200 All-Time Favorite Soul Albums
If you go by typical album canons, you would think there were only a small handful of great soul albums by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, and a couple live albums by James Brown and Sam Cooke. Considering the large scope of soul, that's a pretty miniscule sample. The argument is that aside from some exceptions in the 70s, it was a singles based genre in which albums were haphazard collections of singles padded by filler. This is partly true, especially for the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. He seemed to have little interest in issuing strong albums, spreading his best singles thin throughout several albums a year. Two of his best studio albums, Think! (1960) and It's A Mother (1969) are marred by out-dated tracks that clash with the revolutionary music. Sam Cooke and, during her nine album Columbia tenure, Aretha Franklin also suffered in varying degrees.
It was a combination of that presumption, and the fact that Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (1971) and Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life (1976) were almost unanimously considered two of the greatest soul albums, that kept me from digging deeper for many years. While both albums had some great lyrical moments, What's Going On sounded to me like noodly supperclub music, with light jazz arrangements that reminded me of music from "The Love Boat" and meandering vocal tricks that try to distract from the lack of hooks and melodies. Songs had more musical highlights, but was bloated beyond redemption with sacharine, trite ballads. If that was the best soul had to offer, why bother digging deeper? My opinion of those albums have softened somewhat over the years, but I maintain that critics have put far too much importance on them, while unjustly ignoring the richness of talent bubbling beneath the hits.
My revelation of how vast the soul catalog really is started in the early 90s with the incredible nine volume Stax box set, the Motown box, and brilliant collections issued by Atlantic/Rhino of Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge and Clarence Carter. With a properly blown mind, I ended up buying every album I could by favorites Aretha, Otis, Curtis and Al by the end of the decade. Peter Guralnick's book Sweet Soul Music inspired me to pick of collections of O.V. Wright, James Carr, Don Covay, Garnett Mimms, Joe Tex and others. After the binge of reissues, further treasures continued to be issued on CD for the first time throughout the 00s. That's when I started realizing that even these so-called second tier artists had a lot more to offer outside the compilations, with deep album cuts that were just as good as some of the hits. With more albums in print than ever, and MP3s available of out of print albums, I've been able to hear more albums in the last few years than I had throughout the 90s. At least 18 years after picking up the earliest reissues, I finally feel like I have heard enough to come up with a useful list of 200 favorites. Hopefully this list will convince some who still think there are only five or six classics, that there are easily more than a couple hundred classics out there, with plenty more I still haven't heard yet.
In a just world, or at least at Fast 'n' Bulbous, Donny Hathaway, Terry Callier and Bill Withers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Gaye and Wonder, and even surpass them at times. Despite her range delving further into blues and jazz than most of the artists, Nina Simone gets her rightful place in the soul pantheon. Etta James and Irma Thomas's Muscle Shoals sessions nearly rival Aretha's best work. While recent hipster favorites Rozetta Johnson, Doris Duke, Shuggie Otis, Baby Huey, Betty Davis, Candi Staton, Bettye Swann and Swamp Dogg make the list, they don't quite measure up to underrated albums by James Carr, Percy Sledge, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, O.V. Wright and Jimmy Hughes. And contrary to popular belief, there are some consistently great 60s Motown albums by The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and Martha & the Vandellas.
- Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Atlantic) 67
- Curtis Mayfield - Curtis (Curtom) 70
- Curtis Mayfield - Superfly (Curtom) 72
- Sly & the Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On (Epic) 71
- Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You (Hi) 72
- Al Green - Call Me (Hi) 73
- Otis Redding - Complete & Unbelievable: Dictionary Of Soul (Stax) 66
- Sam Cooke - Night Beat (Abko) 63
- Nina Simone - Wild Is The Wind (Four Women) (Philips) 66
- Aretha Franklin - Aretha Now (Atlantic) 68
- Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (Atlantic) 68
- Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (Tamla) 73
- Donny Hathaway - Everything Is Everything (Atlantic) 70
- James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up (Kent/Ace) 67
- Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman (Atlantic) 66
- Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Stax) 65
- Bill Withers - Just As I Am (Sussex) 71
- Clarence Carter - This Is Clarence Carter (Atlantic) 68
- Terry Callier - What Color Is Love (Cadet/Verve) 72
- Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (Westbound) 71
- Funkadelic (Westbound) 69
- Bill Withers - Still Bill (Sussex) 72
- Minnie Riperton - Come To My Garden (GRT/Varese) 70
- Sly & the Family Stone - Stand! (Epic) 69
- Solomon Burke - Rock 'n' Soul (Atlantic) 64
- Nina Simone - Sings The Blues (RCA) 66
- Sam Cooke - Ain't That Good News (RCA) 64
- Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (Tamla) 72
- James Carr - A Man Needs A Woman (Kent/Ace) 68
- Wilson Pickett - The Sound Of Wilson Pickett (Atlantic) 67
- Solomon Burke - King Solomon (Atlantic) 68
- Betty Davis (Just Sunshine/Aztec) 73
- Sly & The Family Stone - Life (Epic) 68
- Parliament - Mothership Connection (Casablanca) 75
- O.V. Wright - A Nickel And A Nail And The Ace of Spades (Back Beat) 70
- Etta James - Tell Mama (MCA/Chess) 68
- Irma Thomas - Something Good: The Muscle Shoals Sessions (Chess/MCA) 67
- Otis Redding - The Immortal Otis Redding (Stax) 68
- O.V. Wright - Nucleus Of Soul (Back Beat) 68
- The Impressions - The Young Mods' Forgotten Story (Curtom) 69
- Jimmy Hughes – Why Not Tonight? (Atco) 67
- Jimmy Hughes - Something Special (Volt) 69
- The Meters - Look A-Py Py (Josie) 69
- Funkadelic - Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow (Westbound) 70
- Funkadelic - Standing On the Verge Of Getting It On (Westbound) 74
- The Meters - Rejuvenation (Reprise) 74
- Al Green - Let's Stay Together (Hi) 71
- Terry Callier - Occasional Rain (Cadet/Verve) 72
- The Temptations - All Directions (Motown) 72
- Donny Hathaway - Extension Of A Man (Atlantic) 73
- Bobby Bland - Two Steps From the Blues (MCA) 60
- Nina Simone - Let It All Out (Philips) 66
- Nina Simone - High Priestess Of Soul (Philips) 66
- Al Green - The Belle Album (Hi) 77
- Al Green - Al Green Gets Next To You (Hi) 70
- Terry Callier - I Just Can't Help Myself (Cadet/Verve) 74
- Minnie Riperton - Perfect Angel (Capitol) 74
- Donny Hathaway (Atlantic) 71
- Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You (Philips) 65
- Nina Simone - Pastel Blues (Philips) 65
- Betty Davis - Nasty Gal (Just Sunshine/Aztec) 75
- Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace (Atlantic) 72
- Sly & The Family Stone - A Whole New Thing (Epic) 66
- Curtis Mayfield - Roots (Curtom) 71
- Curtis Mayfield - There's No Place Like America Today (Curtom) 75
- Al Green - Explores Your Mind (Hi) 74
- The Impressions - This Is My Country (Curtom) 68
- Jimmy Hughes - Steal Away (Vee Jay) 64
- Sam Cooke - Mr. Soul (RCA) 63
- Otis Redding - The Dock Of The Bay (Stax) 68
- Otis Redding - The Soul Album (Stax) 66
- The Isley Brothers - It's Our Thing (T Neck) 69
- Don Covay - Mercy! (Atlantic) 65
- Clarence Carter - The Dynamic Clarence Carter (Atlantic) 69
- Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (Epic/Luaka Bop) 74
- Bobby Womack - Fly Me To The Moon (Minit) 68
- The Temptations - Cloud Nine (Motown) 69
- Otis Redding - Pain In My heart (Stax) 64
- Doris Duke - I'm A Loser (Canyon) 70
- Otis Redding - The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (Stax) 65
- O.V. Wright - Memphis Unlimited (Back Beat) 72
- Solomon Burke - I Wish I Knew (Atlantic) 68
- Syreeta - Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (Motown) 74
- Percy Sledge - Warm & Tender Soul (Atlantic) 66
- Sam & Dave - Soul Men (Atlantic) 67
- Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Make It Happen (Motown) 67
- The Temptations - With A Lot O' Soul (Motown) 67
- Wilson Pickett - The Exciting Wilson Pickett (Atlantic) 66
- Don Covay - See Saw (Atlantic) 66
- Percy Sledge - The Percy Sledge Way (Atlantic) 67
- Howard Tate - Get It While You Can (Verve) 66
- Wilson Pickett - The Wicked Pickett (Atlantic) 66
- Martha & the Vandellas - Dance Party (Motown) 65
- The Temptations - Psychedelic Shack (Motown) 70
- Curtis Mayfield - Sweet Exorcist (Curtom) 74
- Sly & the Family Stone - Dance To The Music (Epic) 67
- Aretha Franklin - Aretha Arrives (Atlantic/Rhino) 67
- Michael Jackson - Thriller (Epic) 82
- Gloria Jones - Share My Love (Reel/Universal) 73
- Curtis Mayfield - Back To The World (Curtom) 73
- Martha & the Vandellas - Watchout! (Motown) 66
- Betty Harris - Soul Perfection (Action) 69
- Candi Staton – I’m Just A Prisoner (Fame) 69
- Stevie Wonder - Music Of My Mind (Motown) 72
- Millie Jackson - It Hurts So Good (Westbound) 73
- Bettye Swann - The Soul View Now (Capitol) 68
- Cymande (Janus/Sequel) 72
- Syreeta (Motown) 72
- The Meters - Struttin' (Josie) 70
- James Brown - Sex Machine (Polydor) 70
- Baby Huey & The Babysitters - The Baby Huey Story: Living Legend (Water) 70
- Al Green - Livin' For You (Hi) 73
- Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different (Just Sunshine/Aztec) 74
- James Brown - Live At the Apollo (Polydor) 67
- Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted And Black (Atlantic) 71
- Clarence Carter - Patches (Atlantic) 70
- Wilson Pickett - The Midnight Mover (Atlantic) 68
- Percy Sledge - Take Time To Know Her (Atlantic) 68
- Laura Lee - A Woman's Love Rights (Hot Wax) 71
- O.V. Wright - If It's Only for Tonight/Eight Men, Four Women (Back Beat) 65
- Clarence Carter - Testifyin' (Atlantic) 69
- Jean Knight - Mr. Big Stuff (Stax) 70
- Etta James - At Last! (Chess) 61
- Solomon Burke - If You Need Me (Atlantic) 63
- Sam & Dave - Double Dynamite (Atlantic) 67
- Joe Tex - The Love You Save (Atlantic) 66
- Joe Tex - I've Got To Do A Little Better (Atlantic) 66
- Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Comin' (Atlantic) 66
- Sly & The Family Stone - Fresh (Epic) 73
- The Isley Brothers - 3 Plus 3 (T Neck) 73
- The Isley Brothers - The Brothers Isley (T Neck) 69
- Ray Charles - The Genius Of Ray Charles (Atlantic) 59
- Fontella Bass - Free (Paula/Fuel) 72
- Laura Lee - Two Sides of Laura Lee (Hot Wax) 72
- Etta James - Call My Name (Cadet) 66
- James Brown and the Famous Flames - Think! (King) 60
- Tyrone Davis - Can I Change My Mind (Dakar) 69
- Tyrone Davis - Turn Back the Hands of Time (Brunswick) 70
- The Impressions - This Is My Country (Paramount) 68
- The J.B.'s - Food For Thought (Polydor) 73
- The J.B.'s - Breakin' Bread (Polydor) 74
- Bill Withers - 'Justments (Sussex) 74
- The J.B.'s - Breakin' Bread (Polydor)
- James Brown - The Payback (Polydor) 73
- Swamp Dogg - Total Destruction to Your Mind (Canyon) 70
- The Impressions - We're A Winner (Paramount) 68
- Howard Tate - Howard Tate's Reaction (Turntable) 69
- Aretha Franklin - This Girl's In Love With You (Atlantic) 70
- The Impressions (Paramount) 63
- The Impressions - Keep On Pushing (Paramount) 64
- The Impressions - Check Out Your Mind! (Curtom) 70
- Bobby Womack - The Facts Of Life (USA) 73
- Bobby Womack - Communication (UA) 71
- Bobby Womack - Understanding (UA) 72
- Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear (Motown) 78
- Marva Whitney – It’s My Thing (King) 69
- Millie Jackson - Caught Up (Westbound) 74
- Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale (Motown) 74
- Gene Chandler - The Girl Don't Care (Brunswick) 67
- Bobby Womack - My Prescription (Minit) 69
- Etta James - Second Time Around (MCA/Chess) 61
- Sam & Dave - I Thank You (Atlantic) 68
- The Impressions - One By One (Paramount) 65
- The Impressions - People Get Ready (Paramount) 65
- Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life (Motown) 76
- Parliament - Osmium (Invictus) 70
- James Brown - It's A Mother (Polydor) 69
- Marvin Gaye - Midnight Love (Columbia) 82
- Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul (Stax) 69
- Ray Charles - Hallelujah I Love Her So (Atlantic) 57
- The O'Jays - Back Stabbers (Philadelphia International) 72
- Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Motown) 73
- Marvin Gaye - I Want You (Motown) 76
- Marie Queenie Lyons - Soul Fever (Vampi Soul) 70
- Joe Tex - Buying A Book (Atlantic) 69
- Arthur Conley - Soul Directions (Atco) 68
- Sam Cooke - One Night Stand: Live at Harlem Square Club, 1963 (RCA) 63
- Bobby Womack - Lookin' For A Love Again (UA) 74
- Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Motown) 71
- Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (Epic) 79
- Johnnie Taylor - One Step Beyond (Stax) 71
- Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man (Motown) 72
- Marvin Gaye - In Our Lifetime (Motown) 81
- Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed and Delivered (Motown) 70
- The Impressions - Ridin' High (Paramount) 66
- The Impressions - The Fabulous Impressions (Paramount) 67
- Mavis Staples - Only for the Lonely (Stax) 69
- Barbara Lewis - The Many Grooves Of Barbara Lewis (Stax) 69
- The Jacksons - Destiny (Epic) 78
- Freda Payne – Band of Gold (HDH) 70
- Swamp Dogg - Rat On (Elektra) 71
- Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black? (Hi) 70
- Laura Lee - Love More Than Pride (Chess) 69
- Ann Peebles - Can't Stop the Rain (Hi) 74
- Wilson Pickett - I'm In Love (Atlantic) 68
- Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up (Westbound) 75
- Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour (Atlantic) 65
- Johnnie Taylor - Wanted: One Soul Singer (Stax) 67
- Solomon Burke - Proud Mary (Atlantic) 69
- The O'Jays - Ship Ahoy (Philadelphia International) 73
- The Temptations - Wish It Would Rain (Motown) 68
