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About Me
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Top Ten Soul Albums
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the key of life.
How could any top 10 of music list be without this album. Stevie has produced a number of what i would call 5* albums down the years but this, in my opinion is his best. This is a very vibrant album, and even when he talks about racial and social issues a sense of optimism and hope always emergees. Stevie forges a blend of soul, funk and rock & roll and they all mix perfectly. My favourite tracks are ‘Love’s in need of love today’ and ‘Village Ghetto land’.
Marvin Gaye - Whats going on.
The most passionate record to come out of soul music sung by one of the most incredible voices. The album reflects on civil unrest, drug abuse, abandoned children, and the spectre of riots in the near past. This album was revolutionary, never before had the dark and jazzy sound been heard and this enables the production to coincide perfectly with Marvin’s passionate views. You must check out ‘Mercy Mercy Me’.
Al Green - I’m Still in love with you.
This album has a suave, romantic tone, common in Greens earlier releases. But the fact that there are no waisted tracks on this album mean that it forms Green’s best work.
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
This is a brilliantly personal account by another great voice in soul music. Mayfield comments on what he sees as a plague on America’s streets. This is a great ’storytelling’ album that comments on what happens rather than moralising the situation. The album is worth getting for the album title track ’superfly’ alone.
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
Redding’s powerful, remarkable singing throughout makes Otis Blue gritty, rich, and alive, and an essential listening experience. This album might not be in everyone’s top 10 soul albums, but the song ’My Girl’ possibly my favourite soul track of all time, edged Otis into the top 10.
Isaac Hayes - Hot buttered Soul
This album is remembered for stretching its songs beyond the traditional 3 or 4 minutes, and the instrumental endings to the tracks are a breathe of fresh air. Hayes bring a huge amount of passion and emotion to the forefront of his vocals with the guitar’s heavy vibrato and the female background singers taking the album to even further heights.
James Brown - Live at the Apollo
The best ever live album ever recorded in any genre of music. The album focuses on his earlier and (relatively) more conventional hits. The building blocks of his pioneering sound are all here in high-octane live versions of "I’ll Go Crazy" and "Think". While James Brown would later make more amazing music in the studio, Live At The Apollo left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was a live performer without peer, and that his talent could communicate just as strongly on tape as in person; a watershed album, both for James Brown and for the burgeoning soul music movement.
Michael Jackson - Off the wall
This was his breakthrough, the album that established him as an artist of astonishing talent and a bright star in his own right. This was a visionary album, a record that found a way to break disco wide open into a new world where the beat was undeniable, but not the primary focus — it was part of a colorful tapestry of lush ballads and strings, smooth soul and pop, soft rock, and alluring funk. Most of all, its success is due to the sound constructed by Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, a dazzling array of disco beats, funk guitars, clean mainstream pop, and unashamed (and therefore affecting) schmaltz that is utterly thrilling in its utter joy. This is highly professional, highly crafted music, and its details are evident, but the overall effect is nothing but pure pleasure.This is better than ’Thriller’ take my word for it.
Aeretha Franklin - Lady Soul
An inspired blend of covers and originals from the best songwriters in soul and pop music mAke up Franklin’s best album. The album is driven by a chorus of cascading echoes by Franklin and her bedrock backing vocalists plus the unforgettable, earthy guitar work. The album is powered by three hit singles (each nested in the upper reaches of the pop Top Ten), Lady Soul became Aretha Franklin’s second gold LP and remained on the charts for over a year.The best track on the album is ’You make me feel like a natural woman’. A soul classic.
Lauryn Hill - The miseducation of Lauryn Hill
A controversial choice i know, but this album is representing for the 90’s. Soul and R’N’B in my opinion went through a dry spell since the golden era of the 1960’s and 70’s, and although there are excellent new artists emerging, i wouldnt consider many albums recorded within the last couple of decades, with the exception of this. One of the most notable things about this album is that Lauryn is able to establish new ground by successfully integrating rap, soul, reggae, and R&B into her own sound. The album is steeped in her old-school background, both musically (the Motown-esque singalong of "Doo Wop (That Thing)") and lyrically (the nostalgic "Every Ghetto, Every City").A must buy for any r’n’b fan.
How could any top 10 of music list be without this album. Stevie has produced a number of what i would call 5* albums down the years but this, in my opinion is his best. This is a very vibrant album, and even when he talks about racial and social issues a sense of optimism and hope always emergees. Stevie forges a blend of soul, funk and rock & roll and they all mix perfectly. My favourite tracks are ‘Love’s in need of love today’ and ‘Village Ghetto land’.
Marvin Gaye - Whats going on.
The most passionate record to come out of soul music sung by one of the most incredible voices. The album reflects on civil unrest, drug abuse, abandoned children, and the spectre of riots in the near past. This album was revolutionary, never before had the dark and jazzy sound been heard and this enables the production to coincide perfectly with Marvin’s passionate views. You must check out ‘Mercy Mercy Me’.
Al Green - I’m Still in love with you.
This album has a suave, romantic tone, common in Greens earlier releases. But the fact that there are no waisted tracks on this album mean that it forms Green’s best work.
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
This is a brilliantly personal account by another great voice in soul music. Mayfield comments on what he sees as a plague on America’s streets. This is a great ’storytelling’ album that comments on what happens rather than moralising the situation. The album is worth getting for the album title track ’superfly’ alone.
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
Redding’s powerful, remarkable singing throughout makes Otis Blue gritty, rich, and alive, and an essential listening experience. This album might not be in everyone’s top 10 soul albums, but the song ’My Girl’ possibly my favourite soul track of all time, edged Otis into the top 10.
Isaac Hayes - Hot buttered Soul
This album is remembered for stretching its songs beyond the traditional 3 or 4 minutes, and the instrumental endings to the tracks are a breathe of fresh air. Hayes bring a huge amount of passion and emotion to the forefront of his vocals with the guitar’s heavy vibrato and the female background singers taking the album to even further heights.
James Brown - Live at the Apollo
The best ever live album ever recorded in any genre of music. The album focuses on his earlier and (relatively) more conventional hits. The building blocks of his pioneering sound are all here in high-octane live versions of "I’ll Go Crazy" and "Think". While James Brown would later make more amazing music in the studio, Live At The Apollo left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was a live performer without peer, and that his talent could communicate just as strongly on tape as in person; a watershed album, both for James Brown and for the burgeoning soul music movement.
Michael Jackson - Off the wall
This was his breakthrough, the album that established him as an artist of astonishing talent and a bright star in his own right. This was a visionary album, a record that found a way to break disco wide open into a new world where the beat was undeniable, but not the primary focus — it was part of a colorful tapestry of lush ballads and strings, smooth soul and pop, soft rock, and alluring funk. Most of all, its success is due to the sound constructed by Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, a dazzling array of disco beats, funk guitars, clean mainstream pop, and unashamed (and therefore affecting) schmaltz that is utterly thrilling in its utter joy. This is highly professional, highly crafted music, and its details are evident, but the overall effect is nothing but pure pleasure.This is better than ’Thriller’ take my word for it.
Aeretha Franklin - Lady Soul
An inspired blend of covers and originals from the best songwriters in soul and pop music mAke up Franklin’s best album. The album is driven by a chorus of cascading echoes by Franklin and her bedrock backing vocalists plus the unforgettable, earthy guitar work. The album is powered by three hit singles (each nested in the upper reaches of the pop Top Ten), Lady Soul became Aretha Franklin’s second gold LP and remained on the charts for over a year.The best track on the album is ’You make me feel like a natural woman’. A soul classic.
Lauryn Hill - The miseducation of Lauryn Hill
A controversial choice i know, but this album is representing for the 90’s. Soul and R’N’B in my opinion went through a dry spell since the golden era of the 1960’s and 70’s, and although there are excellent new artists emerging, i wouldnt consider many albums recorded within the last couple of decades, with the exception of this. One of the most notable things about this album is that Lauryn is able to establish new ground by successfully integrating rap, soul, reggae, and R&B into her own sound. The album is steeped in her old-school background, both musically (the Motown-esque singalong of "Doo Wop (That Thing)") and lyrically (the nostalgic "Every Ghetto, Every City").A must buy for any r’n’b fan.
Books Im Reading Right Now
Infinity Blues-Ryan Adams
Rain King-Saul Bellows
Common Sense-Glenn Beck
Cash-Johnny Cash
Miles-Miles Davis
Little New York Bastard-M. Dylan Raskin
Rain King-Saul Bellows
Common Sense-Glenn Beck
Cash-Johnny Cash
Miles-Miles Davis
Little New York Bastard-M. Dylan Raskin
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