http://www.fuckspiders.com
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

James Brown Survey--Added January 27, 2007
Great Song Titles!
Great Soul Names!
#2 Soul Hits
Unlikely R&B Hits
Same Title, Different Song
What was the first soul record?

James Brown Survey

In January 2007, Bruce Grossberg of Bloomfield, New Jersey conducted a survey among those who post to the Usenet groups rec.music.rock-pop-r+b.1950s, 1960s and 1970s, asking them to rank-order their ten favorite James Brown songs.

From Bruce:

Great Song Titles!

"Agent Double-O-Soul," Edwin Starr
"Ain't It Funky Now," James Brown
"Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (later Diana Ross)
"Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party," The Show Stoppers
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg," The Temptations
"Am I Black Enough For You," Billy Paul
"Anyone Who Had A Heart," Dionne Warwick
"Babies Makin' Babies," Sly & The Family Stone
"The Blacker The Berry," The Isley Brothers
"Busted," Ray Charles
"Can I Get A Witness," Marvin Gaye
"Can't You Find Another Way (Of Doing It)," Sam & Dave
"Catch You On The Rebound," Brenton Wood
"A Change Is Gonna Come," Sam Cooke
"The Chokin’ Kind," Joe Simon
"Danger: Heartbreak Dead Ahead," The Marvelettes
"Dedicated To The One I Love," The "5" Royales (later The Shirelles and The Temprees)
"Devil With The Blue Dress On," Shorty Long (later Mitch Ryder)
"Do The 45," The Sharpees
"Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)," The Contours
"Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey (Don't Call Me Whitey, Nigger)," Sly & The Family Stone
"Don't Let Her Be Your Baby," The Contours
"Don't Let No One Get You Down," War
"Don’t Make Me Over," Dionne Warwick
"Dreaming Out Of Season," The Montclairs
"Every Little Bit Hurts," Brenda Holloway
"First I Look At The Purse," The Contours
"Function At The Junction," Shorty Long
"Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine," James Brown
"Going To The Shack," Syl Johnson
"Grits Ain’t Groceries," Little Milton
"Hey You! Get Off My Mountain," The Dramatics
"Hot Fun In The Summertime," Sly & The Family Stone
"Hypnotized," Linda Jones
"I Don't Know What Foot To Dance On," Kim Tolliver
"I Don't Know What You Got, But It's Got Me," Little Richard
"I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I’ll Get It Myself)," James Brown
"I Feel A Sin Coming On," Solomon Burke
"I Forgot To Be Your Lover," William Bell
"I Guess That Don't Make Me A Loser," The Brothers of Soul
"I Sold My Heart To The Junkman," The Blue Belles (a/k/a The Starlets)
"I’m A Midnight Mover," Wilson Pickett
"I'm Without A Girlfriend," The Gallahads
"If I Could Build My Whole World Around You," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"If You Don’t Know Me By Now," Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
"Investigate," Major Lance
"Is It Because I'm Black," Syl Johnson
"It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me," Barry White
"It's Got To Be Mellow," Leon Haywood
"Just Because He wants To Make Love (Doesn't Mean He Loves You)," The Moments
"Last One Out Is Broken-Hearted," The Temptations
"Let A Woman Be A Woman--Let A Man Be A Man," Dyke & The Blazers
"Lipstick Traces On A Cigarette," Benny Spellman (later The O’Jays)
"Lonely Drifter," The O'Jays
"Lonely Teardrops," Jackie Wilson
"Love Attack," James Carr
"The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage," The Miracles
"Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart," The Supremes
"Love TKO," Teddy Pendergrass
"Memphis Soul Stew," King Curtis
"Men Are Getting Scarce," Chairmen of the Board
"Message From A Black Man," The Temptations
"Memories Don't Leave Like People Do," Jerry Butler
"Mighty Mighty Spade and Whitey," The Impressions
"Mine Exclusively," The Olympics
"Mojo Hannah," Tammi Lynn
"Moody Woman," Jerry Butler
"My Thing Is A Movin' Thing," The T.S.U. Toronados
"My Whole World Ended The Moment You Left Me," David Ruffin
"90-Day Freeze," 100 Proof Aged In Soul
"Ninety-Nine-And-A-Half Won’t Do," Wilson Pickett
"No Man Is An Island," The Van Dykes
"One Chain Don't Make No Prison," The Four Tops
"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show," Joe Tex (also the Honey Cone)
"One Nation Under A Groove," Funkadelic
"Open The Door To Your Heart," Darrell Banks
"Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag," James Brown
"Pass The Peas," The JBs
"Piece Of My Heart," Erma Franklin (later Janis Joplin)
"Poor Unfortunate Me," J.J. Barnes
"Pouring Water On A Drowning Man," James Carr
"Seeing You Through The Eyes Of A Blind Man," Satisfaction Unlimited
"7 Rooms Of Gloom," The Four Tops
"She Shot A Hole In My Soul," Clifford Curry
"Shotgun," Junior Walker & The All-Stars
"65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul," Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
"Sock It To 'Em J.B.," Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers
"Spreadin' Honey," The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
"Standing In The Shadows Of Love," The Four Tops
"Stop The World And Let Me Off," The Flaming Ember
"Stretch Your Rubber Band," The Meters
"Stubborn Kind Of Fellow," Marvin Gaye
"Sweet Sticky Thing," The Ohio Players
"The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven," Chris Bartley
"Take Me To The River," Al Green (later the Talking Heads)
"Taster of the Honey (Not The Keeper of the Bee)," The Jones Girls
"T.C.B. Or T.Y.A.," Bobby Patterson
"Turn On Your Lovelight," Bobby "Blue" Bland
"Two Sides To Every Story," Etta James
"The Unhooked Generation," Freda Payne
"Voice Your Choice," The Radiants
"Wedlock Is A Padlock," Laura Lee
"Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get," The Dramatics
"When Something Is Wrong With My Baby," Sam & Dave
"When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes," The Supremes
"Whispers (Gettin' Louder)," Jackie Wilson
"Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ Superstar?)," The Staple Singers
"The Whole World Is A Stage," The Fantastic Four
"Wish Someone Would Care," Irma Thomas
"You Don’t Miss Your Water (Until Your Well Runs Dry)," William Bell
"You Get Ugly," The Contours
"You Got It And I Want It," Andre Williams
"You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth," The Undisputed Truth
"You’re The Best That Ever Did It," The Precisions
"You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’," The Righteous Brothers

Great Soul Names!

Cannonball Adderley
The Avantis
Archie Bell & The Drells
The Black Moses of Soul (Isaac Hayes)
Bloodstone
Booker T. & The MGs
Brenda & The Tabulations
Bull & The Matadors
Cannibal & The Headhunters
Alvin Cash & The Crawlers
The Chairmen Of The Board
Wayne Cochran & The C.C. Riders
Bill Deal & The Rhondels
The Delfonics
Sugar Pie DeSanto
Double Dynamite (Sam & Dave)
The Dramatics
Dyke & The Blazers
The 8th Day
The Enchanters
Essence
The Fabulous Counts
The Famous Flames
The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Johnny C
Fat Boy (Billy Stewart)
The Five Du-Tones
The Flirtations
Funkadelic
Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers
The Genius of Soul (Ray Charles, who else?)
The Glass House
The Godfather of Soul (James Brown, of course)
The Hardest Working Man In Show Business (James Brown again!)
Paul Humphrey & His Cool Aid Chemists
The Iceman (Jerry Butler)
The Imperial Wonders
The Impressions
The Intrigues
Theola Kilgore
Ben E. King
Bob Kuban & The In-Men
Lady Soul (Aretha Franklin)
Emanuel Laskey
Shorty Long
The Lost Generation
Lotsa Poppa
Lonnie Mack
Skip Mahoney & The Casuals
The Marvelettes
The Marvelows
The Masqueraders
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
The Memphis Nomads
Mr. Excitement (Jackie Wilson)
McKinley Mitchell
The Montclairs
Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces
Motormouth (Billy Stewart)
100 Proof Aged In Soul
The Ovations
The Ponderosa Twins Plus One
Process & The Do-Rags
The Radiants
Reparata & The Delrons
The Righteous Brothers
Roscoe Robinson
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
The San Remo Golden Strings
Satisfaction Unlimited
Harvey Scales & The Seven Sounds
The Sharpees
Sly & The Family Stone
Soul Brother #1 (The incomparable James Brown!)
The Soul Brothers Six
The Soul Philosopher (Johnnie Taylor)
The Soul Survivors
The Supremes
The Sweet Inspirations
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
The Tan Canary (Johnny Adams)
The Temptations
The Temptones
Joe Tex
Tierra
Tower Of Power
McKinley Travis
The Undisputed Truth
The Unifics
The Vandellas
The Van Dykes
The Velvelettes
The Vibrations
The Viscounts
Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Stevie Wonder

#2 Soul Hits

The following songs, listed alphabetically by artist, all peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B/Soul charts. Please note that this is not a complete list of all the #2 R&B hits. I chose instead only to list those songs that I felt were somehow related to Soul.

Ashford & Simpson, "Found A Cure" (1979)

Darrell Banks, "Open The Door To Your Heart" (1966)
Bobby "Blue" Bland, "Don’t Cry No More" (1961)
Bobby "Blue" Bland, "I’ll Take Care Of You" (1960)
Bobby "Blue" Bland, "Turn On Your Lovelight" (1961)
Bloodstone, "Outside Woman" (1974)
Johnny Bristol, "Hang On In There Baby" (1974)
James Brown, "Baby, You’re Right" (1961)
James Brown, "Brother Rapp" (1970)
James Brown, "Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine" (1970)
James Brown, "Let A Man Come In And Do The Popcorn" (1969)
James Brown, "Licking Stick—Licking Stick" (1968)
James Brown, "Lost Someone" (1962)
Maxine Brown, "All In My Mind" (1961)
Solomon Burke, "If You Need Me" (1963)
Solomon Burke, "Tonight’s The Night" (1965)

The Capitols, "Cool Jerk" (1966)
Clarence Carter, "Patches (1970)
Clarence Carter, "Slip Away" (1968)
Gene Chandler, "Rainbow ‘65" (1965)
The Chantels, "Maybe" (1958)
Ray Charles, "Sticks And Stones" (1960)
The Chi-Lites, "Stoned Out Of My Mind" (1973)
C.J. & Co., "Devil’s Gun" (1977)
Arthur Conley, "Sweet Soul Music" (1967)
Sam Cooke, "Chain Gang" (1960)
Sam Cooke, "Send Me Some Lovin’" (1963)
Sam Cooke, "Shake" (1965)
Sam Cooke, "Wonderful World" (1960)
The Crystals, "He’s A Rebel" (1962)

Tyrone Davis, "Give It Up (Turn it Loose)" (1976)
The Delfonics, "La-La Means I Love You" (1968)
The Drifters, "Dance With Me" (1959)
George Duke, "Reach For It" (1978)

Earth, Wind & Fire, "After The Love Has Gone" (1979)
Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions, "Boogie Wonderland" (1979)
Betty Everett, "There’ll Come A Time" (1969)

The Falcons, "You’re So Fine" (1959)
The 5^th Dimension, "Stoned Soul Picnic" (1968)
Roberta Flack, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (1973)
Eddie Floyd, "I’ve Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)" (1968)
The Four Tops, "Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got)" (1973)
The Four Tops, "Are You Man Enough" (1973)
The Four Tops, "It’s The Same Old Song" (1965)
The Four Tops, "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" (1967)
Inez & Charlie Foxx, "Mockingbird" (1963)
Aretha Franklin, "The House That Jack Built" (1968)
Aretha Franklin, "Rock Steady" (1971)
Bobby Freeman, "Do You Want To Dance" (1958)

Marvin Gaye, "Pride And Joy" (1963)
Marvin Gaye, "That’s The Way Love Is" (1969)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" (1968)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Your Precious Love" (1967)
Al Green, "Call Me (Come Back Home)" (1973)
Al Green, "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" (1973)
Al Green, "Look What You Done For Me" (1972)
Al Green, "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" (1974)

The Edwin Hawkins Singers, "Oh Happy Day" (1969)
Isaac Hayes, "Theme From Shaft" (1971)
Roy Head & The Traits, "Treat Her Right" (1965)
Heatwave, "Always And Forever" (1978)
Joe Henderson, "Snap Your Fingers" (1962)
High Inergy, "You Can’t Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)" (1977)
The Hues Corporation, "Rock The Boat" (1974)

The Impressions, "Gypsy Woman" (1961)
The Isley Brothers, "Twist And Shout" (1962)
The Isley Brothers, "That Lady" (1973)

Chuck Jackson, "Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)" (1962)
The Jackson 5, "Get It Together" (1973)
The Jackson 5, "Mama’s Pearl" (1971)
The Jacksons, "Enjoy Yourself" (1976)
Etta James, "All I Could Do Was Cry" (1960)
Etta James, "At Last" (1961)
Marv Johnson, "I Love The Way You Love" (1960)
Marv Johnson, "You Got What It Takes" (1960)

Eddie Kendricks, "He's A Friend" (1976)
B.B. King, "Don’t Answer The Door—Part 1" (1966)
Ben E. King, "Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)" (1962)
Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" (1973)
Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Friendship Train" (1969)
Gladys Knight & The Pips, "I Don’t Want To Do Wrong" (1971)
Gladys Knight & The Pips, "The Nitty Gritty" (1969)
Gladys Knight & The Pips, "On And On" (1974)
Kool & The Gang, "Jungle Boogie" (1974)

Major Lance, "The Monkey Time" (1963)
Ramsey Lewis, "The ‘In’ Crowd" (1965)
Little Anthony & The Imperials, "Tears On My Pillow" (1958)
Little Richard, "Jenny, Jenny" (1957)
Little Richard, "Keep A-Knockin’" (1957)
Little Richard, "Tutti Frutti" (1956)
Little Richard, "Slippin’ And Slidin’" (1956)

The Main Ingredient, "Everybody Plays The Fool" (1972)
The Mar-Keys, "Last Night" (1961)
Martha & The Vandellas, "Dancing In The Street" (1964)
Martha & The Vandellas, "I’m Ready For Love" (1966)
Barbara Mason, "Yes, I’m Ready" (1965)
Curtis Mayfield, "Freddie’s Dead" (1972)
Jimmy McCracklin, "Just Got To Know" (1961)
MFSB, "Sexy" (1975)
The Miracles, "Going To A Go-Go" (1966)
The Miracles, "Tracks Of My Tears" (1965)
Dorothy Moore, "Misty Blue" (1976)

Cliff Nobles & Co., "The Horse" (1968)

The Ohio Players, "Skin Tight" (1974)
The O’Jays, "Put Your Hands Together" (1974)
The O’Jays, "Time To Get Down" (1973)

Robert Parker, "Barefootin’" (1966)
Wilson Pickett, "Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You" (1971)
Wilson Pickett, "Fire And Water" (1972)
The Poets, "She Blew A Good Thing" (1966)

Otis Redding, "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" (1965)
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas, "Tramp" (1967)
David Ruffin, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" (1969)

Sam & Dave, "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (1967)
The Sensations, "Let Me In" (1962)
The Shirelles, "Dedicated To The One I Love" (1961)
The Shirelles, "Mama Said" (1961)
The Shirelles, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (1961)
Nina Simone, "I Loves You, Porgy" (1959)
Millie Small, "My Boy Lollipop" (1964)
The Staple Singers, "Respect Yourself" (1971)
Barrett Strong, "Money (That’s What I Want)" (1960)
The Stylistics, "Betcha By Golly, Wow" (1972)
The Supremes, "I Hear A Symphony" (1965)
The Supremes & The Temptations, "I’m Gonna Make You Love Me" (1969)
The Supremes, "Love Child" (1968)
The Supremes, "Stop! In The Name Of Love" (1965)

Johnnie Taylor, "Take Care Of Your Homework" (1969)
Johnnie Taylor, "Cheaper To Keep Her" (1973)
The Temptations, "All I Need" (1967)
The Temptations, "Ball Of Confusion" (1970)
The Temptations, "Cloud Nine" (1968)
The Temptations, "Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down" (1969)
The Temptations, "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" (1973)
The Temptations, "Psychedelic Shack" (1970)
Joe Tex, "Hold What You’ve Got" (1965)
Joe Tex, "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" (1966)
Joe Tex, "Skinny Legs And All" (1967)
Rufus Thomas, "The Breakdown (Part 1)" (1971)
Ike & Tina Turner, "A Fool In Love" (1960)
Ike & Tina Turner, "It’s Gonna Work Out Fine" (1961)

The Undisputed Truth, "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (1971)

Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, "Gotta Hold On To This Feeling" (1970)
War, "L.A. Sunshine" (1977)
Dionne Warwick & The Spinners, "Then Came You" (1974)
Mary Wells, "The One Who Really Loves You" (1962)
Barry White, "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (1974)
Barry White, "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" (1978)
Deniece Williams, "Free" (1977)
Jackie Wilson, "That’s Why (I Love You So)" (1959)
The Winstons, "Color Him Father" (1969)
Bill Withers, "Use Me" (1972)
Bobby Womack, "Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out" (1973)
Bobby Womack, "That’s The Way I Feel About Cha" (1972)
Stevie Wonder, "Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing" (1974)
Stevie Wonder, "For Once In My Life" (1968)
Stevie Wonder, "Heaven Help Us All" (1970)
Stevie Wonder, "You Met Your Match" (1968)
Betty Wright, "Clean-Up Woman" (1971)

Unlikely R&B Hits

Although it’s hard to believe, the following records all made the Billboard R&B charts in the ‘50s and early ‘60s:

The Ames Brothers, "China Doll" (#30, 1960)
The Angels, "My Boyfriend’s Back" (#2, 1963)
Paul Anka, "Diana" (#1, 1957)
Paul Anka, "Lonely Boy" (#6, 1959)
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra, "Peter Gunn Theme" (#12, 1959)
Frankie Avalon, "Dede Dinah" (#8, 1958)
Frankie Avalon, "Why" (#6, 1960)

Chris Barber’s Jazz Band, "Petite Fleur (Little Flower)" (#28, 1959)
Barry & The Tamerlanes, "I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight" (#23, 1963)
The Beach Boys, "Be True To Your School" (#27, 1963)
The Beach Boys, "Surfin’ U.S.A." (#20, 1963)
Rod Bernard, "This Should Go On Forever" (#12, 1959)
Mr. Acker Bilk, "Stranger On The Shore" (#7, 1962)
Marcie Blane, "Bobby’s Girl" (#14, 1962)
Pat Boone, "Ain’t That A Shame" (#14, 1955)
Pat Boone, "At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" (#12, 1955)
The Browns, "The Three Bells" (#10, 1959)
Anita Bryant, "Paper Roses" (#16, 1960)
Edd Byrnes & Connie Stevens, "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" (#30, 1959)

Freddy Cannon, "Palisades Park" (#15, 1962)
The Cascades, "Rhythm Of The Rain" (#7, 1963)
The Chantays, "Pipeline" (#11, 1963)
The Chordettes, "Lollipop" (#3, 1958)
Lou Christie, "Two Faces Have I" (#11, 1963)
Jimmy Clanton, "Just A Dream" (#1, 1958)
Buzz Clifford, "Baby Sittin’ Boogie" (#27, 1961)
Floyd Cramer, "Last Date" (#3, 1960)
The Crescendos, "Oh Julie" (#4, 1958)

Dale & Grace, "I’m Leaving It Up To You" (#6, 1963)
Danny & The Juniors, "At The Hop" (#1, 1958)
Bobby Darin, "Splish Splash" (#1, 1958)
Bobby Darin, "You’re The Reason I’m Living" (#9, 1963)
Skeeter Davis, "The End Of The World" (#4, 1963)
Joey Dee & The Starliters, "Peppermint Twist" (#8, 1962)
Martin Denny, "Quiet Village" (#11, 1959)
The Diamonds, "Ka-Ding-Dong" (#8, 1956)
The Diamonds, "Love, Love, Love" (#14, 1956)
The Diamonds, "Silhouettes" (#6, 1957)
Dickey Doo & The Don’ts, "Click Clack" (#8, 1958)
The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, "So Rare" (#4, 1957)
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, "Tea For Two Cha-Cha" (#19, 1959)

The Everly Brothers, "Ebony Eyes" (#25, 1960)

Fabian, "Tiger" (#14, 1959)
Tommy Facenda, "High School U.S.A." (#30, 1959)
Percy Faith & His Orchestra, "Theme From A Summer Place" (#2, 1960)
Ferrante & Teicher, "Theme From Exodus" (#6, 1961)
Ernie Fields & His Orchestra, "In The Mood" (#7, 1959)
Miss Toni Fisher, "The Big Hurt" (#16, 1960)
The Fleetwoods, "Come Softly To Me" (#5, 1959)
The Fleetwoods, "Mr. Blue" (#3, 1959)
The Four Preps, "Big Man" (#9, 1958)
The Four Preps, "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)" (#6, 1958)
The Four Seasons, "Big Girls Don’t Cry" (#1, 1963)
The Four Seasons, "Sherry" (#1, 1962)
Connie Francis, "Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool" (#2, 1960)
Connie Francis, "Who’s Sorry Now" (#4, 1958)

Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs, "Sugar Shack" (#1, 1963)
Lesley Gore, "It’s My Party" (#1, 1963)
Eydie Gorme, "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" (#16, 1963)
Charlie Gracie, "Butterfly" (#10, 1957)

Russ Hamilton, "Rainbow" (#10, 1957)
Rolf Harris, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" (#19, 1963)
Bobby Helms, "My Special Angel" (#8, 1957)
The Hollywood Argyles, "Alley-Oop" (#3, 1960)
Johnny Horton, "The Battle Of New Orleans" (#3, 1959)
Tab Hunter, "Young Love" (#8, 1957)
Brian Hyland, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" (#10, 1960)

Jorgen Ingmann, "Apache" (#9, 1961)
The Innocents, "Gee Whiz" (#15, 1961)
The Ivy Three, "Yogi" (#22, 1960)

Sonny James, "Young Love" (#3, 1957)
Jan & Arnie, "Jennie Lee" (#4, 1958)
Jan & Dean, "Surf City" (#3, 1963)
Bill Justis & His Orchestra, "Raunchy" (#1, 1958)

The Kalin Twins, "When" (#1, 1958)
The Kingston Trio, "Tom Dooley" (#9, 1958)

Steve Lawrence, "Go Away, Little Girl" (#14, 1963)
Brenda Lee, "I Want To Be Wanted" (#7, 1960)
Brenda Lee, "I’m Sorry" (#4, 1960)
Peggy Lee, "Fever" (#5, 1958)
Laurie London, "He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands" (#3, 1958)
Trini Lopez, "If I Had A Hammer" (#12, 1963)
Jim Lowe, "The Green Door" (#5, 1956)
Jim Lowe, "Maybellene" (#13, 1955)
Robin Luke, "Susie Darlin’" (#6, 1958)

Bob Luman, "Let’s Think About Living" (#14, 1960)

Guy Mitchell, "Singing The Blues" (#4, 1956)
Guy Mitchell, "Heartaches By The Number" (#19, 1960)
Domenico Modugno, "Volare" (#2, 1958)
Lou Monte, "Lazy Mary" (#14, 1958)
Bob Moore, "Mexico" (#24, 1961)

Ricky Nelson, "I’m Walkin’" (#10, 1957)
The Nutty Squirrels, "Uh! Oh! Part 2" (#9, 1959)

Paul & Paula, "Hey Paula" (#1, 1963)
Peter, Paul & Mary, "Puff The Magic Dragon" (#10, 1963)
Paul Petersen, "My Dad" (#19, 1963)
Bobby "Boris" Pickett, "The Monster Mash" (#9, 1962)
Gene Pitney, "Only Love Can Break A Heart" (#16, 1962)
The Poni-Tails, "Born Too Late" (#11, 1958)
Perez Prado & His Orchestra, "Patricia" (#1, 1958)
Elvis Presley, "Bossa Nova Baby" (#28, 1963)
Elvis Presley, "It’s Now Or Never" (#7, 1960)
Elvis Presley, "Love Me Tender" (#3, 1956)
Johnny Preston, "Running Bear" (#3, 1960)

The Raindrops, "What A Guy" (#25, 1963)
The Ran-Dells, "Martian Hop" (#27, 1963)
Boots Randolph, "Yakety Sax" (#29, 1963)
Jim Reeves, "He’ll Have To Go" (#13, 1960)
Debbie Reynolds, "Am I That Easy To Forget" (#13, 1960)
Jimmie Rodgers, "Honeycomb" (#1, 1957)
Tommy Roe, "Sheila" (#6, 1962)
The Rooftop Singers, "Walk Right In" (#4, 1963)
David Rose & His Orchestra, "The Stripper" (#12, 1962)
Rosie & The Originals, "Angel Baby" (#5, 1961)
The Royal Teens, "Short Shorts" (#2, 1958)
Bobby Rydell, "Volare" (#9, 1960)
Bobby Rydell, "Wild One" (#19, 1960)

Kyu Sakamoto, "Sukiyaki" (#18, 1963)
Tommy Sands "Teen-Age Crush" (#10, 1957)
Jack Scott, "Burning Bridges" (#5, 1960)
Jack Scott, "My True Love" (#5, 1958)
Linda Scott, "I’ve Told Every Little Star" (#22, 1961)
Neil Sedaka, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (#12, 1962)
David Seville, "The Witch Doctor" (#1, 1958)
David Seville & The Chipmunks, "The Chipmunk Song" (#5, 1958)
Del Shannon, "Runaway" (#3, 1961)
Ray Sharpe, "Linda Lu" (#11, 1959)
Skip & Flip, "Cherry Pie" (#27, 1960)
Connie Stevens, "Sixteen Reasons" (#10, 1960)
Ray Stevens, "Ahab The Arab" (#9, 1962)
Gale Storm, "I Hear You Knocking" (#15, 1955)
The String-A-Longs, "Wheels" (#19, 1961)
The Surfaris, "Wipe Out" (#10, 1963)

Nino Tempo & April Stevens, "Deep Purple" (#4, 1963)
Johnny Tillotson, "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’" (#6, 1962)
Art & Dotty Todd, "Chanson d’Amour" (#9, 1958)
The Tokens, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (#7, 1962)
The Tornadoes, "Telstar" (#5, 1963)
Mitchell Torok, "Caribbean" (#26, 1959)
Travis & Bob, "Tell Him No" (#21, 1959)
Conway Twitty, "Danny Boy" (#18, 1959)
Conway Twitty, "It’s Only Make-Believe" (#12, 1958)

Bobby Vee, "Devil Or Angel" (#22, 1969)
Bobby Vee, "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" (#8, 1963)
The Village Stompers, "Washington Square" (#22, 1963)
Bobby Vinton, "Roses Are Red (My Love)" (#5, 1962)
The Voxpoppers, "Wishing For Your Love" (#10, 1958)

Jerry Wallace, "How The Time Flies" (#11, 1958)
Jerry Wallace, "Primrose Lane" (#12, 1959)
Robin Ward, "Wonderful Summer" (#23, 1963)
Thomas Wayne, "Tragedy" (#20, 1959)
Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra, "Calcutta" (#10, 1961)
Andy Williams, "Butterfly" (#14, 1957)
Andy Williams, "Can’t Get Used To Losing You" (#7, 1963)
Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra, "Canadian Sunset" (#7, 1956)
Sheb Wooley, "The Purple People Eater" (#18, 1958)

Kathy Young & The Innocents, "A Thousand Stars" (#6, 1961)

Zacherle, "Dinner With Drac" (#19, 1958)

Same Title, Different Song

"Angel": Aretha Franklin (1973), The Ohio Players (1977), Mass Production (1980)

"Are You Ready": Sly & The Family Stone (1968), The Chambers Brothers (1969), Pacific Gas & Electric (1970)

"Baby, I Love You": The Ronettes (1964), Jimmy Holiday (1966), Aretha Franklin (1967)

"Be For Real": Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes (1972), The Masqueraders (1977)

"Call Me": Johnny Mathis (1958), Eddie Bishop (circa 1966), Aretha Franklin (1970), Al Green (1973), Al Hudson & The Soul Partners (1979), Rick James (1981), Skyy (1982), The Ohio Players (1981), The Conway Brothers (1986)

"Castles In The Sky": The Bop-Chords (1957), The Futures (1975), The Controllers (1978)

"The Clock": Johnny Ace (1953), Baby Washington (1964)

"Do You Love Me": The Edsels (1959), The Contours (1962)

"Don’t Fight It": Wilson Pickett (1965), Major Lance (1967)

"Fire": Louis Jordon (1957), The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1968), The Ohio Players (1975), The Pointer Sisters (1979)

"Funny": Maxine Brown (1961), Joe Hinton (1964)

"Gloria": The Mills Brothers (1948), The Cadillacs (1954), Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns (1956), Enchantment (1977), Laura Branigan (1982)

"Good Times": Sam Cooke (1964), Gene Chandler (1965), Chic (1979)

"Happy": William Bell (1969), The Rolling Stones (1972), Eddie Kendricks (1975), Michael Henderson (1978)

"Heartbeat": Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1958), Gloria Jones (1965), Curtis Mayfield (1979)

"Hit And Run": Rose Batiste /The Debonaires/Pat Lewis/Martha & The Vandellas (1966), Loleatta Holloway (1976)

"I Can’t Stand It": The Soul Sisters (1964), The Chambers Brothers (1967)

"I Do": The "5" Royales (1954), The Marvelows (1965), The Moments (1969)

"I Don’t Want To Cry": Sam Cooke (1956), Chuck Jackson (1961)

"I Like It Like That": The "5" Royales (1954), Chris Kenner (1961), The Miracles (1964)

"I Love You": The Volumes (1962), Donna Summer (1978), Clarence Carter (1981), Climax Blues Band (1981)

"I Miss You": Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes (1972), The Dells (1973), Klymaxx (1985)

"I’ll Always Love You": Brenda Holloway/The Spinners (1965), The Staple Singers (1969), Sam Moultrie (1970), Margie Joseph (1971), Windjammer (1984), The Gap Band (1986), Tyrone Davis (1991), Dorothy Moore (1992), Babyface (1993)

"If It Takes All Night": The Soul Train Gang (1976), Eddie Kendricks (1978)

"It’s Too Late": Chuck Willis (1956), Wilson Pickett (1963), Carole King (1971)/The Isley Brothers (1972)

"Joy": Isaac Hayes (1973), Teddy Pendergrass (1988)

"Let The Good Times Roll": Ray Charles (1960), Bunny Sigler (1967)

"Live Wire": Martha & The Vandellas (1964), The Meters (1969)

"Love Power": The Sandpebbles (1967), Willie Hutch (1975)

"The Magic Touch": The Platters (1956), Melba Moore (1966; unreleased until 1986)

"Money Honey": Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters (1953), The Bay City Rollers (1976)

"Oh What A Night": The Dells (1969), The Four Seasons (1976)

"One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show": Sticks McGhee (1950), Joe Tex (1965), LaVern Baker (1967), The Honey Cone (1972)

"Put Yourself In My Place": Big Maybelle/Maxine Brown/Dionne Warwick (1964), The Elgins/The Isley Brothers/The Supremes (1966)

"Ready, Willing And Able": Jimmy Holiday & Clydie King (1967), The Choice Four (1974)

"Shining Star": Earth, Wind & Fire (1975), The Manhattans (1980)

"Soldier Boy": The Four Fellows (1955), The Shirelles (1962)

"Sooner Or Later": The Grass Roots (1971), The Impressions (1975), Larry Graham (1982)

"Sophisticated Cissy": Rufus Thomas (1967), The Meters (1969)

"Special Lady": Ray, Goodman & Brown (1980), Freddie Jackson (1988)

"Stay": Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (1960), The Flirtations (1969), Lisa Loeb (1992), The Temptations (1998)

"Sweet Sixteen": B.B. King (1960), Al Green (1973)

"That’ll Be The Day": Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1957), The Temptations (Unreleased until 1999)

"That’s The Way Love Is": Bobby "Blue" Bland (1963), Marvin Gaye (1969)

"Then Came You": Dionne Warwicke & The Spinners (1974), Eddie Kendricks (1977)

"Think": The "5" Royales (1957)/James Brown (1960), Aretha Franklin (1968)

"Time Is On My Side": Irma Thomas (1964), Maze (1977)

"Too Late": Larry Williams & Johnny "Guitar" Watson (1967), Mandrill (1978)

"Tonight's The Night": The Shirelles (1960), Solomon Burke (1965)

"Try Me": James Brown & The Famous Flames (1959), J.J. Jackson (1966), Maurice & Mac (circa 1968)

"Where Do We Go From Here": The Trammps (1975), Incognito (1993)

"Who Do You Love": Bo Diddley (1956), The Sapphires (1964)

"With This Ring": Shades of Blue (1966), The Platters (1967)

"Without Love": Clyde McPhatter (1957), Aretha Franklin (1974)

"You Keep Me Hangin' On": The Supremes (1966), Joe Simon (1968)

"You're My Everything": Little Jerry Williams (1965), The Temptations (1967)

Thanks to Tony Brewer, Jeff Hofman, Ukali Mwendo, and Mark Speck for their contributions to this list.

What was the first soul record?

The simplest and most direct answer to that question: Hell, I don’t know!

Soul music was a river that absorbed a number of "streams." R&B, doo-wop, gospel, jazz, the blues, and even country and pop music all made contributions to what became known in the ‘60s as soul.

Since it is impossible to point to just one song as the first soul record, I came up with a whole list of tunes that I felt contributed to the music’s birth. The cut-off point is 1960:

"All Around The World," Little Willie John (1955)
"Bad Girl," The Miracles (1959)
"The Bells," Billy Ward & The Dominoes (1953)
"’Cause I Love You," Rufus & Carla Thomas (1960)
"Come To Me," Marv Johnson (1959)
"Doggin’ Around," Jackie Wilson (1960)
"Drown In My Own Tears," Ray Charles (1956)
"Fever," Little Willie John (1956)
"A Fool In Love," Ike & Tina Turner (1960)
"For Your Precious Love," Jerry Butler & The Impressions (1958)
"Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)," Carla Thomas (1960)
"Give Me (A Simple Prayer)," The Ravens (1956)
"The Great Pretender," The Platters (1955)
"Harlem Nocturne," The Viscounts (1959)
"I Cried A Tear," LaVern Baker (1958)
"I Put A Spell On You," Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956)
"I’ve Got A Woman," Ray Charles (1955)
"It’s Just A Matter Of Time," Brook Benton (1959)
"Just Out Of Reach," Solomon Burke (1960)
"Justine," Don & Dewey (1958)
"Koko Joe," Don & Dewey (1958)
"Lonely Teardrops," Jackie Wilson (1958)
"Maybe," The Chantels (1958)
"Money (That’s What I Want)," Barrett Strong (1960)
"Need Your Love So Bad," Little Willie John (1956)
"Only You," The Platters (1955)
"Please, Please, Please," James Brown & The Famous Flames (1956)
"Pledging My Love," Johnny Ace (1955)
"Sea Of Love," Phil Phillips & The Twilights (1959)
"Shake A Hand," Faye Adams (1953)
"Shop Around," The Miracles (1960)
"Shout," The Isley Brothers (1959)
"Since I Don’t Have You," The Skyliners (1959)
"Since I Met You Baby," Ivory Joe Hunter (1956)
"Stagger Lee," Lloyd Price (1959)
"There Goes My Baby," The Drifters (1959)
"There Is Something On Your Mind, Part 2," Bobby Marchan (1960)
"Think," The "5" Royales (1957)
"Try Me," James Brown & The Famous Flames (1958)
"Tutti Frutti," Little Richard (1955)
"What A Difference A Day Makes," Dinah Washington (1959)
"What Brought Us Together," The Edsels (1960)
"What’d I Say," Ray Charles (1959)
"Without Love (There Is Nothing)," Clyde McPhatter (1957)
"Won’t Be Long," Aretha Franklin (1960)
"You Can Make It If You Try," Gene Allison (1957)
"You’re So Fine," The Falcons (1959)

Soul Express Homepage