Soul Recommendations

Should have said..... yes, I agree that much of Junior Wells best music definitely has a soul "bent"-- I've often thought of it as soft Chicago blues. Craig

I love R&B particularly of the 60's, and for me, Aretha is Queen. A good way to explore Aretha is to buy the 4 CD boxed set called "Queen of Soul". I find that many of Aretha's ballads, covers of other people's material, as well as her not-well-known material endure for me even more than her great hits such as "Respect", "Chain of Fools" and "Baby, I Love You", which are also on this 4 CD box set. There is a string of these type of songs on the first CD which starts with track 14 "You are My Sunshine" and ends with track 18 "Prove It". IMO, this is her best material. I also love the last track, "Ain't No Way", which is well known. This is a great boxed set which my only wish for improvement would be that it was of top sonic quality. Other than Aretha, among the highest echelon of R&B artists, I would have to second Ray Charles, who like Aretha, can sing in any style be it Jazz, Blues, Country or Gospel. Others that I find in that highest category are Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson and James Brown.

If you are into soul, you should -- no, scratch that -- you MUST check out "Beg Scream & Shout, The Big Ol' Box of 60's Soul" on Rhino. This 6 CD box set is packaged in what looks exactly like an old 45 box (hinges, lock and handle on top). The CD's are enclosed in facsimiles of 45 sleeves and, get this, included are "The Li'l Ol' Box of 60's Soul Cards". Think baseball cards, with photo on the front and bio on the back and you've got the idea. About 150 cards. Huge variety of artists, incredible packaging. This box set has it all! Rhino # R2 72815

Why Jim thanks for the tip and I'll be looking for it.

Tubegroover, this thread prompted me to listen to these soul CD's today (thanks Redkiwi!). I haven't listened since I got my tube amp (too busy with more hi-fi sounding stuff and looking for audio nirvana). This sounded sooooooo much nicer with tubes than I remember my solid state gear sounding, (listened in two-thirds triode/one-third pentode). By the way, one feature I forgot to mention, inside the 45 sleeves are cardboard/plastic 45's with the CD's housed in the back of each one. So it really gives you the singles experience. All tracks are the original single versions, remastered very nicely, too. Listening today also reminded me of how much some of my favorite artists drew from soul... like Erma Franklin's "Piece of My Heart" (Aretha's younger, deeper voiced sister). Janis Joplin really did a gutsier version of exactly the same song. Exactly. Ditto with Garnet Mimms' "Cry Baby". Not only did Janis cover the song, she was obviously so influenced by the original version. Nothing wrong with this. I make the point only because it's very cool to go back "farther" and connect with the original music that influenced of some of my favorite artists from the past. Janis is just one of many examples.