Soultown's extensive repertoire has been carefully selected to include highly dance-able, well known, well loved songs. Testament to the popularity of songs from this era is proven by their use in modern films, countless TV & radio advertisements, and by being covered by many of today's contemporary artists.
| Aint Too Proud to Beg | Originally a hit for the Temptations on the Motown label, Soultown's treatment of the song is a guaranteed foot-tapper. |
| Heard it Thru the Grapevine | The original is by Marvin Gaye, released in 1969. It was an international hit and is now more commonly associated with the famous Levis commercial. This version is a more lively and in Soultown's view much better version by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Both versions are on the Motown label. |
| Try a Little Tenderness | This beautiful standard was revitalised through performances by Otis Redding, and is now probably better known from the film "The Commitments". Much of Soultown's act pays tribute the late great soul legend, Otis Redding. |
| Get Ready | Recorded by The Temptations on the Motown label and used recently as the theme music to the hit film "Jackie Brown". Soultown's version is full of excellent vocal harmonies. |
| It Takes Two | As the title implies, this song is a duet. The original was sung by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, and recorded on the Motown Label. |
| Uptight | Recorded by Stevie Wonder on the Motown label. This is a high tempo frenzy of relentless vocals, pounding bass lines, funky guitar and screaming horns. |
| Higher & Higher | Jackie Wilson, of "Reet Petite" fame recorded this memorable tune in the 60's. Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack while performing in New Jersey in 1975. He died nine years later. |
| Higher | Sly and The Family Stone were the pioneers of funk way back in the late 60's & early 70's. The band recorded some of the funkiest music in the universe, Higher being one of their more famous titles. Without Sly and The Family Stone, there would be no Prince, no Jamiroquai, no George Clinton, no Lenny Kravitz, no etc. etc. |
| What's Goin' On? | This is the title track of Marvin Gaye's so soulful 1971 album. This masterpiece was inspired by Marvin's brother Frankie, upon his return from the Vietnam War. The album's quality owes much credit to the thumping bass lines delivered by the Motown supremo bassist, James Jamerson. |
| Let's Stay Together | Al Green recorded the original, it was later covered by Tina Turner. This is one of Soultown's finest love songs. |
| Aint no Sunshine | A Bill Withers original. This tune is so well known that Soultown often offer up the microphone to any budding Bill Withers wannabes in the audience. |
| Easy | Lionel Richie decided to form a singing group in the sole hope that the group would be a vehicle for meeting girls. The group became known as the Commodores and Easy (like a Sunday morning) is one of their finest ballads. The song has since been covered by the rock band Faith No More, among others. |
| Dock of the Bay | Everyone knows this brilliant Otis Redding song. Otis died in a plane crash in December 1967. In the wake of this tragedy, Dock of the Bay became an international hit. |
| Twenty Five Miles | This Edwin Star song is one of Soultown's favourites with it's heavy bass lines, and is delivered with bags of energy. |
| Feel the Need | Another Motown gem from The Detroit Emeralds. Soultown's beautiful vocals and subtle guitar lines pay perfect tribute to this 70's hit. |
| Sweetest Feeling | This Jackie Wilson song is bound to strike a chord with anyone that has ever known the feeling of being in love. |
| How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You) | Another Superb Marvin Gaye song. This one bounces along with catchy bass lines and wonderful Saxophone licks. |
| Respect | This Otis Redding original is better known as performed by Aretha Franklin. Soultown play Aretha's version. |
| Treat Her Right | Soultown usually play this as an opener, with loud, high energy choruses played between it's subtle and soulful verses, this song sets the scene for the evening's entertainment. The song featured in the film "The Commitments" |
| Play that Funky Music | Wild Cherry recorded this song all about a rock band that discovered funk. Soultown use this song as a way to introduce the band members for their respective solo's. |
| Rescue Me | Another instantly recognisable Aretha Franklin tune, which features the brilliant vocals of Chichi, Soultown's female vocalist. |
| Reach Out (I'll be there) | The Four Tops recorded this re-assuring number on the Motown label in the 60's. The song is noted for its use of modulation and interesting arrangement. Recently it was used in the Tetley Tea TV advert. |
| My Girl | Written by Smokey Robinson and performed by both the Temptations and Otis Redding, My Girl is another great Motown tune. Used more recently in the film title of the same name. |
| We Can Work it Out | This Beatles tune may at first look slightly out of place in this line up, until you give Stevie Wonder's interpretation of the song a listen. Stevie replaced the jangly guitar lines with Motown style guitar chops over an up-tempo beat and a funky clavitone rhythm. |
| Signed Sealed Delivered | Another treat from the earlier recordings of Stevie Wonder, Soultown perform this with all the gusto of the original. |
| Superstition | This is yet another well known and well covered Stevie Wonder hit, recorded on the Motown label. By the time he was 12, Stevie Wonder had mastered the Keyboards, Drums and Harmonica - all this despite being blind. |
| I Wish | A Stevie Wonder song which harks back to the days of childhood innocence. Some really funky rhythms in this one. Soultown's interpretation pays tribute to both Stevie's live and recorded renditions of the song |
| Hard to Handle | A raunchy, boastful number from Otis Redding was recently covered by the rock band "The Black Crowes". Soultown sticks with the original recording with their rendition. |
| Mr Pitiful | This song, co-written with Steve Cropper, launched Otis Redding's into the US charts in spring '65. It was since used in the film "The Commitments" |
| Sex Machine | James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, still performs Sex Machine to this day. James Brown's band were the tightest in the industry, due solely to his uncompromising standards. He had a system of fines for onstage misdemeanours such as being out of time on a dance step, playing a bum note, or wearing scuffed shoes. Soultown's methods aren't quite as harsh (sometimes). |
| Midnight Hour | Wilson Picket and Steve Cropper composed this 60's hit. Nicknamed Wicked Picket, his quick temper and fondness for the ladies was legendary in the industry. |
| Mustang Sally | Another Wilson Picket tune, and another 60's Soul hit made famous by the film "The Commitments". This song gets the full karaoke treatment from Soultown's audiences. |
| Stand by Me | A Ben E King tune with that familiar bass line. Another tune to be used as the title of a modern day Hollywood production. |
| When a Man Loves a Woman | This Percy Sledge song is the perfect smoochy number, great at the end of the night when everyone's inhibitions have been lowered by the night's alcohol consumption. |
| Dancing in the Streets | Martha Reeves and the Vandellas recorded the original on the Motown label. More recently it was recorded by Jagger and Bowie for the Live Aid appeal. |
| Nowhere to Run to | Also by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and another 60's Motown hit to be used in a UK TV commercial. |
| Going to a Go-Go | A Smokey Robinson song on the Motown label, all about a dance he wants everyone to get into. |
| All I Need | If James Brown was the Godfather, then Aretha Franklin was the undisputed Godmother of soul, Queen of Soul, First Lady of Soul - or whatever. This song is one of her beautiful heartfelt ballads. |
| I Say a Little Prayer | This beautifully composed Aretha Franklin ballad gives Chichi, Soultown's vocalist a chance to demonstrate her powerful vocal presence. |
| Take me to the River | This Al Green song has been covered by many bands, including Talking Heads in the 80's and then by the Commitments |
| You Need Love Like I Do | A lesser known song by Gladys Knight and the Pips, but Soultown always gets everyone singing along to this funky lil' number. |
| (I'm a) Roadrunner | Junior Walker & the All Stars recorded this catchy tune in the 60's. Nothing to do with a certain Wyle E. Coyote though. |
| Shotgun | Again by Junior Walker & the All Stars, this is relentless funky stuff. |
| Mr Big Stuff | This is the only song that Jean Knight might possibly be remembered for. While most people won't recall the artist, they'll certainly know the song. |
| Living for the City | A Stevie Wonder classic. A story of city life that everyone in living in London can relate to. |
| Think | An Aretha Franklin song which appeared in the restaurant scene in the film "The Blues Brothers" |
| Shake a Tail Feather | A Dancy number performed by Ray Charles in "The Blues Brothers" film, from the scene where everyone is grooving in the streets to the different dances called out in the song. Be sure to Brush up on your "Mashed potato", your "Monkey", your "Bird" and your "Funky chicken" for this one. |
| Chain of Fools | Yet another Aretha Franklin classic, and yet another to be included on the Commitments film |
The Letter |
Joe Cocker really belts it out on this one. |
We are Family |
A well known Sister Sledge song from the 70's. Look out for the Funky bass slapping. |
Rock Sready |
Aretha Franklin again. In this one she turns on the funk. |
I Feel Good (I Got You) |
Everyone knows this James Brown classic |
Brickhouse |
The Commodores at their absolute funkiest |
If You Want Me To Stay |
Sly and the Family Stone again, although the Red Hot Chilli Pepper's rendition may be more memberable for some people. |
Inner City Blues |
Another classic from Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On?" album. |
And many, many more....... Soultown constantly change their set lists and arrangements and are always introducing new material.
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