For some reason I was moved to make a playlist of the soft sweet soul music I hated as a grim faced, long haired blues boy in the 70s but came round to in the 80s. We’re talking spine tingling vocals (probably with falsetto), strings will be in evidence, bass will probably be played on an analogue synth and any guitar will be gently wah wah’d rather than widdled.
What should I add?
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZzbtrGV7y00VOexQYNsTV?si=DsuN-kZoQfaSYyVsqAvRxQ
Ooh you big soft lad! I of course love most things in this style ( was always more Philly than Stax cos I’m a lover not a fighter). Off top of my head –
Cornelius Bothers Too Late to Turn Back Now,
Rainy Night in Georgia Randy Crawford
Sweet Sensation Sad Sweet Dreamer
You should also squeeze in Marvins Mercy Mercy Me.
Peaches and Herb – Reunited
Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly
Fairly obvious but great
I’d go for another Rose Royce track for starters.
‘I Wanna Get Next To You’
Rufus & Chaka Khan ‘Your Smile’
One more.
Kadhja Bonet ’Nobody Other’
Great list! How about adding Let’s Get it On, Marvin Gaye. And The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by R Flack?
“Let’s get it on” is a bit lively!
My two suggestions would be
I’m Gonna Burn Your Playhouse Down – Ann Peebles, and Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City – Bobby Bland.
Good work team keep ’em coming. List updated.
Good to see the Chi-lites – Have You Seen Her on there.
Stunning harmonies and my favourite fuzz guitar part on any recording ever 🙂
Bobby Womack – If You Think You’re Lonely Now
Got in just under the “no talking” rule which filters out Barry White which is a shame as I like the Bazster.
You’ve got a no talking rule? Is this for the playlist or a general abhorrence for talky bits on records?
Oh just the playlist.I don’y like the gruff voiced faux emotional intro.
Love´s Theme fits the bill though, unless you have a no instrumental rule as well
If you’re playing the Stylistics, you must have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvWZ62oVXg
OK Bald one.
Whitney’s ma – she da man.
You just reminded me about Witney. “Didn’t we almost have it all?”. Yes, we almost did. I’ve got a live 12″ version with 8 minutes of Witney shrieking her head off and I love every second of it.
Otis Redding’s ode to two of his four limbs.
Wonderful. Otis is God as far as I’m concerned.
Champaign – How ‘Bout Us
Kokomo – A Little Bit Further Away
Bill Withers – Lean On Me
Al Green – How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Gladys Love – The Look of Love
Donny Hathaway – A Song For You
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway – Where Is The Love?
Rose Royce – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Eddie Holman – Hey There Lonely Girl
And the solid gold classic that is:
Stargard – Love Is So Easy
Loads of great ones coming through. Extra points for the Eddie Holman. Perfect.
Oh, and:
The Impressions – People Get Ready
Odyssey – If you’re looking for a way out.
Kind of fits with Rose Royce I reckon.
Great shout. What a song
Oh stick on “Taxi” by JJ Blackfoot if you can……..great list by the way
Not sure if this’ll fit your criteria as it’s 1968 but it’s beautiful almost proto-Portishead*, so dark and moody – Sure As Sin by Jeannie Green
*corrective text was having a field day with that!
Gotta have some Smokey – how about Just My Soul Responding
or maybe Being With You is more soft and sweet
and the winner for best opening verse goes to – Sam Cooke
Arguably the greatest voice on Stax
Always loved this to bits:
https://youtu.be/KDTXljIqxRE
Toss up between the sweet Shuggie Otis version and this, but this is a wee bit funkier:
https://youtu.be/f0bdLdTJdKI
This is just a wonderful song and served to highlight what a terrific voice Harold Melvin had:
https://youtu.be/V2ThpkH92Z4
23 from me:
Bill Withers – Hello Like Before
The Supremes & The Four Tops – Hello Stranger
The Isley Brothers – My Love Is Your Love (Forever)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
Ruby Winters – I Will
The Ebonys – You’re The Reason Why
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes – I Miss You
Al Green – Belle
The Five Stairsteps – Ooh Child
Isaac Hayes – By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Toussaint McCall – Nothing Takes The Place Of You
The Spinners – Games People Play
Sylvia – Pillow Talk
George Benson – Greatest Love Of All
Bloodstone – Natural High
Blue Magic – Side Show
Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis – You’re Gonna Get Next To Me
Deniece Williams – Free
The Drifters – Like Sister And Brothers
The Jones Girls – Nights Over Egypt
The Three Degrees – When Will I See You Again?https://open.spotify.com/track/4x1hRbidqIigOMXBX1bHay
Tom Brock – I Love You More And More
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway – Where Is The Love
Great selection. Sorry to be a pedant but the lead vocal on the last track was by Teddy Pendergrass who did indeed have a terrific voice, further evidenced on his solo classic.
Love TKO
*hangs head in shame*
Some fine falsetto singing – possibly a squidgy bass now and again – not sure how many are on Spotify.
Eddie Kendricks – Tell her love has felt the need
Rance Allen – Reasons
The Real Thing – Children of the Ghetto
Minnie Ripperton – Inside my love
Charlie Mitchell – After hours
Flowers – For real
Supreme Jubilees – It’ll all be over
Darondo – Didn’t I
Earth Wind and Fire – Reasons
Keith Barrow – You know you want to be loved
David Lasley – Saved by love
Deniece Williams – Cause you love me baby
Ooo..Rance Allen!
This is maybe more the Gospel side of sweet Soul, but I think it suits the OP criteria perfectly.
The Pretenders did a pretty good cover of this, but the original is still the best. Apart from which, who could possibly tire of Soul Train clips from the 70s?
Fantastic thread….heres a few from me….
heres a link to a Deep Soul Spotify playist……hope it works 🙂
Has this one been proposed yet?
.
What about this one?
Lovely playlist, Twang. Just my cup of tea.
Here’s my similar, but not identical, playlist of Orchestral Soul:
Magnificent contributions team. I’ve updated the list with all contributions except where they aren’t on Spotify or where I didn’t think it fitted the spec/didn’t like it (though these were vanishingly few). It’s now 2 minutes over 6 hours of soft sweet soul goodness for these troubled times.
Update – just added Donna Summer’s “Love to love you baby” so it is 18 minutes over 6 hours. 🙂