Legends of soul music: its history and allure revisited through classic songs

Knock On WoodAmii Stewart

Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood (Official HD Video)

This is the title track of the album by Amii Stewart, released in February 1979.

The album produced two successful singles, and later in 1985 a remix single of Knock on Wood reached number 7 on the UK charts.

A long-running disco hit.

Baby WorkoutJackie Wilson

Baby Workout

Jackie Wilson, who rose to prominence in the late 1950s and forged a sound that could be called the prototype of Motown, won support not only from Black audiences but also from many white listeners with his exuberant high tenor.

Released in 1963, this song is one of his signature works, reaching No.

5 on the U.S.

charts.

Yes we can canPointer Sisters

Yes We Can Can

The Pointer Sisters garnered attention in the 1970s as an authentic soul chorus group, and in the 1980s they rode the disco boom to score a string of million-selling hits.

This song, which appears at the top of their debut album, is also well known as one of Allen Toussaint’s signature works.

Walk the dogRUFUS THOMAS

1963 HITS ARCHIVE: Walking The Dog – Rufus Thomas

A track by Rufus featuring an appealing husky-voiced vocal.

It overflows with humor, including a dog-calling whistle and spoken-word parts woven into the song.

This track later became known for being covered by the Rolling Stones in 1964.

The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine AnymoreThe Walker Brothers

The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore (Stereo Version)

Just as the blues—originally Black music—profoundly influenced white audiences, soul music did as well, and groups of white musicians began to perform soul.

Soul music performed by white artists is called blue-eyed soul.