TOP 10 SOUL PERFORMANCES
Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, James Brown+
If you love watching live music performances, you spend a lot of time on YouTube searching for them.
The toughest part of searching for concerts from the pre-iPhone days is there are a limited number. Many of the clips that may claim to be live are music videos or feature lip synching.
PROVOKR has compiled a list of 10 classic live soul performances of songs where the musicians can genuinely be seen live and singing (and not lip synching). This list doesn’t include whole concerts or clips with just audio.
10. James Brown “Out of Sight”
For those that didn’t know who he was, this opening number by the Godfather of Soul on the “T.A.M.I” show in 1964, let the world know forever.
9. Marvin Gaye “Distant Lover,” 1976 Amsterdam
Gaye’s performance gives off a wide range of his soul and vocal range and hits more of a raw nerve than his big hits in some respects.
8. Sam and Dave “Hold On, I’m Comin” – 1967, Norway
One of the great American standards of the 1960’s, co-written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Many great soul performances from the 1960’s and 1970’s were filmed in Europe.
7. Aretha Franklin “Call Me” 1971 Fillmore West
This clip shows the late singer with all of her range in an emotionally charged song from San Francisco with her inspired backing group.
6. Al Green “Let’s Stay Together” – 1972, Rollin on the River show
One of the quintessesntial soul songs of the 1970’s enjoyed a rebirth in the 1990’s after it was played in the Quentin Tarantino film “Pulp Fiction.” This performance follows the original version more faithfully than some others – though they are all great.
5. The Supremes “Where Did Our Love Go” from the Steve Allen Show in 1964
Their first television performance is a heart stopper. The Supremes were one of those groups who crossed over several genres including soul, R&B and pop, particularly this number one hit.
4. Isley Brothers “Shout”
One of the greatest American songs of the 1950s, combining soul with early R&B that helped infuse the development of American rock and roll. This 1959 hit is seen here in 1964 on the television show “Shindig!”
3. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: “You’ve Really Got a hold on Me”
This clip is from the legendary 1964 T.A.M.I show. This performance is marked by the interchange between Smokey Robinson and second lead tenor Bobby Rogers.
2. The Four Tops “I Can’t Help Myself” 1967, Paris
This inspired performance shows The Four Tops singing their number one hit with their backing musicians joined by the house band from the French television show “Tilt.” The spirit of the Four Tops shines through.
1. James Brown “Night Train” ‘T.A.M.I’ show in 1964
The music, the moves, the soul. This closing number shows how Brown’s inspiration on so many other forms of music – from rock to R&B and rap – is so incalculable
