5 Best soul albums for a n00b

TheCunningStunt · 07-03-2010, 08:37 PM

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.

Necromancer · 07-03-2010, 09:23 PM

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)

ribbons · 07-03-2010, 10:20 PM

^ these, and:

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

Jedey · 07-04-2010, 03:07 PM

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.

sarahjohn63 · 07-23-2010, 02:57 AM

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

momentum · 09-01-2010, 10:15 AM

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

Johny.Feils1980 · 09-01-2010, 10:51 PM

thnaks so much, i am finding somethign like that

Phzed · 09-08-2010, 03:54 PM

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

NSW · 09-09-2010, 08:03 PM

^All of these are good starting points.

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

Kinda Blue · 09-11-2010, 09:14 AM

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.

07-03-2010, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	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. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

07-03-2010, 09:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	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) Last edited by Necromancer; 07-05-2010 at 10:22 AM. Reason: in order to add videos*

07-04-2010, 03:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jedey Veritas vos liberabit Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Musicapolis Posts: 477	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. __________________ My Tunes

07-23-2010, 02:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
sarahjohn63 Groupie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	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 __________________ [Link removed by moderator; no advertising please]

09-08-2010, 03:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Phzed Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 121	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 __________________ last.fm & rateyourmusic

07-03-2010, 10:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
ribbons Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,265	^ these, and: Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul Stevie Wonder - Talking Book The Temptations - Temptations Sing Smokey The Four Tops - Reach Out Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

09-01-2010, 10:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
momentum Groupie Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 9	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

09-01-2010, 10:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Johny.Feils1980 Groupie Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 4	thnaks so much, i am finding somethign like that

09-09-2010, 08:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	^All of these are good starting points. Wilson Pickett - In the Midnight Hour is a good one too. __________________ Hi.

09-11-2010, 09:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
Kinda Blue Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 92	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. __________________ lastfm My music rated Last edited by Kinda Blue; 09-28-2010 at 10:53 AM.