The Blackwell Guide to Soul Recordings

Edited by Robert Pruter

Soul music has burgeoned from its origins in the 1950s and 1960s as an offshoot of Rhythm and Blues to become one of the most fundamental parts of popular music and culture. In this book, eight of the world’s leading experts on soul music chart the story of soul music on record, and out-line the basis of a collection of the best soul recordings. They answer the questions:

• What are the essential recordings that should form the heart of any collection?
• Where do these discs fit in the history and development of soul?
• What are the best recordings to supplement and enrich each area of soul?

Each of the book’s ten chapters suggests a core collection of five to fifteen releases, augmented by up to thirty supplementary selections. Because the development of soul was a regional phenomenon, the chapters focus on key areas where distinctive styles and musicians flourished. There are also sections on the roots of soul, and on its current development into funk and other modern styles.