Soul Deep (The Box Tops song)

"Soul Deep" is a song originally recorded by Robbie Lane and the Disciples in 1966, but best known by a recorded version by The Box Tops. It was the third of three singles released from their 1969 Dimensions LP.^[2] Lead vocals were provided by Alex Chilton.

"Soul Deep"
Single by The Box Tops
from the album Dimensions
B-side	"(The) Happy Song"
Released	June 1969
Recorded	1969
Genre	Blue-eyed soul[1]
Label	Mala
Songwriter(s)	Wayne Carson-Thompson
Producer(s)	Tommy Cogbill, Chips Moman
The Box Tops singles chronology
"I Shall Be Released" (1969) "Soul Deep" (1969) "Turn on a Dream" (1969)

"Soul Deep"
Single by Eddy Arnold
from the album Love & Guitars
B-side	"(Today) I Started Loving You Again"
Released	March 1970
Genre	Country, Easy Listening
Length	2:25
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Wayne Carson-Thompson
Producer(s)	Chet Atkins
Eddy Arnold singles chronology
"Since December" (1969) "Soul Deep" (1970) "A Man's Kind of Woman" (1970)

The Box Tops' song became an international Top 40 hit, charting modestly at No.22 in the UK and No.18 in the U.S.^[3] It reached the Top 10 in Australia (No.7) and in Canada (No.9).^[4] "Soul Deep" did best in South Africa, where it reached No.2.^[5]

Background

Record World called it "a rhythm-wide, soul-deep song...which is soulful and contemporary".^[6]

"Soul Deep" became the group's final U.S. Top 40 entry. Regionally, it peaked at No.3 on KHJ (Los Angeles) on 30 July^[7] and on WLS (Chicago) on 18–25 August.^[8] "Soul Deep" was also part of the title of the group's 1996 anthology.

Eddy Arnold cover

"Soul Deep" was covered by Eddy Arnold in 1970. The track is included on his album, Love and Guitars. Arnold had a Top 40 Country as well as Adult Contemporary hit with the song in both the U.S. and Canada.^[9]

Other cover versions

• Preceding the Box Tops' version by some three years, a version had been recorded by Robbie Lane and the Disciples in 1966 but only released in 1993 on the compilation LP Backtrax.^[10]
• Clarence Carter covered it on his album "Testifyin'," released in July 1969.^[11]
• Anthony Swete recorded his version of the song which appeared as a B side of his 1969 single, "Backfield in Motion".^[12][13]
• Roberta Flack included it on her 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement.^[14]
• Gary U.S. Bonds recorded the song in 1982, and it became a modest hit in the UK.^[15]
• The song was covered in 1994 by the alternative rock band Gin Blossoms, featured on the soundtrack to the film Speed.^[16]

Chart history

Weekly charts

The Box Tops Chart (1969) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) 7 Canada RPM Top Singles[17] 9 South Africa (Springbok)[18] 2 UK (The Official Charts Company)[19] 22 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[20] 18 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[21] 13 U.S. Record World 11 Eddy Arnold Chart (1970) Peak position Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[22] 23 Canada RPM Country Songs 44 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 28 U.S. Billboard Country[23] 22 Gary U.S. Bonds Chart (1982) Peak position UK (The Official Charts Company)[24] 59

Year-end charts Chart (1969) Rank U.S. Billboard Hot 100[25] 98 U.S. Cash Box[26] 87

References

1. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 236. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
2. "The Box Tops – Dimensions (1969, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1969.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1990). The Billboard 100 Charts; The Sixties (30 August 1969 and 6 September 1969). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-074-1.
4. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-09-06. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
5. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 9 November 2018.
6. "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 28, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
7. "KHJ's 'Boss 30' Records In Southern California! Official Issue No. 213 - Previewed July 30, 1969". Users.guest.net. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
8. "WLS 890 Hit Parade, August 25, 1969". Retrieved 2012-02-22.
9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 29.
10. Robbie Lane and the Disciples: Backtrax at Discogs
11. "SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
12. Hit History - Blue Eyed Soul (1000)
13. Amazon - Backfield In Motion / Soul Deep
14. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
15. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1982-07-17. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
16. "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
17. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-09-06. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
18. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 9 November 2018.
19. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1969-08-23. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
20. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
21. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 6, 1969
22. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970-04-04. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
23. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 29.
24. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1982-07-17. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
25. "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
26. http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969

External links

• Listen to "Soul Deep" on YouTube (The Box Tops)