Based on inspiration from BassPlayer's Sub-genres
of Rock, here's a list of various subgenres within soul music.
Enjoy. :)
(Detroit)
Motown Soul
Style: influenced by gospel music, strongly rhythmic. The
term "Motown" comes from the name of the Motown label which many of
these artists were signed onto.
Years of Popularity: 1960s and 70s
Most Notable Musicians: Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The
Supremes, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross
Common Instrumentation: hand clapping, the "call and
response", powerful bass line, tambourines, electric bass guitar,
orchestral string sections, horn sections; not too many melodic
vocal riffs
Samples:
Stevie Wonder
- Superstition
The Temptations - My Girl (below)
Deep
soul and southern soul
Style: very energetic style, with heavy gospel music
influence
Years of Popularity: 1960s and 70s
Most Notable Musicians: Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray
Charles, Wilson Pickett
Common Instrumentation: a focus on the low end of the
frequency spectrum, vibrant horns, organ; focus is more on the
"feel" or groove than the lyrics
Samples:
Aretha
Franklin - Respect
James Brown - I Feel Good (below)
Memphis
soul
Style: funky, uptown soul music; not as hard edged as
Southern soul
Years of Popularity: 1960s and 70s, but is still very
popular today
Most Notable Musicians: Al Green, Otis Redding, Wilson
Pickett, Eddie Floyd
Common Instrumentation: melancholic and melodic horns,
organ, bass, and drums
Samples:
Otis Redding -
Sittin' by the Dock of the Bay
Al Green - Tired of Being Alone (video below)
Philadelphia
soul
Style: funk influences, sweeping strings and piercing
horns/orchestral sounds, doo-wop inspired vocals
Years of Popularity: 1970s
Most Notable Musicians: The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, The
Stylistics, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Patti LaBelle
Samples:
Harold Melvin
and the Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now
The O'Jays - Love Train (video below)
Psychedelic
soul
Style: blend of psychedelic rock and soul music; paved the
way for mainstream funk later on
Years of Popularity: late 1960s
Most Notable Musicians: Sly & the Family Stone, George
Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, The Fifth
Dimension
Samples:
Curtis
Mayfield - Move On Up
George Clinton - We Want the Funk (below)
Blue-eyed
soul
Style: also known as white soul; doesn't have a distinct
style, but rather describes R&B or soul music performed by
white artists
Years of Popularity: originally started in the mid-1960s;
is still popular today
Most Notable Musicians: Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, Duffy,
Dusty Springfield, Van Morrison, Hall & Oates, Robin Thicke
Samples:
Amy Winehouse
- Rehab
Duffy -
Warwick Avenue
Neo-soul
Style: a musical blend of 1970s soul-style vocals and
instrumentation with contemporary R&B sounds, hip hop beats and
poetic interludes
Years of Popularity: 1990s to present
Most Notable Musicians: Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Jill
Scott, Maxwell, Musiq, John Legend
Samples:
Jill Scott -
Golden
John Legend -
Ordinary People
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) (below)
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