Are there any soul survivors left? As far back as I can remember, music was a part of my household. It was my job to pick up the records, put them inside the inserts and place them in the correct jacket. Since I wasn't allowed to be a part of the festivities(older sister parties) I tried to make this as fun as possible. Unable to comprehend all the big words I did my best to get the right record in the right cover. The other and most important job was to clear out the ash trays separating the good cigarettes from the used ones remembering to put aside the(left handed, I later learned) special ones. This job earned me a whole dollar and in 1969-71 a dollar was plenty to a five yr old. Getting it done before my parents arrived home earned me extra quarters. Walking to Mr Bussey's corner store singing ABC the whole way and making my purchase of an orange crush and a bag of original cheetos.With change left over! There was always some kind of music going on. My Uncles' Elecktra 225, black on black, blasting his 8 track of Smokey and the miracles, my dad in the garage listening to jazz(I thought it was strange music where no one said anything, back then). As I contrast those times with today, I'm sure there are kids who put the Little Wayne cd away in the jewel case after the party. But has the music changed? My first inclination was to say no because I remember not liking some of the things my parents listened to. Rock and roll was definitely a generational bridge.Then I read a list of the top 50 soul albums of December 12, 1970. #1.The Jackson 5's third album,2. Sly and the Family Stone's greatest hits, 3.Issac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and Santana round out the top five. Considering James Brown, Marvin Gaye (super hits album), The Temptations, The Supremes, The Del Phonics, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations are also on the list,it would be wrong of me to put up the top 50 soul albums for late Nov 2008.Especially since Earth Wind& Fire was just getting started and Marvin's "what's going on" was a year away. Yes the music has changed. The talent has changed as well as the lyrical content. The talent pool is a bit watered down. It's a testament to those artists to maintain themselves with all the competition they faced. Marvin hinted at s*xuality or relations. There's no hint today about who's getting done and how the deed goes down. The music has changed. But have we? Stop pretending your not a soul survivor and if your like me a soul thriver. give your children and grands the same opportunity to dislike the music you grew up listening to the way our parents did. They will love you for it when they get older. I love jazz now. Thanks Pops. Don't get me wrong, there are some great artists that really bring it talent wise and lyrically. Angie Stone comes to mind, Nadir, Bilal, John Legend, Floetry, Jill Scott just to name a few. If you catch me driving down the street listening to Earth Wind & Fire I'm not crazy, I'm just representing my ABC's. American Black Classics! Have you heard Brazilian Rhyme lately? What about Incognito or Loose Ends? Stop by my profile and have some fun. Both lists will be posted shortly..
Posted By: arthur smith
Tuesday, November 25th 2008 at 10:14PM
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