the soul capital of the world?
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Ok so pound for pound, which US city would you say gave us the greatest soul and funk music? There are the big names in history like Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, NOLA, Philly and so on. But then you've got the smaller cities. Although not as prolific, some of them put out some seriously heavy records as well. I'm thinking of places like Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Baton Rouge etc... Then also, there are the bigger cities that never got a lot of credit in the Historical sense. Places like Houston or Miami. I definitely don't have an answer to this. I'd be comfortable saying that the Rust Belt as a region put out some seriously massive cuts on all fronts, and is probably where I'd start. But to narrow it down to one city is too tough. Anyone?
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too diverse. The styles are too distinct to be compared so
generally. In other words, Detroit. haha.
Until the one Mr. Canal lets us all know that Detroit is where The Lizards come from and that New Orleans is the One True Funk And Soul City Ever.
is that bad or good?
Some killer soul records may have come from those cities, but to call them soul capitals is a stretch.
if it's not chicago...it's either nyc or l.a.
Can DC get a close 3rd? I would say Chicago and Detroit are in a three-way tie with Memphis as the top spots.
so many labels pre-motown. so many people making music.
but the whole funk triangle in the midwest, ohio, illinois, indiana.
All the ingredients were here, raw R&B, gospel...I would argue soul was born here.
More like a syncronicity with Detroit...happened at the same time in two different places, but I gotta rep the hometown.
and yet...it's detroit...
I've said my final four...
Detroit (winner), Chicago (second), L.A., NYC
pfffff
Dante would list Andy Warhol as a Pittburgh artist & you know that ain't right
I'd replace LA and NYC with NOLA and Memphis. You gotta give it up to them for being associated with soul music more. LA and NYC (and Chicago) had more output just cuz of the size of the city, but nobody really associates those cities with soul when speaking of them.
ahh...well, if you are talking "feeling of"/connection...them maybe I'd choose other...but, I thought we were talking straight output of soul music...therefore I stand by my final four...
I'd remove Chicago from that statement...sure, in the general public's mind, Memphis, Detroit and possibly NOLA comes first, but then again, Chicago gave black music the Chi-Lites, Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, "Rescue Me," "Your Love Keeps On Lifting Me Higher & Higher," the Dells, "Twine Time," Otis Clay, "Shake A Tail Feather," Major Lance, Beggin' Tyrone Davis, all them cats. Chicago may not be THE soul capital, but it is A soul capital - that isn't just record-collector wishful thinking, that's plain brass-tacks facts.
Yeah, you're right... that's why it was in parentheses... I was thinking that for NY and LA mostly.
Sorry.
tops in texas.
how do you figure?
yes, but influential?
it may have a good soul rep with us collector folk, but...
Always good. I live in Oakland now, but am originally from the suburbs of Detroit. Every time I go there for holidays, family, friends -- It makes me want to move back, just so I can pull ridiculous shit all day on the cheap.
I still consider southern/midwestrn cities > coastal cities.