Image from The Life of Riley
Hey, guys! I’ve got some great suggestions for some kids music that’ll keep them thrilled on those long car rides and have the grown-ups bobbing their heads right along with ‘em!
Just kidding. Forget them for a second. Have you noticed that a lot of parents my age (Gen X) are really into getting music for their kids that also appeal to their own artistic tastes? I mean, hey, I’m all for Dan Zanes and Candy Band and whatever but come on. Next thing you know the Beastie Boys will be doing a children’s album. Wait, they haven’t, have they?
Never mind. Today I want to talk about the music I’m into.
So, I grew up on classic rock and I still love classic rock – and by the way, when I say “grew up on” I mean my parents didn’t play “kids rock” for me, I mean the music in the house was The Beatles, Dylan, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, and Neil Young. When I finally started finding my own way in music it was, at first, more classic rock, but not stuff my parents liked (The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Bowie). But then I got into The Clash and the Violent Femmes and that blossomed into an interest in what we used to call “alternative” music; my high school years (’86-’90) saw me increasingly into New Order, Depeche Mode and The Smiths (for some reason I was lukewarm on The Cure and REM, which was big with my crowd). That, a healthy dose of John Coltrane-era bop and a generous sprinkling of Steely Dan pretty much saw me through the first half of my twenties.
But for the last ten-twelve years or so mostly all I’ve really wanted to listen to is soul. I mean, yeah, there’s some other things in rotation (country, roots rock, crime jazz, dub and rap) but my musical bottom line these days is the broad ocean of soul music.
But here’s the thing. I’m in soul but not of soul, and I think wiser musical minds than mine have mapped soul into various genres. They include R&B, Gospel, jazz-influenced soul, funk – maybe rap should be in there, too, you could make a credible argument for that, I think. Soul also corresponds to what it was doing in the various decades, from the 60s to the present, and in regions (East Coast, West, Detroit, Philly). I think the category of soul that most interests me is proto-funk and funky soul from the late 60s to, like, 1983 or so. What doesn’t interest me is pop soul like the Motown classics, doo wop, girl groups, things like that. At the same time, I’m not so much into the hard funk of Parliament, Bootsie and their diaspora.
I think the best way to describe what I like is to offer this primer. Call it Kondek’s Intro to Soul, the 6 albums you should get if you wanted to start expanding your record collection in this direction. No doubt other soul aficionados may differ with my choices. If so, I’d like to hear about it. Without further ado, my list – and remember, these are the basics:
- James Brown: Just as Johnny Cash is perhaps the best access point to country music, James Brown is, rightly, the Godfather of Soul and the best place to get started in soul. I’d start with a greatest hits; I particularly like this one. It took me a while to realize that soul isn’t album oriented the way rock often is, but singles oriented. JB was a singles artist and he turned out jam after jam, along the way pioneering and leaving his influence on music to this day. He pretty much invented funk and rap, changed rock, and redefined celebrity.
- Marvin Gaye: Marvin was the greatest singer in soul because of what he could do to a composition. He could soar, whine, growl, moan, cover anguish, love, spirituality. For years he was one of the leading forces of Motown but what really made his legacy was two albums in which he broke away from Motown and did his own thing. They are What’s Going On? and Let’s Get it On, and they are the next two items on my list.
- Curtis Mayfield: This is one of the giants of soul. He did an impressive body of work before he went solo and was recording fantastic stuff right up until his death. I’m slowly adding all Curtis’ albums to my oeuvre but if I had to pick one that best represents him and holds a place on an essentials list it’d be the Superfly soundtrack.
- Isaac Hayes: Hayes was another giant, both as a front man, side man and producer. Like Curtis, he has a wide body of work worth pursuing but his soundtrack for the film Shaft is a standout. More jazzy and big bandish than its cousin, Superfly and a good companion.
- Earth, Wind and Fire: Can’t go wrong with a Greatest Hits. Personally, I think Volume I is a great place to start. A soul powerhouse – every track on Volume I is heart-soaring. Then get Volume II or one of the box sets.
So those are the basic 6. You couldn’t go wrong with those. Obviously, it also leaves a lot out, and if I had more room I’d need to throw in:
- The Isley Brothers: Ultimate Collection
- The Spinners: One of a Kind Love Affair
- Stevie Wonder: Musiquarium
- Al Green: Greatest Hits
- Booker T and the MGs: Greatest Hits
- Enter the Dragon: Original Movie Soundtrack (Seriously!)
There you have it! More about me than you probably wanted to know, and maybe you skipped through the first few paragraphs to get right to my list. I don’t mind, if so. This is the stuff that keeps me happy and, frankly, I think the kids love it when they’re not into Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Raffi and Sesame Street Classics
What are you into? What would be your 6-album primer?
Thanks, Charlie. I don't know soul like you do, but this definitely seems like the right vein to focus on. I'm not a fan of contemporary soul/R&B. I agree with you regarding the hard funk, although I really like some doo wop and some of the girl group stuff too (although not the main Motown strain). There's a great collection of girl group stuff on Rhino Records called “One Kiss Leads to Another.” And there are some good doo wop collections too.
Love the soul recommendations and totally agree about kid music. I'm over it – the best service we can do for our kids is expose them to music with some meat to it. They grab onto that so much better than I ever think they will.