Namesakes #151: The Soul Searchers

George is back, with the much-anticipated sequel to not only last week's post on The Searchers but also his previous Soul Seekers Namesakes... all this enables me to sit back on my deck chair and enjoy the summer. Thank you, George.

After the roaring success of the Soul Seekers edition of this series, it came as no surprise to be invited back to contribute another article, obviously to boost Rol’s flagging readership. I think it is highly likely that today will feature a plethora of soul and gospel groups, which is No Bad Thing, of course.

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #1

Our first group were label-mates of Bill Withers, and the leading member was Chuck Brown (and were sometimes known as Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, probably to distinguish them from the 209 other Soul Searchers groups). But the record cover says Soul Searchers, otherwise they would not feature here. I would classify their music as funk-soul.

The Soul Searchers - Think

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #2

Gospel now, from a Grammy-nominated Soul Searchers, who used the name of lead singer Troy Ramey in their title from the third album on. Hence a track from the first or second album (because I believe in sticking to the rules, Rol). 

Rules, schmoolz.

And for $9 plus your VAT, from Bandcamp this album could be yours...

The Soul Searchers - I'm On My Way to Heaven Anyhow

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #3

Bandcamp again, not for the NuMichiganSoulSeachers of course, but for this lot from Gig Harbor, Washington...

The Soul Searchers - Mellow Morning

They seem to have given up after this track. Not sure what genre this is, lo-fi indie? Plinky-hesitant-noodling indie? 

I'm not sure, but I'm impressed that they count among their members both Dylan Thomas and Geoffrey Hughes.

If Wade Washington was not so egotistical, his group would have been next...

What, you mean this dude?

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #4

Jake Wade & The Soul Searchers - Searching for Soul Part 1

Don't know how that got in here. The doorman must be slipping.

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #5

So now it’s a band who backed Richard Berry, but on this one I think it’s just the band (as the Louie Louie chappy’s name is not on the label).

The Soul Searchers - Get That Church

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #6

Some British soul searching next, from 1975. A founder member of a jazz rock combo* was a co-writer of this song……and if you want your own copy it will cost you at least £14.

(I think George is being deliberately obtuse here because of their links to Genesis.)

The Soul Searcher - Head Start

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #7

And now a truly belting southern soul track, probably from 1966 or ‘67...

The Soul Searchers - Christmas In Vietnam

I think I've told you before, George, about playing Christmas records in August. But I'll let that one pass as it is a belter. And because of these wonderfully cheesy spoken-word lyrics...

A lonely soldier laid dying in a foxhole in Vietnam

A friend of his walked over and kneeled down beside him

Did you know its Christmas back home

What we should do here today is have Christmas in Vietnam

Slowly they began to sing a song that goes something like this

Jingle, jingle bells, jingle, jungle bells

What do you know? It's Christmas in Vietnam!

Merry Christmas!

THE SOUL SEARCHERS #8

North Carolina’s answer to San Francisco’s Mamas and Papas now, and some cheesy Christian crooning...

The Soul Searchers - Pray, Pray, Pray

No 70s “UK gospel”, alas, and as for the remaining bands, I am unable to find any songs. So only 7 (well, 8) Souls to Search. Who will it be?

Thanks to Rol for posting this, and thanks for listening to the tracks.

And thank you, George, for another week off.