Category: Soul
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Ben E. King ‘Don’t Play That Song’ (1962)
Before striking out on his own, King cut his teeth with the legendary doo-wop group The Drifters, lending his smooth tone to classics like “There Goes My Baby” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” Don’t Play That Song is a cornerstone of early soul, built on the warmth and sincerity that made that era…
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Sam Cooke ‘One Night Stand: Live At The Harlem Square Club’ (1963)
Sam Cooke is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most versatile vocalists of all time. You don’t get the nickname “The King of Soul” for nothing. His velvety tenor voice, remarkable pitch, and effortlessly soulful delivery that could soar to a high falsetto and then quickly pivot to a distinctive rasp in the…
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Barry White ‘Can’t Get Enough’ (1974)
With that deep velvety baritone, sweeping string arrangements, and grooves slow enough to make time stretch, Barry White became the undisputed voice of late-night candle-lit seduction. Songs like “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and the title track were soundtracks for romance in all its silky sweaty glory. What made it work wasn’t just…
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Jackie Wilson ‘Higher and Higher’ (1967)
I was introduced to Jackie Wilson via Van Morrison’s song “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)”. When an artist like Van Morrison is writing and dedicating a song to you, safe to say that you’ve made a pretty big impact in the music industry. And it’s easy to understand why after just…
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Aretha Franklin ‘I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You’ (1967)
Aretha Franklin’s voice is a force of nature—powerful, raw, and deeply emotional. As I mentioned during my write up of her 1972 album Young, Gifted and Black she’s one of only two vocalists in the GOAT conversation for me (the other being Whitney Houston). Aretha’s ability to pour pure feeling into every note sets her…
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The War and Treaty ‘Plus One’ (2025)
The War and Treaty dropped their newest album yesterday (Plus One as you would expect) and my wife and I had the pleasure of seeing them host a special Valentine’s Day show at the Grand Ole Opry last evening. The bill included The Band Perry, Neon Union, Jon Randall, LoCash and more, but it was…
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Saturday Night Fever ‘Original Soundtrack’ (1977)
Few acts have navigated pop music’s shifting tides with the chameleonic brilliance of the Bee Gees, a trio whose harmonies could cut through the thickest disco fog or glide over baroque balladry with equal finesse. Rising from the shadow of the Beatles in the ’60s to become the glittering architects of the ’70s dancefloor, their…
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The Jackson 5 ‘Christmas Album’ (1970)
Fronted by a precocious 11-year-old Michael Jackson, whose voice carried a blend of innocence and soul far beyond his years, The Jackson 5 quickly became a pop phenomenon in the early 70’s with hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There” showcasing their boundless talent that made eventually make Michael pop music’s…
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Ray Charles ‘The Genius of Ray Charles’ (1959)
Ray Charles’ impact on soul music cannot be understated– he almost single-handedly paved the way for soul and blues to be commercially viable and that fact in and of itself has cemented his place as an American icon. His one-of-a-kind baritone vocal melodies and brilliant piano playing legitimately transformed the way soul music was delivered…
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Isaac Hayes ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ (1969)
Hot Buttered Soul is just plain cool. Released in 1969, it had an indelible impact on the soul music genre and how artists could use fashion and the album cover itself to make a statement. Isaac Hayes blended lush orchestration, deep grooves, and spoken word interludes, creating a rich, immersive soundscape that transcended traditional song…
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Bobby Caldwell ‘What You Won’t Do For Love’ (1978)
On the yacht rock front it doesn’t get much better than the title track off this album. It’s one of the smoothest and vibey songs in that genre, a mainstay on playlists and radio stations who turn up that smooth dial to 11. It was nearly an instant classic in that regard– lyrics that focus…
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The Impressions ‘Keep On Pushing’ (1964)
In Keep On Pushing Curtis Mayfield harnesses his gospel roots to deliver a powerful message of strength and perseverance during the heart of the Civil Rights movement. This album marks the Impressions’ first true effort as an album, showcasing beautifully crafted songs, supported by Johnny Pate’s horn arrangements, the trio’s captivating harmonies, and of course…
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Hall & Oates ‘Private Eyes’ (1981)
Hall & Oates’ Private Eyes epitomizes the duo’s signature yacht rock sound—a smooth blend of pop, rock, and soul that captures the essence of early ’80s radio. The album features some of their most iconic tracks, including the title song “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” both of which showcase…
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Roberta Flack ‘First Take’ (1969)
Roberta Flack’s debut album First Take was initially a commercial disappointment. But like most things in life it just took some time– two years after the album was released her song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was included in the soundtrack for the 1971 film Play Misty For Me, and the album…
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Roy Ayers Ubiquity ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ (1976)
Roy Ayers is the godfather of neo-soul, setting off on a prolific career in the 1970’s that saw him churn out nearly an album per year. Along with his timeless classic “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” (the title track off this album– more on that in a minute), Ayers is also known for his stature in…
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The Whispers ‘Love For Love’ (1982)
One of my favorite guilty pleasures is over-produced and opulent R&B from the 80’s that blends smooth jazz with the upbeat funk that took great inspiration from albums like Parliament’s 1975 magnum opus Mothership Connection and went on to inspire one of the greatest contemporary pop funk albums in Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic. The Whispers…
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Simply Red ‘Picture Book’ (1985)
As far as debut albums go, Picture Book is an absolute beauty. Fusing the classic sounds of 1960’s Motown with the reverb and synth-driven hooks of 80’s soft rock, Simply Red turned in a soulful take on R&B that has stood the test of time as an 80’s classic. Lead singer Mick Hucknall’s vocal lines…
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Sade ‘Diamond Life’ (1984)
Sade’s rise to the zenith of smooth jazz started humbly enough in the early 80’s. Following a university career that saw her study fashion design and a brief stint as a model, Sade Adu was recruited to become a backup singer for the British band Pride. After establishing a songwriting partnership with guitarist/saxophonist Stewart Matthewman,…
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Bobby Womack ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (1969)
A prolific songwriter with writing credits that spanned numerous genres (including The Rolling Stones “It’s All Over Now”) Bobby Womack’s brand of high-powered gospel soul gave him a career that spanned 60 years and eventually culminated in an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Overcoming a brutally poor childhood (his…
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Gladys Knight & The Pips ‘Imagination’ (1973)
While the Pips are remembered now for their absolute powerhouse of a lead vocalist in Gladys Knight (if you don’t get goosebumps when you hear her belt out “He’s leaving on that midnight train to Georgia” you need to consult with your doctor or priest to confirm you still have a soul), they were known…
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Sam & Dave ‘Hold On, I’m Comin” (1966)
Along with having an iconic horn section hook that kicks off the song, Sam & Dave’s iconic “Hold On, I’m Comin’” has a really great backstory. Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter who ran the southern soul music powerhouse Stack Records in the 60’s , the song was born out of a enthusiastic yell…
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The Temptations ‘The Temptations Sing Smokey’ (1965)
The Temptations were one of the defining acts of Motown in the mid-60’s, bringing their impeccable harmonies that sounded like smooth silk alongside a soulful big band flair to deliver some of soul music’s most iconic hits over the decade and defining the entire genre in the process. Their 1965 album The Temptations Sing Smokey…
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The Delfonics ‘La La Means I Love You’ (1968)
I just watched Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown for the first time a few days ago (yes, I’m aware I’m a little late to the party) and as anyone who has seen the movie before is aware, The Delfonics played a massive role in the movie. They effectively serve as the soundtrack throughout the film for…
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Ray Charles ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ (1985)
By the time 1985 rolled along Ray Charles was well past the commercial success and utter brilliance of his work in the late 50’s and 60’s (1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music being his seminal work) and had become somewhat of an afterthought in American pop culture. In other words, 1985’s The Spirit…
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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats ‘Self-Titled’ (2015)
I’ve mentioned before my love for Nathaniel Rateliff and his booming baritone and why it’s made him one of my most beloved contemporary singers. His solo album And It’s Still Alright from 2020 was a pivotal pandemic album for me that helped get through all the wild ass confusion that swallowed us all during that…
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James Brown ‘Live At the Apollo’ (1963)
For decades James Brown was America’s preeminent showman and The Apollo Theater in Harlem was America’s preeminent live music venue. It’s only natural that these would come together in the fall of 1962 for Brown’s first live album and the first live album ever recorded at the Apollo. It’s soul dynamite packed into a tidy…
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The War and Treaty ‘Healing Tide’ (2018)
The War and Treaty is a a wife-husband duo comprised of Tanya Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr. Their debut album Healing Tide is a wonderful throwback to traditional country music with elements of Memphis soul and blues music blended into their sound. The vocal performance of Tanya and Michael is the true highlight of this…
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Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings ‘Soul of a Woman’ (2017)
The youngest of six children, Sharon Jones was an American soul singer from Brooklyn. Throughout her life she spent a lot of time in the gospel choir at church and did some session work for various artists but never gained any real traction in her music career, leading her to jobs like serving as a…
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Stevie Wonder ‘Songs In The Key of Life’ (1976)
The word “beloved” gets tossed around too often when talking about musicians (guilty as charged on that front), but it’s the perfect word to use when describing Stevie Wonder. An American icon in every sense of the word, Wonder was born six weeks premature and developed retrolental fibroplasia which caused him to become blind shortly…
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Marvin Gaye ‘What’s Going On’ (1971)
Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On stands today as one of the most important records in the history of recorded music in the United States. This is due to a variety of reasons, the primary one being it’s statements and reflections on American society during the 60’s and 70’s, which was fraught with social upheaval that…
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Mr. Jukes ‘God First’ (2017)
Inspired by a trip around the world that began with a two-week stay in the hold of a cargo ship (yes, really), Jack Steadman delights in his debut album God First. After a mutual hiatus of his longtime band, the Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Steadman the festival-anthem indie rock focus and tapped into the classic…
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The Supremes ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ (1964)
I have a running theory that no matter who you are and what music you’re into, by the time you hit your 30’s you either implicitly enjoy the sounds of Motown or you’re probably a sociopath. To be clear this isn’t even to say you actively seek out listening to Motown– it’s just to say…
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Smokey Robinson and the Miracles ‘Going to a Go-Go’ (1965)
Going to a Go-Go is The Miracles and Smokey Robinson’s masterpiece, a perfect encapsulation of the Motown sound and the only record from The Miracles that cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard charts. Their history is complicated, but here’s the headline– the band is one of the most influential R&B and soul groups of…
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Aretha Franklin ‘Young, Gifted and Black’ (1972)
There are only two singers in the GOAT conversation for me— the incomparable Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. And no matter where or when you get an opportunity to spin one of their records, it’s just simply a goddamn pleasure. 1972’s Young, Gifted and Black is no exception. There’s something simply stunning listening to the…
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