5 Best soul albums for a n00b
 

I know I know, there's loads of these knocking about. But I've never actually listened to a proper Soul record, so I was wondering what the best were. I want the obvious ones, rather than the obscure hidden gems. I'm thinking Temptations and things from the 60s and Motown. If anyone could offer some of the best Soul records around, I'd be very grateful.

1. What'd I Say - Ray Charles.
YouTube - Ray Charles - What'd I say

2. Live At The Apollo 1962 - James Brown.

3. Signed Sealed Delivered & Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder.
YouTube - Stevie Wonder - That Girl
YouTube - Stevie Wonder - Do I Do

4. Otis Blue:Sings Soul - Otis Redding.

5. Marvin ***e - Whats Going On.
YouTube - What's Going On
YouTube - Marvin ***e trouble man
YouTube - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

^ these, and:

Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
The Temptations - Temptations Sing Smokey
The Four Tops - Reach Out
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

The Otis Redding portion of Monterey Pop is probably the greatest live recording ever if you can't find that I suggest Otis Redding ~ Live On The Sunset Strip.

Here are the 5 best soul albums in my list,
1. Live At The Apollo 1962 - James Brown.
2. The Four Tops - Reach Out
3. Signed Sealed Delivered & Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder.
4. Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
5. The Temptations - Temptations Sing Smokey

I cut my soul teeth on the classic 1960 & 70s compilation albums TAMLA MOTOWN VOL1,VOL2 etc up to about VOL7
They have all be rereleased on cd umpteen times and can be bought brand new for a few quid each
Every track is a classic and it gives you a great place to start your soul journey

thnaks so much, i am finding somethign like that

late 50s/early 60s:
Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay (best of)
Sam Cooke - The Man and His Music
Sam & Dave
The Impressions - People Get Ready

late 60s/early 70s
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book, Innervisions
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

^All of these are good starting points.

Wilson Pickett - In the Midnight Hour is a good one too.

Many of those already mentioned are really good. Y'know, the soul genre is often roughly divided into two "sub-genres": The raw, horn-driven southern soul, especially that of Stax records; and the polished, catchy, more "pop"-ish northern soul, in which Motown was the dominant force. So here are ten album recommendations, five from Stax, five from Motown:

Stax
Booker T. & The MG's - Green Onions
Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
Wilson Pickett - The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood

Motown
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
The Temptations - Psychedelic Shack

All from the 60s or early 70s (except Songs In The Key Of Life released in '76).
I'll end this post by voicing my opinion and say that the albums listed under Stax are a lot better than those listed under Motown. Maybe except for the Stevie Wonder-albums; they're great.