Soul Music: The First Five Decades

This collection of breathtaking, soulful blues and spiritual music brings you some of the most impassioned, compelling vocal performances ever to be recorded. In a comprehensive overview from 1927 to 1973, History of Soul Records’ 7CD anthology chronicles the genesis of soul music. The first three CDs trace the early connections between R&B, jazz and blues, and gospel, between the secular and the sacred. The remaining CDs continue the story from the 60s into the 70s, covering a large portion of soul music’s Golden Age with 100 tracks by soul’s greatest superstars, live on TV and radio.

Disc One

1. Sister Mary Nelson - Judgement 

2. Blind Willie Johnson - Lord I Just Can't Keep From Cryin' 

3. Bessie Smith - Moan, You Moaners

4. Mahalia Jackson -Oh, My Lord 

5. Rev R V Gates -This Heart Of Mine  

6. The Wright Brothers - Gospel Train 

7. Ernestine B Washington - If I Could Just Make It In  

8. Georgia Peach   - I’m Waiting For Jesus 

9. Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight - Beams Of Heaven

10. Professor J Earle Hines - How Sweet It Is 

11. Sister Mathews - Stand By Me 

12. Cora Martin - There's A Place 

13. Jackson Gospel Singers - Heaven Bound Train 

14. The Dominoes - Do Something For Me 

15. Percy Mayfield - Please Send Me Someone To Love 

16. Dorothy Love Coates - I'm Sealed 

17. The Five Keys - Too Late Baby

18. Little Esther - I'll Be There 

19. Little Miss Cornshucks - Try A Little Tenderness 

20. Ray Charles - Misery In My Heart 

21. Ruth Davis - When He Spoke 

22. Bobby Bland - Crying All Night Long 

23. The Davis Sisters - I'm Tired 

24. Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy 

25. The Soul Stirrers - Just Another Day 

26. The "5" Royales - Baby Don't Do It 

27. Alex Bradford - Too Close To Heaven

28. The Dominoes - I'm Going To Move To The Outskirts 

29. The Pilgrim Travelers - I've Got A New Home

Disc Two

1. Ray Charles -I've Got A Woman

2.  The Caravans - The Angels Keep Watching

3.  The Aladdins - Help Me 

4.  The Swan Silvertones  - Jesus Brought Me 

5.  Little Richard - Directly From My Heart 

6.  B.B. King -  Ten Long Years 

7.  The Diablos -  The Way You Dog Me Around 

8.  Linda Hopkins -  I Can't 

9.  Bobby 'Blue' Bland -  Farther Up The Road 

10. The Ramblers - Don't You Know 

11.  The Soul Stirrers - Be With Me Jesus 

12.  Billy Gayles  - Let's Call It A Day 

13.  Little Willie John - Fever 

14.  The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day 

15.  James Brown  - Hold My Baby's Hand 

16.  Judy Clay/Drinkard Singers - That's Enough

17.  Gene Phillips  -  Steelin' The Blues

18.  The "5" Royales - Tell The Truth 

19.  Ray Charles - What'd I Say

20.  Betty Everett - I'll Weep No More 

21.  The Highway QC's - Working On The Building 

22.  Sugar Pie De Santo - Going Back Where I Belong 

23.  Barrett Strong - Money 

24.  The Meditation Singers  - My Soul Looks Back 

25.  Ike & Tina Turner - I Idolize You 

26.  Jackie Wilson - Doggin' Around 

27.  The Drapers - Baby, One More Time 

28.  Mable John - Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That

29.  Al 'TNT' Braggs - Cigarettes And Coffee 

Disc Three

1.  The Sims Twins - Soothe Me 

2.  Etta James - Don't Cry Baby 

3.  Johnny & Jackey - Someday We'll Be Together 

4.  Ernie K-Doe   Waiting At The Station 

5.  Nina Simone - Gin House Blues 

6.  Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Sweet Lovin' Mama 

7.  Mitty Collier - I Got To Get Away From It All 

8.  Prince La La - She Put The Hurt On Me  

9.  Johnny Adams - A Losing Battle 

10.  Earl King - Trick Bag 

11.  Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts 

12.  Chris Kenner - Land Of 1,000 Dances 

13.  Jerry Butler - Make It Easy On Yourself  

14.  Della Reese - Ninety Nine & A Half Won't Do 

15.  Paul Walters - She Put Me Down 

16.  Esther Phillips - No Headstone On My Grave 

17.  Hightower Brothers - Seat In The Kingdom 

18.  Contours - It Must Be Love 

19.  James Brown - I'll Go Crazy 

20.  The Four Rivers - Sooner Or Later 

21.  Impressions - I'm The One Who Loves You 

22.  Little Milton - Losing Hand 

23.  The Falcons - I Found A Love 

24.  Marvin Gaye -Stubborn Kind Of Fellow 

25.  Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me 

26.  Miracles - You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me 

27.  Solomon Burke - If You Need Me 

28.  Tami Lynn - Mojo Hanna

29.  Bobby Parker - It's Too Late Darling

Disc Four

1.  Isley Brothers - Shout 

2.  Jackie Wilson - That's Why (I Love You So) 

3.  Tina Turner - A Fool In Love 

4.  Ben E. King - Stand By Me 

5.  Aretha Franklin - Runnin' Out Of Fools 

6.  Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog

7.  Mary Wells - My Guy 

8.  Marvin Gaye - Can I Get A Witness 

9.  Booker T & The MG's - Bootleg/Green Onions 

10.  Ketty Lester - Love Letters 

11.  Sam Cooke - Blowing In The Wind 

12.  Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind 

13.  Brenda Holloway - When I'm Gone 

14.  James Brown - Out Of Sight 

15.  Tommy Tucker -  Hi Heel Sneakers/Long Tall Shorty 

16.  Ronettes -  Be My Baby 

17.  Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me 

18.  Barbara Lewis - Baby I'm Yours 

19.  Chuck Jackson - Since I Don't Have You

20.  Dionne Warwick - You Can Have Him 

21.  Betty Harris - Cry To Me  

22.  Johnnie Taylor - Rome Wasn't Built in a Day 

23.  Shirelles - Will You Love Me Tomorrow 

24.  Vibrations - My Girl Sloopy 

25.  Contours - Do You Love Me

Disc Five

1.  Four Tops -Ask The Lonely 

2.  Supremes - Come See About Me 

3.  Evie Sands -Take Me For A Little While 

4.  Jackie Wilson -Baby Workout 

5.  Fontella Bass - Every Day I Have To Cry 

6.  Dobie Gray -The "In" Crowd 

7.  Kim Weston - Take Me In Your Arms 

8.  Temptations - My Girl 

9.  Billy Stewart -Summertime 

10.  Shirley Ellis -The Clapping Song 

11.  Jr. Walker & The All Stars -Shotgun 

12.  Little Anthony & The Imperials -Hurt So Bad 

13.  Joe Tex -Hold What You've Got 

14.  Stevie Wonder -Uptight 

15.  Major Lance - The Monkey Time 

16.  Gene Chandler - (Gonna Be) Good Times 

17.  Dusty Springfield & The Vandellas - I Can't Hear You

18.  Drifters - Under The Boardwalk 

19.  Freddie King -Have You Ever Loved A Woman 

20.  Bettye Swann - The Man That Said No 

21.  Dells -Oh, What A Night 

22.  Ikettes- Camel Walk 

23.  Robert Parker - Barefootin' 

24.  Willie Mitchell - Bootleg 

25.  Sam & Dave - You Don't Know Like I Know

Disc Six

1.  Lou Rawls - Dead End Street 

2.  Ray Charles - I Don't Need No Doctor  

3.  Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 

4.  Maxine Brown - Oh No Not My Baby 

5.  Garnett Mimms - I'll Take Good Care Of You 

6.  Maurice & The Radiants  - You've Been Cheating

7.  Cleo Randle -The Best Man I Ever Had 

8.  Earl Gaines  - Best Of Luck To You  

9.  Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart

10.   Otis Redding - I Can't Turn You Loose

11.  Barbara Lynn - You'll Lose a Good Thing  

12.  Delfonics - He Don't Really Love You 

13.  Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough 

14.  Carnations - I'm So Glad To Be In Love  

15.  Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music

16.  Patti LaBelle  - Over The Rainbow

17.  Percy Sledge  - When A Man Loves A Woman 

18.  Mitty Collier   - My Party

19.  Kelly Brothers -I'm Falling In Love Again  

20.  Rodge Martin -Lovin' Machine 

21.  Gerri Taylor   - Empty Arms And Bitter Tears 

22.  Intruders - (You'd Better) Check Yourself 

23.  Bobby Powell  - It's Getting Late In The Evening 

24.  James Brown - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

Disc Seven

1.  Nina Simone - Ain't Got No

2.  Lee Dorsey - Get Out Of My Life, Woman 

3.  Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There 

4.  Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness 

5.  Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood 

6.  Billy Preston/Ray Charles - Agent Double O-Soul 

7.  Chambers Brothers - People Get Ready 

8.  Gladys Knight  - I Heard It Through The Grapevine 

9.  Meters - Cissy Strut

10.   James Brown - Cold Sweat 

11.  Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances 

12.  Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary 

13. Joe Tex - Show Me 

14.  Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music 

15.  Sly & The Family Stone - I  Want To Take You Higher

16.  Curtis Mayfield  - Choice Of Colors 

17.  Smokey Robinson - The Tears Of A Clown 

18.  P.P. Arnold - The First Cut Is The Deepest

19.  Mar-Keys - Philly Dog 

20.  Joe Simon - Crying In The Chapel 

21.  Little Milton - We're Gonna Make It 

22.  Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life 

23.  Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer 

24.  Jackie Wilson - Higher & Higher 

25.  Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing