Soul Finger
| "Soul Finger" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by the Bar-Kays | ||||
| from the album Soul Finger | ||||
| B-side | "Knucklehead" | |||
| Released | April 14, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | March 31, 1967 | |||
| Length | 2:18 | |||
| Label | Volt Records | |||
| Songwriters | Jimmy King Phalon Jones Carl Cunningham Ben Cauley Ronnie Caldwell James Alexander | |||
| The Bar-Kays singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Soul Finger" (2006 Remaster) on YouTube | ||||
"Soul Finger" is the first single released by R&B group the Bar-Kays. It was issued by Stax Records on the Volt Records label on April 14, 1967.
Background
[edit]The song was written by the Bar-Kays while they were rehearsing with Norman West to perform a cover of J. J. Jackson's "But It's Alright".[1] It begins with the melody of the popular children's song "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and then cuts into the main riff, punctuated with a high trumpet trill. It features a chorus of neighborhood children who had been loitering outside the recording studio; they were instructed to shout "Soul Finger!" and were paid with Coca-Cola.[1] The idea for the title and the shouts came from the Stax songwriters Isaac Hayes and David Porter.[1] The track was used as the opening theme tune to BBC Radio 1 DJ Stuart Henry's shows from 1969 to 1974.
Chart performance
[edit]"Soul Finger" was a hit in the United States, peaking at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The B-side of the single was "Knucklehead", written by Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper, which reached number 28 on the R&B singles chart and number 76 on the Hot 100.[2] "Soul Finger" and "Knucklehead" were the first two tracks of the Bar-Kays' first LP, Soul Finger, issued on July 10, after nine more tracks had been recorded on June 23.[3]
Charts
[edit]Weekly charts
[edit]| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[4] | 33 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 17 |
| US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard) | 3 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Liner notes, The Complete Stax/Volt Singles, 1959–1968. Atlantic, 1991. p. 31.
- 1 2 Billboard Singles, Allmusic.
- ↑ Review of Soul Finger, Allmusic
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 29/8/1967 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Bar-Kays Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Bar-Kays – Soul Finger". Recording Industry Association of America.
