Blue-Eyed Soul
tagStarted 1964Peak 1965-1982Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
R&B and soul performed by white artists in the Motown/Stax mold: full-throated, emotive lead vocals, gospel-styled phrasing, horn and string charts and a soul rhythm pocket. Ranges from the Righteous Brothers' wall-of-sound drama to the smooth radio soul of Hall & Oates and British R&B belters.
History
Term coined around 1964 by Philadelphia DJ Georgie Woods for the Righteous Brothers, whose records earned Black-radio airplay; they titled a 1964 LP 'Some Blue-Eyed Soul.' British acts like the Spencer Davis Group and Van Morrison carried it across the Atlantic, and Hall & Oates made it a 1970s-80s chart staple from Philadelphia.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' — The Righteous BrothersSpotifyYouTube
- Sara Smile — Hall & OatesSpotifyYouTube
- Gimme Some Lovin' — The Spencer Davis GroupSpotifyYouTube
- Good Lovin' — The RascalsSpotifyYouTube
- Son of a Preacher Man — Dusty SpringfieldSpotifyYouTube
- Devil with a Blue Dress On — Mitch Ryder & the Detroit WheelsSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-eyed_soul
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_blue-eyed_soul_artists
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/blue-eyed-soul-ma0000012036
- https://www.britannica.com/art/soul-music