Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music

First performance: 19/04/1981


Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 102 times (not including snippet performances):
 
Bruce generally performed Sweet soul music as part of Detroit Medley or Twist and shout, and occasionally during the band introductions in Rosalita.

Performed live 46 times as a stand-alone song.
 
2023-01-18 Vogel (The), Red Bank, NJ
Bruce and The E Street Band, including members of The E Street Horns and The E Street Choir, hold a short day of private rehearsals (only about 1.5 hours) for the upcoming tour. Bruce worked on three songs from Only The Strong Survive, spending about twenty minutes running through "Nightshift", which includes a lot of percussion. "Don't Play That Song" was also run through a couple of times, then went back into familiar territory, with one new addition, "Sweet Soul Music", that hadn't been rehearsed yet. Patti Scialfa was not present, but the full band, including backup singers and horns, were. Today was the last day of rehearsals on this location, as on January 19 all equipment will be moved to CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ, and rehearsals will resume at that venue shortly after.
 

2011-07-17 Wonder Bar, Asbury Park
J.T. Bowen & The Sensational Soul Cruisers

2004-04-25 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park
Rumson Country Day School Benefit

1988-08-03 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
1988-08-02 Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain
1988-07-30 Weserstadion, Bremen, West Germany
1988-07-27 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
1988-07-25 Københavns Idrætspark, Copenhagen, Denmark
1988-07-22 Waldbühne, West Berlin, West Germany
1988-07-19 Radrennbahn Weissensee, East Berlin, East Germany
1988-07-17 Olympia-Reitstadion Riem, Munich, West Germany
1988-07-14 St. Jakob Stadion, Basel, Switzerland
1988-07-12 Waldstadion, Frankfurt, West Germany
1988-07-10 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
1988-07-09 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
1988-07-07 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
1988-07-03 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1988-07-02 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1988-06-29 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1988-06-28 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1988-06-25 Wembley Stadium, London, England
1988-06-22 Villa Park, Birmingham, England
1988-06-21 Villa Park, Birmingham, England
1988-06-19 Hippodrome De Vincennes, Paris, France
1988-06-16 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy
1988-06-15 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy
1988-06-11 Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy
1988-05-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1988-05-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1988-05-19 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1988-05-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1988-05-16 Madison Square Garden, New York City
1988-05-13 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
1988-05-10 Met Center, Bloomington, MN
1988-05-09 Met Center, Bloomington, MN

1988-05-06 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
During the " tunnel of love tour" . The soundcheck includes Slim Harpo's "Rainin' In My Heart" (not the Buddy Holly song with the same title), "Big Boss Man", "Let It Be Me", "Cathy's Clown" and "Crying In The Rain" (both also The Everly Brothers) and both "Rock And Roll Music" and "Sweet Little Sixteen" by Chuck Berry. The second song of the soundcheck has historically been titled "The Way You Walk", however a little investigation has revealed it to be John Lee Hooker's "Dimples". Perhaps Bruce had considered including the song in the Express Tour set, but instead settled on "Boom Boom" which will be premiered four days after this show in Bloomington, MN.
 
 
 

1988-05-05 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
1988-05-03 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
1988-05-02 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
1988-04-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1988-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1988-04-25 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1988-04-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA

1981-04-19 Palais Des Sports De Saint-Ouen, Paris, France  
"Sweet Soul Music" is premiered and is performed as a stand-alone song whereas all future renditions for the river tour are as a part of "Detroit Medley". 
 
 
 
during THE DETROIT MEDLEY
 
56 times

1988-04-22 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1988-04-20 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
1988-04-17 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
1988-04-15 Frank Erwin Center, Austin
1988-04-13 Summit (The), Houston
1988-04-12 Summit (The), Houston
1988-04-05 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1988-04-04 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1988-04-02 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1988-04-01 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1988-03-29 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1988-03-28 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1988-03-26 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
1988-03-23 Omni (The), Atlanta
1988-03-22 Omni (The), Atlanta
1988-03-20 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh
1988-03-17 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont
1988-03-16 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1988-03-14 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1988-03-13 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1988-03-09 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1988-03-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1988-03-04 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
1988-03-03 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
1988-02-29 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1988-02-28 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1988-02-25 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
1984-11-08 ASU Activity Center, Tempe, AZ
1984-11-04 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1982-08-15 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park
1981-09-08 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-08-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-24 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-20 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-16 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-11 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1981-08-04 Capital Centre, Largo, MD
1981-07-29 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1981-07-19 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-16 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-13 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-08 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-03 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-02 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-06-08 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-07 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-05 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-04 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-02 Wembley Arena, London, England
 
  • Snippets  ( 41 times )
during RAISE YOUR HAND

2009-09-12 Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
 
during ROSALITA
 
1981-09-14 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati
1981-09-13 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati
1981-09-11 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-10 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-08 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
1981-09-02 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego
1981-08-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-24 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-20 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
1981-08-17 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-16 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
1981-08-12 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1981-08-11 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1981-08-07 Capital Centre, Largo
1981-08-05 Capital Centre, Largo
1981-08-04 Capital Centre, Largo
1981-07-30 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1981-07-29 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
1981-07-19 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-16 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-13 Spectrum, Philadelphia
1981-07-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-08 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-03 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-07-02 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford
1981-06-08 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-07 Birmingham International Arena, Birmingham, England
1981-06-05 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-04 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-02 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-01 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-30 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-29 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-05-27 Brighton Centre (The), Brighton, England
 

Songinfo

"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. Sam 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 Otis Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, a Cooke–Alexander enterprise. The song is an homage to soul music. The following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:

A brief instrumental version of the chorus for the song is quoted, after Conley says, "Hit it, Otis". Additionally, James Brown is described as "the king of them all". At the end of the song, Arthur Conley sings, "Otis Redding got the feeling." 
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

Do you like good music? (yeah, yeah)
Ah, that sweet soul music (yeah, yeah)
Just as long as it's swingin' (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Way out here on the floor, y'all (yeah, yeah)
Ah, going to a go-go (yeah, yeah)
Dancing with the music (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Spotlight on Lou Rawls, y'all (yeah, yeah)
Ah, don't he look boss, y'all? (yeah, yeah)
Singin' Love's A Hurtin' Thing, y'all (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Spotlight on Sam and Dave, y'all (yeah, yeah)
Ah, don't they look great y'all? (yeah, yeah)
Singin' Hold On I'm Comin' (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Spotlight on Wilson Pickett, now (yeah, yeah)
That wicked, wicked Pickett (yeah, yeah)
Singin' Mustang Sally (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Spotlight on Otis Redding, now (yeah, yeah)
Singing fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa (yeah, yeah)
Fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Get in on this one!

Ah, you're lookin' good out there

Spotlight on James Brown, y'all (yeah, yeah)
He's the king of them all, y'all (yeah, yeah)
He's the king of them all, y'all (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah

Do you like good music? (yeah, yeah)
That sweet soul music (yeah, yeah)
Just long as it's swingin' (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah
I got to get the feel, now (yeah, yeah)
I got to get the feel, now (yeah, yeah)
Do you like good music? (yeah, yeah)
That sweet soul music (yeah, yeah)
Help me get the feeling (yeah, yeah)
I want to get the feeling (yeah, yeah)
Otis Redding got the feeling (yeah, yeah)
James Brown, he got the feeling (yeah, yeah)
Oh, I love good music