Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
1964
Album Summary
Rock 'n Soul is a 1964 studio album by Grammy Award winning musician Solomon Burke. The album contained seven top 100 hits. Originally released on LP on Atlantic Records, #5009, in November 1964, it was subsequently reissued in March, 1997, on the Sequel Records imprint, #RSACD 861. The album was also reissued in 1998 on the Collectables Records label in conjunction with a June, 1963, Burke album as If You Need Me/Rock 'n' Soul.The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
WikipediaFrom purely a listening standpoint this album is a real joy. Burke's voice is clear, articulate, and soulful. If you're a fan of R&B or soul this album is probably already at the top of your list. Adding in the historical context, that Burke was one of the founding fathers of soul, makes this album even more impressive as you realize that he was forging a new sound.
“Rock ‘n Soul” by Solomon Burke (1964) This guy has a great voice. Excellent control and timbre across his considerable range. Better rock than Elvis; better soul than James Brown. As an album, however, it lacks variety and has a rather monotonous arrangement of backing vocals and instrumentals. A good album, for its historical value if nothing else. 3/5
Who knew? Solid songwriting for the era. Hidden gem lost in the shadow of other Atlantic Stax superstars. He should have been bigger.
Hooray! Some soul! I didn't think I knew this guy but once it started I recognized Cry to Me from that one scene in Dirty Dancing. You know the one. I also know He'll Have to Go but I'm thinking that maybe I really just know the first line, "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone," from a TV ad for one of those compilation records in the 70s. (And maybe not this version. Maybe Elvis?) I really like this! Sexy, bluesy, lots of yearning. So glad to be introduced to it.
Wow what a voice, smooth and silky one minute, rough and ready the next. I loved the punchy mono sound (would love to listen to this on vinyl). The songs are simple and the backing is fairly sparse yet full sounding; the typical 'dry' Atlantic sound, which I love. Back in their copycat days the Rolling Stones covered two tracks from this album (Cry to Me and If You Need Me) so you can see how influential it was. It's a bit old fashioned sounding, but who gives a damn when it sounds this good. Not much to fault, so it's easily a 5 star for me.
I can forget that this style made it deeply into the 60s, and heavily influenced what followed in pop. Always down for this kind of thing.
I'm really digging a lot of the stuff on this list from the 50's. I could play this stuff all day in the house. Soothing, classic sounds can permeate these walls anytime.
This is basically an Elvis album. I can see how this is a bridge into R&B but I'm just bored
Es gibt hier so einen Sender, Bayern 1, da werden den ganzen Tag alte Lieder gespielt. Da kann ich mir das gut vorstellen als ein Album was sich perfekt in den langweiligen Hintergrund einfügt.
Ik geeft het toe, ik ben een liefhebber van soul (en dan vooral de Motown sound) maar had nog nooit van Solomon Burke gehoord. Hij is dus van hetzelfde label als bekende artiesten als The Drifters, Percy Sledge en Aretha Franklin. Voor mij springt dit album er niet echt uit. Er zijn geen nummers die me echt heel erg raken. De composities swingen gewoon niet genoeg of zo? Je hoort soms wel nog wat invloeden uit de jaren '50 wat het wel weer bijzonder maakt. Neemt niet weg dat het gewoon een steengoed album is verder. Solomon is een artiest waar je wel zeker meer van moet luisteren, zoals het album dat samen met de band De Dijk is gemaakt (bedankt Roel voor de tip). Van het album "Rock 'n Soul" is het nummer "Hard, Ain't It Hard" een van de lekkerste nummers, maar "If You Need Me" gaat er na een tijdje ook wel bovenuit steken. Voor mij zijn er echter betere nummers op andere albums, zoals "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)" #kippenvel en "What A Woman" dat dus gewoon een verbeterde versie van het Nederlandstalige nummer is.
mmmm very rock and soul passed by quick, there wasnt any one song i felt i wanted to skip. it was all very stimulating to my ears 5/5 maybe??
Loved it!! Beautiful R&B album. Never listened to this geezer before, so I'll definitely check out more of his craft.
If you want that album that stokes that fire of romantic angst, the kind that endears you to the lady who chose you but took her sweet time doing so, then this album is for you. If you want that album that provokes that romantic angst whilst in pursuit of the lady you love, but things haven't developed as you hoped they would, and you don't know why but are insistent they should, then this album is for you, but you might also want to think about moving on. If you want that album that reminds you of how decisive and successful you were in landing the woman of your dreams, then this is the album for you. If you are at a 50s and 60s diner and there's a jukebox, then this album is for you. If you want to relive the late night informercials of those classic love songs of the 60s, then this album is for you. Solomon Burke has the incredible voice of a crooner, with gospel fervor. The album is aptly titled 'Rock 'n Soul' as the vocals and lyrics are very much what we would expect from soul, but the music while not quite less 'soul' seemed more inclusive of 'rock'. This listener knows a lot of little things from this era of music, mostly from movies and pop culture, and the experience with 'Rock 'N Soul' is an educational one. Solomon Burke is just too good at this music, and after further research, it becomes clear why. He's part of, if not the baseline for this genre. We could with valid criticism call everyone else imitators, and lament that Solomon Burke wasn't more popular as some of his contemporaries. "Rock 'N Soul" by Solomon Burke gets a 5/5 for this very reason. We can listen to Elvis, The Righteous Brothers, even James Brown, but this album is a ground zero for those talents. Where this album might lack in experimentalism and variety that appeals to the 21st century listener, this album does something even more valuable --- it defines where our music can go from here.
What an absolute gem. His voice has the power of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. The songs are irrisistable.
Me ha encantado. No conocía ninguna canción. Una voz muy bonita. Y emociona su interpretación.
I really really liked this album. Some of my favorites: If You Need Me Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) Hard, Ain't It Hard I liked the production a lot. I don't listen to basically anything pre mid-60s, and I like how the guitar was panned all the way to one channel with other instruments sometimes solitary in a channel and sometimes mixed stereo. It felt like the guitar was next to me and not "around me" like I'm used to. I listened through it twice and want to listen again. 5/5
Lækkert gammel rock og soul album. Flere fede sange Bla. Everybody needs somebody to love
He's new to me. Ache in his voice that contrasts well with the tight instrumentation and pristine backing vocals.
Veldig pent, fine blues låter, bra synging og spilling. Veldig sjarmerende. Jeg ville vanligvis ikke vært så interessert i sånn musikk, men dette traff så bra at jeg drar opp scoren.
Really dug this! Blended in places, but clearly was a bedrock for more R&B moving forward.
Tres bon album avec beaucoup de soul et de rock comme son nom l’indique. 4.25 car un peu repetitif, mais c’est l’epoque.
This was one more great album that I absolutely didn't know. It's incredible how this project has been a great introduction for some important musicians for me.
Absolutely wonderful. A very ownable album that people would enjoy as background music. Feels like a rainy Sunday with coffee type of album.
One word Wednesday = Enlightening. But I can’t stop at one word - really, really great stuff even though it’s outside my normal listening universe. Great voice, and I’ve never heard of this singer prior. Nice
Aika hempeää ja sielukasta musaa. Äänimaailma oli raikas ja avara, tykkäsin. Tiedä sitten johtuiko saundin diggailu itsestään levystä vai siitä, kun siirryin Tidalin hi-fi -tilaajaksi?
Enjoyed the album. Didn’t know what to expect and thought it might be more ‘rock n roll’ but was actually more soul and R&B. Made me wonder if he had any association with the likes of the Drifters but don’t think he did.
All hail King Solomon! I've always admired Solomon Burke's music, but was admittedly more familiar with his late-career efforts. This album was a revelation to me. The way he integrates gospel, country, and folk influences into soul music feels sui generis, even today. I really appreciate the range and passion behind the music. Ahead of its time in 1964, that's for sure! Favourite songs: "Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)", "Cry to Me"
gah, another 3.5. It hops up to a 4 because it has that good 50s-ish oldies sound that I like even though it came out in 1964.
I loved this one. To me this is one of those albums where everything comes together just right/just enough to make it an easy, enjoyable listen. Smooth soul with a touch of gospel at times and an almost funky r&b vibe at others. Lyrics sometimes rely on phrases that seem cliche now but do so without being cringy or too repetitive. Each song tells it's story without dragging on after that. Great use of supporting vocals, just where they were needed. Listened to this three times and will definitely come back.
Pretty cool album! I appreciate the vibes on a lot of the tracks and have actually already given the full thing a few listens.
Heerlijke soul. Prachtige stem. Leuk album voor een regenachtige zondag tijdens het bakken van een taart :)
I loved this! I sometimes find soul blurs into one a bit, but these songs were brill. would like to listen again
album name checks out. it promises both rock and soul, and that is exactly what it delivers - there's some great old-school rock & roll, and there are some tracks just dripping with the man's naked soul. given what was about to happen in american music at the time it was released, with the british invasion just starting to get properly underway, this album must've felt like a holdover from a time whose time was passing. i'm glad it managed to hang on, though, because it's a great view into the maturing of bluesy rock, and the beginnings of proper soul, all in one.
The Solomon Burke album is sort of a “cool, obscure” , but still a fun record. (7/10) FT: Cry to Me, He'll Have To Go, If You Need Me
Absolutely Classic Sunday Music. Very easy to groove and rock to this piece, and I would say the percussions were played very well.
Just what it says on the label: a healthy mix of soul and rock n roll. Solomon expertly blends the styles; both sides of the coin feel equally represented and endlessly enjoyable.
Daaaaamn, dude’s one of the best soul singers and is from Philly? Who knew? Album kinda one-note, but every performance is great 4/5
Cry To Me is a stunning track. Smooth as. Definitely an artist to warrant further listening.
this is the kind of music i like listening to when im doing stuff around the house like dishes or folding clothes, whistling along, twirling for no reason and feel like im in a movie. the songs blended in with each other for me and not all of them were the most memorable on their own, but for me it was more the entire experience than each song to its own!
Burke reminds me of Brown, Cooke, and Womack. Maybe some Ray Charles too. He’s not quite at the level of those guys but he’s got a sound and the sound of soul.
He has a great voice. It's interesting hearing this early bridge between R&B and Soul. Definitely a foundational record worthy of being included here.
Bombastic vocal performances, everything here is super slick. Not something I'd always listen to but it's very nice.
Love his voice and the way he spans genres. I think it's hilarious when he name checks Sam Cooke and Ray Charles on "Can't nobody love you."
Very interesting early soul music. If you like soul and R&B, this album is an interesting look at the early development of the genre.
A new artist and new music for me. I apparently had seen a clip of Burke's performance at his induction to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, but apparently I didn't remember much about that. I liked this album. Some of the tracks had elements that sounded like Burke might have influenced Cee Lo Green. "Cry to Me" and "Hard, Ain't it Hard" were the tracks I rated the highest. Both had a good energy and a good groove. This would be an easy album to put on again, to listen to something different than I normally do. Rounding up to 4 stars.
Boy does Solomon have a voice. Feels like a good album for a cold fall day next to the fire. A little, uh, old timey for me but a pleasant listen.
I love soul but I was a little underwhelmed on first listen. I guess I prefer the dance tracks to the slow jams and I didn’t recognise anything on here. I enjoyed it more the second time around and do appreciate that he was an important step in creating the genre. His wiki is worth a read!
I'm surprised I've never head of this artist! The songs have exciting instrumentation and the vocal performance is very moving! Especially in songs like "If You Need Me"!
This one kind of stunned me. I was not expecting so many quality songs. Us there a genre Solomon can't do and make his own. He does a country song that is note perfect. I had to spin this one twice to begin to appreciate his incredible range. 4.5 🌟
This is a pretty good record. Cry To Me is a great classic tune. You Can't Love 'Em All is a little creepy in a Mambo Number 5 kind of way. Solomon has such a powerful voice and I like how subtly he goes from crooning to wailing. The album has a really great 60's R&B/Soul feel.
Iv never heard of Solomon Burke before but I have heard cry to me before from dirty dancing. I’m a fan of Sam Cooke and Otis Reading so was always going to enjoy this. A great soul album one I’ll add to my rotation.
There’s an honesty and purity and directness to this singing and playing that is very rewarding. Burke had such a big voice, but it’s agile and fluid, too, moving smoothly through the different sub-styles (e.g., Calypso, blues, ballads). “You Can’t Love Them All” and “Beautiful Brown Eyes” are the highlights for me. 4/4. Easy.
Imagine have the soul to sing 'Cry to Me' with the power and emotion of Solomon Burke. Almost makes me feel like an inferior human being. Sadly his 'prodigious output' means it's a mixed bag of an album, he was probably already writing his next album 10 minutes after releasing this one.
Great sultry voice! "Cry to Me" gets bonus points for being on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack 😁 A bit of a one-faceted album but a wonderful listen
There are some mind-blowing good songs on this album and some really lack lutre ones. But a great voice and soo much heart ache makes this a stomper.
tem algo sobre esse tipo de musica que nenhum outro tipo consegue entregar, é uma forma de empolgação e ao mesmo tempo tristeza por não ser amado
Smooth - very smooth. Fave track - "If You Need Me". I quite like his preoccupation with landlines.
its in the name i guess old time rock and soul mixed, i love the sound on this track for some reason feels different than other records from its time, decent songs too
I enjoyed listening to this, but I'll probably never listen to it again. I'm not great at reviewing things but I enjoyed this listen. So yea, there it is.
I really enjoyed the blues-rock blend on this album, and while the lyrics were very simple, his emotions poured out, and I could feel the sting of heartbreak seven decades gone. Cry to Me was my personal favorite, I also especially loved If You Need Me and Beautiful Brown Eyes.
Classic foundational stax soul. Amazing performance, pretty good songs. Coming so soon after Ray Charles may have done this album a disservice.
Obviously I’m gonna love 60s R&B. Feels a bit like “Otis Redding with more production”
I feel like I'm in a very cool bay area brunch joint. Or possibly a Quentin Tarantino film. Great, but great for specific contexts is what I'm saying: not an everyday listen. (Except why not? Because it doesn't feel like "my life"?)
An overall delight, with shades of the great Sam Cooke. This is just loaded with hit after hit. The ideal album for those who can't give their love to just one person.
A historically noteworthy and highly listenable album. I really love the very simple and early production on this album, but you can tell they were trying some things. The instrumentation sounds great and Solomon's voice is like silk. If you wanted one criticism its that the songwriting is a bit samey after a while, but then again, its soul, that's not really the point. What a pleasure to listen to.
Fun songs from an era long gone. The picking is excellent and reminds me of how Brian Jones played. The intricate picking continues through the verses in a way that isn't interruptive. The ability to do this impresses me.
Una joya oculta. No conocía el nombre ni el disco y la verdad es que es muy bueno. Algo como entre Otis Redding y Elvis de sus primeros años (?).
Very ok. Should be called “soul” no rock here. That said, he has a great voice and there are good songs here. Just a little too slow in general.
Tämä(kin) oli hyvän fiiliksen levy. Ei täysin uus tuttavuus, mut positiivinen bongaus silti
Vähän pelotti kun levyn kuunnelluin biisi ei suuremmin säväyttänyt, mutta ihan kivasti soiva kokonaisuus.
Good album of 60's rock/soul. That being said there may be later artists that I enjoy more of this style.
Nice 60's vibe - title suggests its a mix of rock and soul. Easy listening but few song deviate from each other.
Ensimmäisellä kuuntelukerralla tämä tuntui täysin yhdentekevältä, kädenlämpöiseltä tunnelmoinnilta. Jollain oudolla tavalla tämä kuitenkin nappasi mukaansa seuraavilla kuunteluilla. Lopulta ihan miellyttävää, joskaan ei erityisen merkityksellistä, kuunneltavaa
Does exactly what it says on the box. A good portion of the songs do follow the same drum pattern, but the emotion here is palpable.
A fun listen! Outside of my normal wheelhouse, but I'm glad to have found it. Not groundbreaking, but nice smooth listening.
Oh boy oh boy what a set of pipes. The old romantic in me can't resist some of the tunes.
Eh, kanskje jeg mangler den musikkhistoriske konteksten, men dette albumet var veldig ordinært. Mange fine sanger, bra musikk. Jeg forstår likevel ikke hvorfor dette albumet er på listen over beste album noen sinne. Fin musikk =/= bra album. 5+/10
Very pleasant listening from a bygone era. I could see this being a nice thing to have a little private dance to or making/eating dinner together.