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A Little Bit Of Rhythm, Some Blues, and A Lot Of Soul

B

BlueHen

Yesterday on Fabulous 1400 I heard "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" by Lou Rawls (followed by Michael Buble's version of "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine"), and "Me and Mrs Jones" by Billy Paul. At first I was surprised, wondering if these songs really fit the format. Then I thought of a bunch of others from what used to be called soul music, and concluded that they do indeed fit.

So here's my Vintage Soul list. Which ones work? Which ones don't? Anyone have some more?

"Since I Met You Baby" Ivory Joe Hunter
"I Cried A Tear" Lavern Baker
"How Glad I Am," "Face It Girl, It's Over" Nancy Wilson
"For Your Precious Love" Jerry Butler & Impressions
"Daydreaming," "Until You Come Back To Me" Aretha
"Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me," "So Sad The Song" Gladys Knight & Pips
"Patches" Clarence Carter
"Oh Happy Day" Edwin Hawkins Singers
"Lavender Blue" Sammy Turner
"What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" Jimmy Ruffin
"I Could Never Love Another," "I Wish It Would Rain" Temptations
"My Whole World Ended" David Ruffin
"Tracks Of My Tears," "Ooh Baby Baby" Smokey Robinson & Miracles
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" Shirelles
"Summertime" Billy Stewart
"Summer" War
"Sea Of Love" Phil Phillips
"Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday," "My Cherie Amour," "For Once In My Life" Stevie Wonder
"Pata Pata" Miriam Makeba
"Deeper & Deeper" Freda Payne
"Games People Play," "Living A Little, Laughing A Little" Spinners
"Walking In Rhythm" Blackbirds
 
Those work well! And note how they're all from a range of years.

Don't forget to add these gems:

The Drifters:
Please Stay.
Dance With Me.
I Count The Tears
There Goes My Baby
Up on the Roof
Some Kind of Wonderful
 
I'll definitely have to check out those Drifters songs. Besides Under The Boardwalk, Up On The Roof, and Save The Last Dance For Me, I don't think I've heard much else. But I see in the Joel Whitburn book they had a slew of hits. Love their version of White Christmas, which was featured in Home Alone.
 
oaktree,
What's that song I seem to hear everytime I listen to Fab1400? Female, contemporary, on the R&B or smooth jazz side, sounds something like Macy Gray but not as raspy... "it's my time to find the best of me." I'm not sure if I like this on the format or not. The first time I heard it, it seemed rather jarring, but now I'm getting used to it. Has it tested well for you though? If so, that's what counts.

Has anyone else heard this one? Thoughts?
 
BlueHen, I think the song you are referring to is "It's My Turn" by Diana Ross. Billboard Hot 100 #9 in early 1981, from the movie of the same name.

As for soul records that might fit a standards or soft AC format...

- Dee Clark - Raindrops: already being played on Timeless Favorites and on Music of Your Life. Though maybe some people would find the thunder sound effects too loud.
- Jerry Butler - Moon River, Make It Easy On Yourself, Let It Be Me (duet w/Betty Wright).
- Dionne Warwick - You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart). It was a bigger hit later for The Stylistics, but CKWW in Windsor/Detroit played Dionne's version when they were standards, and it was nice hearing something from Dionne other than Walk On By, I Say a Little Prayer, Valley of the Dolls etc.
- Speaking of The Stylistics - I'm Stone In Love With You, You Make Me Feel Brand New, You Are Everything, Break Up to Make Up
- Jackie Wilson - Night
- Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger, Make Me Your Baby, Baby I'm Yours
- Maxine Brown - Oh No, Not My Baby
- Gladys Knight/Pips - Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)
- Mary Wells - My Guy, You Beat Me to the Punch, The One Who Really Loves You, Two Lovers
- Chuck Jackson - Any Day Now. CKWW used to play this one too. Classic Country fans should know this song as well, as it was a huge hit in 1982 for Ronnie Milsap and was also Billboard's #1 AC hit of that year.

Glad you mentioned Face It Girl, It's Over. That song is a lost gem. I heard it for the first time on an old CKLW aircheck from 1968. It probably hasn't been played anywhere since.
 
Thanks, Chris. I found out it's "Best Of Me" by Chrisette Michele, currently on the AC and even the Urban AC charts. I don't dislike the song; I'm just not sure if it fits in with the format. The more you hear it, though, the more you get used to it.

Nice list. Those Jerry Butler songs definitely belong. You're right about "Face It Girl." I don't think I've heard it since 1968. So what if it only got to No. 29? As oaktree said elsewhere, he's never gotten a complaint about playing stiffs in this format, which is the beauty of it.
 
BlueHen, here are some just added ... and to all, my warmest thanks.

Since I Met You Baby" Ivory Joe Hunter

"How Glad I Am," "Face It Girl, It's Over" Nancy Wilson (both being played now)
"For Your Precious Love" Jerry Butler & Impressions
"Daydreaming," "Until You Come Back To Me" Aretha (will add soon ...)
"Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me," "So Sad The Song" Gladys Knight & Pips (& The Way We Were)
"Oh Happy Day" Edwin Hawkins Singers (Absolutely.)
"Lavender Blue" Sammy Turner (Playing now)
"Summer" War (and All Day Music.)
"Sea Of Love" Phil Phillips (Yes...)
"Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday," "My Cherie Amour," "For Once In My Life" Stevie Wonder (Yes!)
"Pata Pata" Miriam Makeba (Great song ... playing now)
"Games People Play," Spinners
"Walking In Rhythm" Blackbirds

Am considering your others ... and more!


The Drifters:Dance With Me. Count The Tears, There Goes My Baby, Up on the Roof, Some Kind of Wonderful and On Broadway. Playin' em.

I love "Face it Girl" by Nancy Wilson, as well as "How Glad I Am" ... and what about "Guess Who I Saw Today?" and "You'd Better Go" ...

Thank you, as well, Chris ...

- Jerry Butler - Moon River, Make It Easy On Yourself, Let It Be Me (duet w/Betty Wright).
- Dionne Warwick - You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart). It was a bigger hit later for The Stylistics, but CKWW in Windsor/Detroit played Dionne's version when they were standards, and it was nice hearing something from Dionne other than Walk On By, I Say a Little Prayer, Valley of the Dolls etc.

(Great song! Playing both versions...)

- Speaking of The Stylistics - I'm Stone In Love With You, You Make Me Feel Brand New, You Are Everything, Break Up to Make Up (Good songs to play)


- Jackie Wilson - Night (Good one ... will check on this.)
- Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger, Make Me Your Baby, Baby I'm Yours (each one being played now!)
- Maxine Brown - Oh No, Not My Baby (Good good song!)
- Gladys Knight/Pips - Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) (Yes!)
- Chuck Jackson - Any Day Now. CKWW used to play this one too. Classic Country fans should know this song as well, as it was a huge hit in 1982 for Ronnie Milsap and was also Billboard's #1 AC hit of that year.
(Great song!)

Glad you mentioned Face It Girl, It's Over. That song is a lost gem. I heard it for the first time on an old CKLW aircheck from 1968. It probably hasn't been played anywhere since. (Except here...I love it.)
 
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