Features

Soul To Soul: The Legendary 1971 Concert Film

by Tom Haugen

In 1971, 18 months after Woodstock, dozens of American soul, jazz and gospel artists ventured to Ghana, West Africa for a festival that was truly unique. The Black American souls aligned with the Black West African souls through the power of music that brought everyone together.

Wilson Pickett starts the evening with “In The Midnight Hour” and “Land Of 1000 Dances,” where plenty of spirit and rhythm is present for the body-moving and infectious energy. Santana then brings his guitar shredding to the soulful rock of “Jungle Strut” and “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen.”

Ike and Tina Turner offer more tracks than anyone. “I Smell Trouble” allows for Tina’s powerful pipes to guide the bluesy influences, while the raw r&b of “River Deep-Mountain High” illustrates the dynamics that made the duo so influential.

Further into the night, The Staple Singers put their incredible pipes to use for the grooves and harmonies of “When Will We Be Paid,” and “The Price You Gotta Pay To Be Free,” by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, employs warm keys and crisp drumming via plenty of jazz influences. The Voices Of Harlem exits with “Run, Shaker Life,” where the youthful voices soar and carry plenty of energy.

This film has been out of print for nearly 20 years, but now it’s available on both DVD and Blu-Ray in HD, but with the original 4x3 aspect ratio. Also included is 32-page booklet with extensive liner notes, plenty of special features and new commentary to accompany the experience that involved personal roots, history, discovery, loss, pain and joy for the performers and 100,000 Ghanians who got to experience this important moment in music history.