I was watching that TOTP link someone posted recently and it made me realise how well many soul tracks have aged compared to some of the general pop nonsense.

They are far more timeless for the most part. 

So it just got me wondering of any soul tracks that were ahead of their time?

I will kick off with an obvious one. Marvin Gaye - 'Whats going on'

So many reasons this album was ahead of its time, but the environmemtal theme on 'Mercy mercy me (the ecology)' I find incredible for over half a century old. 

Meanwhile Dawn were also in the charts with 'knock three times'! 

Referring to "What's going on" which came out in 1971 I think, I've always thought this Jimmy Thomas track from 1969 has a very similar musical feel.

 

Always thought this was ahead of its time musically..and lyrically a reflection of the awful times for some.

Ed

 

Slight tangent.....

I also think the piano / drum break on Spring Rain (1976) at about 2.35 is like a (slightly slowed bpm) Piano House track, yet to be invented. 

 

Willie Hutch Love Runs Out, for a 1965 record it is/was so far ahead of it's time 

My "Martin Peters" track is There's Only So Much Oil In the Ground by Tower of Power - sadly as relevant now as it was back in the '70s.

 

In terms of pure sound, as distinct from lyrics, these two have always struck me as being astonishingly ahead of their time :

 

 Recorded in 1973 but could just as easily have been cut in 1993

 

Recorded in 1971 when using a drum machine was genuinely inventive, over a decade before the bloody things were used all the time, ruining countless records.... 

Carla thomas Little Boy recorded in 1961 and never issued WHY!

 

13 minutes ago, Smudger said:

Carla thomas Little Boy recorded in 1961 and never issued WHY!

 

Interesting track that. Really nice. 

Never heard it before. 

It's sort of soul but with a ska undercurrent. 

21 hours ago, Fish Fingers said:

Slight tangent.....

I also think the piano / drum break on Spring Rain (1976) at about 2.35 is like a (slightly slowed bpm) Piano House track, yet to be invented. 

 

I agree completely. I thought this was possibly an inspiration for those Italian Piano Dance House things that were very popular in the 90's.

February 1966 for such an atmpospheric groovy tune out of Texas that sounds more 'out of time' than many other of their gear IMHO. It has always fascinated me somhow.

But I'm also very partial on this one so much I love it. Even though I must admit that I wrongly believed it to be from 1964 at first because of the Kent comp before 'tintenet'. But still...

 

Edited February 5, 20223 yr by Tlscapital

The drums on this! Big up the up junglist massive

U.S. Warren and The Genghis Pea - "Hard Headed Woman"

 

 

"Tell Me That You Love Me" has to be Brown's most raucous moment - easily as "punk" as any 60s garage group