This week In Soul Artists 50/52

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : Rufus Thomas, Bobby Womack, Otis Redding, D’Angelo, Gladys Knight, Sam Cooke, Donna Summer, Eartha Kitt, Bettye LaVette, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Nancy Wilson

. They are the Soul Artists selected among the 341 Posts we publish this week.

1. Which artist originally popularized the song “Walking the Dog” with distinct horn arrangements?

  • A James Brown
  • B Rufus Thomas
  • C Sam Cooke

2. Who co-wrote “It’s All Over Now” with Bobby Womack?

  • A Aretha Franklin
  • B Shirley Womack
  • C Carole King

3. Which song is closely associated with Otis Redding’s energetic live performances?

  • A Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay
  • B I Can’t Turn You Loose
  • C These Arms of Mine

4. “Sugar Daddy” by D’Angelo can be found on which album?

  • A Voodoo
  • B Black Messiah
  • C Brown Sugar

5. Gladys Knight is often referred to by what regal nickname?

  • A Queen of Pop
  • B Empress of Soul
  • C King of Soul

6. Which megahit by Bob Dylan deeply influenced Sam Cooke to write “A Change Is Gonna Come”?

  • A Like a Rolling Stone
  • B Blowin’ in the Wind
  • C The Times They Are a-Changin’

7. In which year did Donna Summer perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert?

  • A 2009
  • B 2010
  • C 2008

8. Eartha Kitt is famously known for performing which cheeky song in 1953?

  • A C’est Si Bon
  • B Santa Baby
  • C I Want to Be Evil

9. Who performed “Heart of Gold” at London’s Jazz Café in 2012?

  • A Neil Young
  • B Bettye LaVette
  • C Joni Mitchell

10. With whom did Roberta Flack release the duet “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”?

  • A Donny Hathaway
  • B Peabo Bryson
  • C Luther Vandross

11. What charity was supported by the 1985 release of “That’s What Friends Are For”?

  • A Children in Need
  • B AIDS research
  • C Cancer awareness

12. Which orchestration legend worked on Nancy Wilson’s “Don’t Go to Strangers”?

  • A Billy May
  • B Quincy Jones
  • C George Martin

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Tracklist

1 . Rufus Thomas . Walking the Dog (w/ Blues Brothers Band)

Lifted from : We remember Rufus Thomas. ‘Funky Rufus’

2 . Bobby Womack . It’s All over Now

Lifted from : On TV today , Bobby Womack with David Letterman (1985)

3 . Otis Redding . I Can’t Turn You Loose

Lifted from : We remember Otis Redding. ‘Loving Him So Long’

4 . D’Angelo . Sugar Daddy Jam

Lifted from : Sony publish D’Angelo’s third album . ‘Black Messiah’ (2014)

5 . Gladys Knight . Midnight Train to Georgia

Lifted from : Gladys Knight sings at the Nobel Peace Prize (2005)

6 . Sam Cooke . Blowing In The Wind

Lifted from : We remember Sam Cooke. ‘Who Did Send You?’

7 . Donna Summer . Last Dance

Lifted from : Donna Summer sings at the Nobel Peace Prize (2009)

8 . Eartha Kitt . I Want to Be Evil

Lifted from : RCA publish Eartha Kitt’s debut album . ‘That Bad Eartha’ featuring ‘Santa Baby’ (1953)

9 . Bettye LaVette . Heart of Gold

Lifted from : Bettye LaVette sings in London (2012)

10 . Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson . The Closer I Get to You

Lifted from : Roberta Flack releases her sixth album . ‘Blue Lights in the Basement’ featuring ‘The Closer . Get to You’ with Donny Hathaway (1977)

11 . Dionne Warwick , Stevie Wonder , Whitney Houston , Luther Vandross . That’s What Friends Are For

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Dionne Warwick. ‘Don’t Make You Over’

12 . Nancy Wilson . Don’t Go To Strangers

Lifted from : We remember Nancy Wilson. ‘Today, Tomorrow, Forever, Miss Nancy’

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. Rufus Thomas owned “Walking the Dog” with his playful and rhythmic presentation. His 1963 recording climbed the charts, making the tune an R&B staple.

2. Shirley Womack co-wrote “It’s All Over Now” with Bobby Womack, first released by The Valentinos before the Rolling Stones made it a chart-topper.

3. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” typifies Otis Redding’s upbeat stage style, becoming a live favorite and influential across other music acts.

4. D’Angelo’s “Sugar Daddy” features on the album “Black Messiah,” marking his return in 2014 after a significant musical hiatus.

5. The “Empress of Soul” title suits Gladys Knight, a nod to her impact on the soul genre and iconic hits like “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

6. Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” spurred Sam Cooke to write “A Change Is Gonna Come,” both anthems for racial equality in the 1960s.

7. In 2009, Donna Summer graced the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, showcasing her disco legacy amid global calls for peace.

8. Eartha Kitt’s “I Want to Be Evil” from 1953 plays with societal norms, simultaneously charming and challenging audiences.

9. Bettye LaVette infused Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” with soulful depth in a 2012 Jazz Café performance, demonstrating her interpretative prowess.

10. Roberta Flack’s duet “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Peabo Bryson became a million-seller in 1983, solidifying their collaborative success.

11. AIDS research benefited from the 1985 hit “That’s What Friends Are For,” a charity single strengthening musical bonds.

12. Billy May lent his orchestral expertise to Nancy Wilson’s “Don’t Go to Strangers,” adding grandeur to her 1966 album.

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(*) According to our own statistics, updated on December 14, 2025