Strange Feeling

"Strange Feeling" by Billy Stewart

Picture the rich, soulful sound of early-sixties Chicago, where rhythm and blues was evolving into something deeper and more expressive. Billy Stewart was one of the great and underappreciated voices of that scene, a singer blessed with an utterly distinctive vocal style. "Strange Feeling" offers an early glimpse of his talent on the national charts, a soulful ballad that hinted at the remarkable artist he would become.

A Distinctive Voice Emerges

Billy Stewart possessed one of the most singular vocal approaches in all of R&B. He was renowned for his playful, rapid-fire vocal style, full of inventive phrasing and a unique sense of rhythm. Recording for the legendary Chess Records, the Chicago label that helped define the sound of postwar American music, Stewart was developing into a true original. By 1963 he was building his presence on the charts, and "Strange Feeling" marked an important step in establishing him as a distinctive new soul voice.

The Sound Of Early Soul

The single sits in the fertile territory where rhythm and blues was deepening into soul. The recording showcases Stewart's expressive vocal gifts over a smooth, emotive arrangement, the kind of early-sixties production that placed the singer's voice front and center. There is warmth and feeling in the performance, a hint of the inventiveness that would later make Stewart famous. The song captures an artist refining his craft, channeling genuine emotion through his developing and unmistakable style.

A Modest Chart Run

On the pop charts, the single made a respectable showing. "Strange Feeling" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 28, 1963 at number 89 and climbed steadily through the autumn. The song peaked at number 70 during the week of November 2, 1963 and spent a total of six weeks on the Hot 100. While modest, the placement was meaningful for an artist still building his audience, and it pointed toward the greater successes that lay ahead in Stewart's career.

A Step Toward Soul Stardom

"Strange Feeling" belongs to the formative phase of Billy Stewart's career, before his most celebrated triumphs. Stewart would go on to record some of the most distinctive and beloved soul performances of the decade, earning a cherished place in the music's history. This early single helped lay the groundwork, demonstrating the vocal gifts that would soon make him a star. For fans tracing his development, it offers a valuable window into a major talent on the rise. His legacy as one of soul's true originals was still taking shape.

The Chess Records Legacy

Stewart's home at Chess Records places him within one of the most important institutions in American music history. The Chicago label had been instrumental in shaping the blues and rhythm and blues that would give rise to rock and roll, recording many of the genre's foundational artists. To be a Chess artist in the early 1960s was to work within a rich tradition of Black American music at its most influential. Stewart absorbed that heritage and added something entirely his own, a vocal inventiveness that set him apart even in such celebrated company. His recordings for the label captured a moment when rhythm and blues was deepening into soul, and his distinctive approach helped push that evolution forward. Understanding "Strange Feeling" means recognizing it as part of this larger story, a single recorded at a legendary label during a pivotal chapter in the development of American popular music.

Why It Rewards A Listen

For lovers of vintage soul and rhythm and blues, "Strange Feeling" offers a chance to hear a remarkable voice in its early bloom. It carries the warmth and feeling that made Billy Stewart so special. Press play and let his expressive, soulful style draw you into the rich musical world of early-sixties Chicago. It is a rewarding discovery from an artist who deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

"Strange Feeling" — Billy Stewart's singular moment on the 1960s charts.