Westender

Proper singer, Sharon Jones. The material she had was a bit mixed. This is a nice one, I reckon.

Having one of the greatest voices ever caught on tape gives any group a head start. The Dells were more than just Marvin Junior, recording classic side after classic side over decade's. You could pick dozens of great tracks, but this is one I particularly enjoy.

Hate to go against the Chi Lites but i'm going to plump for Three Shades of Soul. Vocally there isn't much in it as all three versions have strong leads and tasteful harmonies, but the 3 Shades take is rhythmically a little more interesting and does feature an organ, which i'm a bit of a sucker for. Yes, on that basis i'm going to go for it.

One of the greats. A very important and hugely influential artist. The Duke material is wonderful but I really enjoyed the ABC years and, in particular, some of his Malaco outings.

"Masterpeices" is a bit of stretch, but this has been a good series with plenty of fine tracks to enjoy. The best is left to last with the fabulous Freddie Scott.

Blimey Holman's vocal is woefully bad. The track sounds like a demo to me with a rudimentary rhythm track, no horns or background vocals. Maybe Eddie was larking about, trying a few things?

Where do you start with an artist who stands at the very pinnacle of our music. Best part of 60 years Gladys has been turning out brilliant record after brilliant record. Legend is overused but she really is one. She is simply one of the greatest singers caught on tape. This is one of her more contemporary recordings but its a neat reworking of the Commodores Zoom and shows that the pipes are still in very good order.

Great artists. Not only wonderful song writers but their own recordings are very fine too. Valerie's solo carer was short but she is an incredible talent as this majestic tour de force demonstrates.

Good to see youngsters having their own experiences. In years to come they will look back fondly to these events. I still vividly recall gigs I went to from the early 70's when live gigging was much in vogue and you get to see lots of different artists - some big, some small - without breaking the bank. Like musical taste, its all personal. Its about how you feel at the time and how you remember.

One of the most under rated of Soulmen. William barely made a bad record, stretching from the 60's to the 2000's. The guy has been a class act for decades. Here's one from the 80's.

Top singer. Should have enjoyed far more success than he did. This isn't typical of his output but the combination of Lou and the Muscle Shoals musicians sounded so good to me.

Martin Freeman knows his Soul music. He did a terrific show on R2 years ago when he played some tip top stuff.

Stevie's albums from Where I'm coming from to Songs in the key of life are arguably the most original, innovative, influential, memorable, wide ranging and brilliant recordings that were released in the last half century by a single artist. They are that good.

Not a Soul record but for sheer jaw dropping nonsense you can't beat T Rex's Rip Off. The lyrics throughout are brilliantly awful. Here's a flavour - In the moonlightFighting with the nightIt's a rip-offKissing all the slainI'm bleeding in the rainSuch a rip-offRocking in the nudeI'm feeling such a dudeIt's a rip-offDancing in the darkWith the tramps in the ParkIt's a rip-offSuch a rip-off

Its about expectations. If you think a singer who was in their prime in the 60s/70s will still sound as good now, then you are likely to be disappointed. It's very rare for a singer to be able to maintain quality over a long period. Inevitably, there will be a dropoff in the majority of cases. There is always the exception, such as Gladys Knight who still sounds great, but most singers in their 60s and beyond just won't sound the same, and mostly will be inferior. If you accept that, then you might be able to enjoy a performance, though I've never found that to be the case. It's a bit different for musicians, who usually improve with age and can still perform to a high standard well into old age.

Oscar Toney Junior, James Govan, Spencer Wiggins, Chuck Colbert, J Blackfoot, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Johnny Sayles, Johnny Adams, Bobby Bland, Otis Clay, David Sea, Ali Ollie Woodson, GC Cameron, Eddie Levert, Marvin Junior, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor, Tommy Tate, Jimmy Radcliffe, Bobby Harris, Hoagy Lands, Jimmy Robins, OV Wright, Howard Tate, Roscoe Robinson, Joe Valentine, Johnny Robinson, Freddie Scott, Willie Hobbs, Mighty Sam McClain, Joe Medwick, Willie Johnson, Ronnie Mitchell.....and Levi, Marvin and Sam of course, plus others i've temporarily forgot!. So many great voices. The best? In my opinion Wilson Pickett had everything you would want from a Soul singer. Power, subtlety, great phrasing, timing, gruffness and a righteous, gospel tinged wail. Yep, he's number one but there are a fair few who are worthy contenders.

Fantastic broadcaster. Witty, amusing and modest yet really knew about the music he was playing. The Soul Cellar was simply essential listening, but everything he presented was top drawer. A one off.

Some good 'uns already up here and why wouldn't there be? Stax made so many great recordings and boasted a brilliant roster of talent. I'd add just a few, Soul Children - Hearsay, Sam & Dave - You dont know like I know, Barkays - Soul finger, Staple Singers - City in the sky, Eddie Floyd - Big bird, Otis - Shake

Thats a shock. A singer very much of the old school. RIP Sharon.

I'm glad to do it was a killer deep cut. Dont think he recorded much after that. Another artist who recorded far too little.

Southern Soul and Country have a proud and deeply satisfying connection. A good country song, performed by a soul singer is often an unbeatable combination. There are dozens examples of such a happy union. To each his own of course but to hate the timeless music of Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash strikes me as a little extreme.

Fantastic track. Great vocal but boy those Muscle Shoals players were something, weren't they? A few more to consider When she touches me - Rodge Martin Another mans woman - Laura Lee Oh what I'd give - Tommy Collins Just a touch of your hand - Al Gardner You hurt me for the last time - Otis Clay Asking for the truth - Reuben Bell We gonna make it - Roger Hatcher Anyone but you - Barbara West Mr Independent - Soul Twins Easier to say than do - Betty Lavette I want to be free - Connie McGill & the Visions

Yep, its Wee Gee. What a cracking record.

Just a few of my favourites Aint gonna do you no good - Betty Willis I feel like crying - Sam & Bill What did i do wrong - Betty Harris Down to my last heartbreak - Kenny Ballard Self preservation - Bill Brandon Satisfaction guaranteed - Judy White My new found joy - Jimmy Richards You dont have to be crazy - Marvin Preyer Its all over - Johnny Robinson I'm going for myself - Eddie & Ernie I'm never gonna live it down - Knight Brothers When he touches me - Gloria Jones I made it over - Jimmy Robins I'll go crazy - Tony Ashley I dont wanna leave you - Debbie Taylor Half a man - Shirley Wahls Take me as I am - Mitty Collier Its got to be tonight - Willie Johnson Let nothing separate us - Arthur Conley I've come a long way - Wilson Pickett How can I put out the flame - Candi Staton Good to me - Otis Redding

Dean, Head over to John Ridley's outstanding site at https://www.sirshambling.com/ You'll have the chance to learn a whole heap about the artists and to hear bucketloads of brilliant deep Soul.