Sweet Soul Music

About Sweet Soul Music

"Sweet Soul Music" is a soul song, first released by Arthur Conley in 1967. Written by Conley and Otis Redding, it is based on the Sam Cooke song "Yeah Man" from his posthumous album Shake; the opening riff is a quote from Elmer Bernstein's score for the 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven. In the US, "Sweet Soul Music" reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind "The Happening" by The Supremes), and number two on the Billboard R&B chart. Overseas, it peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. "Sweet Soul Music" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. 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. more »