I choose him over Mr. Cole.

You know - to be honest, other's takes - assessments and critiques concerning Sam - gave me a head start in trying to be objective when I studied it and decided for sure - that IMO - he lived up to their billing, that indeed he was all that and worth a King's Legend.

I went out of my way to be objective - and alas - it is still just my little 'ole opinion and perception about how I view Sam Cooke and his legacy. To me, he was one of the purest singers ever. Remember though, I am not trying to get anyone to agree w/me.

Sam was the epitome of how a singer could sing w/such grace - style - articulation - clearness - soulfulness - heartfeltness, (word?) sassiness, love and some 'mo stuff. He cleaned up. He was great. And if he hadn't been cut down at such an early age - he would have carried on - and not only w/his singing, but he would have produced many more acts and made more artists famous - and may have been on the scale and par w/Berry Gordy - IMO.

I've got to cut out now - but will check back in the a.m..

Nite.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

GOTTA AGREE WITH MOST EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID...HOWEVER...IF YOU TOOK YOUR SAM COOK ARGUMENT...EXCHANGED THE NAME RAY CHARLES FOR SAM COOK...THEN YOU HAVE BECOME MY BROTHER!!!...I GUESS EVERYONE HAS THEIR FAVORITE...AND "THATS GOOD" (AS OTIS SAID IN TRAMP WHEN CARLA CALLED HIM COUNTRY)!!!...SO WE CAN BOTH ENJOY SAM...MARVIN...RAY...NAT...*AND* OTIS...AND I GUESS WE EACH PLACE A CERTAIN ADDED VALUE ON ONE OR ANOTHER!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:36 pm:

Is there a DVD out on any of Otis Redding's concerts?

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:46 pm:

SIS!!!... I DO KNOW A DOCUMENTARY WAS DONE ON OTIS' FAMOUS APPEARANCE AT THE 67 MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL!!!...OTIS TOOK THE STAGE RIGHT BEHIND GRACIE SLICK AND THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (ABOUT THE HOTTEST GROUP IN THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME)...AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS...OTIS GAVE THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL...TO THIS DATE!!!...I THINK A GUY NAMED PENNINGTON OR SOMETHING MEMORIALIZED THAT HISTORIC APPEARANCE!!!...THERE ARE ALSO CD'S OF OTIS LIVE...INCLUDING I BELIEVE A EUROPEAN APPEARANCE!!!...STU

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 09:55 pm:

WILL PICK THIS MOST INTERESTING CONVERSATION UP TOMORROW...AS I'M LEAVING WORK...AND "LIVE FROM L.A...*IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT*!!!...STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 10:16 pm:

This is for you Stubass. It's in your area.

Otis Redding Live:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3337187514&category=1472

By Charmedes (142.165.97.102) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 01:05 am:

My vote is influenced by individual performances:

Best Male: James Brown - It's a man's, man's
world

Best Female: Aretha Franklin - Respect

Best Duo: James and Bobby Purify - I'm your
puppet

Best TV Soul
Performance: Isaac Hayes/Tom Jones - Don't let go

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.14) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 02:41 am:

Hey Stu
Brother Ray is really in a class of his own
now I am not saying that he is the no.1 of all time but his personal material is so vast and he has experimented with stuff that nobody would dare touch.
I have a few of his more obscurer 45s such as
"I Dont need no Doctor"
a stompin' dancer
thru' to an original uk release of
"hit the road Jack"
as well as others but one track that I still put on and play and one that for me is so god damn
full of emotion and builds up throughout until Brother Ray hits those unbelievable high notes and I could swear that he is about to start weeping man,as with a couple of other 45s by him
I can hear and feel that total full range of emotions that all come out through the full genius of the guy.
Plus the way The Raelettes are coming back at him what sheer brilliance and themselves hitting the spots.
The 45 that I am referring to where he sounds like he is about to or is actually sobbing but then his voice fades out is on the superb cut of
"I Chose to sing the Blues"
I can really see where your brother is comung from Stu
and he knows his stuff man.

Another artist who as well as Brother Ray has done so so much for our musical inheritance is of course James Brown.
Another guy who I rate so highly,
and as Brother Ray you can hear that built up emotion all coming out at you again until he is about to cry.
Although I still like his material,but dont listen to or buy any from after around 1970 by him
I have his early stuff such as
"night train"
"There was a time"
the stompin' double header of that classic dance track to blow them out of the water and keep going at ya
"money wont change you"
and the brilliant emotionally filled
"have mercy Baby"
which is the buisness, although with hand on my heart just dosent reach the same level as
Clyde McPhatters version of the same 45.
(but were talking as near as damn it)
obviously
Brother Ray and The Godfather are from different eras etc and a lot of people just havent heard a lot by them or dont want to.

But without the likes of these 2
the music would of been a whole lot duller without them.

This is not my choice as my top artists in any way
far from it
but lets all just take a few minutes to sit back and listen to some of there superb tracks from over so many years of hard work and 100% total commitment(andthensome).

Right On to every one named on your thread here Stu
but also a very special heads up to the genius of Brother Ray Charles and to The Godfather of Soul Mr James Brown!!!

Regards
Mel.

ps
I Have read about there
whole life from when they were born to present day and reccomend everyone to read them as well.
Just got to say in the Ray Charles biography
about where he tells you about the time he would ride a motorbike around his local areas and obviously leave everyone flabberghasted as they were looking at a blind guy on a Hog burning thru the streets.
timeless man,
talk about having characters!!!!!
And when James Brown
very early on in his career actually threw himself over a balcony at a venue to take the crowds attention away from I think at that time was Solomon Burke.
Obviously he threw himself onto a packed and willing crowd of admirers.
yet another character to say the least.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:52 am:

Ray Charles covers all gendre of music. He has been with me all my life. But, I'm not that keen on James Brown. I keep wondering, what am I missing? Early on I liked his singing, but he lost me somewhere along the way.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.83) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 01:25 pm:

Sis
Exactly how I feel about James Brown
his earlier material is great but up to around 1970 thats where I got lost and gave it a wide berth.
mel.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

THE PROBLEM WITH THE "GODFATHER" IN MY OPINION IS THAT HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE DIMENSIONAL...BUT IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES!!!...RAY DOES COVER VARIOUS GENRE'S AND COVERS THEM ALL OUTSTANDINGLY WELL!!!...TO CHARMEDES...DON'T FORGET THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR OTIS REDDING...THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO "RESPECT" FOR ARETHA TO GET (OTIS WROTE THE TUNE)!!!...THANKS FOR THE TIP SIS...ALTHOUGH I'M NOT REALLY INTO ONLINE BIDDING!!!...SPEAKING OF "HIT THE ROAD JACK"...THATS THE SECOND TUNE MY BROTHER PLAYED DURING OUR RAY VERSUS OTIS SHAKEDOWN...AND QUITE HONESTLY...I STARTED TO TAKE THE HINT AND LEAVE MY BROTHERS HOUSE...BUT HE ASSURED ME THAT OTIS'S TURN WOULD BE NEXT!!!...AND STARTING OUT WITH RAY'S RENDITION OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"...NOW THATS JUST HITTING BELOW THE BELT...ALTHOUGH I ADMIT THAT "TRAMP"...WITH CARLA THOMAS WAS A SLICK AND SOMEWHAT UNDERHANDED MOVE ON MY PART!!!...STUBASS

By SB (206.215.13.166) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 05:29 pm:

G'evening all,

James Brown may have been one dimensional to some - but IMO - he was so much more. He was Gospel - R&B - Soul and Funk. He did it all. And if not for him - many artists would not have "Got On Up", and did their thing.

Many of the artists mentioned here had their own style, and there is no question. Everyone can't be like everyone else - because if that were the case - there wouldn't have been any individulaity. Who wants to see everyone that sounds and is the same?

Let's just agree that all of these fantastic artists had their own signature. They brought it to the people and gave it their all. Bravo to them.

And what about Joe Tex? Remember, the dance the "Bump?" Lord have mercy - but did that man shake it up w/that one. I loved it.

Bless all these wonderful angel's hearts. I loved them all.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 05:43 pm:

OH OH!!!...WOULD YOU HAPPEN TO BE THAT WOMAN WITH THE "SKINNY LEGS"???...STUBASS

By SB (206.215.13.166) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

Hey STUBASS. We used to dance like crazy off the "Skinny Legs", one in Germany. And how about Joe's follow-up to the "Bump?" "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)." LOL! That man was a mess. And "I Gotcha." "Un-huh." & "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show." LOL!

Anyway bro - maybe you should start Part II for this here thread?

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

RALPH???...DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY MORE LEFT HERE???...STU

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 06:23 pm:

You never know on this forum Stu.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

YOUR CALL RALPH!!!...

By RALPH (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 06:56 pm:

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED=====================================CLOSED=========CLOSED============CLOSED======

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.0.162) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 09:46 pm:

hey, wait, no it's not, not yet anyway, U Guys (and Gals) almost had my eyes glued 2 my screen, and I told U B4, there R 2 many singers 2 name, but it's fun tryin'...and I love Aretha singing 'Someday we'll all be free', and have U ever heard Bobby Womacks version of "Someday We'll All Be Free"?
P.S. Can U just imagine, if we had an actual SoulfulDetroit (IM) Chat room just 4 us???
hey, I can dream can't I???? (smile)
...LOL!!!

By RALPHBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 10:07 pm:

MED!!!...WE HAVE AJOURNED THIS DISCUSSION TO GREATEST SOUL SINGER 2...AND YOU CAN CONTINUE THERE!!!...
THIS THREAD IS CLOSED=====================CLOSED=================
CLOSED============(THE POWER OF IT ALL)CLOSED======

By medusa9e2003 (66.73.7.210) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 01:33 pm:

...and Y is that...???LMAO...LOL!!!ok, I understand...