Soul Source

Memphis Soul is a genre that originated in the heart of South West Tennessee. Although the city of Memphis has been the subject of many pop songs, it’s also played an important part in the history of Soul Music, and even developed its own offshoot of the genre, Memphis Soul.

While some of its soulful cousins have been known for producing edgy blends of soul music, Memphis Soul was all about class and style. Known as an uptown off-shoot of the genre, the songs tended to be funky, smooth, and very soulful. The sound was identified by melodic horn, driving drum beats, and the frequent appearance of organ and bass arrangements.

There were two main record labels that gave rise to the Memphis Soul sound, and the acts that performed it, namely Stax and Hi Records. Stax Records became one of the major players in Soul Music, launching the careers of many famous vocalists and bands, such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Booker T and The MG’s. The label recorded over 800 hits for their artists, many of which became chart hits, or Grammy Award winners. The site Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton chose for the Stax Records HQ and recording studio, is now home to the only Soul Music Museum in the world, which celebrates all the achievements of Stax Records artists, along with those signed to other labels such as Motown, and Atlantic.

Hi Records, which started off as a Rockabilly label, moved into the Soul arena in the late 1960’s. National recognition came via the Ann Peebles hits ‘Walk Away’, and ‘Part Time Love’, while the label also went on to represent the powerhouse of Soul, Al Green. Al Green worked with label boss Willie Mitchell in the early 1970’s to produce a sound that became intrinsically linked with Hi Records, and include hits like ‘Let’s Stay Together’. Al Green sold around 30 million records, and regularly appeared in the Top 40 charts. He was, in short, the ultimate 70’s Soul Man.

These two labels, and the many and varied artists they represent, were a vital part of the musical heritage not just of Memphis, and America as a whole, but the world. They changed the face of Soul music, and their songs are still a popular part of life today.

One key moment in modern soul history involves the release of ‘The Commitments’, a film set in Ireland, and based on a novel by Roddy Doyle. The films story follows band manager Jimmy Rabbitte and his egotistical band of singers/musicians as they try and make it as The Commitments, ‘the world’s greatest soul band’. The band were influenced by soul legends such as Otis Reading and the films soundtrack features hit songs such as ‘Mustang Sally’, a hit for Wilson Pickett. The film won a BAFTA award for Best Film, was nominated for a Golden Globe, and helped launch the singing careers of the hitherto unknown stars of the film.

Although the very best of Memphis Soul music has been played, recorded, and covered in one form or another all around the world, it is of course still an important part of Memphis society too. Blogs from the region frequently report that the Stax Soul Museum, Beale Street, and the American Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, are still popular haunts for Soul Fans, and that the music is still very much loved and played all over the city. Given some of the amazing material that came out of Memphis during the height of the soul music explosion, it’s hardly surprising this is a genre still coveted and valued today.