The Search for Soul: Beatlemania was rekindled briefly this year with a set of Fab Four remasters. But in recent years, obscure soul-music reissues have sparked a different obsession. Today: we look at the quest for “outsider soul” at labels like Numero Group, Wax Poetics and Soul Jazz. Guests include Ben Greenman of The New Yorker and Syl Johnson, the singer-producer behind ‘60s songs like the much-sampled “Different Strokes” and “Is It Because I'm Black?”
Comments [10]
Thank you for the help! yay...
Hey Maude [7]: You're talking about the song we played while Syl Johnson was on the show today, right? That's called "Different Strokes":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3VoGzXnrQU
I really enjoyed getting to see Eli "Paperboy" Reed and The Sweet Divines, this summer in Prospect Park and at The Bell House in Brooklyn. They really honor the soul musicians of the past. I am an old blues junky from the 60's. I felt like I was back at a High School Sock Hop...
um, anyone know the song name where the woman is laughing? Apologies, i can't seem to find a playlist for this show. Which is weird, and I have the feeling I am missing it right under my nose...thanks!
However,I was very happy to learn that Minnie Riperton is the one doing the scream on "Different Strokes." Thanks,WNYC
I know who is buying this stuff; I see them all the time at Academy records on 12th street here in the city. It’s all these white kids under 35, Gen X. Some of this stuff is great and some of it is total C@$p.
These reissues are great for people like me (20-30 yrs old) who have always been big fans of soul music but weren't around to here all of it when it was happening. Growing up I always knew and loved the big names like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, but it wasn't until recently that I was able to check out some of the less-popular but still amazing music of people like Syl. Also, as a hip-hop fan, that connection is also interesting for music nerds who are fans of that both genres.
Aren't re-issues a lot cheaper for the record companies than breaking a new artist?
Everybody keeps rehashing old music. I love soul music. I have less of problem with this than Barbara Streisand doing standards but it just seems like everybody is trying to make money without spending it.
Nuggets did it in the 70's with their first album of garage rock then put out CDs with obscure rock in the 60's from the US, UK and around the world. Some of it is great, some of it...
what many fail to realize is that these labels for the most part are run by white record nerds who are pretty much only putting out these records for other like minded folks. Some of these lost gems are worthy of rediscovery,others are mostly just overkill and continues the white folks fetishism of black music black folks really don't care about. See the stuffwhitepeoplelike website.
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