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What's a good book on Soul music, not necessarily NS?

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Hi all. 

I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope it's OK here - figured if there's one place where people would be able to help me out it's this forum. 

Can you guys recommend a good book on Soul music as a whole, not just/necessarily Northern Soul but a brief history of, major players/artists/labels/events/milestones, the different 'sounds' (Philly, Detroit), etc. - I want to learn as much as I can. Interested mainly in '60s and a bit of the '70s. 

I'm almost embarrased to ask, but I come from a rock/pop background - got bit by the Soul bug only recently and I'm loving every minute of the ride, but I'm missing some background. So if anyone could recommend one or two very good books on the subject, I'd appreciate it a lot. 

Thanks! 

 D 

 

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  • Dave Moore
    Dave Moore

    This 700 page homage to the Philly Sound in it;s entirety is about to hit the bookshelves in a couple of weeks too!   Regards, Dave  

  • Godzilla
    Godzilla

    These are good tips. I'd add John L Jackson's 'A House on Fire' for the Philly scene and Rob Bowman's 'Soulsville USA' (Stax).  Also, Ken Emerson's 'Always Magic in the Air', which is all about the B

  • Mike Lofthouse
    Mike Lofthouse

    Peter Guralnick's  - ' Sweet Soul Music' is essential reading (as are all his books)  - its primarily Southern Soul centered but I'm sure Motown is covered elsewhere. Mike

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Peter Guralnick's  - ' Sweet Soul Music' is essential reading (as are all his books)  - its primarily Southern Soul centered but I'm sure Motown is covered elsewhere. Mike

Would recommend - Nowhere To Run - Gerri Hirshey; Respect Yourself - Robert Gordon; Chicago Soul - Robert Pruter; Making Tracks - Charlie Gillett; The Record Men - Rich Cohen and Where Did Our Love Go - Nelson George for starters.

Would recommend - Nowhere To Run - Gerri Hirshey; Respect Yourself - Robert Gordon; Chicago Soul - Robert Pruter; Making Tracks - Charlie Gillett; The Record Men - Rich Cohen and Where Did Our Love Go - Nelson George for starters.

These are good tips.

I'd add John L Jackson's 'A House on Fire' for the Philly scene and Rob Bowman's 'Soulsville USA' (Stax).  Also, Ken Emerson's 'Always Magic in the Air', which is all about the Brill Building team, so not exclusively soul, but covers Bacharach and David, Pomus and Shuman, Leiber and Stoller, Goffin and King, Greenwich and Barry and therefore the Coasters, Drifters, Dixie Cups, Shirelles, Bessie Banks etc.

 

I thought I would list those that are easy to obtain, but could also have added The Sound of Philadelphia - Tony Cummings.  If you are wanting something on the artists, then perhaps Girl Groups - The Story of A sound by Alan Betrock.

Hi all. 

I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope it's OK here - figured if there's one place where people would be able to help me out it's this forum. 

Can you guys recommend a good book on Soul music as a whole, not just/necessarily Northern Soul but a brief history of, major players/artists/labels/events/milestones, the different 'sounds' (Philly, Detroit), etc. - I want to learn as much as I can. Interested mainly in '60s and a bit of the '70s. 

I'm almost embarrased to ask, but I come from a rock/pop background - got bit by the Soul bug only recently and I'm loving every minute of the ride, but I'm missing some background. So if anyone could recommend one or two very good books on the subject, I'd appreciate it a lot. 

Thanks! 

 D 

 

D. Enjoy the ride on the soul train. It's a lifetime journey man. I've been on-board since the 70,s

Steve

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Steve: I feel like a kid again, musically speaking - this stuff cuts right through to where it matters. Thanks for the encouraging words :). 

Hi Damian. The book you might find useful is called The Blackwell Guide To Soul Recordings edited by Robert Pruter first published in 1994. The book takes a regional look at the USA looking at genres, labels artists and recommended LP's and CD's.

Another reference book is called The Music Book Guide To Soul published by Backbeat books as one of the AMG series ie All Media Guide.

Then there are the regional books on Chicago (Robert Pruter), Philadelphia (John A Jackson), Detroit (Keith Rylatt) and others amongst those mentioned above on New Orleans, Texas, Memphis, Motown etc.

Hope this helps.

Edited by FRANKIE CROCKER

This 700 page homage to the Philly Sound in it;s entirety is about to hit the bookshelves in a couple of weeks too! :D 

Regards,

Dave

 

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Hi Dave. Looking forward to the book. It's at the top of my Christmas List right now as I've given up asking for records...

The Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul by Colin Larkin is a great reference book listing groups and their personnel, albums, etc etc.

 

Kev

  • Author

Thanks to everyone who posted - like I said, took note of every title, will look them up! Can't wait to have a few of these in my hands. 

 

  • Author

Here's the complete list for anyone that finds this thread in the future looking for the same thing - save you the trouble of reading through all of the posts. Once again, thanks! 

The Music Book Guide To Soul [Backbeat Books]
Alan Betrock - Girl Groups, The Story of a Sound 
Rob Bowman - Soulsville USA
Rich Cohen  - The Record Men
Tony Cummings - The Sound of Philadelphia 
Ken Emerson - Always Magic in the Air
Nelson George - Where Did Our Love Go
Charlie Gillett - Making Tracks
Robert Gordon - Respect Yourself
Peter Guralnick - Sweet Soul Music
Gerri Hirshey - Nowhere To Run
John L Jackson - A House on Fire
Colin Larkin - Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul 
Robert Pruter - Chicago Soul
Robert Pruter - The Blackwell Guide To Soul Recordings
Mike Ritson - The In Crowd
Keith Rylatt - Groovesville USA 

Here's the complete list for anyone that finds this thread in the future looking for the same thing - save you the trouble of reading through all of the posts. Once again, thanks! 

On Motown  you can read "The Motown Story" by Don Waller, and"Motown : The Golden Years" by Bill Dahl. Both very informative.

Currently enjoying detroit 67the year that changed soul , recommended! 

The one book that constantly gets overlooked is Barney Hoskins  "Say it One Time for the Broken Hearted: The Country Side of Southern Soul".

The influence of country music was absolutely critical to the development of Soul Music generally - not just Southern Soul  -  and this book nails the evolutionary journey to Soul Music perfectly.  

 

This 700 page homage to the Philly Sound in it;s entirety is about to hit the bookshelves in a couple of weeks too! :D 

Regards,

Dave

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 Really looking forward to this Dave - any info in the book on The Creations group who recorded for Virtue ???

 

Old School 77 Years of Southern California R&B Vocal Groups by Steve Propes.  Excellent source of information.  I had to go via US Amazon to get a copy but it was cheap.  Steve also did a West Coast Vocal Group book, loads of photos and info Bout the groups but it is really tough to get a copy these days.

Rubin Monalas book about the Low Rider Scene is another goold source of info.

I also recommend the Stuart Cosgrove book, "Detroit '67",  but it is appallingly badly edited, containing more typos than any book, of any sort, I have ever read in my life. I really hope this has been sorted out by the time of his next book, "Memphis '68".  

Just came through door yesterday, along with Robert Gordon's Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion, which looks good

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Respect-Yourself-Stax-Records-Explosion/dp/1608194167/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442682005&sr=8-1&keywords=respect+yourself

You could try 'The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Black Music' (Salamander Books, 1982). I absolutely loved this book when I started getting into soul! There wasn't all that much available in those days.

Just got it off the shelf and having a flick through. It's pretty good! Covers reggae and jazz-funk too. But that's not a problem for me! :-)

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