Pop Archives

The Groove - What Is Soul (1968)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
Australia Australia
#13 Melbourne #30 Brisbane

Single on Columbia.

A soul-oriented band formed in Melbourne in 1967, The Groove was something of a supergroup. Its members had worked with The Clefs (Tweed Harris), Max Merritt & the Meteors (Peter Williams), The Librettos and Normie Rowe’s Playboys (Rod Stone), Black Pearls and Running Jumping Standing Still (Jamie Byrne), and Steve & the Board (Geoff Bridgford).

Further reading: For a thorough account of The Groove, see Paul Culnane’s article at Milesago which draws on the recollections of Groove guitarist Rod Stone; Wikepedia entry on The Groove.


Ben E. King - What Is Soul (1966)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
USA USA
Original version

Single on Atco, co-written by multi-skilled musician, arranger and producer Bob Gallo.

The first hits of Ben E. King (b.1938, Benjamin Earl Nelson) were as the mellow lead singer of the re-formed Drifters 1959-1960, beginning with the breakthrough hit There Goes My Baby (1959, #2 USA) and peaking with Save The Last Dance For Me (1960, #1 USA), The Drifters' biggest hit.

The original Drifters had been around since 1955, but Ben E. King had been one of The Crowns, the group recruited to become the new Drifters in 1959. King's post-Drifters solo career produced such classics as Spanish Harlem (1961), Stand By Me (1961) and the original English version of I (Who Have Nothing) (1963).

Bill Millar, in his book The Drifters (1971), reckons that Ben E. King sang on 8.9% of Drifters recordings 1955-1970.

References: Bill Millar, The Drifters (Studio Vista, 1971); Phil Hardy et al, Encyclopedia of Rock Vol 1 (Granada/Panther, 1976).


The Ferris Wheel - What Is Soul (1967)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
UK UK

On 1967 Pye album Can't Break The Habit by highly regarded but commercially unsuccessful band formed partly by members of Emile Ford's Checkmates.

The Ferris Wheel were one of England's great lost musical treasures of the middle-late 1960's — immensely popular among club audiences, they were never able to translate their ability to win over crowds into chart success, but they made some great records while they were trying.

Bruce Eder, All Music Guide. See also his review of the album.
 

Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - What Is Soul (1967)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
UK UK

On album Without Reservations by British soul-rock band, also on the retrospective Kites, 1994.


Ben E. King & The Average White Band - What Is Soul (1977)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
Later version

On 1977 Atlantic album Benny And Us. See the review by Jason Elias at All Music Guide.


The Real Thing - What Is Soul (1970)

(Gardner - Stuart)
USA USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as ‘What Is Soul’ by The Groove.

Reissued on Double Shot Of Soul, a retrospective of the Los Angeles Indie label Double Shot whose biggest hit was Count Five’s Psychotic Reaction (1966).

(This is not, I think we can say, the British soul group of the 70s also called The Real Thing.)


Funkadelic - What Is Soul (1970)

(George Clinton Jr. - Eddie Hazel - William Nelson)
USA USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as ‘What Is Soul’ by The Groove.

On 1970 album Funkadelic.


Paul Shaffer - What Is Soul (1989)

(Don Covay - Steve Cropper - Paul Shaffer)
USA USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as ‘What Is Soul’ by The Groove.

On 1989 Capitol album Coast To Coast. Paul Shaffer is Music Director of The Late Show with David Letterman.


The Furys - What Is Soul (1963)

(Harlan - McEachin)
USA USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as ‘What Is Soul’ by The Groove.


Benny Gordon & The Soul Brothers - What Is Soul (1967)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
USA USA

Single on RCA. Produced by Paul Robinson, arranged & conducted by Teacho Wiltshire.

Benny and his Brothers were one of those great – but anonymous – soul bands that made a bunch of wicked 45s for different labels (RCA, Wand, Estill and others) and then faded into the ether.

Thanks to Karel for label credits (via Multiply).


Rob Hoeke Rhythm & Blues Group - What Is Soul (1967)

(Ben E. King - Bob Gallo)
Netherlands Netherlands
#32 Netherlands

Single on Philips by one of several groups led by Rob Hoeke, influential Dutch jazz-blues pianist, singer and harmonica player (1943-1999).

References: Rob Hoeke page at Alex Gitlin’s Nederpop Encyclopedia. User review at DutchCharts.nl.
Thanks to Karel for version alert (via Multiply).