Would a poll be appropriate for this topic , but we have to vote who we think influenced the beginning of Soul Music, not our personal favourite artists.
As in all opinions it's about opinions , we are talking about a music that it's peak was in the 60s and 70s , we all have our favourites, who was Soul Brother number 1 ? , who cares Soul music moves us to this day .
Can see where you are coming from but the man never recorded a single after 1961 so he hardly made a impression in the soul market a forerunner maybe but Soul Brother number 1 hardly . As an aside he was the brother of Mable John and also served a sentence in prison for manslaughter. He died in 1968.
The 70s issues were staple diet for soul enthusiasts like myself and countless others when you are about 14 or 15 it was the music that counted not owning original us releases that came later it was only buying those releases that i became more aware of this great music that we adore to this day . I,ve still got loads of mine and would never part with them i still know where i bought most of mine the Jay Boy ones are very cherished .
Some great names in the mix so far but Johhnie Taylor has not been mentioned, to me one of the true greats also one who spanned the decades from his Soul Stirrer days his recordings on Sar, Stax and Columbia Beverley Glen and his masterpieces on Malaco , the man was recording great music right up to his death and he would still be doing so.
Frank Guida i assume was the the same guy that produced the northern record Just Ask Me by Lenis Guess. Think the piece about Oliver Christian having a pop hit in Britain is untrue.
Can understand that Simon , but it was you that gave the idea that there was also another motive to the thread by saying all will be revealed at the end.
Several productions i like by Ian Levine as i mentioned earlier in the thread , but this is the one i still play on a regular basis so this is my fave record by Ian , beats the original Barrat Strong version for me.
Marvin for me , did it all the Motown 60s artist thing, then into the political awareness and thus producing a true masterpiece in Whats Going On, then the love man giving us the great Lets Get It On album . The man was flawed but all genius are. He still moves me today a all time great .
Great record , forgot about that one even the Motorcity version is ok.Think Ians problem was as already stated he was recording too much in a short period of time and the quality suffered but when he did get it right he recorded some great british modern soul.