Black Is Soul / Pama Singles Collection

R&B » Soul

Soul music was the result of the urbanization and commercialization of rhythm and blues in the '60s. Soul came to describe a number of R&B-based music styles. From the bouncy, catchy acts at Motown to the horn-driven, gritty soul of Stax/Volt, there was an immense amount of diversity within soul. During the first part of the '60s, soul music remained close to its R&B roots. However, musicians pushed the music in different directions; usually, different regions of America produced different kinds of soul. In urban centers like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, the music concentrated on vocal interplay and smooth productions. In Detroit, Motown concentrated on creating a pop-oriented sound that was informed equally by gospel, R&B, and rock & roll. In the South, the music became harder and tougher, relying on syncopated rhythms, raw vocals, and blaring horns. All of these styles formed soul, which ruled the black music charts throughout the '60s and also frequently crossed over into the pop charts. At the end of the '60s, soul began to splinter apart, as artists like James Brown and Sly Stone developed funk, and other artists developed slicker forms of soul. Although soul music evolved, it never went away -- not only did the music inform all of the R&B of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, there were always pockets of musicians around the world that kept performing traditional soul.

AllMusic Review by Jason Ankeny  [-]

London-based Pama Records was founded by brothers Carl, Harry, and Jeff Palmer in 1967 -- begun as a soul and R&B imprint, the label soon began waging war on Chris Blackwell's Island Records by licensing reggae and rocksteady material directly from Jamaica. In all, Pama issued 150 singles prior to its 1973 demise, all of them now much-coveted by collectors -- the first volume in the Black Is Soulseries compiles many of the most legendary, spanning from sweet soul to blistering funk to lilting Caribbean grooves, and while Pama's output may not rank alongside Island, Trojan, or other likeminded labels of the era, this collection is well worth seeking out. Probably the best-known songs here are the Mohawks' much-sampled "The Champ," the Crowns' dancefloor cult classic "Jerking the Dog," and Max Romeo's saucy "Wet Dream," Pama's biggest hit -- despite garnering no mainstream airplay, the record sold 250,000 copies and cracked the U.K. Top Ten. Other highlights include Bobby Patterson & the Mustangs' "Broadway Ain't Funky No More," the Milwaukee Coasters' "Oh Babe," and Roy Docker's "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday."

Black Is Soul
Pama Singles Collection
Vol 1 & 2

1.- The Mohawks - The Champ 2.- Beverly Simmons - What A Guy 3.- The Crowns - Jerking The Dog 4.- Bobby Patterson & The Mustangs - Broadway Ain't Funky No More 5.- The Crowns - Call Me 6.- Roy Docker - Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday 7.- The Mohawks - Baby Hold On 8.- Norman T. Washington - You've Been Cheating 9.- Max Romeo - Wet Dream 10.- The Milwaukee Coasters - Oh Babe 11.- Rico Rodriguez - Soul Man 12.- The Classics - Honey Bee 13.- The Mohawks - Mony Mony 14.- The Crowns - Since You've Been Gone 15.- Bettye Lavette - Feel Good All Over 16.- Roy Docker - I'm An Outcast 17.- Norman T. Washington - Same Thing All Over 18.- Max Romeo - She's But A Little Girl 19.- The Classics - History Of Africa 20.- Laurel Aitken - Skinhead Train 21.- The Mohawks - Sound Of The Witchdoctor 22.- Norman T. Washington - Tip Toe 23.- Bobby Patterson & The Mustangs - The Good Ol' Days 24.- The Mohawks - Pepsi 25.- The Imperials - Black Is Soul