Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces
The great achievement of Black music is not only that it gave birth to genres like jazz, blues, gospel, and soul.
It has also been a wellspring of inspiration for legendary songs in the histories of rock and pop, and it is the most influential force on musical genres since the 20th century—an influence that continues unbroken into the 21st century and beyond.
To explore the roots of this magnificent Black music, this time we’re researching classic tracks mainly from the soul and R&B realm spanning the 1960s to the 1990s.
In the latter half, we also introduce more recent songs, so whether you love the latest hip-hop and R&B or aren’t very familiar with Black music, this is a must-check!
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Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces (21–30)
Everyday PeopleSly and the Family Stone
Led by the wildly unconventional frontman Sly Stone, whose powerful charisma and talent were unmistakable, Sly & The Family Stone is another group that cannot be omitted when recounting the history of Black music.
Unusual for the time, the band featured a mixed-gender lineup that included both Black and white members, and they released numerous works that influenced not just soul music but many other genres, including rock.
The song discussed here, Everyday People, was the band’s fifth single overall and an early signature hit.
Released in 1968, Everyday People is a classic whose simple, accessible melody and straightforward message about the importance of universal values like peace and equality resonate deeply.
It also became an anthem of the late-1960s counterculture movement.
The more you learn about its background, the more fascinating details emerge—for instance, lyrics that quote Muhammad Ali from an interview, and the fact that it is among the earliest recordings to feature slap bass playing.
It’s also a standard that many artists have chosen to cover, so it could be fun to compare different cover versions with the original.
Cross Road BluesRobert Johnson
Speaking of Robert Johnson, he is such a renowned blues singer that he can be spoken of as a legend, and he has etched his name as an important artist in the history of rock as well.
Johnson, who passed away at the young age of 27, left behind a life full of legends, including the so-called “Crossroads legend,” the tale that he sold his soul to the devil to gain his guitar skills.
His 1937 release Cross Road Blues is a song with a truly demonic allure, featuring fierce slide guitar and vocals that seem imbued with the magic of the blues.
Eric Clapton’s famous reinterpretation on electric guitar from his time with Cream is also well worth checking out alongside the original!
The Tracks Of My TearsSmokey Robinson & The Miracles
Smokey Robinson, the musician who helped spark the founding of Motown.
After he began performing with the Miracles, their momentum only grew, and they released a string of classic songs.
Among them, the standout I especially recommend is “C.A.” Released in 1965, the track clearly contains many elements that would later fuel the New Soul boom of the 1970s.
It’s an essential song for understanding the history of Black music.
Be sure to check it out!
One LoveBob Marley
Bob Marley’s classic song “One Love.” In contrast to its warm, gentle melody, the lyrics sharply probe what it means to be human, and their excellence has earned the song respect from listeners around the world.
If you don’t understand English, be sure to read the Japanese translation of the lyrics.
Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A
It’s no exaggeration to say there isn’t a head out there who doesn’t know it.
Straight Outta Compton is famous as a West Coast hip-hop staple and has been registered by the Library of Congress as a culturally significant record.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to hear classic West Coast hip-hop.