"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;[citation needed] the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven.[citation needed]
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. [citation needed]
The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:
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."
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |