Sweet Soul Music

"Sweet Soul Music"
"Sweet Soul Music"
Single by Arthur Conley
from the album Sweet Soul Music
B-side	"Let's Go Steady"
Released	1967
Recorded	FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, January 1967[1]
Genre	Soul, rhythm and blues
Length	2:20
Label	Atco
Songwriter(s)	Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley and Otis Redding

"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song first released by American singer Arthur Conley in 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding,[2] it is based on the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" from his posthumous album Shake; the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven.

In the US, "Sweet Soul Music" reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "The Happening" by The Supremes),[3] and No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. Overseas, it peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] "Sweet Soul Music" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[2]

J. W. Alexander, Cooke's business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for appropriating the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke's name was added to the writer credits, and Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke–Alexander enterprise.

Lyrics

The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:

"Going to a Go-Go", by the Miracles; the group is not explicitly mentioned.
"Love Is a Hurtin' Thing", by Lou Rawls
"Hold On, I'm Comin'", by Sam & Dave
"Mustang Sally", by Wilson Pickett
"Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)", by Otis Redding. A brief instrumental version of the chorus for the song is quoted, after Conley says, "Hit it, Otis".

Additionally, James Brown is described as "the king of them all".[5]

At the end of the song, Arthur Conley sings, "Otis Redding got the feeling."

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

The Muscle Shoals Sound CD Liner Notes, Rhino Records, 1993
Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 218. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
"The Hot 100: the week of May 13, 1967". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
"Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley | Official Charts". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 51 – The Soul Reformation: Phase Three, Soul Music at the Summit. [Part 7]: UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
"British single certifications – Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.

External links

Sweet Soul Music at AllMusic

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[1] The Muscle Shoals Sound CD Liner Notes, Rhino Records, 1993

[The_Book_of_Golden_Discs-2] Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 218. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.

[3] "The Hot 100: the week of May 13, 1967". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

[4] "Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley | Official Charts". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved September 19, 2023.

[pc51-5] Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 51 – The Soul Reformation: Phase Three, Soul Music at the Summit. [Part 7]: UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.

[United_KingdomArthur_ConleySweet_Soul_MusicsingleCertRef-6] "British single certifications – Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.