They started as The Howling Wolves and then became The Road Runners, playing R&B around the Portsmouth area, home of the Shulman brothers, becoming Simon Dupree and the Big Sound in early 1966. Making up the rest of the group were Peter O'Flaherty (bass guitar) (born 8 May 1944, in Gosport, Hampshire), Eric Hine (keyboards) (born Eric Raymond Lewis Hines, 4 September 1944, in Portsmouth, Hampshire), and Tony Ransley (drums) (born Anthony John Ransley, 17 May 1944, in Portsmouth, Hampshire). Those early group names aside, their repertory was focused a lot more on the songs of Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, and Otis Redding, than on Howlin' Wolf or Bo Diddley. 'Simon Dupree and the Big Sound' came about in the course of their search for a flashy name.
The group were signed to EMI's Parlophone label, under producer Dave Paramor. Their first few singles, notably "I See The Light" (1966), failed to chart, then in October 1967, the group's management and their record label decided to try moving Simon Dupree and the Big Sound in the direction of psychedelia.
They broke through at the end of 1967 with the psychedelic "Kites", a Top 10 hit in the UK Singles Chart. Regarding themselves as blue-eyed soul brothers, they hated it as it was so unrepresentative of their usual style. The follow-up, "For Whom The Bell Tolls", was only a minor hit, and a subsequent single "Broken Hearted Pirates", featuring an uncredited Dudley Moore on piano, made no headway at all.
A then unknown keyboard player by the name of Reginald Dwight was hired to fill in for an ill Eric Hine and he joined them on a 1967 tour in Scotland. They were asked to allow him to stay on, and he was almost recruited as a permanent member. They politely rejected the chance to record any of his compositions (although they did ultimately record "I'm Going Home" as the B-side of their final (contractually obligated) single, and laughed when he told them he was adopting the stage name of Elton John. On 5 April 1968, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound appeared alongside Amen Corner, Gene Pitney, Don Partridge and Status Quo at The Odeon Theatre, Lewisham, London, on the first night as part of a twice nightly UK tour. In early 1969 they were booked to appear at the Lanchester Polytechnic in Coventry, but did not turn up. Their support act Raymond Froggatt played the entire evening.
The group released one studio album; Without Reservation, on Parlophone Records (1967), and a compilation Amen (1980). A more recent set, Part Of My Past (2004), includes all their singles, album tracks and previously unreleased material prepared for their second album, release of which was cancelled at the time.
In late 1968, they released a single "We Are The Moles (Part 1)/(Part 2)" under the moniker The Moles. Released on the Parlophone label, the single did not give any hint towards the identity of the artists, claiming that both songs were written, performed and produced by The Moles. Rumours spread that it was an obscure output by The Beatles, who also were under contract at Parlophone, with Ringo Starr on lead vocals.
Frustrated as being seen as one-hit wonders being pushed by their record label as a pop group rather than the soul band they had always intended to be, they disbanded in 1969 and the Shulman brothers went on to form the progressive rock group Gentle Giant.
What Is Soul
Simon Dupree And The Big Sound Lyrics
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Some few people really know
It's deep within us, it doesn't show
A soul is somethin' that comes from deep inside
But a soul is a somethin' that you can't hide
What is soul? What is soul, babe?
Search your heart, go deep down low
Way down there you'll find your soul
Come near girl, you look so cold
Touch my hand and warm your soul
Baby, baby, what's wrong with you
You don't know what I'm going through
Hold me so tight, so tight I can't breath
Can't you feel it girl? Don't you know what I mean?
This is soul!
This is soul! Feel the soul, babe!
What is soul, babe? Don't you know?
What is soul, babe?
The lyrics to Simon Dupree & The Big Sound’s “What Is Soul” explore the concept of the elusive quality known as “soul,” and attempt to define it. The song acknowledges that while not everyone can fully grasp what soul is, it is a critical part of who we are as individuals. The first verse explains that even though some people “know” what soul is, it is something that cannot be fully seen or observed - it is something that comes from deep within. The second verse asks the listener to search their hearts and look within themselves to find their own soul. The singer then offers the listener comfort and warmth, encouraging them to touch his hand and feel the warmth of his own soul.
The chorus reiterates the question “What is soul, babe?”, almost as if to plead with the listener to try and understand this mysterious quality. The final verse seems to answer the question, as the singer proclaims that the intense emotions he is feeling - the need for human connection, the overwhelming desire to hold someone tight - are all proof of the existence of soul. The phrase “This is soul” is repeated several times, as if to drive home the point that there is something powerful and universal about this quality that everyone can recognize and feel.
Overall, the lyrics to “What Is Soul” paint a complex, existential portrait of the human experience. Soul is something that cannot be easily defined or identified, but it is nonetheless an essential part of who we are as people. The song suggests that through seeking out our own innermost selves, we can begin to understand and appreciate the soul that unites us all.
Line by Line Meaning
What is soul? What is soul, babe?
Asking what is the true meaning of 'soul'
Some few people really know
Only a select few truly understand the essence of the soul
It's deep within us, it doesn't show
The soul is a deep part of us that is not always visible on the surface
A soul is somethin' that comes from deep inside
The soul originates from a deep internal source
But a soul is a somethin' that you can't hide
Even though the soul may not always be visible, it cannot be concealed
Search your heart, go deep down low
Encouraging self-reflection and introspection to find one's soul
Way down there you'll find your soul
The deeper one looks within themselves, the more likely they are to discover their soul
Come near girl, you look so cold
Inviting someone who appears distant or unconnected to come closer
Touch my hand and warm your soul
The act of physical touch can help connect and awaken one's soul
Baby, baby, what's wrong with you
Expressing concern for someone's well-being
You don't know what I'm going through
Feeling misunderstood and disconnected from others
Hold me so tight, so tight I can't breathe
Desiring physical closeness and intimacy
Can't you feel it girl? Don't you know what I mean?
Asking someone to understand and connect with the soulful emotions being expressed
This is soul!
Affirming that the emotions being felt and expressed are truly soulful
This is soul! Feel the soul, babe!
Encouraging someone to fully experience and embrace the soulful emotions
What is soul, babe? Don't you know?
Repeating the initial question, asking if someone truly understands the essence of soul
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEN E. KING, BOB GALLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind