The Marvelettes – Please Mr.Postman
RjK
The Steelers – Get it from the bottom
RjK
Irma Thomas – Breakaway
This one is for my buddy Rory. I finally got round to checking out the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas on his recommendation.
This has all the ingredients of a great soul record. It is two and a half minutes of energetic, pure and funky perfection. It makes me want to MOVE. What more could I ask for?
RjK
Terry Callier – Ordinary Joe
This is classic soul, another one pilfered from my Father’s record collection. Terry Callier had an interesting career, enduring a couple of decades in the doldrums before making a comeback in the 90’s, notably collaborating with Beth Orton and Massive Attack.
Dave Brubeck – Unsquare dance
I was reminded of this recently when I heard it on the radio. It is just cool. The 60’s is an era I have become a little more conscious of recently (well, beyond Motown, Stax and Atlantic) through the TV show Mad Men. It was such a stylish time. I can imagine Don Draper sipping on an Old Fashioned while this plays on a jukebox.
Brenton Wood – Oogum Boogum
A friend and fellow soul lover recommended this to me a while ago. It is a little lightweight but it is impossible to hear it and not smile. For some reason I woke up with it on my mind and as such I (almost) skipped my way to work this morning.
Bob Dylan – The times they are a-changin’
Bob Dylan is another artists whom I should have posted already by now given the impact he has had on my outlook on music. However, it seems apt to revisit this now as over the past few days restive young Londoners seem to have set the city ablaze around me. I was reminded of it recently and I was really struck by how fresh it still sounds, people yearn for change today just the same way as they did in 1964.
Bob Dylan. How can anyone ever have been this iconic?:
Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
I have wanted to post this since the blog began but have been frustrated by a lack of quality youtube videos. Until now. It is in my top 5 soul singles of all time. No easy feat. Fontella Bass must be an all time great name for a soul singer too.
It is relentless. Enjoy.
The Ronettes – Be my baby
Is this the greatest pop song ever? 3 minutes of perfect, Phil Spector Wall of sound production married with the exceptional vocals make me think there can’t be many better. Maybe The Supremes at the height of their powers but beyond that I am struggling to come up with any rivals. Any suggerstions?
This is a little bit bubblegum but it is infectious and hard to dislike. It is a favourite party song, being relentlessly upbeat and catchy. It also has a purity that is sadly missing in more recent music.