Is there one (or 2-3, if you like) ultimate favorite soul song(s) for you?

Mine would have to be Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me". What a killer ballad, co-written by Stevie Wonder, which still gives me goose-bumps.

Runner-ups would include Marvin Gaye's powerful "What's Going On" and Cornelius Bros. & Sister Rose's sugary yet intoxicating "Too Late to Turn Back Now".

Eerie, c. I was thinking about this very subject earlier this morning.

Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" and Aretha Franklin's "Respect" are two I can't live without, but I'd rather follow your lead with "Too Late to Turn Back Now" and cite a couple of less obvious (but my no means rare or unheard of) faves:

"O-o-h Child" The Five Stairsteps
Songs don't get much more uplifting than this.

"Across 110th St." Bobby Womack
Songs don't get much grittier than this.

That's a pretty wonderful urban alpha and omega for me.

Now Playing: "Locarno" Le Volume Courbe I Killed My Best Friend <-- thanks to a recommendation from you, c. Man, you have got some seriously monster ears!

quote:

Originally posted by LinnTate:
"Across 110th St." Bobby Womack
Songs don't get much grittier than this.

Now Playing: "Locarno" Le Volume Courbe I Killed My Best Friend <-- thanks to a recommendation from you, c. Man, you have got some seriously monster ears!

The Womack song is among my top favorites. Someday I want to see the film the song is named after.

btw Glad you're enjoying Le Volume Courbe, Linn. It's a gem of an album.

I'll admit these are pretty standard, but I heard them on my Jr. High School jukebox everyday, way back when.

"Hold On, I'm Comin'" by Sam and Dave
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
"The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

I have several others, but since the rules seem to limit it to three, I'll check back later. I didn't even mention my fave "Soul" instrumental (my vote for "coolest" instrumental ever, probably), and I had a discussion with my music expert friend Scott about whether it was Rock or R&B/Soul. I guess it qualifies as both, but especially the latter. Any guesses?

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I didn't even mention my fave "Soul" instrumental (my vote for "coolest" instrumental ever, probably), and I had a discussion with my music expert friend Scott about whether it was Rock or R&B/Soul. I guess it qualifies as both, but especially the latter. Any guesses?

I'm going to say Junior Walker and the All-Stars' "Shotgun."

Now Playing: "Partito Alto" Igancio Berroa Codes

Great song, but does that count as an instrumental?

Crap! No! What the Sam Hill was I thinking?

Overwhelmed by that glorious saxophone solo, I think.

I got nuthin'.

Now Playing: "Upside Down" Freakwater Thinking of You <-- I don't know if you caught my note elsewhere, crazed, but I'm digging this muchly!

According to AMG, there's some version of "Shotgun" by Junior Walker which is an instrumental, but it doesn't even sound like the same song, so I think it's a mistake. Well, I guess it's fair for me to say that my choice for "coolest" instrumental is "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the MG's. Probably something about the ending of American Graffiti...

Anything by Marvin Gaye is good to me!

My list for this would way be too long.

For older soul, I like most Marvin Gaye songs. I also like the Temptations (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch.. you know I love you)

For neo-Soul, anything by Maxwell, Jill Scott and Alicia Keys.

quote:

Originally posted by crazed:
. . . Mine would have to be Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me". What a killer ballad, co-written by Stevie Wonder, which still gives me goose-bumps. . . .

I couldn't agree more. Also, "Day Dreaming" on Young, Gifted and Black and her performance of "Make It With You" on Live at Fillmore West.

Others:

Curtis Mayfield's "Little Child Runnin' Wild" and "Eddie You Should Know Better" on Superfly.

Al Green's "Look What You Done For Me" on I'm Still In Love With You, and "Loving You" on Tokyo Live.

Rufus & Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing" (live) on Stompin' At the Savoy.

But my #1 is Mavis Staples's masterful rendition of "A House Is Not a Home" on her first (self-titled) solo album.

Some of my favorite Neo-Soul songs:

"Get To Know Ya" - Maxwell
"The Way" - Jill Scott
"Untitled (How Does It Feel)" - D'Angelo
"You Don't Know My Name" - Alicia Keys
"Heaven" - John Legend
"Right Back To You" - Eric Roberson
"Bag Lady" - Erykah Badu
"Was My Girl" - Maxwell
"Lifetime" - Maxwell
"Beautiful" - India Arie
"Diary (Secrets)" - Alicia Keys

More to come.

Peace.

"It's A Man's World" James Brown

She's Out Of My Life by Micahel Jackson
Album: Off The Wall (1979)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LinnTate,

"nothing compares 2 u" or "when u were mine", both by prince.

he counts as soul, right? i can never tell. he's just.. .prince.

I think he's just Prince. Maybe even PoP.

al green - simply beautiful
marvin gaye - let's get it on
bill withers - who is he? (and what is he to you?)
sam cooke - a change is gonna come

"papa was a rolling stone" Temptations is one.

First thing that popped into me head as definitive fave soul.....whew, whoa, goood god almighty......its gotta be 'Wicked' Wilson Pickett doing 'Land of a Thousand Dances.' Owwwwwww!

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye

My Desert Island SONG. As I possess diplomatic immunity, I'm also permitted to take along CCR's cracking cover

2. "I Second That Emotion" - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

3."Mr. Big Stuff" - ? (I know it's not The Mysterians )