Adeleโs tearful Vegas cancellation sparked backlash not just for its timing, but for symbolizing spectacle over soulโan irony, given her voice alone couldโve carried a show that ticket holders paid thousands to witness.
Joe Cockerโs breakthrough came in 1968 with a soulful, waltz-time cover of โWith a Little Help from My Friends,โ crafted alongside Chris Stainton and studio ace Jimmy Pageโlaunching a transatlantic ascent capped by Woodstock.
As Motown icons the Supremes and Temptations battled for chart dominance in 1966โ67, psychedelic soul and funk pioneers like Sly Stone and James Brown began reshaping the sound of Black musicโwith drum breaks, distortion, and fire.
Blue Noteโs Classic Vinyl Reissue Series delivers high-quality 180-gram LPs mastered by Kevin Gray, offering pristine sound from iconic jazz albums like Horace Silverโs 6 Pieces of Silver and Art Blakeyโs The Big Beat. Audiophile vinyl is backโbut with modern care and legacy.
James Brownโs funk revolution redefined rhythm, shifting focus to the downbeat groove in hits like โPapaโs Got a Brand New Bag.โ Meanwhile, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Eddie Floyd shaped soulโs evolution, fueling discoโs dancefloor legacy.
Booker T. & the M.G.โs timeless grooves from โ62โโ74 shine anew on Real Gone Musicโs vibrant red and blue vinyl collections, delivering cherished hits and rare singles in pristine sound, a perfect gift for soul lovers and collectors alike.
Donna Summer and Moroder-Bellotte pushed disco’s boundaries with Once Upon a Time (1977), a groundbreaking double concept album. Hits like โMacArthur Park Suiteโ and Bad Girls cemented her legacy as discoโs enduring queen.
Donna Summer revolutionized disco with Moroder and Bellotte, blending sensual Eurodisco and electronic beats. Hits like โLove To Love You Babyโ and โI Feel Loveโ shaped dance music and sparked electronic genres.
Discovering Booker T. & the M.G.โs McLemore Avenue as a Beatles-ignorant 12-year-old, Wayne E. Goins recalls how the soul-streaked tribute became a personal classicโlong before he realized it echoed Abbey Road note for note.
From jump blues and Ray Charlesโs boundary-breaking โWhatโd I Sayโ to the polished hits of Motown and gritty grooves of Stax, this sweeping history traces soul musicโs riseโand discoโs rootsโin a racially and musically transformative America.
Lyle Mays, the introspective sonic architect of the Pat Metheny Group, gets a fitting farewell in Eberhardโa sweeping, posthumous masterwork co-produced with his niece, Aubrey Johnson, whose voice helps carry Maysโs final vision home.