Redkiwi, sounds like you like gutbucket over urbane, Memphis more than Philly. Ok, you don’t like Marvin Gaye, so why try any more – but maybe his duets with Tammi Terrell (remember the single “Ain’t No Mountain High”)? Arethra, yeah -- “Lady Soul” is a classic big hitter. My Otis Redding suggestion would be his “Dictionary of Soul.” Did you possibly mean Junior Walker (and the All-Stars) when you said Junior Wells? If not, Jr Walker (Shotgun, Butter Up Buttercup, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You) absolutely smokes; I have a terrific “Anthology” LP. Smokey Robinson (and the Miracles) had to have been one of the best Motown songwriters as well as one of its most original voices. “Disco A-Go-Go” is a silly title but a great LP; there are probably some good Smokey compilations. I like Musikdok’s Ray Charles suggestions. Maybe since you’re into jazz you already have his stuff. (Speaking of jazz for a second, I love “The Genius of Ray Charles” with Ray singing in front of a big band.) I have a very special esteem for Sly and the Family Stone. What a funk-rock-soul-R&B innovator; too bad he couldn’t handle the business. “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” is not typical of his more pop stuff but is a progressive and highly influential album. Unique stuff like “Family Affair” and “You Caught Me Crying…Again” on it. Mind-bending, really – I love it. I don’t think Sly’s stuff has been remastered, which is sad.
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.