Items12The creator’s order
  1. 1What's Going On (1971)What's Going On (1971)Released 1 Jan 1971Motown's legendary studio unit The Funk Brothers, led by James Jamerson's astonishing improvisational basslines and Eddie Bongo Brown's congas, gave Marvin Gaye's ecological and anti-war reflections seamless, fluid momentum.0
  2. 2Lady Soul (1968)Lady Soul (1968)Released 1 Jan 1968The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, affectionately known as The Swampers, backed Aretha Franklin alongside guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Johnson. Their earthy Southern grit and gospel piano dialogue ignited Chain of Fools and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.0
  3. 3Dictionary of Soul (1966)Dictionary of Soul (1966)Released 1 Jan 1966Stax house legends Booker T. & the M.G.'s (Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr.) provided Otis Redding with razor-sharp rhythmic precision and emotional warmth on Try a Little Tenderness and Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa.0
  4. 4Call Me (1973)Call Me (1973)Released 1 Jan 1973The Hi Rhythm Section, featuring guitarist Teenie Hodges, bassist Leroy Hodges and drummer Howard Grimes, crafted a relaxed, deceptively deep pocket at Royal Studios in Memphis that cushioned Al Green's delicate falsetto with effortless grace.0
  5. 5Voodoo (2000)Voodoo (2000)Released 1 Jan 2000The Soulquarians collective, anchored by Questlove's unquantized, laid-back drum groove, Pino Palladino's sliding flatwound bass and Roy Hargrove's muted horn arrangements, gave D'Angelo the ultimate canvas for neo-soul mastery on Spanish Joint and Untitled.0
  6. 6Come to My Garden (1971)Come to My Garden (1971)Released 1 Jan 1971Arranger Charles Stepney and members of Chicago psychedelic-soul collective Rotary Connection surrounded Minnie Riperton with sweeping symphonic brass, delicate vibraphones and cascading harps on Les Fleur and Rainy Day in Centerville.0
  7. 7100 Days, 100 Nights (2007)100 Days, 100 Nights (2007)Released 1 Jan 2007Brooklyn's The Dap-Kings, captured entirely on analogue eight-track tape by producer Gabriel Roth, provided Sharon Jones with punchy horn stabs, driving soul basslines and razor-sharp dynamic restraint on Tell Me and 100 Days, 100 Nights.0
  8. 8Express Yourself (1970)Express Yourself (1970)Released 1 Jan 1970The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band supplied bandleader Charles Wright with irresistible, loose-limbed funk interplay. Guitarist Al McKay and bassist Melvin Dunlap established a laid-back Los Angeles funk groove that defined the era.0
  9. 9Still Bill (1972)Still Bill (1972)Released 1 Jan 1972Featuring members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, including master drummer James Gadson and bassist Melvin Dunlap, Still Bill grooves with immaculate human timing beneath Bill Withers on Use Me, Lean on Me and Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?0
  10. 10Stand! (1969)Stand! (1969)Released 1 Jan 1969Sly and the Family Stone's multiracial, mixed-gender band pioneered modern funk bass via Larry Graham's thumb-slapping technique, backed by Greg Errico's metronomic drums and Jerry Martini's blistering saxophone riffs on Everyday People and I Want to Take You Higher.0