Looking for some music recommendations...

SixStringSlinger · August 11th, 2008, 12:20 AM

Once again I call upon you, wise, (collectively) all-knowing TDPRI-ers, to recommend me some of the good stuff. Tonight I'm talking about soul/Motown music. Kinda broad, but I don't know how else to put it. Anything you wanna throw my way? New stuff or old stuff, doesn't matter. Guitar stuff would be cool, but that's not all I'm looking for. So if you can give me some artist/band/group names I'd appreciate it. Any specific albums/collections, even better. Thanks!

casterway · August 11th, 2008, 01:05 AM

Buy and watch this:

Derek S · August 11th, 2008, 01:15 AM

The Temptations-"Psychedelic Soul"
Marvin Gaye-"What's Going On"
Curtis Mayfield-"Curtis Live"
Al Green-"Let's Stay Together"

This will get you started quite nicely with 4 diffferent styles of soul music.

getbent · August 11th, 2008, 01:25 AM

Motown is just part of it... Al Green is the HI Sound of Willie Mitchell for example... I'm hoping Ole Wichita makes a list for you... but, make sure you have some

Spinners - I'll Be Around
Stylistics - Round Two
Aretha Franklin - There is a 6 cd set that is crazy...
Bobby Womack - get a greatest hits
Isley Bros - get a greatest hits if not get 3+3
Get the Cooley High Soundtrack... friggin killer...
Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes - Wake UP
Get several Marvin Gaye albums...
If you haven't dug Prince... you need some little prince--> My fave is "the most beautiful girl in the world"
Otis Redding
Sam & Dave
Tower of Power - What is hip!
Booker T and MG's
Steveland Morris (Stevie Wonder) get talking book.. get greatest hits vol 2 get'em all he's a genius.

and check out the new guy Anthony Hamilton... I put up a thread today... great stuff...

that'll get you started.

ibobunot · August 11th, 2008, 01:44 AM

Nikka Costa - Everybody Got Their Something

Corinne Bailey Rae - Since I Been Loveing You

Amp Fiddler - Superficial & I Believe In You

India.Arie - Video Girl

RomanS · August 11th, 2008, 07:45 AM

If you like Stax soul, too, there's a nice 2-CD box set called "Stax 50th Anniversary" that is a good introduction.

There's another great CD series called "Atlantic R&B", covering the late 1940s to early 1970s - it's available as an 8-CD box set http://www.amazon.com/Atlantic-R-B-B...8451426&sr=1-1 - but you can also just get single CDs from the series, for Motown/60s-soul like stuff the last 3 or 4 volumes should serve you well.

There are a couple of Motown collections, "Motwon Gold" is a good start.

And as others have pointed out, some Otis Redding, Al Green, (early) Curtis Mayfield, and Marvin Gaye compilations are also good starting points.

For instrumentals, of course Booker T & The MGs are a must, but also check out The Meters, as well as some of Cornell Dupree's solo albums.

For modern, but sixties-influenced soul, check out Amy Winehouse' "Back To Black", Duffy's "Rockferry" or "19" by Adele.

Another new album I like a lot is Mavis Staples "We'll Never Turn Back", which mixes soul, gospel and blues, great vocals and lots of cool guitar playing, too (not as poppy as the Motown stuff, though...)

Daniil · August 11th, 2008, 07:49 AM

Here's a jazz/funk album that I've really been enjoying lately:

Grant Green: Blue Breakbeats

+1 on Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Bonehaid · August 11th, 2008, 08:24 AM

James Hunter and Dan Penn

byrdbrain · August 11th, 2008, 09:01 AM

Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures – an outstanding compilation series
of southern soul.
James Carr
O.V. Wright

junk126 · August 11th, 2008, 09:05 AM

getbent's list is pretty killer and a very good starting place.

staxman · August 11th, 2008, 09:12 AM

I'm a 60s & 70s Soul fanatic to say the least. I could make you a list that would keep you busy for a lifetime(I know it has kept me busy). But to get started, Getbent provided an excellent list of "must haves" to which I'd perhaps add Wilson Pickett and maybe Percy Sledge for some country flavored soul. If you find you like Otis Redding, dig up some James Carr who recorded the definitive version of "Dark End of the Street".
Rhino Records has an excellent 2-cd compilation series called "The Definitive Soul Collection" on artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MGs, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, etc. -- outstanding sound remastering, imformative liner notes and moderately priced for 2-cd packages on each artist.

For Bobby Womack, I'd go with the latest compilation, "The Best of Bobby Womack: The Soul Years"-- best remastering job on Womack's catalog in the digital era in my book (admittedly a dumb title, as all of Bobby's years were soul years, but why quibble).

Motown, Stax, and Hi Records all had distinctive, individual "sounds", due in large part, to their respective "house bands". Using the same musicians in the same studios gave these record labels a consistent quality to their records. So if you like Otis Redding you might like some Eddie Floyd, William Bell or Johnnie Taylor. If you dig Al Green, try some Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, or Willie Mitchell's instrumental stuff. Motown... well, we all know that sound, don't we? The Muscle Shoals' boys had a Stax/Hi sound all their own down in Alabama-- Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Candi Staton, Clarence Carter, The Staple Singers all cut classic soul albums with those cats.

I could go on... but I already have. Sweet Soul Music! (good tune, Arthur Conley, btw).

junk126 · August 11th, 2008, 09:17 AM

He might not fit the Motown label, but I would also add Bill Withers to the list. Definitely Soul, and he fits nicely into a playlist of Soul/Motown music.

Cassady · August 11th, 2008, 09:23 AM

Not so long ago, I was interested in getting some Motown stuff and I ended up with Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971. It's a darned good four CD set that you can pick up for about $35 from the online CD setllers (less if you buy used). There's also a second set that covers the period from 1972 to 1992, but I don't have it (yet).

Also, I've noticed that the recommendations above seem to be missing The Four Tops and The Miracles (or Smokey Robinson and The Miracles), both of whom I consider essential.

Cassady

staxman · August 11th, 2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassady

Not so long ago, I was interested in getting some Motown stuff and I ended up with Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971. It's a darned good four CD set that you can pick up for about $35 from the online CD setllers (less if you buy used). There's also a second set that covers the period from 1972 to 1992, but I don't have it (yet).

Also, I've noticed that the recommendations above seem to be missing The Four Tops and The Miracles (or Smokey Robinson and The Miracles), both of whom I consider essential.

Cassady

Excellent suggestion, Cassady. There is a TON of good Motown stuff-- the box set you refer to is a great way to hit the high points. Motown Records does an excellent "best of" single cd compilation series called "The Ultimate Collection" on all their top artists. In addition to the artists Cassady mentioned, I would add Jr.Walker & the All Stars and David Ruffin both have their own excellent "Ultimate Collection" CDs. The Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets are a slice of Motown heaven as well.

P.S. In the instrumental soul genre, if you like Booker T & the MGs, get a good Meters compilation or, better yet, their first few albums reissued on Sundazed Records.

jimd · August 11th, 2008, 09:48 AM

Aside from the obvious (I think): Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Drifters etc. I've got several volumes of the "Atlantic Rhythm and Blues" Collection. I'm not sure it is still available but it is very good. Each volume contained hits from about a 2 or 3 year span. A very good snapshot.

edit:
Ah crap I just committed a pet peeve of mine. Roman already mentioned the Atlantic set. Points to him.

August 11th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
SixStringSlinger Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Miami, FL Age: 21 Posts: 1,271	Looking for some music recommendations... Once again I call upon you, wise, (collectively) all-knowing TDPRI-ers, to recommend me some of the good stuff. Tonight I'm talking about soul/Motown music. Kinda broad, but I don't know how else to put it. Anything you wanna throw my way? New stuff or old stuff, doesn't matter. Guitar stuff would be cool, but that's not all I'm looking for. So if you can give me some artist/band/group names I'd appreciate it. Any specific albums/collections, even better. Thanks! __________________ "Is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus, or just a really cool opotamus?" -Mitch Hedberg

August 11th, 2008, 01:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Derek S Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: EL PUEBLO VIEJO Posts: 376	The Temptations-"Psychedelic Soul" Marvin Gaye-"What's Going On" Curtis Mayfield-"Curtis Live" Al Green-"Let's Stay Together" This will get you started quite nicely with 4 diffferent styles of soul music. __________________ "Derek's good t'night"-Mick Jagger

August 11th, 2008, 01:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 10,140 37 Photos	Motown is just part of it... Al Green is the HI Sound of Willie Mitchell for example... I'm hoping Ole Wichita makes a list for you... but, make sure you have some Spinners - I'll Be Around Stylistics - Round Two Aretha Franklin - There is a 6 cd set that is crazy... Bobby Womack - get a greatest hits Isley Bros - get a greatest hits if not get 3+3 Get the Cooley High Soundtrack... friggin killer... Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes - Wake UP Get several Marvin Gaye albums... If you haven't dug Prince... you need some little prince--> My fave is "the most beautiful girl in the world" Otis Redding Sam & Dave Tower of Power - What is hip! Booker T and MG's Steveland Morris (Stevie Wonder) get talking book.. get greatest hits vol 2 get'em all he's a genius. and check out the new guy Anthony Hamilton... I put up a thread today... great stuff... that'll get you started. __________________ 'never pet a burning dog'

August 11th, 2008, 01:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
ibobunot Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dullsville Posts: 3,456	Nikka Costa - Everybody Got Their Something Corinne Bailey Rae - Since I Been Loveing You Amp Fiddler - Superficial & I Believe In You India.Arie - Video Girl Last edited by ibobunot; August 11th, 2008 at 08:32 AM.

August 11th, 2008, 07:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,871 14 Photos	If you like Stax soul, too, there's a nice 2-CD box set called "Stax 50th Anniversary" that is a good introduction. There's another great CD series called "Atlantic R&B", covering the late 1940s to early 1970s - it's available as an 8-CD box set http://www.amazon.com/Atlantic-R-B-B...8451426&sr=1-1 - but you can also just get single CDs from the series, for Motown/60s-soul like stuff the last 3 or 4 volumes should serve you well. There are a couple of Motown collections, "Motwon Gold" is a good start. And as others have pointed out, some Otis Redding, Al Green, (early) Curtis Mayfield, and Marvin Gaye compilations are also good starting points. For instrumentals, of course Booker T & The MGs are a must, but also check out The Meters, as well as some of Cornell Dupree's solo albums. For modern, but sixties-influenced soul, check out Amy Winehouse' "Back To Black", Duffy's "Rockferry" or "19" by Adele. Another new album I like a lot is Mavis Staples "We'll Never Turn Back", which mixes soul, gospel and blues, great vocals and lots of cool guitar playing, too (not as poppy as the Motown stuff, though...) __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

August 11th, 2008, 07:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Daniil Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Espoo, Finland Age: 29 Posts: 123 5 Photos	Here's a jazz/funk album that I've really been enjoying lately: Grant Green: Blue Breakbeats +1 on Standing in the Shadows of Motown

August 11th, 2008, 08:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bonehaid TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brenham,Tx Age: 54 Posts: 12	James Hunter and Dan Penn

August 11th, 2008, 09:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
byrdbrain Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 1,410 4 Photos	Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures – an outstanding compilation series of southern soul. James Carr O.V. Wright __________________ In vino securitas

August 11th, 2008, 09:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
junk126 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alabama, United States Age: 29 Posts: 121	getbent's list is pretty killer and a very good starting place. __________________ I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it. -- (Terry Pratchett)

August 11th, 2008, 09:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
staxman Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 514	I'm a 60s & 70s Soul fanatic to say the least. I could make you a list that would keep you busy for a lifetime(I know it has kept me busy). But to get started, Getbent provided an excellent list of "must haves" to which I'd perhaps add Wilson Pickett and maybe Percy Sledge for some country flavored soul. If you find you like Otis Redding, dig up some James Carr who recorded the definitive version of "Dark End of the Street". Rhino Records has an excellent 2-cd compilation series called "The Definitive Soul Collection" on artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MGs, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, etc. -- outstanding sound remastering, imformative liner notes and moderately priced for 2-cd packages on each artist. For Bobby Womack, I'd go with the latest compilation, "The Best of Bobby Womack: The Soul Years"-- best remastering job on Womack's catalog in the digital era in my book (admittedly a dumb title, as all of Bobby's years were soul years, but why quibble). Motown, Stax, and Hi Records all had distinctive, individual "sounds", due in large part, to their respective "house bands". Using the same musicians in the same studios gave these record labels a consistent quality to their records. So if you like Otis Redding you might like some Eddie Floyd, William Bell or Johnnie Taylor. If you dig Al Green, try some Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, or Willie Mitchell's instrumental stuff. Motown... well, we all know that sound, don't we? The Muscle Shoals' boys had a Stax/Hi sound all their own down in Alabama-- Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Candi Staton, Clarence Carter, The Staple Singers all cut classic soul albums with those cats. I could go on... but I already have. Sweet Soul Music! (good tune, Arthur Conley, btw).

August 11th, 2008, 09:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
junk126 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alabama, United States Age: 29 Posts: 121	He might not fit the Motown label, but I would also add Bill Withers to the list. Definitely Soul, and he fits nicely into a playlist of Soul/Motown music. __________________ I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it. -- (Terry Pratchett)

August 11th, 2008, 09:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
Cassady Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 550	Not so long ago, I was interested in getting some Motown stuff and I ended up with Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971. It's a darned good four CD set that you can pick up for about $35 from the online CD setllers (less if you buy used). There's also a second set that covers the period from 1972 to 1992, but I don't have it (yet). Also, I've noticed that the recommendations above seem to be missing The Four Tops and The Miracles (or Smokey Robinson and The Miracles), both of whom I consider essential. Cassady

August 11th, 2008, 09:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
jimd Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 42 Posts: 564	Aside from the obvious (I think): Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Drifters etc. I've got several volumes of the "Atlantic Rhythm and Blues" Collection. I'm not sure it is still available but it is very good. Each volume contained hits from about a 2 or 3 year span. A very good snapshot. edit: Ah crap I just committed a pet peeve of mine. Roman already mentioned the Atlantic set. Points to him.