Best Soul
Combining a strong, Jazzy vocal style with often frank lyrical content recounting tales of love and loss, Winehouse is a truly talented songwriter with a good ear for melody, making this album an essential purchase.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I feel that her feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness of love come through in a couple of songs so strongly, that I feel for her and want to remind her of those that do care for her, but alas, it is too late."
"Perhaps the best known is Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), who took a cue from jazz artist Peggy Lee and combined it with the soul inflections of such girl groups as Martha and the Vandellas. By the time of its release, Winehouse had become a controversial figure, adopting Ronnie Spector's beehive hairdos and miniskirt dresses while drifting into alcohol and drugs in a way that quickly became infamous. On-going speculation about her chemical dependencies led Winehouse to write and record the album's signature cut: "Rehab," a strange mixture of R&B, South American edges, and slap-in-the-face, tough-girl lyrics that startled virtually everyone who heard it. Drug and alcohol problems, troubled romances, and publicity disasters have kept Winehouse largely silent on the music scene since BACK TO BLACK proved such an international smash."
"It is a true shame that Amy Winehouse passed so young, but listening to this album along with her other music (whether it be on vinyl or other formats) creates a comfort to her listeners that her music will be a huge impact for generations to come."
"This album was purchased for my adult daughter."
"Bad rating because I received two replacements and they both are skipping and the songs mix together."
"Be careful when ordering vinyls, it seems like they get warped in transition and then you're stuck with a defective product you paid for."
"the first 2 tracks on the disc do not work, listens with many jumps."
"I would NOT recommend this album."
One of those open mics was attended by Austin Jenkins and Josh Block of the notable indie band White Denim who were absolutely floored by Leon's voice, songs, and creative vision.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Leon Bridges is 25 and grew up listening to Usher and Ginuwine, but you wouldn't know it listening to his debut "Coming Home" which sounds like it was recorded in the fifties or sixties."
"I love every single song on it, which doesn't happen often for me; I'll usually skip through certain songs each time I've the album on, but I gladly listen to every song on this album."
"I was disappointed to not received a red record like the one listed."
"First off, the brilliant red color makes this record pop."
"I heard this man on the TV sing one of the songs on this album. If you liked Sam cook you will love this album."
"Ever since I saw Leon Bridges in a small Ft Worth night club, I've been a huge fan."
"This album is reminiscent of some of my favorite Motown albums, has solid elements of gospel, and yet has an x factor that sets it apart in a unique and compelling way."
"I caught this in the "also bought" section after listening to William Bell's great new album, and boy they nailed it."
3 Bad
2016 official Sony Legacy 180 gram remastered audiophile vinyl edition.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Sadly, if you never got to see a Michael Jackson concert live, this is likely the closest you will ever get to seeing the creative genius in his element. This supposed to have been created from MJ's personal live recordings. I recall MJ himself saying that he was NOT able to add Dirty Diana back into the set on this date, when Lady Diana was in attendance, yet it IS on this--reported as live--recording."
"I was spell bound, the music really stood out from all the other kinds of slow & dull music that was popular at that time. In 1993, we shifted to another state, I had the opportunity to explore MJ's other albums & videos. Made some great friends with common interest in MJ's music. I like 'Bad' better than MJ's other albums. If Google is the most powerful information tool of the 21st century & if we were to use it to gauge popularity, then the statistics goes like this: MJ has 80 million articles, Jesus Christ has 40 million articles & The Beatles has 35 million articles. That's what this limited edition MJ's 'Bad' CD does & it's very annoying. Today there are 127 million articles in Google for MJ."
"Disc 1 Is A Way Too Cool Remastered Version Of Bad It Still Sounds Like It's As Good And Can Be Part Of Today's Music Scene. Which Evolved Into Smooth Criminal.. Plus Spanish (Originally From The Bad Reissue Along With Streetwalker And Fly Away) And French Language Versions Of I Just Can't Stop Loving YOU... Plus The Remixes Are Cool. This Deluxe Edition Package Comes With Extended Booklets A Double Sided Poster And A Sticker."
"This box set is absolutely wonderful and a must-have for any Michael Jackson fan, and even those who arn't. One can buy the CDs and DVD separately, but I highly recommend that anyone purchase the whole box set and get all these wonderful bells and whistles in this superlative collection."
"CHEAP, RARE IMPORT, AND AWESOME BOX SET."
Best Blue-Eyed Soul
Pressed on 180 gram vinyl, original packaging.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The only bummer is the Blu-ray audio won't play audio through a DAC."
"I bought the 2-disc expanded version when it first came out, but finally got the 4-disc version and I’m thrilled with the Blu Ray 5.1 mix."
"Thanks so much to Rhino for finally giving this release the care it deserves."
"This is my very first blue ray audio disc and with the 5.1 mix it is superb!"
"The out-takes have some funny and interesting studio chatter from Van."
"It was my first Van CD and opened my eyes to a soulfulness the likes of which I had never witnessed."
"Didn't think any album would be as good as Astral Weeks and I was blown away by how good Moondance was."
"What's not to love?"
Best Memphis Soul
Original 10-track collection from 1975 newly re-pressed on fat 180 gram vinyl.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Perfect, received exactly what I ordered, and well on time."
"I like Al Green so this was a great purchase."
"I was shocked at how great the audio quality was."
"It's AL Green!!!"
"Soul classics!"
"Such a wonderful album, received quickly and safely."
"Love Brother Al Green, you left us too soon !"
"Music is good but I received two warped albums."
Best Northern R&B
Nearly every one of these 104 tracks is a hit, and we mean a big hit, from 36 different, very famous artists-the Supremes, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas et cetera, et cetera .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This box set was a gift to me back in the 80's. I was and still am big fan of MOTOWN , so I invested in vol #2."
"(If you are looking for the more esoteric material, however, you may need to supplement this with other collections or individual albums."
"The only other music that is in the same "league" is The Beatles music for the complete and udder joy and emotional rescue these magnificent songwriters, musician's, producers, arrangers, techs, etc...etc...provided from both sides of the "pond.""
"HITSVILLE USA is a box set that's clearly marked as a SINGLES COLLECTION-- that means these 104 tracks are in the original monaural sound. Each CD jewel case is fronted with a repro of a Gordy Co. label, including one of the very first MOTOWNs, which was pale pink in color."
"Awesome compilation of old school music!"
"Some songs were put out by other singers but it's great to hear the Motown take."
"Some of the songs even brought tears to his eyes because, in his words, he had "not heard them since he was a young scrap of a boy"."
"My dad's one of those guys that doesn't like getting gifts, but I figured I'd grab him this collection for his birthday."
Best Philly Soul
Contains all of their classic Atlantic hits and more, including eight Top 20 pop smashes!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Classic group."
"This CD is one of my favorites."
"still singing and dancing."
"Good arrangement too, and great songs!"
"The spinners is one of the best groups I have ever heard."
Best Southern Soul
The Very Best splits ballads and up-tempo stuff half-and-half, letting you hear the great one's humanity in every mood--the pile-driving rock of "Respect," the preaching fervor of "Try a Little Tenderness," the nascent reflection of "Dock of the Bay."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love Otis Redding."
"it is hard to mess up a CD so what can ya say - deliver was on time and it plays perfectly - great addition to my music collection."
"Timeless love songs, beautifully delivered."
"Can't beat Otis."
"Love everything Otis Redding!!!!"
Best Contemporary R&B
Combining a strong, Jazzy vocal style with often frank lyrical content recounting tales of love and loss, Winehouse is a truly talented songwriter with a good ear for melody, making this album an essential purchase.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I feel that her feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness of love come through in a couple of songs so strongly, that I feel for her and want to remind her of those that do care for her, but alas, it is too late."
"Perhaps the best known is Dusty Springfield (1939-1999), who took a cue from jazz artist Peggy Lee and combined it with the soul inflections of such girl groups as Martha and the Vandellas. By the time of its release, Winehouse had become a controversial figure, adopting Ronnie Spector's beehive hairdos and miniskirt dresses while drifting into alcohol and drugs in a way that quickly became infamous. On-going speculation about her chemical dependencies led Winehouse to write and record the album's signature cut: "Rehab," a strange mixture of R&B, South American edges, and slap-in-the-face, tough-girl lyrics that startled virtually everyone who heard it. Drug and alcohol problems, troubled romances, and publicity disasters have kept Winehouse largely silent on the music scene since BACK TO BLACK proved such an international smash."
"It is a true shame that Amy Winehouse passed so young, but listening to this album along with her other music (whether it be on vinyl or other formats) creates a comfort to her listeners that her music will be a huge impact for generations to come."
"This album was purchased for my adult daughter."
"Bad rating because I received two replacements and they both are skipping and the songs mix together."
"Be careful when ordering vinyls, it seems like they get warped in transition and then you're stuck with a defective product you paid for."
"the first 2 tracks on the disc do not work, listens with many jumps."
"I would NOT recommend this album."
Best Classic R&B
That Songs retains an enormous amount of visionary relevance, though, is demonstrated not only in Coolio 's borrowing of "Pastime Paradise" as a template for "Gangsta's Paradise," but in the cold-as-ice synthesized string quartet of "Village Ghetto Land."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Ever since I first heard Songs in the Key of Life -- more 'Funk Epic Poem' than 'album' -- I've loved its giant scale: 30 or so songs, danceable pop, stirring gospel, angry protest, instrumental jam, you name it."
"YOU LIKE STEVIE, YOU'LL LIKE THIS AWESOME 2-CD & BONUS SONGS PACKAGE! FROM 1976, AFTER MOTOWN MOVED TO L.A. AND DUMPED DETROIT, STEVIE WONDER WAS ONE OF THE VERY FEW MOTOWN GREATS TO KEEP PRODUCING AND OUT-PERFORMING HIS PREVIOUS RECORDINGS YEAR AFTER YEAR . 'SONGS IN THE KEY OF (HIS) LIFE' JUST ABOUT ROUNDS-OUT HIS MUSIC, COMPOSING AND VOCAL CAREER. THIS CD SET HAS ALL THE VARIETIES AND MORE OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS DETROIT HOMEBOY."
"It brightened dingy walls with falling plaster and watermarked stains that held a kid that wanted to be an "artist." Stevie Wonder gave a set of songs that I can put on in times I'm utterly soundless to solutions and exhausted, waiting to get through, or slip by, and find myself inspired. Without the violin serenades, minus the metronome of our actions and measured against our words, he's as ever simple genius here. It's just a feeling of the power of the music, its ability to bring you joy. I loved setting up my turntable with this one late nights painting."
"Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was everything I was searching for in great music and more."
"I used to use many of the songs for music presentations with my students and then my album set disappeared."
"This shouldn't need my two cents!"
"I bought this for my daughter's birthday a few weeks before we went to his "Songs in the Key of Life" concert!"
Best Vocal Blues
Hear the reigning queen of cool jazz croon her way through 11 of her best tunes on this greatest hits collection.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes, many great blues ladies have been tryin' to replace you, Etta, but none have even came close to equalin' you."
"Love this CD,I hadn't previously had any Etta James in my music collection and I think this disc is a good place to start."
"I was concerned about the "remastering" but the qualitly is great."
"Etta...one of, and arguably the best female Blues/Jazz/Soul singer of all time...(certainly of her era and among her contemporaries), leaves us this album as evidence of that fact."
"I remembered her songs from my younger years and then when we watched the documentary on Muscle Shoals Studio I was reminded of her again."
"Great to remember the original artist and voice."