"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.
It reached the number two spot on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard R&B chart and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. J. W. Alexander, 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.
Lyrics
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.
Spotlight on Wilson Pickett. That wicked picket Pickett. Singin 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, yeah. Oh yeah, oh yeah.
