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Soul Recommendations

I really enjoyed the Jazz Recommendations thread, and it is refreshing to get away from the religious debates on equipment. An area of music I want to explore more is soul, and am looking for some help. There is some cross-over between what I like and R&B, but I don't like much R&B released in the last 15 years or so, and there is also much cross-over into Blues. So what I do like in this area is - James Brown, Junior Wells and Al Green. I also like the old Stax stuff (I have the boxed set). But that amounts to my entire soul-tinged music collection - a dozen or so CDs. I don't care for Parliament, Barry White and so-called "sweet soul music" - eg. "Sexual Healing". I know my Jazz and Blues very well, and have very extensive collections there, but in crossing over the line into Soul I have found some great stuff by the artists I have mentioned, but feel I am only scratching the surface and want some pointers (pardon the pun) as to what to go for next. Maybe you will tell me that JB, Junior and Al are it, but hopefully there is more to explore.
redkiwi
barry_maxwell
1 posts
 
Curtis Mayfield, Fontella Bass, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Adams, Solomon Burke, Don Covay, Arthur Conley, and Barbara Lynn's "You'll Lose a Good Thing."
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
Thanks very much Barry. Curtis is kinda on the edge of what I like and don't like, but can certainly respect his artistry. Aretha - of course, and so too for Wilson. I actually have one Soloman Burke with a great version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" - I really do like that. I like Johnny Adams "One Foot In The Blues" a lot, but find his more ballady stuff less interesting. Given this, which albums by Fontella Bass, Don Covay and Arthur Conlay should I try, and should I try the Barbara Lynn disc.
bencampbella3c8
36 posts
 
Stevie Wonder-Innervisions,Talking Book,Songs in the.... Marvin Gaye-What's going on,Let's get it on,There my dear. Best book (music related)I read this year is A Change Is Gonna Come by Craig Weirner--a fascinating read about American politics/sociology and it's relationshipwith( for want of a better phrase)Black Music although he does cleverly draw in other influences such as Dylan,Springsteen,Creedence CR and rock musicians such as Hendrix as well as the focus on Soul,Jazz and Rap. Very balanced insightful and lots of great muiscal recommendations...read this book Redkiwi it'll open up this area of music for you... Regards, Ben
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
That sounds like a great idea thanks Bencampbell. I will track it down - sounds like a good read in front of the stereo. By the way, you wouldn't be a single malt kind of laddie would you?
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