John
I'm not sure I get the point of your post 'Soul music is dead'.
I don't normally get involved in such debates however this one has riled me slightly. Are you stating the creation of Soul Music is dead or the love of Soul music is dead?
"I have no doubt that there are many who would argue that Soul music is still very much alive and kicking and refer to artistes such as Alicia Keys, Jon Legend and Maxwell etc to prove their point.
Whilst it is true that all the above have a soulful delivery they can never be mentioned as being true Soul artists in the tradition of the past masters such as Otis Redding, James Carr, Bobby Womack, Pickett or Aretha."
WHAT IS SOUL, what makes a true SOUL ARTIST? Surely Soul is a feeling, a passion, something you have but certainly a lot more than a 'style of delivery'. I think it's a hugely sweeping statement to suggest no modern acts can ever achieve the SOUL of Redding, Womack or Aretha. Soul is something you have or don't as the case me be!
As pointed out by others on this thread there have been many, many contemporary soul releases where the SOUL is real and touching.
"But what of 'Northern Soul' you may ask? What indeed? A scene obsessed purely with the 'danceability' factor of a record rather than the soulful content."
Ray Pollard's Drifter, The Soul Bros, Inc Pyramid two records out of many that ooze SOUL. Records I can happily tuck my self onto the corner of a dance floor and lose my self in the SOUL. I accept that there are many people who are 'into' NS for the dancing only and attend functions solely for this purpose but you forget one thing in the above statement it is about the music, it's the SOULful content that inspires you to dance this is what SOUL is about, it moves you!!
So are you asking is the creation of Soul Music dead or is the love of Soul Music dead?
The whole 'northern' scene has become a sad parody of itself. The days of discovering new delights on vinyl are long past. There were great successes in the early seventies. Tracks such as The Right Track, Hit and Run and of course, Do I love You etc have all passed into folklore, but the well has now run dry. How many new gems are left to be uncovered after forty years? Precious few, I fear!
I really can't get my head around this, where and when does it become a parody? To me this would be people trying to create music, NEW NORTHERN SOUL because we've run out?! (Yes with the exception of IL) Tom Jones is a parody - someone who is trying to re-capture or hold onto something he no longer has!!!
Like you I've been enjoying SOUL music for many, many years, perhaps you're looking in the wrong place but personally I 'discover' new 'Gems' almost every day! There's enough tunes out there to keep everyone amused for a long time. THE WELL HAS NOT RUN DRY!!
The rest of you article lost me....sorry!
I'm not sure what you were expecting to happen with you post, be prepared for a lashing from some. I personally think it would heve been better presented as a series of questions rather than statements!
You are very welcome here there is more knowledge and music than you can shake a stick at. I hope you take time to enjoy it.
gary