I listen to music all day while I’m driving.

I bought a Sirius radio…so I have a lot of options to listen to….and one of the stations that I was listening to for a while is one that features old “soul” music.

Now, it may be “old soul” music….but I’m not really qualified to make that judgement call….and I don’t think that it applies in all cases…so for now, I guess that I’ll have to go with old “soul” music, instead.

One of the bands that they play fairly often is Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Now, I know a lot of their music.

I love that stuff.

It is some soulful music.

But if all you knew of Gladys Knight and the Pips were some of the famous ballads….like “Midnight Train to Georgia” or “Neither One of Us”…you don’t really know what I think this band was about.

Good grief, they rocked HARD.

They were a major funky band.

Listen to this one….

 

“I’ve Got to Use My Imagination” Gladys Knight and the Pips

or maybe…..

this one.

“On and On” Gladys Knight and the Pips

I’m looking at all of their back catalog as I write this….and so much of it was ballads.

I guess that you go with what you know.

Gladys Knight has an amazingly expressive voice.

I think that she could probably sing just about anything….but except for a couple of songs that became standards on the radio, I don’t hear much of it anymore.

I used to really love this song when it came out…still do….

“Daddy Could Swear, I Declare” Gladys Knight and the Pips

I guess that when you do something really well….like all those ballads….the funky stuff gets pushed to the back a little….but this band was so good at so much.

And…who the heck was that bass player?  Was it the same guy on most of these recordings? He was freaking great.

I guess that I was just appreciating what these guys did.

All of this music is just floating out there somewhere, anyway….just pushed out into the universe for us to enjoy at our leisure.

Here’s one more song and then I’ll stop….maybe a ballad this time because that’s what the bulk of the catalog seems to be.

“If I Were Your Woman” Gladys Knight and the Pips

This is all so good.

All these kids who grew up in church singing gospel…I imagine that’s Gladys’ background….approach this music from such a deep place.

There is something really spiritual behind this stuff…residual spirituality that must permeate on a deep down level….molecular level….that comes out when they sing.

Mavis Staples is another one who seems to have that going on….

Man….I love this stuff.

“Soul” music?

I guess that it must be.

Good music, for sure.