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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

Showing 7 responses by redkiwi

redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
I just discovered "The Baby Huey Story" - wow, gutbucket and Memphis is it Jayboard? I like it. And James Brown's Funky Divas album is cool too. The record stores here are experiencing a boom in soul sales right now.
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.
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?
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
Thanks Groovy Tube man. I have not explored two or three of those and will have to check them out. For some reason I have not liked any Marvin Gaye (except "... Grapevine ..." (and even then like the Gladys Knight version better), or liked any Stevie Wonder stuff (I am utterly allergic) - but JB sure is the hardest working man in show business, and a big fave of mine. Sad to here you are not a dram man Bencampbell - I was looking for some tips (I like the Islay and Skye stuff best - very peaty). Now beer I can relate to, but we don't get anything but the mass produced American stuff here. I like a dark roasted hop myself and my favourite is Monteiths Black - which is made here in NZ but the brewer is - coincidence or what? - American.
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
I think you understand where I am headed Jayboard. I like Otis but have not known which albums to persue, so thanks to you and Musikdok. I actually did mean Junior Wells, even though I know people see him as a Blues player - but I hear a lot of soul in what he does. I am already on the track of some of the suggestions people have kindly made - looks like I may be giving myself some nice presents this year (bought two soul CDs yesterday - will go hunting again today armed with my new list).
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
Of course, Junior is a blues man, I should have said I ALSO hear a lot of soul in him (but not much in the Telarc rubbish he did). Listen to James Brown and then Junior and tell me you do not hear it. I have always admired Ray Charles but have not heard the right CD - will definitely try the C&W thanks Garfish - shame about the title. I am on to the Otis stuff as we speak. Hope the world is treating you right Craig - how are Dogface and his wife?
redkiwi OP
1,092 posts
 
Hi Jayboard. I have been chasing down most of the suggestions here and have picked up 8 or 9 CDs with more on order. Thanks to you and everyone else here! Now Baby Huey was just a suggestion from my favourite CD shop when they saw what I was buying. I wouldn't say Baby Huey is quite in the class of either of them but he is somewhere between Sly and JB. His real name was James T Ramey, he was big (350 to 400 lbs of him), and he died in the same month as Janis J and Jimi H - when quite depressed about the death of his friend Jimi, apparently from natural causes. His group - Baby Huey and the Babysitters apparently included Chaka Khan and Deacon Jones at various stages. His music was always very brassy and he called it a "cleaned up version of the funky sound - it's like rhythm and soul, man." It is pretty wild stuff. The CD I bought is called "The Baby Huey Story" - NEBCD 405 - which is a posthumous collection put together by Curtis Mayfield. I don't think he ever released a CD in his lifetime, just a couple of singles.
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