60s Soul Top 10 – 50’s Gospel Influences
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Gospel Influences in the age of Rock & Roll
Soul slowly grew out of “rhythm & blues” with its mixing with gospel music during the hey day of the fifties, the rock & roll era. There are many examples of early soul coming out of gospel music that never made the charts. (For a listing of these, please see the expanded page for 60’s Soul – Gospel Influences).
It was Ray Charles the “Father of Soul” who first took a nice spiritual gospel type of song and then, oh no, he added, well, shall we say… non-secular lyrics to create and record the epic song “I Got A Woman”. The song was a first in many ways. It was Ray’s first R&B #1 hit in the beginning of the year late in January, nineteen fifty-five, when all the ruckus was started. The controversial song would go on to be named #235 of the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest songs of all time.
Almost sixteen months later, James Brown the “God Father” of soul and the “Founder of the Funk” came out with this, begging on his knees, “Please, Please, Please”. The song was a #5 hit on the R&B charts in April of 56′. James Brown would go on to shape and develop pop music for the next 30 years.
Clyde McPhatter went solo after being in the hit groups the Domino’s and the Drifters, he got into the top 20 pop charts with the hit “Treasure of Love” in the early summer of fifty-six. He would be known as one of the “Founders of Soul”
The “Rocking Roll Icon” and “Founder of Rock & Roll“, Little Richard had a soulful side to his singing, like this early hit “Send Me Some Lovin’” in mid-April in 1957. Little Richard would explore gospel music and other spirituals after his semi-retirement in late 1957.
Another rising star behind Sam Cooke was “Mr. Excitement”, Jackie Wilson and his pioneering soul classic”Reet Petite” in November of 1957. Jackie Wilson would go on to be considered one of the “Founders of Soul”.
The “King of Soul” Sam Cooke would have a top 40 hit soul song triumvirate in the late fifties starting with “You Send Me” when it hit the top of both charts (US and R&B) at the end of 1957.
“The Iceman” cometh, “For Your Precious Love” this top 20 hit, coming in at #11 on the Billboard & top 10 in the R&B charts in the summer of 58′, Jerry Butler & the Impressions sang quite lovely and melodically precious song with this favorite.
One of the first few successful Lady’s of Rhythm & Blues was LaVern Baker. She had a top ten mainstream hit with this soulful ditty “I Cried A Tear”, early in fifty-nine. Along with Etta James and Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker would make a one of a trio of “Ladies of Early-Soul”.
After singing in Billy Ward’s Dominos, and starting the Drifters, Clyde McPhatter had another top ten hit on which he sang on, except this was his second solo hit in the beginning of 1959, as well as topping the R&B chart a third time. “A Lover’s Question” made Clyde to be, one of the “Founders of Soul” along with Cooke, Butler, Ballard, Little Richard and Jackie Wilson.
Jackie Wilson hit the top ten again in February of 59′ and topped the R&B chart, as well. The song “Lonely Teardrops” was considered a soul classic and #335 of the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest songs of all time.
The Drifters, in their second incarnation, came back with the Ben E. King penned and sung “There Goes My Baby“. The song was a smash hit in the summer of 59′ going to #2 on the main charts and number one on the R&B charts. The Drifters were a vocal R&B group that was not only one of the 2 most successful vocal groups of the rock & roll era, but also one of the pioneering groups of soul with many great lead singers moving through their ranks such as Founder of Soul, Ben E. King.
For this beginning section and intro to soul music, it is quite appropriate that we should end with the Ray Charles. This next song is one of the greatest most fun songs of all times for all ages. The song utilizes call and response that is tremendous fun. “What’d I Say” was a top ten crossover hit at the end of the summer of 1959 after topping the R&B chart.