Sweet Soul Music

This article is about the 1967 song by Arthur Conley. For other uses, see Sweet Soul Music (disambiguation).

"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song first released by the American singer Arthur Conley in March 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding,^[3] it is based on the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" from his posthumous album Shake;^{[citation needed]} the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven.^{[citation needed]}

"Sweet Soul Music"
Single by Arthur Conley
from the album Sweet Soul Music
B-side	"Let's Go Steady"
Released	March 1967
Recorded	January 1967[1]
Studio	FAME, Muscle Shoals, Alabama[1]
Genre	R&B[2] soul[2]
Length	2:20
Label	Atco
Songwriter(s)	Sam Cooke, Arthur Conley and Otis Redding

In the US, "Sweet Soul Music" reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "The Happening" by The Supremes),^[4] and No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. Overseas, it peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.^[5] "Sweet Soul Music" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.^[3]

J.W. Alexander, Cooke's business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for appropriating the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke's name was added to the writer credits, and Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke–Alexander enterprise. ^{[citation needed]}

Lyrics

The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:

• "Going to a Go-Go", by the Miracles; the group is not explicitly mentioned.
• "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing", by Lou Rawls
• "Hold On, I'm Comin'", by Sam & Dave
• "Mustang Sally", by Wilson Pickett
• "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)", by Otis Redding. A brief instrumental version of the chorus for the song is quoted, after Conley says, "Hit it, Otis".

Additionally, James Brown is described as "the king of them all".^[6]

At the end of the song, Arthur Conley sings, "Otis Redding got the feeling."

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.