Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music / Funky Street

Year Released: 1967 / 1968
Genre: Soul / Funk / R&B

Description:

Issued originally in 1967 on Atco Records, “Sweet Soul Music” became Arthur Conley’s defining hit — an exuberant celebration of the soul era, name-checking Otis Redding, James Brown, and Sam & Dave. Often reissued with “Funky Street” as its B-side, the 7″ pairing epitomizes the joyous, brassy energy of late-’60s soul.

In hip-hop, “Sweet Soul Music” was sampled by Public Enemy on “How to Kill a Radio Consultant” (1990), where Chuck D and the Bomb Squad flipped the horns and rhythmic hits into their dense, sample-heavy soundscape. Its crossover from ’60s soul celebration to late-’80s hip-hop commentary perfectly encapsulates soul’s enduring influence.