
In the final part of his candid interview, Michael Fremer defends good digital, champions honest reviews, praises his 17-year-old protรฉgรฉ Malachi Lui, and reflects on how far vinylโand his own journeyโhas come.

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.

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.

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.