Sweet Soul Music

Album: Sweet Soul Music (1967)
Charted: 7 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was originally written by Sam Cooke as "Yeah Man" and released on Shake, his first posthumous album. Conley and Otis Redding updated it as a tribute to various Soul singers. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England
  • The songs mentioned in this song are "Going To A Go-Go," "Love's a Hurtin' Thing," "Hold On I'm Coming," "Mustang Sally" and "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)."
  • Arthur Conley died of cancer on November 17, 2003 in The Netherlands. He was 57. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 8

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOops, in an earlier post I goofed, please refer to this one...
    On this day in 1967 {April 29th} Arthur Conley was interviewed by Dick Clark during the 'Hot Line' segment on the ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandsatand'...
    At the time Arthur Connelly's "Sweet Soul Music" was at position #4 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, the following week it was at #3, then a week later it peaked at #2* {for 1 week} and it spent fifteen weeks on the Top 100...
    And also at the time the song was in it's first of five weeks at #2 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, during it's first two weeks at #2 the #1 record was "I Never Loved A Man (Like I Loved You)" by Aretha Franklin, then "Jimmy Mack" by Martha & The Vandellas kept it out of the top spot during it's third week, and for it's fourth and fifth week at #2 Aretha was back, it was her "Respect" that was at position #1 for those two weeks...
    Besides the above "Sweet Soul Music", the Georgia native had six other Top 100 records, his next biggest hit was "Funky Street", it reached #14 in 1968...
    As noted above, Arthur Conley passed away at the young age of 57 on November 17th, 2003 {intestinal cancer}...
    May he R.I.P.
    * The week "Sweet Soul Music" was at #2 on the Top 100 chart, the #1 record for that week was "The Happening" by the Supremes...
  • Anonymous from NyThis song was really written by Sam Cooke. Conley and Otis Redding plagiarized Cooke's "Yeah Man" and were subsequently sued. I smile every time I hear this song cause they mention a lot of great soul singers but they don't mention the greatest of all time. You know the one they ripped off. ;)

    From Wikipedia: "Sam Cooke's business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for plagiarizing the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke's name was added to the writer credits, and Otis Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke – JW Alexander enterprise."

    If you listen to Cooke's "Yeah Man", it is practically the same song. The just changed the words.
  • Babbling Babette from Tulsa OkOh yes I still have the vinyl album after all these years, I gave the single to one of my cousins decades ago. It was such an upbeat song. I haven't listened to the song in years, but I still recall hearing voices in the background like it might've been the record producer or engineer or someone at the studio. Can't really tell what they're saying. Anyone know? I think Otis Redding was the producer so it might've been Otis' voice. The drums on this song are absolutely riveting!! Sacre bleu !!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 5th 1967, "Sweet Soul Music" by Arthur Conley entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and on May 7th it peaked at #2 (for 1 week) and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 7 of those 15 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    It also reached #2 (for 1 week) on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    The week that it was at #2 on the Top 100 and the R&B Singles chart, the #1 record was "The Happening" by the Supremes on both those charts...
    R.I.P. Mr. Conley (1946 - 2003).
  • Stella from Ham Lake, MnOtis Redding is the only one mentioned twice in the song.
  • Jay from Brooklyn, NyThis is not my own observation - I read it elsewhere - but it is interesting. In 2006, three people mentioned in this song died: Low Rawles, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown. Otis Redding died in 1967, and Dave Prater in 1988. This leaves Sam Moore the last living person sung about by Arthur Conley.
  • Don from Newmarket, CanadaAlso produced by Otis. A great track!
  • Lynne from Baltimore, MdThis song was written by Otis Redding. Arthur Conley grew up in Aberdeen, Maryland and was an entertainer at a friends "beer joint" on weekends. I was privileged to know this great singer.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.