Peak
2
Weeks
15
Score
3,034
Chart Year
1967
"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.
Do you like good music That sweet soul music Just as long as it's swingin' Oh yeah oh yeah Out here on the floor now We're going to a go go Ah dancin' to the music Oh yeah oh yeah Spotlight on Lou Rawls y'all Ah don't he look tall y'all Singin' loves a hurtin' thing now Oh yeah oh yeah Spotlight on Sam and Dave now Ah don't they look boss y'all Singin' hold on I'm comin' Oh yeah oh yeah Spot light on Wilson Pickett That wicked picked Pickett Singing Mustang Sally Oh yeah oh yeah Spotlight on Otis Redding now Singing fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa Oh yeah oh yeah Spotlight on James Brown now He's the king of them all yeah He's the king of them all y'all Oh yeah oh yeah
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 11, 1967 | 81 | 45 |
| 2 | Mar 18, 1967 | 55 | 71 |
| 3 | Mar 25, 1967 | 45 | 81 |
| 4 | Apr 1, 1967 | 30 | 96 |
| 5 | Apr 8, 1967 | 18 | 108 |
| 6 | Apr 15, 1967 | 11 | 115 |
| 7 | Apr 22, 1967 | 7 | 119 |
| 8 | Apr 29, 1967 | 4 | 122 |
| 9 | May 5, 1967 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | May 12, 1967 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | May 19, 1967 | 3 | 123 |
| 12 | May 26, 1967 | 6 | 120 |
| 13 | Jun 2, 1967 | 8 | 118 |
| 14 | Jun 9, 1967 | 27 | 99 |
| 15 | Jun 16, 1967 | 44 | 82 |