(Volume 22 of Clifton’s Corner. Clifton Weaver, aka DJ Soft Touch, shares some of his favorite spins, old and new, in the worlds of soul, r&b, funk, psych and beyond.)
Sometime during the 1960s it seemed almost every pop/rock group had the same idea, “let’s put a sitar on this!” The two most prominent examples are The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” and the Stones’ “Paint It Black”, but it was the Yardbirds who beat them both with an early version of “Heart Full Of Soul”. Regardless of who was first, or why, some of my favorite 60s tunes make use of the sitar and other eastern elements. Conversely, and just as interesting, is the effect that western artists were having on the music being made in the east. Musicians in India, Turkey, and beyond began incorporating sounds from psychedelia, pop, and r&b/soul to create some of the most compelling and truly progressive music of the era. The following sampling highlights nine of my favorites. Dig in and enjoy.
Phil Upchurch :: Sitar Soul - From the LP Lovin' Feeling, the jazz legend's take on the then prevalent Indian influence on pop music.
Larry Williams / Johnny "Guitar" Watson, & The Kaleidoscope :: Nobody - Interesting song by two r&b/soul greats collaborating with the L.A. psychedelic rock band.
Timebox :: Don't Make Promises - Timebox were a popular mod/club act that bridged the gap between British pop and psychedelia. Here they cover Tim Hardin's composition.
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