![15 More Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3) ๐ง [๐ท: Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Israel Palacio, John Alan Sperry, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay] 15 More Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3) ๐ง [๐ท: Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Israel Palacio, John Alan Sperry, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay]](https://i0.wp.com/themusicalhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/15-more-soul-oldies-that-tickle-my-fancy-vol-3.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1)
15 More Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3) features Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson & Teddy Pendergrass.
I
โm an โold soulโ that loves soul oldies! Yes, Iโm a millennial. My parents are baby boomers, so, they heart music from the 60s and 70s. That music encompasses various styles, with soul topping the list. Over the course of multiple evergreen playlists and columns, I always try to incorporate oldies into the mix โ more so than I did when the site was born. After looking back through many lists and pickingGracing the soulful 15 More Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3) are contributions from
Aretha Franklin,
Luther Vandross,
Michael Jackson,
Smokey Robinson, and
Teddy Pendergrass among others. So, without further ado, letโs take it back and enjoy these oldies!
1. Michael Jackson, โBillie Jeanโ
Thriller โข
MJJ Productions โข
1982
โShe was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene / I said, โDonโt mind, but what do you mean, I am the one / Who will dance on the floor in the round.โ One of the greatest songs of all time is none other than
โBillie Jeanโ by the late, great, King of Pop,
Michael Jackson. โBillie Jeanโ is just one of many hits from one of the greatest albums of all time,
Thriller, released in 1982. Yes, Jackson has been a leading candidate to be cancelled for a fair share of controversies, but the genius of his music and artistry has never been disputable. โBillie Jeanโ is the perfect, timeless name song.
โShe told me her name was Billie Jean / And she caused a sceneโฆโ The lyrics are catchy as albeit, while the music (produced by Jackson and the legendary Quincy Jones) successfully fuses pop, funk, and R&B. Jackson blesses us numerous times with his signature ad-libs โ โHee-heeโ and โHoo!โ โ adding to the decadent listening experience. Iโll leave you with the most famous, memorable lyrics from the chorus:
โBillie Jean is not my lover Sheโs just a girl who claims that I am the one But the kid is not my son!โ
Also appears on :
13 More Songs That Feature Names in Their Titles
2. Roberta Flack, โKilling Me Softly With His Songโ
Killing Me Softly โข
Atlantic โข
1973
โStrumming my pain with his fingers / Singing my life with his words / Killing me softly with his songโฆ / Telling my whole life, with his wordsโฆโ Back in the day โ the late 60s and 70s โ
Roberta Flack had a fabulous run. She had solo hits in addition to striking gold in the duets department. One of her crowning achievements is
โKilling Me Softly with His Song,โ which, amazingly, wasnโt originally recorded by her. Even so, โKilling Me Softlyโฆโ in her hands became the โITโ version โ the definitive recording.
Why is the Roberta Flack version so good? First and foremost, her voice is angelic, radiant, and incredibly soothing. Flack has a way of โpacking a punchโ without having to over-sing. She doesnโt need gospel histrionics to sell the pain that she sings about, even considering this isnโt an original by herself. It also helps that the songwriting by ( Charles Fox and
Norman Gimbel) is impeccable. โI felt all flushed with fever / Embarrassed by the crowd,โ she sings expressively, on the second verse, adding, โI felt he found my letters / And read each one out loud.โ Throw in colorful production work (
Joel Dorn) that plays well to both pop and soul crowds, and you have a
Grammy-winning, no. 1 hit. Hard to imagine anyone topping this ultra-successful version, right? Well,
Fugees remade this gem with their own epic rendition.
Also appears on :
Roberta Flack vs. Fugees: Head 2 Head
No. 22
3. Prince & The New Power Generation, โMy Name is Princeโ
The Love Symbol Album โข
NPG / Warner โข
1992
โI got two sides and they both friends / Donโt try to clock โem, theyโre much too fast / If you try to stop โem they kick that assโฆโ Before
Prince lost his name (he was โThe Artist Formerly Known as Princeโ at one point), he made it clear that EVERYONE knew his name. While you can take the subtle approach, obviously, we know that when it came to performances and writing songs, The Purple One wasnโt subtle in the least. Thatโs why itโs not surprising that on
The Love Symbol Album from 1992 he wrote a gem called
โMy Name is Prince.โ I should note, that the album is credited to
Prince & The New Power Generation. I should also note, โMy Name is Princeโ falls under the New Jack Swing style that became a popular R&B substyle in the 1990s.
โMy name is Prince and I am funky My name is Prince, the one and only I did not come to funk around โTil I get your daughter I wonโt leave this town.โ
Hmm, โI did not come to funk aroundโ โ thatโs a musical euphemism right there! Prince is a metaphorical โchest pufferโ throughout โMy Name is Princeโ โ understatement! โIn the beginning God made the sea / But on the seventh day he made me,โ he asserts on the first verse, continuing, โHe was tryinโ to rest yโall when he heard the sound / Sound like a guitar cold gettingโ downโฆโ While some may consider The Purple One is being a bit, um, blasphemous, he addresses spiritual matters on the third verse. You could say heโs woke to the wages of sin and the utterly mad world. Also, worth noting, we get a rap verse by Tony M.
Also appears on :
13 More Songs That Feature Names in Their Titles
4. The Spinners, โItโs a Shameโ
2nd Time Around โข
UMG Recordings, Inc. โข
1970
What better way to close this utterly shameful playlist with one of the biggest shames of them all!
โItโs a Shameโ marks one of the best songs in the
The Spinnersโ catalogue, period. It serves as the opener on their 1970 LP,
2nd Time Around. Honestly, the music speaks for itself, but as always, weโll drop a little blurb.
โItโs a Shameโ is incredibly funky and infectious from the jump. The Spinners provide us with stellar vocals harmonies, accentuating the lead ( G.C. Cameron), of course. Listening to the record, it reminds us of the golden days of soul, a truly irreplaceable sound. โItโs a Shameโ features brilliant production. The vintage sound is constructed by the horns, rhythm guitar, and a prominent bass line. Whatโs better than a fat bass line? Nothing! Of course, the cherry on top are those sweet, colorful lead vocals by Cameron. Nothing shameful about this joint!
Also appears on :
12 Songs Filled with Utter Shame
5. Shirley Murdock, โAs We Layโ
Shirley Murdock โข
Elektra / Asylum โข
1986
Sometimes it just takes one song to solidify your legacy. For big-voiced R&B singer
Shirley Murdock, that one gem is
โAs We Lay.โ A truly breathtaking mid-80s R&B record, Murdock โgives her allโ as she performs. Her performance is characterized by incredible authenticity, expression, and nuance. Perhaps itโs not fair when some folks assert โthey donโt make music like this anymore.โ That said, are they totally wrong or wrong in the least?
Kelly Price would go on to remake this beloved classic on her superb sophomore album, Mirror Mirror from 2002. Also, โAs We Layโ has become a popular sample and for good reason โ the harmonic progression, the arrangement, and overall sound are totally on-point. Of course, it all goes back to Shirley Murdock, who masterfully imparts the tale of two people in a separate relationship having a one-night stand. Damn. The chorus, the centerpiece, perfectly captures the repercussions:
โAs we lay We forgot about tomorrow As we lay As we lay We didnโt think about the price weโd have to pay.โ
Also appears on :
Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)
2
Shirley Murdock vs. Kelly Price: Head 2 Head
No. 14
6. Teddy Pendergrass, โThe Whole Townโs Laughing at Meโ
Teddy Pendergrass โข
Sony Music Entertainment โข
1977
โThe whole townโs laughing at me / Silly fool, howโd you lose, such a good friend?โ
Teddy Pendergrass was one of the greatest soul musicians of all time. Honestly, his soulful, masculine baritone screamed orgasm, chocked full of sexiness. While his voice never reached the peak of his heyday prior to a paralyzing accident, he still possessed a fire so many R&B musicians envied. A prime example of TP at his prime is his 1977 debut album,
Teddy Pendergrass, which features the โwholeโ gem,
โThe Whole Townโs Laughing at Me.โ
โThe Whole Townโs Laughing at Meโ appears as the sixth track on this landmark soul LP that also features the likes of โI Donโt Love You Anymoreโ and
โThe More I Get, The More I Want.โ A four-and-a-half-minute ballad penned by
Sherman Marshall and
Ted Wortham, Pendergrass laments losing a love because he was foolish. โYeah, I had your love right here in the palm of my hands / And I lost it,โ he sings on the first verse. On the second, he asserts, โHad my dream so near, I could reach out and touch it / And I lost it, and I lost it.โ You get the picture. On the pre-chorus/bridge, he reflects on what he couldโve done to keep this good thing he had, while the chorus finds him feeling utterly stupid. Besides the elite, once-and-a-lifetime vocals by TP, Sherman Marshall does a beautiful job crafting that 70s, lush, Philly soul backdrop
. If youโre too young to have experienced Pendergrass during his heyday, well, thereโs no better time to explore his iconic music now!
Also appears on :
12 Intriguing Hole or Whole Songs
7. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, โThe Tracks of My Tearsโ
Best of โข
Motown / UMG Recordings Inc. โข
2010
โAlthough I might be laughing loud and hearty / Deep inside Iโm blue.โ On the 1965 classic
โThe Tracks of My Tearsโ (
Going to a Go-Go),
Smokey Robinson is talking about showing face โ a faรงade. He may pretend with jovialness, but heโs really feeling down because sheโs not there. Oh, the plight of love Mr. Robinson!
โSo, take a good look at my face / Youโll see my smile looks out of place,โ he sings on the iconic chorus, continuing, โIf you look closer, itโs easy to trace / The tracks of my tears / I need you, I need you.โ The best line must be, โMy smile is my makeup / I wear since my breakup with you.โ โThe Tracks of My Tearsโ NEVER grows old โ that vintage, old-school R&B by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Also appears on :
A Compendium Filled with Tears
8. Wilson Pickett, โLand of 1000 Dancesโ
The Exciting Wilson Pickett โข
Atlantic โข
1966
โ1-2-3 / 1-2-3 / Ow! Uh! Alright! Uh!โ Ah,
The Exciting Wilson Pickett โ what a great way to characterize legendary soul singer
Wilson Pickett. He was, indeed, quite exciting, infusing ample energy into his music. The 60s marked the ascent of Pickett, with
โLand of 1000 Dancesโ ranking among his best and most important songs of his career. โLand of 1000 Dancesโ was written by and originally performed by
Chris Kenner in 1962. Pickett, of course, would record the definitive version in 1965.
What makes โLand of 1000 Dancesโ so awesome? Itโs fun, infectious, and TONGUE-N-CHEEK period. You canโt listen to this Wilson Pickett classic without smiling, singing along, or moving and grooving. The โna-naโsโ rank among the most memorable parts. That said, there are plenty of fun lyrics, including those that reference other songs such as โGot to know how to pony / Like โBony Maronieโ.โ Music doesnโt sound like โLand of 1000 Dancesโ anymore, but honestly, thatโs part of the charm of hearing this six-decade-old gem in the 2020s.
Also appears on :
Land: 5ive Songs No. 50 (2021)
9. The Brothers Johnson, โStrawberry Letter 23โ
Right on Time โข
A&M โข
1977
โStrawberry Letter 23โ was written and originally performed by a 17-year-old named
Shuggie Otis. However, often, this R&B classic is attributed to the funk/soul group,
The Brothers Johnson. Why? Sometimes, when it comes to covers, they just arrive at the right place at the right time. Honestly, itโs much like the title of their 1977 album โ
Right On Time. The biggest hit from that album, as well as The Brother Johnsonโs career is *drum roll please* โSTRAWBERRY LETTER 23โ!
Shuggie Otis โput in workโ on the original in 1971, but you could say it took an iconic producer ( Quincy Jones) and another soul act to make the record a hit. Naturally, there are differences between both versions; theyโre distinct despite being the same song, which is cool. In the case of The Brothers Johnson take, it runs longer, by one minute. Furthermore, it features more robust bass, and generally, more polished, sleeker sounds. Compared to the original, you can hear the advancements in production, even in six short years. Then again, keep in mind WHO is behind the boards โ a L-E-G-E-N-D. As for the vocals, they are buttery smooth, idiomatic of the late 70s soul sound. Smoother than Shuggie? Yes, but that doesnโt necessarily dictate a better-rounded performance โ just an observation.
Also appears on :
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Letter
: 5ive Songs No. 75
10 Flavorful Strawberry
Songs
Shuggie Otis vs. The Brothers Johnson: Head 2 Head
No. 17
10. Commodores, โEasyโ
Commodores โข
Motown โข
1977
โThatโs why Iโm easy / Iโm easy like Sunday morning.โ The greatest EASY song of all time arrives courtesy of
Grammy winning group
Commodores and itโs simply undisputed! The collective marks one of the truly legendary R&B groups of the 70s and 80s, incorporating numerous styles into their music. Of course, the key piece, early on, was none other than
Grammy winner
Lionel Richie, whoโd eventually have a monster career as a solo artist. But long before he spread his wings, heโd pen the iconic
โEasy,โ which ranks among the most beloved Commodores songs.
โEasyโ appears on the 1977 album, simply titled Commodores, alongside
โBrick House,โ another iconic cut. While it would be easy to associate easy as slang with openness to making love, thatโs simply NOT the context here. Instead, Richie and company seem to be referring to being easy and simple to love โ down to earth and most comfortable being true to self. Even so, โEverybody wants me to be what they want me to be,โ and simply, โIโm not happy when I try to fake it.โ Understandable. Beyond the incredibly memorable chorus, as well as those standout lines from the second verse, the bridge marks a key moment:
โI wanna be high, so high I wanna be free to know the things I do are right Just wanna be free Just me, oh babe Ooh.โ
Follow that up with a sweet guitar solo, plus more of that sweet, late 70s soul production, and โEasyโ remains as beloved and fresh as it was back in the day. This is the perfect way to cap off this EASY driven playlist.
Also appears on :
Embrace the Ease of These Easy Songs
11. Luther Vandross, โSuperstarโ
Busy Body โข
Sony Music Entertainment โข
1983
There are few singers who could sing as smooth as
Luther Vandross. Vandross was the exemplification of cool energy and finesse. His vocal performances can be characterized by being refined. One of Vandrossโ best, most iconic performances was his cover of
โSuperstar,โ popularized by
The Carpenters, who covered the songs themselves. Appearing as the seventh track on his 1983 album,
Busy Body, the original nine-minute-long song is fused with the soul gem,
โUntil You Come Back to Me (Thatโs What Iโm Gonna Do)โ. On various greatest hits compilations, itโs released as a standalone, five-and-a-half-minute-long number.
Listening to Luther sing โSuperstarโ is a heavenly experience โ itโs almost spiritual! His tone is silky smooth, riding lush production work with incredible ease. He sings with utmost expression yet never forces things. Furthermore, that backdrop, intact with keys, strings, and backing vocals, never crowds or inhibits Vandross โ heโs always in command. Speaking of background vocals, I love it when we get those sweet โLutheranโ (not religious) harmonies. The Carpenters performed this Bonnie Bramlett /
Leon Russell classic sensationally, but Vandross makes it his own, gorgeous adult contemporary R&B masterpiece.
Also appears on :
Luther Vandross vs. Ruben Studdard: Head 2 Head
No. 21
Luther Vandross vs. Anthony Hamilton: Head 2 Head
No. 30
12. The Main Ingredient, โEverybody Plays the Foolโ
Bitter Sweet โข
RCA โข
1972
In case you needed to know, โEverybody plays the fool, sometime / Thereโs no exception to the rule.โ Facts, courtesy of classic soul collective,
The Main Ingredient. Those iconic lyrics, of course, hail from the groupโs biggest hit, the
Grammy-nominated gem,
โEverybody Plays the Fool.โ Thereโs nothing โfoolishโ about this hit, which appears on their 1972 album,
Bitter Sweet. Also, worth noting, another soul icon,
Aaron Neville, would cover this classic and achieve his own success. Still, the OGโs of โEverybody Plays the Foolโ is none other than The Main Ingredient.
So, what makes โEverybody Plays the Foolโ so epic? The production is colorful and incredibly soulful โ certainly idiomatic of the smooth, sleek 70s sound (piano, robust bass, winds, strings, etc.). The vocals are elite โ shout out Cuba Gooding, Sr.. The lyrics are relatable, capturing that foolishness we all experience at some time with love. โOh, heaven on earth is all you see,โ goes the second verse, continuing, โYouโre out of touch with reality / And now you cry, but when you do / Next time around, someone cries for you.โ Of course, the chorus nails it, continuing from earlier, โListen baby / โIt may be factual, may be cruel / I wanna tell you that / Everybody plays the fool.โ FACTS!
Also appears on :
15 Totally & Utterly Foolish Songs
13. Marvin Gaye, โThe World is Rated X โ Alternate Mixโ
Youโre the Man โข
Motown โข
2019
โThe World is Rated Xโ keeps
Youโre the Man, the โlostโ album by the late, great soul icon,
Marvin Gaye, going strong early on. A superb, socially charged standout, the production is masterful, led by the agile, robust bass lines, and the lush, dramatic strings. Gaye is locked-in, showing incredibly authenticity as he laments the corrupt state of the world.
At the end of โThe World is Rated Xโ, Gayeโs totally disturbed and totally riled up:
โWhereโs the love? Whereโs the peace? Whereโs the joy? Whereโs the hope for us all? God is watching, He knows where youโre at Yes, heโs watching the situation, thatโs a fact.โ
โThe World is Rated Xโ has appeared as a bonus track on various Marvin Gaye reissues, as well as Youโre the Man for good reason. Itโs a damn good song that epitomizes 70s soul through and though.
Also appears on :
11 Songs That are X-Rated, to Some Extent
X: 5ive Songs No. 64 (2021)
14. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, โThe Tears of a Clownโ
Best of โข
Motown / UMG Recordings Inc. โข
2010
โNow if thereโs a smile on my face / Itโs only there tryinโ to fool the public.โ
Smokey Robinson ranks among the greatest songwriters of all time. His 1967 record,
โThe Tears of a Clownโ (
Make it Happen) is among the best of his illustrious catalog. Like on another tearful gem, โThe Tracks of My Tears,โ
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles put on a faรงade:
โBut donโt let my glad expression Give you the wrong impression.โ
Ultimately, he has โThe tears of a clown, when thereโs no one around / OH YEAH BABY.โ The funny thing is that โTears of a Clownโ is an up-tempo soul record that makes you want to dance. Despite this, that faรงade is real.
Also appears on :
A Compendium Filled with Tears
15. Aretha Franklin, โThe Long and Winding Roadโ
Young, Gifted and Black โข
Atlantic โข
1972
Aretha Franklin is one of the greatest musicians of all-time โ DUH! Her voice is nothing short of amazing, angelic, and heaven-sent. โThe Queen of Soulโ possesses a rich catalog of music, interestingly, with some of her best songs being covers.
โRespectโ, of course, tops the list of covers, written and originally recorded by another icon,
Otis Redding. Anyways, Franklin could sing any- and everything, so, itโs not surprising her knack for reinterpretation considering her vocal gifts. Franklin made
The Beatlesโ classic,
โThe Long and Winding Roadโ, truly her own.
When it comes to The Beatles, pretty much anything they recorded could be considered the definitive version โ THEY ARE
THE
EFFING
BEATLES! Did โThe Long and Winding Roadโ require a cover? Absolutely not โ the iconic British group nailed it! That said, the transformation that Aretha Franklin bestows upon us is nothing short of anointed โ prodigious to the nth degree! Franklin adds a deep, southern soul sensibility to her 1972 interpretation, which hails straight out the church, and precedes her landmark
Amazing Grace album. One part of โThe Long and Winding Roadโ that is starkly different from the original is the chorus. The original lacks a true chorus, though this rousing rendition takes the bridge and transforms it into the role of a chorus:
โMany times, Iโve been alone And many times, Iโve cried Anyhow, youโll never know All the things Iโve tried Still, they lead me back to the long and winding road.โ
This soul-a-fied version of โThe Long and Winding Roadโ marks one of many gems on the cover-laden Young, Gifted and Black (1972). Something about this cover right here โ it hits different!
Also appears on :
10 Favorite Soul Classics by Aretha Franklin
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No. 24
15 More Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (Vol. 3)
[
: A&M, Asylum, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Elektra, Israel Palacio, John Alan Sperry, MJJ Productions, Motown, The Musical Hype, NPG, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner]