Again with The Punks and The Soul

As I compile more volumes of “Punks Got Soul”, I continue to ponder the value of assembling what are (in many cases) inferior versions of classic original songs.  There are some worthwhile reinterpretations of soul music here: from the odd (Talking Heads’ take on “Take Me To The River”, or “Money” by the Flying Lizards) to the pulse-quickening punk covers (I still get a thrill from “Slow Down” by the Cannibals and “Heat Wave” by the Jam) and the genuine love, enthusiasm, and musical quality of some of the more faithful covers by folks like Graham Parker, Chris Bailey, and Elvis Costello.  There are plenty of “classic soul” compilations out there if you want to hear the brilliance and passion of the originals.

But it’s troubling when you consider the history of the music industry (segregating Black artists, cheating them of songwriting royalties, and literally stealing songs).  Most of the musical innovations of the 20th century (blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, rock, reggae, hip hop and electronic music) are Black creations that have been co-opted by white performers who achieved more success and acclaim than the originators who inspired them. And it’s not because the white performers "improved" upon the originals. The music was just made more palatable to white listeners.  Consider the whole Super Bowl halftime show fiasco. The acceptable alternative to a massively popular Puerto Rican performer was a washed up white rapper?   

Here’s a thoughtful article by Sir Shambling on “blue-eyed soul” and its relationship to Black artistry, in the context of the political and social upheavals of the Civil Rights movement in the US.  The author’s admission that he had become prejudiced against white artists is kind of amusing.  As a know-it-all college kid, I once challenged a friend to name a single white blues, gospel, soul or jazz vocalist who is the equal of any of the greatest Black singers.  Being older now and not quite so sure of myself (about anything these days, to be honest), I do know at least two things I can say with a degree of certainty:  there's some great music here, and there's at least one more volume of Punks Got Soul waiting in the wings.