As a matter of fact ... Do you like Soul music? Even if you don't, you've probably heard of the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Ottis Reading and James Brown. The list goes on, but what do they all have in common apart from being Soul music greats? Well, a lot of people have attributed the rise and popularisation of their music as being tracable to one man: Sam Cooke. He's a househould name within a generation of Soul lovers but I know from speaking to friends and family he's almost never talked about when listing off the greats I just mentioned. I'd like to shed some light on the sometimes forgotten 'King of Soul' who rekindled my love for the genre and look at the mystery behind his rise and fall.
Sam Cooke, born in Chicago in 1931, has been credited as being the best of his time. Like many black Soul musicians of his time, Cooke started out on the gospel circuit from a young age. His father was a Baptist minister and it was from this background that he began his music career as a member of 'The Singing Children' at just 9 years old. By 17, he was already signed to a record label with his group 'The Soul Stirrers' in 1950. From there, he began to branch into pop music: a decision which ultimately caused a rift between his traditional label manager and his aspirations as a secular artist.
In 1957, Cooke achieved his first billboard success. His catchy melodic swinger 'You Send Me' reached the number 1 spot in both the R&B and Pop charts. From there, the prodigy took off. In 1961, he created his own label and proceeded to release a wealth of singles: 29 of which made it to the top 40. This is where most of his most famous catalog numbers can be found with such gems as 'Chain Gang', 'Cupid' and 'Twistin' The Night Away' which are all personal favourites of mine. It all ended in 1963 in a story as tragic as it is mysterious. Sam Cooke was shot by a hotel manager who claimed self-defense. She told the official police report that Cooke was drunk, aggressive and wearing nothing but shoes and a sports jacket and that he persistently asked the whereabouts of a woman who he had accompanied back to the hotel. The manager claimed Cooke was aggressive and drunk and so fearing for her life, she shot Cooke once in the heart. He was dead by the time police arrived on the scene.
Cooke's companion, a woman by the name of Elisa Boyer, said that Sam had persuaded her to return to his hotel room but that she changed her mind when they got to his room. When he went to the bathroom, she grabbed her clothes (and some of his by accident) and ran out of the building. The details are murky and the most important angle of all, Cooke's, will never be heard. There have been many criticisms of the police report and the actions of the hotel manager. Some have also said that the situation, Cooke's death and the lax police report would not have arisen if he had been a white man in 1963. I believe that within this hazy end to Cooke's life lies the reason why his legacy hasn't reached the emerging generations of music lovers. After his death, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame, got a lifetime achievement Grammy and was ranked 16th on Rolling Stone's '100 Greatest Artists of All Time,' Despite all this, his name is no longer brought up alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Otis Reading. I believe that his mysterious and violent at only 33 years old was a major contributing factor to this. When it comes to music though, it doesn't matter how long someone lived, what they did or how they died: what matters is the music. With this in mind, I think it would be a great shame to not bring the King of Soul's music back into the mainstream mentality. I bring up his name whenever I can in music conversations and now, with the help of this blog, perhaps his name and his inspiring music can reach just a little bit further.
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As a matter of fact ... I want to share three albums that shaped my childhood. Everyone has these. Those songs that transport you back to a time, a place and and even a person you used to be. I love that music has this power over us. It's not just an 'in the moment' experience, it's a lasting one that you can transpose your emotions and feelings onto forever. Just one listen can open up that box of memories. For me, these three do just that. At the risk of sounding egotistical, welcome to my mind ...
1) Hail To The Thief - Radiohead - 2003
I was 11 years old when I first head this album. I'd heard the band's name before and thought it was cool. I also liked the album's cover art. It was a simple as that. I had no idea that buying it would start a lifelong love of the band. As Radiohead albums go, this is one of their least known, trailing behind 'OK Computer' or 'Kid A' but it means so much more to me because it was the first album of theirs I ever heard. As I listened to the strange blend of guitar rock and electronic synth, I wasnt sure if I liked it or not. I was only 11 and had been raised on a steady diet of 90's pop from the radio and catchy 60's tunes from my Dad. As such, this album that floated, soared and sometimes stabbed into my ears definitely confused me at the time. After a couple of listens though, I was sold. The album's dark, mysterious tones became one with my early memories of family holidays and long car journeys. Whenever I hear Thom Yorke's ethereal voice punch through the pulsating snyth and guitars on this album, I am instantly transported back to being 11 years old, gazing up at the motorway lamposts as they flick past my family car driving through the night. Every time. Only an album that powerful could conjure up a memory this strongly for me.
2) By The Way - The Red Hot Chili Peppers - 2002
This is perhaps a little more well known than my previous choice. When I first picked up this album, I had no idea that the band had been going for almost 20 years! It didnt even cross my mind, how could a band older than me sound so fresh and unique? Of course, naivity behind me, I now realise this was my first brush with funk rock. The Chili Peppers were a stark contrast to everything else I was listening to at the time. They were punky, punchy and singing about death, drugs and rock 'n roll in a way that blew my mind at 10 years old. I might not have understood the meaning of it, but I got the vibe. This album was like a chilled out rebellion; Anthony Kiedis lyrics were often upbeat and powerful but burst into songs packed with funky guitar riffs, horns and drum beats. It felt like punk's younger cousin from New Orleans. Not that I knew this at the time though. I just loved the sound and listened to it to death until every note, beat and word sound like a family holiday to center parcs. The best part? It still sounds as fresh today.
3) Parachutes - Coldplay - 2000
The 1st album I ever owned and I'm not ashamed to say it. Coldplay get a bad rep these days and for good reason, they produce pretty crappy pop at best. These days, Chris Martin likes to prance around in second hand clothes with rainbow vomit on and sing about shooting stars as every 4th lyric. Good for him though, he's managed to capture a huge demographic of teenage girls with more money than sense. If I sound bitter, it's with good reason too. You see, I love the old Coldplay. When I have to show people what I mean, this is the album I give them. This is Coldplay at their best. This is when they rocked and wrote real ballads. Every song blends into the next to give the album a complete package feel to it. Everything is in its place and there is not one bum track to be found. It's not generic either, the songs sound different from one track to the next. They soar and kerang in the famous 'Yellow' and melt into feel good piano in the gorgeous and under appreciated 'Everything's Not Lost'. It made sense when I was 9 and it still makes sense now. There is something on this album for everyone, there is something to be heard on every level and there are a million reasons why it shaped me as a person. To put it quite simply; it sounds like my childhood.
As a matter of fact ... I've talked about the oldest human and the oldest countries so for this Music Monday I thought I'd round off the trio by finding out the oldest music ever! Music is something we take for granted, it's just seems to have been around forever. Everything has a beginning though. Of course, we can never truly know who was the first person to craft and play an instrument or even write down some music. What we do have though, is a tablet that is 3,400 years old found in Syria. Etched into its clay surface is the oldest song in existence ...
Found in the 1950's, the tablet contains a hymn written to the moon god's wife, Nikal. Written in the ancient 'Hurrian' language, it also has detailed inscriptions on how to tune a harp to play the song and performance instructions for a singer!
Professor Anne Kilmer was one of they key figures in taking these inscriptions and translating them into a modern music format. The task was long and arduous but the result was incredibly satisfying for the team upon completion. They got to sit back and listen to the music of the ancient people they had dedicated their lives to understanding. Although there are multiple different interpretations of the song, I quickly found a favourite. It's easy for me to sit back, relax and let my mind wander 3,400 years back in time to the sounds of our ancestors. I hope you do the same ...
As a matter of fact ...
Mac Demarco and my girlfriend are my two favourite Canadians. Sometimes it's too close to call. I'm kidding of course, it's not close; Mac Demarco wins every time. Kidding, I promise. When it comes to music though, theres no artist that's grabbed by ears and mind more in the past year than this guy.
Hailing from BC in Canada, the 24 year old has just released his second album and dam it packs a punch. 'Salad Days' continues where his debut album '2' left off. Both are a journey through Mac's colourful mind. He's driving the car. The fruity guitar riffs keep things rolling and his soaring melodies gives power to songs that can change gear from mellow to mental at the flick of a diminished chord.
Most fans, including myself, come for the music but stay for the man. The average band has a front man for their gigs, Mac is a front man in reality. Watch one of his interviews and you'll suck the related videos dry. It's hard to peel your eyes away from his strut, his toothy grin and his 24/7 parody of an indie artist who takes them-self way too seriously. You know he doesn't though. No guy who says 'pretty cool' or 'love ya' so many times a minute can be taken too seriously; he saves that for the music.
It's hard to recommend an artist without comparing. Although I find it hard to do with Mac's unique vibe, Spotify throws up some great names. Foxygen, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and The Growlers are just some of the suggestions listed. I'm not surprised. Although Mac doesn't share a lot of overlap in terms of sound, he fits in nicely with this group of twangy riffs, rough vocals and captivating personas that these artists are gaining fame for.
With a little time, a couple more tours and perhaps another album, Mac will be really be bursting in to the scene. I can see him becoming the name on everyone's lips who loves this emerging sound, caught between old and new, that you just cant pin down without immersing yourself in his music. Once you check this guy out, you'll find it hard to divide your time between listening to his music and watching his interviews. Just find time to share him with your friends, you wont regret it.
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As a matter of fact ... I went to see Alice Cooper live a few weeks ago at the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto. My girlfriend has been a lifelong fan of his and encouraged me to go when we got hold of some cheap tickets. Although I've not been familiar with his work, the show was incredible. The guy is 66 years old but plays, sings and owns the stage better than people half his age. Of course, he's had some practice. With a music career spanning 50 years, it's not hard to see why this guy is one of the best in the business.
Born in 1948 as Vincent Damon Furnier, the star didn't adopt his iconic stage name until 1968. The inspiration came from a Ouija board session and Alice adopted it as a contrast to the bands heavy rock image. Coupled with his bizarre and often controversial stage performances, it's no wonder Alice Cooper grabbed the media and public's attention from a young age. It's definitely a name you can't forget! My girlfriend's family loves it so much they named their pet snake after him. Can't get a higher compliment than that.
To the left is a picture from the show I was at. What a picture like this doesn't show is how much he moved around. From theatrically beheading himself to throwing money into the crowd for 'Billion Dollar Babies', Alice Cooper simply does not stop. And why should he? With a history of rock legacy behind him and enough energy to smash every gig, Alice Cooper is as relevant as ever. I'm just glad I got to see him live. Now it's time to really give the records a listen. If, like me, you've not had the chance to yet then maybe you should join me.
Despite all this, his name is no longer brought up alongside the likes of Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Otis Reading. I believe that his mysterious and violent at only 33 years old was a major contributing factor to this.
