The music that led to southern soul is just too good to cram into one volume, so Part 2 of Where Southern Soul Began, showcases many more artists who contributed to the birth of the genre. The songs come from all parts of the south of the US: from New Orleans via Miami and from Mobile, Alabama to Memphis and Nashville. Many of these then unsung heroes such as Ted Taylor, Joe Tex, Otis Redding and William Bell, went on to have highly successful careers, and this set gives a valuable insight into the music they were making before the big hits started coming. Other artists featured are more obscure as they made only a few recordings before fading from view. Yet singers such as Steve Dixon, George Hughley and Prince Conley made just as valid a contribution to the beginnings of southern soul. The music here inspired the giants of black American music in the sixties. It combines elements of country, R & B, doo-wop, gospel and blues, and retains the ability to move listeners some 50 years on with its emotional intensity and musical power.
J**N
Bargain time
Lots of material for the money. Some of the tracks will be familiar to those who discovered soul music in the mid and late sixties. Sam & Dave; Joe Tex; Rufus Thomas; Ray Charles and William Bell contribute well but Rodge Martin (new to me) is even better. I feel rather glad that he was "Standing By". There is some dross (as usual on these compilations) but if you feel the need to see where soul began (and who doesn't) this could fill a gap.
D**Y
Five Stars
Excellent item - Thanks!
S**E
Where Southern Soul Began Vol 2
Many gems included, enjoyable collection.
P**M
Five Stars
great
E**S
the Southern Soul expert of my village!
Such is the momentum and success of the History of Soul juggernaut that they are now producingsecond volumes of many of their first wave of collections that have been such a big hit with blackmusic fans worldwide. Exactly what Southern Soul is has never been that clear to me but was wellexplained and audibly illustrated in Volume 1. With that pleasurable lesson now on board I listenedto this CD in a new light, now regarding myself as the Southern Soul expert of my village! Whatimmediately struck me was that many of these tracks are on the larger indie labels with some evenon major labels such as Dot, ABC and Atco. Despite my recent enlightenment there are a coupleof tracks that remain a mystery however such as Fontella Bass’s brilliant `Honey Bee` that wasrecorded in St Louis. There are many other familiar names included here and just goes to illustratetheir versatility; who for example would have thought that the Tams and Bobby Hebb had recordedtracks in this genre. A double CD with 55 tracks and John Ridley, as always provides some highlyinformative sleeve notes.Keith Rylatt - Manifesto
R**S
Five Stars
Great as great gets!
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