Blue-Eyed Soul Rock
tagStarted 1965Peak 1972-1985Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
White rock and pop singers channeling soul phrasing over polished band arrangements: smooth, gospel-tinged lead vocals, tight rhythm guitar, electric piano and horn-section sheen on a soft-funk backbeat. Slicker than gritty soul rock, it foregrounds melody, harmony and croon over raw guitar grit.
History
Coined for white artists performing R&B-derived soul, it solidified as Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs and the Average White Band brought Philadelphia and Memphis grooves to rock-pop audiences in the '70s. Steely Dan's jazz-soul polish and later Simply Red and Michael McDonald extended the lineage into smoother, radio-friendly territory.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/blue-eyed-soul-ma0000002628
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-eyed_soul
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_%26_Oates