Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CONLEY, Arthur

(b 1 April '46) Soul singer. Demo of 'I'm A Lonely Stranger' picked up by Otis Redding, released on his Jotis label; he took Conley to Muscle Shoals, rewrote Sam Cooke's 'Yeah Man' with him, retitled 'Sweet Soul Music' it hit no. 2 USA pop chart '67: it namechecked past and present soul stars atop typical brassy Stax backing, also underlined Conley's vocal similarity to the sadly departed Cooke. Total of seven entries '67--70 in Billboard R&B chart (renamed 'soul' '69); 'Run On', 'God Bless' made Bubbling Under chart; soul cover of Beatles' 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' made no. 51 pop chart '69. There was no more guidance from Redding, who died '67; label switch to Capricorn '71 didn't help; biggest hit remained his classic black dance record.