Time to come on board to this thread as my main vinyl collecting passion is Southern Soul (over 1000 lp's and 500 cd's). I differentiate Southern Soul from Northern, Motown, Uptown, Texas (and a other sub genres). Southern Soul is most closely identified with the cites of Memphis Tennessee and Muscle Shoals Alabama. Many consider the house band at Stax, Booker T & The Mg's to be the greatest - many others (myself included) will make a case for the Swampers ie the Muscle Shoals boys (under the auspices of Rick Hall at his own FAME studios (and record label). And lets also not forget (again in Memphis) American Studios under the auspices of Chips Moman - they own the record of the most top ten hits of any of these bands. Final mention to another Memphis powerhouse - Mr. Willie Mitchell's Hi Recording Studios with is infamous band comprised of Howard Grimes on drums and the three Hodges brothers.
Most collectors of Southern Soul are in agreement that the following represents the pinnacle of the genre. Unfortunately many are still only available on original vinyl:
The definitive top 10 (or more!):
FAME - Muscle Shoals House Band - Mr. Rick Hall - studio owner and perhaps the greatest producer of the genre. The house band underwent three incarnations however the middle one - Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, David Hood, Roger Hawkins - were perhaps the greatest and ultimate Southern Soul band. Dan Penn (mentioned below) was an INTEGRAL part of what went on at Muscle Shoals (read the definitive book on Soul - Peter Guarlnick's Sweet Soul Music)
Albums recorded at FAME studios:
Aretha Franklin - ALL her albums are essential however her first for Atlantic Records being the most important. After three lackluster albums for Columbia Records Jerry Wexler had the courage to sign her to Atlantic and take her down to Rick Hall's FAME studios to try something different. The rest, as they say, is HISTORY. The Queen takes her rightful throne.
Etta James - Tell Mamma - The Muscle Shoals band said that Etta was the only female singer who could go toe to toe with The Queen (Aretha) - a LEGENDARY album and one of the most important in the genre
Candi Staton - her first three albums (all at FAME) are required listening
Clarence Carter - any of his first albums (and at one time married to Candi Staton)
Laura Lee - Love Stronger Than Pride - half recorded in Chicago at Chess Studios while the other half recorded with Rick Hall down at Muscle Shoals
Wilson Pickett - after wearing out his welcome at Stax Jerry Wexler sent Pickett down to Muscle Shoals to work with Rick Hall and the Boys. His first three albums (first at Stax and later ones at The Shoals) are mandatory
Dan Penn - while mentioned above Mr. Penn is THE GREATEST author of THE GREATEST songs in the entire genre. His frequent collaborator was the one and only Spooner Oldham. His album "Do Right Man" came out several years after the demise of Southern Soul. Everyone who is anyone appears on the album to help Dan sing and celebrate the songs he wrote for others. A list of songs which Dan has written will quickly fill up multiple pages. During the brief 10 year history of Southern Soul Dan was EVERYWHERE - Stax, FAME, American. He was present at every monumental recording session in the genre. He was a fundamental architect of the genre.
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James Carr - the greatest tortured Southern Soul singer of all time. His single "The Dark End of The Street" - co written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman - is THE DEFINITIVE deep soul song. His first two albums are DEFINITIVE and belong in any collection.
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Willie Mitchell's Hi Recording Studios - house band comprised of The Hodges brothers Leroy, Charles, and Mabon "Tennie" together with drummer Howard Grimes. The beat and groove laid down by this band is INSTANTLY recognizable. All background vocals provided by Rhodes, Chalmers, Rhodes - sisters Sandra and Donna Rhodes together with Charlie Chalmers (one time husband of Sandra)(Charlie was also saxophone player extraordinaire appearing on almost all early Stax and Hi Records outings)
O.V. Wright - anything as he is considered, together with James Carr, to also be the greatest Deep Soul singer in the entire genre. OV started out in Gospel as many of the great soul singers did. All of his work produced by the great Willie Mitchell - his early albums on Don Robey's Texas label "BackBeat Records" while later albums on Willie Michell's Hi Records. Every O.V. album is an essential purchase - "A Nickel and A Nail and The Ace of Spades" being his crowning glory.
The "Reverend" Al Green - nothing more needs to be said. The heart and soul and biggest selling artist at Hi Records. Just buy every album!
Ann Peebles - the female counterpart to Al Green. Her first three albums are LEGENDARY. Her debut, "This Is Ann Peebles" is impossible to find and I do not think it exists on CD (vinyl copies sell for hundreds of dollars). Her second album "Straight From The Heart" is her best (however John Lennon's favorite album of all time was frequently mentioned to be her third album "I Can't Stand The Rain"
Otis Clay - Trying To Live My Life Without You - Willie brought Otis over from Chicago and his debut on Hi Records is considered a pillar of the genre
Syl Johnson - Back For A Taste of Your Love - Syl was a blues artist brought down to Memphis by Willie and cut three albums in the Soul genre - the first mentioned above being the best. Syl is also responsible for the cult album "Is It Because I'm Black". Google it - you will then understand why it is held in such high esteem.
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Chips Moman's American Studio - check out the recent book "Memphis Boys" which details the history of the band which was the most prolific hit making machine in the South. The pinnacle of their achievement was THE GREATEST WHITE SOUL album in history - Elvis in Memphis. Need I say more? Just run out and buy it! IMMEDIATELY!
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Little Jerry Williams - an early RnB singer who created an alter ego and took on the name Swamp Dogg. What more can be said about someone who, over the course of three years, created back to back perhaps the greatest four albums ever to be seen:
Total Destruction To Your Mind - his solo debut under the Swamp Dogg moniker.
Doris Duke - I'm A Loser - all songs written and produced by Swamp Dogg - considered to be perhaps the greatest female deep soul album
Z.Z. Hill - The Brand New Z.Z. Hill - all songs written and produced by Swamp Dogg
Irma Thomas - In Between Tears - all songs written and produced by Swamp Dogg
These Swamp Dogg written and produced albums are mandatory additions to any Southern Soul collection
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Finally - Stax Records. Just about anything as this is the label which created the sound the world identifies as Southern Soul. The list of albums put out by the label, started by Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Paxton, is a who's who of Southern Soul
Booker T & The MG's (Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Booker T, Al JAckson)
house band extraordinaire who played on all of the following albums:
Otis Redding (the heart and soul of the label), Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, William Bell, The Staple Singers, Issac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Johnny Taylor,Arthur Conley, Eddie Floyd
and the list goes on and on and on!!!
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I could stay here and continue to write all night as there are many whose names I have not yet mentioned:
"Brother" Ray Charles and Sam Cooke - both who were responsible for creating the genre of Soul through the fusion of Gospel, Rhythm N Blues and Blues
The King of Rock and Soul Mr. Solomon Burke
The Godfather James Brown
Marshall Sehorn and Allen Toussaint - architects of New Orleans Soul - Lee Dorsey, The Meters, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers and on and on
Lets just leave it for Part 2
Have fun
Best
Gregg
(Sorry for the rambling dissertation (its late!) I hope it helps)
