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Mica Paris

Want to get yourself some sweet soul music? Radio 2's Mica Paris tells you how.

soul facts Video  
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5 albums you have to own

Mica Paris

Must have albums for your Soul collection - find out more. 

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Key events in soul   
  Disco Inferno
Born out of soul, thedisco craze of the 70s inspires artists like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Chic, Michael Jackson and Sylvester. It also inspires some of the most cringe-inducing fashions ever.
  Ray Charles
1959: Ray Charles plays a legendary gig at the New York's temple of black music, the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His gospel and blues-inspired music outrages the black church but helps to define the sound of soul.
  Motown Rules
Motown - Berry Gordy's massively successful Detroit record company -polishes up the soul sound and then sells it to white America. The original hit factory, it features acts like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
  What's Goin' On?
What’s Goin’ On by Marvin Gaye brings Gaye's deep spiritual beliefs and his views on issues ranging from poverty and discrimination to the environment, drug abuse, political corruption and Vietnam, right to the forefront of his music. An evolution  for Motown, Gaye and Soul in general.

Key soul  songwriters

Lamont Dozier
 Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier (pictured) teamed up in 1963 and in the next four years wrote and produced hundreds of Motown hits during the label’s golden period, nearly every one a soul classic – songs such as "Stop! In the Name of Love", "Quicksand", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", "Reach Out I’ll Be There" and "You Can’t Hurry Love".

Listen icon   Stop! In The Name Of Love, performed by The Supremes

Listen icon    I'm Ready For Love, performed by Martha Reeves And The Vandellas 

Listen icon   Reach Out I'll Be There, performed by The Four Tops

 

Stevie Wonder
 A musical prodigy, Stevie Wonder bought soul and R'n'B into the modern world, updating it with flavoursome melodies, a pop instinct and an occasionally political worldview. A series of albums and hit singles in the 70s sealed his reputation.

superstition audio   Superstition

sir duke audio   Sir Duke

Uptight audio   Uptight
 

James Brown
 The self-styled Godfather of Soul, James Brown is dedicated to the groove. Certainly, nobody has contributed more to the development of funk - "Out of Sight", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine", every one a winner.

sex machine audio   Get Up ( I Feel Like Being A ) Sex Machine

it's a man's, man's, man's world   It's A Man's, Man's. Man's World

make it funky   Make It Funky Pt.1  

Genres Rock Pop Folk Country Easy Blues Soul Jazz Reggae

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