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Motown/Stax/Soul/R&B bands HELP!!

#3
Gecko 5 said:
I'm thinking about starting a band playing old Motown/Stax Soul/R&B and was wondering if anyone out there plays that type of stuff that can aim to a songlist, or your bands website.
Thanks
Click to expand...
if you do it with horns the possibilities are endless.....check out jamersons hook on youtube.....you could get a pretty good set together without leaving detroit,but go to memphis and chicago anyway
 
#4
I'm sure you don't really need help with this - the classics from Motown, Stax and Atlantic are pretty self-evident. I'd be a little suspicious of anyone putting together a soul band if they didn't know what songs to include in the repertoire. ;)
 
#5
Do You Love Me - Contours
Baby Love - Supremes
Stop! In the Name of Love - Supremes
Love is Like an Itchin' in my Heart - Supremes
You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - (we medleyed the two versions: Diana Ross and Gaye/Terrell)
Reach Out (I'll Be There) - Four Tops
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) - Four Tops
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch - Four Tops
Bernadette - Four Tops
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight
This Old Heart of Mine - Isley Brothers
It's Your Thing - Isley Brothers
Darling Dear - Jackson 5
Shotgun - JR Walker
Home Cookin' - JR Walker
I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gaye
Let's Get it On - Gaye
How Sweet it is - Gaye
Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing - Gaye/Terrell
You're all I Need to Get By - Gaye-Terrell
My Guy - Mary Wells
You Really Got a Hold on Me - Smokey
You Better Shop Around - Smokey
I Second that Emotion - Smokey
Cruisin' - Smokey
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Temptations
The Way You Do the THings You Do - Temptations
Get Ready - Temptations
Just my Imagination - Temptations
Cloud Nine - Temptaions
Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Temptations
My Girl - Temptations
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - David Ruffin
I Wish - Stevie
Superstition - Stevie
Sir Duke - Stevie
For Once in my Life - Stevie
Master Blaster - Stevie
Higher Ground - Stevie
Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie
Why Can't We Be Friends - War
Slippin' Into Darkness -War
Spill the Wine - War
Soul Vaccination - ToP
Diggin' on James Brown - ToP
So Very Hard to Go - ToP
What is Hip - ToP
Dance to the Music - Sly
Everyday People - Sly
Stand - Sly
Thank You (Falletin Me B Mice Elf Agin) - Sly
A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles
What'd I Say - Ray Charles
I Got a Woman - Ray Charles
At Last - Etta James
Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
The Glory of Love - Otis Redding
Hard to Handle - Otis Redding
Wrap it Up - Sam & Dave
Hold On! I'm a Comin - Sam & Dave
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
Clean Up Woman - Betty Wright
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
I'll Be Around - The Spinners
We Are Family - Sister sledge
Stomp - Brothers Johnson
Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson
Chank - John Scofield
Funky Broadway - Wilson Pickett
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
In the Midnight Hour - wilson Pickett
634-5789 - Wilson Pickett
Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd
The Jam - Graham Central Station
Hair - Graham Central Station
Who's Making Love - Johnnie Taylor
Pick up the Pieces - Average White Band
Stand by Me - Ben E King
Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky - Lee Dorsey
Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
I'm So Tired of Being Alone - Al Green
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Love and Happiness - Al Green
Here I Am - Al Green
Tighten it Up - Archie Bell andthe Drells
Good Times - Chic
BOogie Wonderland - EWF
Let's Groove Tonight - EWF
September - EWF
Shining Star - EWF
Lady Marmalade - Labelle
Postizo - Marc Ribito
Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - MJ
PYT - MJ
Rock with You - MJ
I Wanna Testify - The Parliaments
Superfreak - Rick James
Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack
The Jackal - Ronny Jordan
Tell Me Something Good - Rufus
It's a Shame - The Spinners
Long Train Running - The Doobie Brothers
Let's Go Crazy - Prince
I Would Die 4 U - Prince
When Doves Cry - Prince
Raspberry Berry - Prince
Kiss - Prnce
Cissy Strut - The Meters
Tippi-Toes - The Meters
Good Old Funky Music - The Meters
They All Ask'd For You - The Meters
What's Going On - Gaye
Cold Sweat - James Brown
Sex Machne - James Brown
The Payback - James Brown
It's a Man's Man's Man's Word - James Brown
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Chameleon - Herbie Hancock
Hang up your Hang Ups - Herbie
For the Love of Money - The O'Jays
Flashlight - Parliament
Chocolate City - Parliament
 
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#6
bass12 said:
I'm sure you don't really need help with this - the classics from Motown, Stax and Atlantic are pretty self-evident. I'd be a little suspicious of anyone putting together a soul band if they didn't know what songs to include in the repertoire. ;)
Click to expand...

True that! OP - check out Billboard.com top 100 Funk, R&B for starters. Depends where you cut the line: Parliament in or out?

-richard
 
#7
Here's the set list my band most commonly used. And I'm going to echo BASS12 a little bit here. It's a little odd to be putting together this kind of band without having a very good idea of the tunes you would like. But, this music is my passion, so:

Set 1
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
Get Ready
At Last
Reach Out (I’ll Be There)
This Old Heart of Mine
Heatwave
Everyday People
Baby I Love You
Let’s Get It On
Dancing in the Streets
I Wish
It’s Your Thing
Shotgun
Superstition
I Will Survive

Set 2
Dance to the Music
Celebration
Respect
6345789
Let’s Stay Together
Sir Duke
Shining Star
Good Times
Lady Marmalade
Brickhouse
Disco Inferno
Diggin’ on James Brown
Thank U
Hard to Handle
What’s Going On
Use Me

Set 3
I Got You (I Feel Good)
Pick up the Pieces
What is Hip
Mustang Sally
My Girl
Can’t Help Myself
Love and Happiness
Hold On! I’m a Comin’
Cold Sweat
I’ll Take You There
Knock on Wood
Groove Me
Try a Little Tenderness
Heard it Through the Grapevine
What Becomes/Broken Hearted
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Soul Man
 
#8
bass12 said:
I'm sure you don't really need help with this - the classics from Motown, Stax and Atlantic are pretty self-evident. I'd be a little suspicious of anyone putting together a soul band if they didn't know what songs to include in the repertoire. ;)
Click to expand...

I know what you are saying.
If it were up to me I would pick songs that are not necessarily hits.
Thats my reason for the post/question.
 
#9
These are some of the less well known from the above list:

I Wanna Testify - Parliament
Clean Up Woman - Betty Wright
Hang Up Your Hang Ups - Herbie Hancock
Postizo - Marc Ribito
Hold On! I'm a Comin - Sam & Dave
Tippi-Toes - The Meters
They All Ask'd For You - The Meters
The Jackal - Ronny Jordan
Chank - John Scofield
Scorpio - Dennis Coffey
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - David Ruffin
Soul Vaccination - ToP
Love is Like an Itchin' in my Heart - Supremes
Wrap it Up - Sam & Dave




Also, check out new Raphael Saadiq, Jamie Lidell, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
 
#10
 
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#13
Note: Might be some repeats. You can find CDs/MP#s on Amazon.com
1. Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
2. Shop Around - Shorty Long
3. Please Mr. Postman - The Velvelettes, The Velvelettes
4. Jamie - Martha & the Vandellas, Martha & the Vandellas
5. One Who Really Loves You - Jimmy Ruffin
6. Do You Love Me - The Marvelettes Listen
7. Beechwood 4-5789 - Nickolas Ashford, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
8. You Beat Me to the Punch - The Originals
9. Stubborn Kind of Fellow - The Spinners, The Spinners
10. Two Lovers - Mary Wells Listen
11. You've Really Got a Hold on Me - Martha & the Vandellas, Martha & the Vandellas
12. Come and Get These Memories - Marvin Gaye
13. Pride and Joy - Stevie Wonder
14. Fingertips, Pt. 2 [Live] - Martha & the Vandellas, Martha & the Vandellas
15. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - The Miracles
16. Mickey's Monkey - Eddie Holland Listen
17. Leaving Here - The Temptations, The Temptations
18. Way You Do the Things You Do - Mary Wells
19. My Guy - The Miracles, Smokey Robinson
20. Devil With a Blue Dress On - Brenda Holloway
21. Every Little Bit Hurts - The Four Tops Listen
22. Baby I Need Your Loving - Martha & the Vandellas, Martha & the Vandellas
23. Dancing in the Streets - Carolyn Crawford
24. My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) - The Velvelettes,
25. Needle in a Haystack - The Supremes, The Supremes
26. Baby Love - The Supremes, The Supremes
27. Come See About Me - Marvin Gaye
28. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - The Temptations, The Temptations

1. My Girl - The Marvelettes
2. He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' - The Four Tops
3. Ask the Lonely - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
4. Shotgun - Martha & the Vandellas, Martha & the Vandellas
5. Nowhere to Run - Brenda Holloway
6. When I'm Gone - The Miracles
7. Ooo Baby Baby - The Four Tops
8. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Contours
9. First I Look at the Purse - The Miracles
10. Tracks of My Tears - The Four Tops
11. It's the Same Old Song - Eddie Holland
12. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) - Kim Weston
13. Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) - Stevie Wonder
14. Uptight (Everything's Alright) - The Marvelettes
15. Don't Mess with Bill - The Elgins
16. Darling Baby - The Isley Brothers
17. This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) - The Monitors
18. Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)
19. Shorty Long - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
20. (I'm A) Road Runner - The Temptations, The Temptations
21. Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Mary Wells
22. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
23. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) - Chris Clark
24. Love's Gone Bad - The Supremes, The Supremes
25. You Can't Hurry Love - The Temptations, The Temptations
26. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Elgins
27. Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Four Tops

1. Reach Out (I'll Be There) - The Temptations, The Temptations
2. (I Know) I'm Losing You - The Four Tops
3. Standing in the Shadows of Love - Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston
4. It Takes Two - The Contours
5. Hunter Gets Captured by the Game - Martha & the Vandellas,
6. Jimmy Mack - The Four Tops
7. Bernadette - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
8. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
9. More Love - Gladys Knight & the Pips, Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
11. I Second That Emotion - The Temptations
12. I Wish It Would Rain - Rita Wright
13. I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You - Bobby Taylor
14. Does Your Mama Know About Me - The Marvelettes,
15. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing - Diana Ross,The Supremes
16. Love Child - Stevie Wonder
17. For Once in My Life - The Temptations,
18. Cloud Nine - Marvin Gaye
19. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
20. Baby, Baby Don't Cry - Edwin Starr
21. Twenty-Five Miles - David Ruffin
22. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
23. What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) - The Temptations
24. I Can't Get Next to You - Mary Wells
25. Baby, I'm for Real - The Supremes, The Supremes
26. Up the Ladder to the Roof - The Jackson 5,

1. I Want You Back - The Originals
2. Bells - Rare Earth
3. Get Ready - The Jackson 5
4. ABC - The Temptations
5. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) - Jackson 5
6. Love You Save - Stevie Wonder
7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Edwin Starr
8. War - Marvin Gaye
9. It's a Shame - Diana Ross
10. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - The Four Tops
11. Still Water (Love) - The Jackson 5, The Jackson 5
12. I'll Be There - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
13. Tears of a Clown - The Supremes
14. Stoned Love - Gladys Knight & the Pips
15. If I Were Your Woman - The Temptations
16. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - Marvin Gaye
17. What's Going On - The Jackson 5
18. Never Can Say Goodbye
19. Nathan Jones - The Supremes,
20. I Don't Want to Do Wrong - Gladys Knight & the Pips
21. Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
22. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye
23. I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth
24. I Just Want to Celebrate - The Miracles
 
#14
Gecko 5 said:
I'm thinking about starting a band playing old Motown/Stax Soul/R&B and was wondering if anyone out there plays that type of stuff that can aim to a songlist, or your bands website.
Thanks
Click to expand...


I hope you play in a circle of high caliber musicians.I sure you are aware of what it would take to pull those songs off.

Complex bass lines and class A vocals are at the core of a lot if not al of those songs.

And remember those songs were all perfomed by singing groups, with top notch back up bands. Not the typical band format.

I can play but you won't see me pulling off Bernadett note for note.

And no offence, but you just don't sit back and say,I'm thinking about starting a band playing old Motown/Stax Soul/R&B Something as difficult as what your talking about doing usually evolves from more than one person thoughts about what would be a good idea.
 
#15
1. Got to Be There - Michael Jackson
2. Floy Joy - The Supremes, The Supremes
3. Simple Game - The Four Tops
4. Walk in the Night - Junior Walker & the All-Stars
5. Ben - Michael Jackson
6. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
7. Silly Wasn't I - Valerie Simpson
8. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
9. Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. Touch Me in the Morning - Diana Ross
11. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
12. Keep on Truckin', Pt. 1 - Eddie Kendricks
13. Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks
14. Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5
15. Do It Baby - The Miracles
16. Shoe Shoe Shine - The Dynamic Superiors
17. Harmour Love - Syreeta
18. Love Power - Willie Hutch
19. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - G.C. Cameron
20. Love Machine, Pt. 1 - The Miracles
21. Walk Away from Love - David Ruffin

1. Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson
2. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
3. I Want You - Marvin Gaye
4. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
5. Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1 - Marvin Gaye
6. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
7. Easy - The Commodores
8. You Can't Turn Me off (In the Middle of Turning Me On) - High Inergy
9. Brick House - The Commodores
10. You and I - Rick James
11. Three Times a Lady - The Commodores
12. There'll Never Be - Switch
13. Heaven Must Have Sent You - Bonnie Pointer
14. Sail On - The Commodores
15. Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
16. Still - The Commodores
17. With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston, Syreeta
18. Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson
19. I Need Your Lovin' - Teena Marie
20. Being With You - Smokey Robinson

1. Upside Down - Diana Ross
2. Give It to Me Baby - Rick James
3. One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
4. Square Biz - Teena Marie
5. Lady (You Bring Me Up) - The Commodores
6. Super Freak - Rick James
7. Right in the Middle (Of Falling in Love) - Bettye LaVette
8. Let It Whip - Dazz Band
9. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
10. Time Will Reveal - DeBarge
11. Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards, Siedah Garrett
12. I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
13. Treat Her Like a Lady - The Temptations
14. Ebony Eyes - Rick James, Smokey Robinson
15. Nightshift - The Commodores
16. Rhythm of the Night - DeBarge
17. Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
18. In My House - The Mary Jane Girls

1. Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder
2. Who's Johnny - El DeBarge
3. Lady Soul - The Temptations
4. Nail It to the Wall - Stacy Lattisaw
5. Talk to Me - Chico DeBarge
6. Just to See Her - Smokey Robinson
7. One Heartbeat - Smokey Robinson
8. Dial My Heart - The Boys
9. Him or Me - Today
10. Your Sweetness - Good Girls
11. Where Do We Go from Here? - Johnny Gill, Stacy Lattisaw
12. Rub You the Right Way - Johnny Gill
13. Slow Motion - Gerald Alston
14. Iesha - Another Bad Creation
15. Motownphilly - Boyz II Men
16. I Love Your Smile - Shanice
17. End of the Road - Boyz II Men
 
#16
1. Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)- Carla Thomas
2. Last Night- The Mar-Keys
3. You Don't Miss Your Water- William Bell
4. Green Onions- Booker T. & The M.G.'S
5. Walking The Dog- Rufus Thomas
6. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)- Otis Redding
7. Candy- The Astors
8. Respect- Otis Redding
9. You Don't Know Like I Know- Sam & Dave
10. I Want Someone- The Mad Lads
11. Hold On I'm Coming- Sam & Dave
12. Let Me Be Good To You- Carla Thomas
13. Your Good Thing (Is About To End)- Mable John
14. Knock On Wood- Eddie Floyd
15. B-A-B-Y- Carla Thomas
16. Tramp- Otis Redding
17. Soul Finger- The Bar-Kays
18. Born Under A Bad Sign- Albert King
19. Soul Man- Sam & Dave
20. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay- Otis Redding
21. I Got A Sure Thing- Ollie & The Nightingales
22. Soul Limbo- Booker T. & The M.G.'S 2:22
23. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)- Eddie Floyd
24. What A Man- Linda Lyndell
25. Private Number- William Bell
26. Who's Making Love- Johnnie Taylor
27. I Forgot To Be Your Lover- William Bell 2:20 $0.99 Buy Track
28. I Like What You're Doing (To Me)- Carla Thomas

1. Time Is Tight- Booker T. & The M.G.'S
2. So I Can Love You- The Emotions
3. Walk On By- Isaac Hayes
4. Do The Funky Chicken- Rufus Thomas
5. Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone- Johnnie Taylor
6. Mr. Big Stuff- Jean Knight
7. Never Can Say Goodbye- Isaac Hayes
8. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get- The Dramatics
9. Respect Yourself- The Staple Singers
10. Theme From "Shaft"- Isaac Hayes
11. Son Of Shaft- The Bar-Kays
12. That's What Love Will Make You Do-Little Milton
13. I've Been Lonely (For So Long)- Frederick Knight
14. Hearsay- The Soul Children
15. In The Rain- The Dramatics
16. I'll Take You There- The Staple Singers
17. Starting All Over Again- Mel & Tim
18. Dedicated To The One I Love- Temprees
19. If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)- The Staple Singers
20. Cheaper To Keep Her -Johnnie Taylor
21. I'll Be The Other Woman- The Soul Children
22. Woman To Woman- Shirley Brown
 
#18
great thread-I just made the move from playing rock/hard rock to motown and funk a couple of months ago with a working band, and it's been a real learning curve, but the MOST fun I've ever had playing bass...great, feeling, moving music!
 

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