It seems every winter I discover the black within me, and the urge has come early this year. I'm basically desperate for some good soul/funk I haven't heard before, mostly interested in some expansive compilations to buy. I prefer the raw Southern soul with more minimal instrumentation and slow-burning trippy funk, a la Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Fresh era Sly, Al Green, early Funkadelic, Sam Cooke, and of course an unrequited love for my hero Mr. Gaye (see left). I did some looking around yesterday, checked out a bunch of box sets. Most notably the Atlantic R&B '47-'74, the Stax-Volt Singles '59-'68, Rhino's recent What It Is! funk/soul comp, and the latest in the Motown singles series ('65).

Of course there's no scarcity of soulful box sets, but none are seeming to fit my needs. The first two are ridiculously extensive and more than I want to pay (8 and 9 discs respectively) and don't seem to have much by way of obscure gems. I've already heard most every popular soul song from the big-hitters, so maybe a singles comp would be redundant. I'm afraid the funk comp would be more of the typical dancy funk, not the R&B I need--which is bad news because, I mean, I hate horns and suck at dancing. The Motown singles seems a decent set, but it's over 100 bucks and I'm only familiar with the biggest names so I fear the risk.

Anywho, I would just like to know if anyone has had any experience with the aforementioned comps or can point me towards something more to my needs. Even just naming a new artist to check out would help. All I want is to hear new soulful songs, with soaring aching vocals and none of those farting overbearing brass sections that in my opinion fuck up a good many ballads. A perfect example of the style I want would be something like Sly's take on "Que Sera Sera," or "I Found a Love" by the Falcons, as opposed to someone like James Brown who is both soulful and funky (and amazing) but isn't yearning and depressing. Sorry for the rambling, please help, thanks, good day.

Black Merda.

Black Merda.

Black Merda.

Black Merda.

Check out James Carr if you haven't already.

just got the rhino disc - very good stuff... wide range of styles - anything from the bar-kays and the tsu toronadoes to more synthetic/electronic funk like funk factory and the mystic moods orchestra... mostly uptempo, not really with the vocals that you're seeking...

richard caiton - "i'm gonna love you more"
fred williams & the jewels band - "tell her"
bobby hebb - "love, love, love"
pat brown - "the good got to suffer for the bad"
ted taylor - "daddy's baby"


these are all available on compilations or reissues.


keep in mind, there is an entire world of black music out there. and i'm not even talking about hip-hop, or the blues, or even indigenous music from africa -- i mean what we call soul and funk music. there's a lot of it! and, in retrospect, alotta the best stuff didn't come out on capitol, motown, stax, atlantic, etc.

you need some Curtis Mayfield- Superfly is a great start...


are you in Milwaukee? if so just do what I do, go into Lotus land (on center by Fuel) and ask the the guys there, they will pick you out the best soul/funk ever and then tell you all about it...

i agree with you...it helps.

i'm sort of in the same boat..but it's ludacris for me..aches indeed..

try searching for sweet soul..

here's my friend fur hat's blog..it hasn't been updated in a while...but there's lots of good funk an soul to check out there..

he's also a fan of ballads..as am i..

http://www.funkandsoul.blogspot.com/

this is his store on the south side..across from paper boat..




you would think that the motown set would be at the public library..

heh..yess...if you're in milwaukee

you ask those nobles..you ask kid..

they will help you indeed...
and they will let you try out anything you want.

there is also luke...ask luke..

I think the Beg, Scream & Shout box on Rhino is a great comp. It's out of print, but worth checking out. Lots of classics and a set of trading cards!

I've got this and I agree -- it's great. If you can find it, get it. Hot.

Try the Soul Fire compilation. A+.