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100 BEST CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN SOUL ALBUMS 1994-2025 51-100
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52. It's Hammer time! Sorry, I couldn't resist. "I Can Lay The Hammer Down" is the second Ecko platter from Jaye. The domestic bliss advice of the melodic "Dig A Little Deeper" is a pleasant respite from cheating songs. Oh but we have those too. Poor Hammer. He discovered that "Cheating Ain't No Fun" when you find out you're getting cheated on. There's also a fine Down Home Blues, "Blues Buffet".
53. 2007 is off to a great start with this strong collection by Simone De. ...real instruments rather than programming.... richly Old School Soul, which is always timeless to folks with good taste. Despite the title "A Definitive Collection" isn't a "hits" compilation (Though it sounds like it!). All new material....De wrote or co-wrote all ten 10 slices of modern Soul. An essential purchase. 54. In "Sheba's Intro" she tells us her name and her title (Sheba, Queen respectively) and she certainly is a contender for "Queen Of Soul/Blues" world. She's already had big hits with "Slow Roll It", "I Can Bagg It Up" & "Cruise Control" from her previous two discs. But stay-tuned on the question of Queenship as Ecko labelmate and legend Denise LaSalle is supposed to drop a new disc this year too."I Need A Cowboy" is a smash down south as both the galloping, sexually-charged title track and the sassy "I Can Hear Your Macaroni" have hit Top Ten on Southern Soul charts. "Macaroni" with it's rhythmic bass backbone and layered vocals seems to have hit a nerve with the ladies tired of broke players. ("I can hear your macaroni/but I don't see no cheese") Cheese of course being money. The bold "I Can't Give It Like A Woman" continues this self-esteeming bent challenging the men to "take it like a man". In reality there is only 8 actual songs on this 11-track disc..as "Sheba's Intro" & "Sheba's Outro" are not proper songs and there's two versions of "The Other Woman Has Got Your Man", but you don't feel slighted when play the music through as it all seems to fit. Another good year for the folks at Ecko.
55. This is terrific Contemporary Southern Soul music with a big sound, countless hooks and soulful singing. It's called "southern" because it's root is Memphis where some of the most brilliant soul music was created. The appeal of this "Southern Soul" is universal, however. "Sumpin' Sumpin'" is a prime example of what that sound has become. Though the subject matter can be iffy there's no denying this is pure ear candy. At least there's the sweet n' faithful "You're Every Woman" to balance the infidelity theme. The title cut is simply one of Quinn's very best and "I'm Gonna Be A Man About" is an answer song to Ronnie Lovejoy's classic "Sho Wasn't Me". Quinn got nabbed cheating and he ain't going to say "Sho' wasn't me". Why? Because she has the "goods" on him and he's "gonna be a man about it" and admit to it. Perhaps the opener "I Was Cheating On You" could serve as that confession. Once again John Ward wrote or co-wrote, produced and sequenced the cuts here. 56. 
Bill Coday "Can't Get Enough" (Ecko 1997)
Another disc packed with Grade A material like the John Ward originals "That's When The Blues Began" (previously recorded by James Carr), "It's A Blues Thang" & "In The Room Next To The Room" (also recorded by Charles Wilson). On "That's When The Blues Began" we are taken back to the Garden of Eden when the first couple snatched the forbidden fruit. Logically, this is when the blues started. Other highpoints include the duet with label mate Barbara Carr ("Not A Word"), the classic southern soul "That's How Strong My Love Is" and the frantic closer "Bring Your Lunch" 57. 
J. Blackfoot
"It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" (JEA
Music 2006)
It took 5 years but the man with the raspy power in his throat is back to stake his claim. Actually he was back on the charts last year dueting with Archie Love on "Same Woman" (also appears here) but this is his first LP since 2001's "Same Place Same Time". First the good news: J. can still sang and the fabulous Bar Kays join in on the hyperfunky "If It Don't Make Dollars". Plus the title track, the first single, is vintage punchy, forceful J. Blackfoot R & B with a typically potent vocal. Now the bad news...actually there's no bad news. It's a pretty good record but far from a knockout. Part of the problem is too many generic ballads with that requisite, creepin' groove ("Man Made Over", "I'm Just A Fool For You" with Lenny Williams) and banal lyrics like "my head saying no but my heart won't let go/I'm just a fool for you/Yes, it's true". They all sound the same. Forget the pretty bedroom jams let's get J. doing some Deep Soul. Also, a little mo' of that bubblin' bass, flirty female backups and chang-a-lankin' guitar found on "If It Don't Make Dollars" would've been the ticket. "It Ain't Over" sounds great (produced by Larry Dodson) but is short on great songs. That said, welcome back J. (note: "It Ain't Over" was re-issued in 2007 with two extra tracks: "I'm Just A Fool For You Part 2", a duet with Sir Charles Jones and a duet with Ann Hines).
58. The ridiculously-underrated one comes back strong with another slab of taboo-busting brilliance. The centerpiece of the album is "It Ain't Easy Being The Preacher's Wife", which gives a voice to that dirty preacher's other half. Another cheating-themed song "If She's Cheating On Me I Don't Want To Know" draws it's inspiration musically from Joe Tex ("Ain't Gonna Bump No More") and features a strong, singable refrain. This should have been a hit. The slowie "What It Takes To Get Her Is What It Takes To Get Her" is vintage Lackey. 59. 
O.B. Buchana
"Pop Yo' Bottle" (Ecko 2014)
Like Mel Waiters (who allegedly did not drink alcohol) Buchana likes to write songs about drinking beginning with "Let's Get Drunk" in 2001, followed by "I Can't Stop Drinkin'" in 2005 and in 2014 he invites you to "Pop Yo' Bottle". Not the most imaginative lyrics every written: "Pop yo' bottle let's crunk/When we leave we 'gon get drunk". First, though, "You're Welcome To The Party" and once you're effectively lubricated from poppin' them bottles it's time to "Turn It Up" and do the "O.B. Shuffle" because "That's My Song!". Maybe later you'll join him for a "Private Party" and BYSB ("bring your sexy body"), ladies, because "We Just Can't Leave Each Other Alone". You get the picture. 60. It had become quite rare for an independently-released SS album to scratch the charts in the 00s but T.K. Soul managed to hit #95 on Billboard's Hot R&B Hip Hop Albums chart with "Undisputed". Soul's previous LP "Love Games" had positioned him as a rising star in this market and he delivered his masterpiece here. Three cuts from "Undisputed" still receive steady airplay a decade later ("Party Like Back In The Day", "It Ain't Cheating 'Til You Get Caught" and "Try Me").
61. Not one bad or even mediocre track this time. Fantastic songs and production. This disc is just a joy to listen to with Ray's super elastic tenor and songs with hooks galore. Donnie Ray's first CD, "Let's Go Dancing" on the Susie Q label, spawned a Chittlin' Circuit hit called "Letter To My Baby". After a less successful followup, "Are You Ready For Me", Ray signed with Ecko Records and has been releasing a steady stream of cds since. Almost all of them would not be out of place on this Top 100. 2015's " She's My Honeybee" is especially noteworthy and worth checking out.62. Jeter Jones has been ubiquitous the past several years from countless guests appearances on other artist projects and his own solo output while his label Jones Boyz has also introduced us to Crystal Thomas and Lady Q. "Dhis Him" is a power-packed album spilling over with hits. "Black Horse", "Duck Tales", "She Gone With Jody", "Watch My Boots Pt. 2" are some of the first cuts to appear on copious Southern Soul playlists. Like the albums by J-Red and P2K Dadiddy this collection is teaming with guests like Vick Allen, Omar Cunningham, Pokey Bear, Miss Portia, P2K Dadiddy, Big Ro Williams and others. Beat Flippa's Ross Music Group is currently the top label in the game.
63. Another Southern Soul treasure features 10 new Roy C gems beginning with the swaying sing-a-long soul of the title track, where he says you can't even trust the preacher in your church when it comes to cheating! He revisits this theme later with the funky "Everybody Is Cheating" featuring a phat bassline and greasy organ fills. He gives the warning: "Watch out for the one that calls you a brother/What he really means is you're a mutha!". The comical album cover says it all. Roy does his own version of the now classic "Slow Roll It" (a hit for The Love Doctor & Sheba Potts-Wright). The song is now his as far as I'm concerned. Anyone that loves soul music will find sweet midtempo tracks like "I Feel Like Making Love" and "We Going To Make Love All Night" extreme honey. Meanwhile, one of the more provocative selections on "Slippin & Slidin" is the Afro-centric "Something Is Wrong With Us". Here he says God created the first man and woman black and exhorts all races to get the 411 from historian Ashra Kwesi. You gotta love Roy C- he's a serious soulman. 64. This "powerhouse" modern southernn soul album was picked as the #4 best Southern Soul/R & B album of 2005). Of course I've been enjoying the heck out of it for all of 2005. Twelve jams exquisitely produced by William Bell, Floyd & Reginald Jones. Starting with "Let Me Know", Southern Soul on the upbeat, bringing that old Hi Records groove to our times replete with a thumping rhythmic pulse and some midi horns for dressing. The big hit was the duet with Bell, "Somebody Is Gonna Lose A Good Woman". Makes me long for a new disc by Bell himself. Perhaps the best cut is the funky Dazz band-esque "You Had It All" that simply demands that bootys shake. Floyd wrote every song- four with Bell- and none of them are throwaways. "I Got My Woman Upset" and "Lovin' Someone On the Outside" were also hits. Tight production, well-written songs, but it might be for naught if Floyd hadn't that powerful voice. He's in charge on the mic with some of that J. Blackfoot rasp and passion. Floyd's got a long career ahead of him. 65 .
LaMorris Williams
"Ladies 1st/Sweet Sexy Songs" 2 CD (Rocks Landon 2012)
This release is a 2 disc affair. The first is a new set of 12 tracks including a remix of "Impala". Disc 2 is the full "Sexy Soul Songs" album from 2 years prior. As far as the new songs the rather middling slice of Hi Records worship "You Make Me Happy" was heavily-pushed as the first single. Despite the song being generic and too derivative it did feature none other than Al Green on co-lead vocals. Quite a coup for the young Mr. Williams! The song did well but didn't cross over to the Urban Adult Contemporary market and it's commercial radio stations like they may have hoped. Another biggie was "Patron". It seems one can't go wrong with an alcohol=themed song. Just ask Mr. Got My Whiskey Mel Waiters. Disc 2 is still the better album and it was #8 on our Best Of 2010 Top 20.
66. By the time Mel Waiters released this album he already had some hits under his belt including "Suki Suki Man" and "Got My Whiskey" but it was in 1999 when he unveiled his signature song. "Hole In The Wall", a track that launched countless copycats, connected in an extraordinary way. It very well could be THE song to represent modern Southern Soul. A Bigg Robb-commissioned remix gave the song an extended run as well. The small club in the South where you can go to escape the doldrums and stresses of everyday life. Partying at the juke joint. Waiters continued to be one of the top draws of the genre until his untimely death in 2015. We also could have chosen his stellar 2003 LP "A Nite Out", which featured the "Hole" sequel "Smaller The Club". Other Waiters staple songs include "Ice Chest", "Whiskey And Blues", "Friday Night Fish Fry", "Everything's Going Up", "Got No Curfew" and many others. Waiters' importance to modern Southern Soul cannot be exaggerated. 67. 
Ricky White
"Majic" (CDS 2013)
Voters picked/gave this album in the 2013 Blues Critic Awards for "Best Southern Soul/R&B Album" and it's easy to see why. It contains 2 big dance hits ("Sexy", "Shake"), several more that could have been hits ("Ricky White Shuffle", "Bagg It Up", "Jook Joint"), prime slow jams ("If You Don't Want Me", "Ride Your Body") and the bass-heavy "Billie Jean"-influenced "Blues Is All Good". Ten tracks. Ten winners by one of the hottest hands in the business. 68. The iconoclast Swamp Dogg is simply hard to categorize. Though vocally you can hear echoes of Jackie Wilson and Van Morrison his musical style is one of the most distinctive in the R & B world- R & B, Funk, Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul, Folk and so on. "Resurrection" is his most provocative (and best) offering in decades (and not just for the crucifixion photo that dons the cover). The protesting "In Time Of War Who Wins" opens the record at a time in American history where anti-war sentiments are high. Despite the message the track is a winding, horn-heavy slice of energetic Soul- that Swamp Dogg sound. Even more so the catchy "No Deposit No Return", a great first single choice while "They Crowned An Idiot King" is a thinly veiled diatribe against the current rulership. Sample lyric: "Your mama told you about good and evil/The preacher told you about greed/But the biggest power you have to bear is stupidity/They crowned an idiot king/They kissed his ring". Perhaps more direct is the funky "America Is Bleeding" that looks with a jaundiced eye at the state of his country. Swamp says abortion/politics/homosexuality/race/religion/war distracts the people as the culture is dying. Still the centerpiece of the record is the twelve minute titled track, an unflinching treatise on the history of Black folk in America. "The notion of 'resurrection' is Biblical. We will rise from the death imposed on us by the evil events of history...we will restore our communities to the peaceful oasis of yesterday.". Deep messages are fine but if the music isn't just as inspired...fortunately it is. The only complaint is it's placement smack dab in the middle of the record.
69. First for Ace Records features the Bob Jones-penned title track (with Pat Brown, who continues her famous "Equal Opportunity" theme) and two strong Ronnie Lovejoy covers ("Getting The Best Of Nothing" & "Turn Your Porch Light On"). Blake also redoes a cut from his Valley Vue days ("I Saw It Coming"). For some reason two of the cuts were carried over to his next album ("Telling Her About You" & "Time To Get Up (And Go Home)".
70. It comes as no surprise the Denise LaSalle CD opens with a cheeky, double-entendre filled track ("Pay Before You Pump") being for the past decade she's had success with similar songs like "Lick It Before You Stick It", "Snap, Crackle & Pop", "Smokin' In Bed" to name a few. So "Pump", the title track to her new Ecko release "Pay Before You Pump", is yet another shuffle bump with a memorable refrain that'll garner instant adds at Southern Soul radio. The first single, however, is a re-working of Floyd Hamberlin's "Mississippi Boy" (re-titled "Mississippi Woman"), which has already been a regional hit for Will T and Charles Wilson. It'll no doubt hit again but better is the alternate "Delta Blues Mix" version of the song which adds honking harp and guitar that'll appeal to more mainstream Blues markets. It's the definitive version of the cut. The rhythmically similar "It's Goin' Down" was written by LaSalle. Here the "Queen" promises to put the smack down on a rival hen. Overall, LaSalle wrote seven of the ten cuts, most notably the Memphis Soul ballad "Hold On Tight" and the up-from-the-bottom slow Blues "Walking On Beale Street On Crying". LaSalle is one of those rare Blues singers that seems to appeal equally to female and male fans. The ladies cheer when she talk smack, putting men in their place but the menfolk simply eat it up too because she's got the chops. Both will "pump" this one to the top of the charts. 71. 
Walt Love
"Don't Go" (self released 2000)
"Don't Go" is the 2000 debut album by southern soul artist Walt Love who has also recorded as Walt Luv and Walter Luv. The album features the track "I Had to Change", which became a hit for his followup album ("Take Me Back (To The Old School Party)") with the longer title "I Had To Change (She Threw A Monkey Wrench In My Game)". Love definitely has a Clarence Carter influence as heard on "(They Call Me) Mr. Love", a definite highlight here. Other highlights are "Take My Bitter Like My Sweet" and the Tyrone Davis-like "The Cheating Side Of Town". This is superb retro-Soul that connected with modern Southern Soul audiences.
72. When music by an R&B/Billboard charting legend like Lenny Williams gets airplay in the Southern Soul circuit it's bound to class the joint up. Williams didn't need to change his style say for a couple nods to the market like ""Sorry I Didn't Know (It Was Your Momma)" & "Cheatin' On The Cheatin'" both Tyrone Davis-like toe-tappers that went over just like they were supposed to. "Sunday Afternoon" though was the stunner. A slinky, clapping beat precedes a mellifluous vocal from our hero singing the praises of family get-togethers.
73. Albums like this are why I bother with this website. "Out Of The Blue" comes as a surprise as Willie Hightower hadn't had a full length LP of new material be released on him in the decades prior. 1969's "If I Had A Hammer" was basically a collection of singles assembled with a couple of unreleased numbers. Hightower is best known for his minor R&B hit "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" (#26 R&B in 1970) and the lesser "It's A Miracle" (#33 R&B in 1969). In the 1980s noted record producer Quinton Claunch (of James Carr/Goldwax greatness) recorded a host of sides on Hightower that have only been released on an obscure 2007 compilation entitled "Quinton Claunch's Hidden Soul Treasures", which also featured sides by Jerry L, Ollie Nightingale and Joe L. Thomas. Unfortunately the production quality of these Hightower cuts are demo-grade synthesized mediocrity. The 96-year old Claunch got back in touch with a Hightower to record "Out Of The Blue". Perhaps the best song from those ill-fated earlier sessions, "Rock Me Gently", has been recut for the this new album. This time the production is organic, live drums, bass, guitar, B-3 and horns. The ingredients of all great Soul music. While Hightower, now aged at 77 years, doesn't possess the same Sam Cooke-raspiness of yore his warm, expressive voice is still fantastically soulful and earnest. 74 .
Ms. Jody
"Still Strokin'" (Ecko 2013)
T he title cut is hands down one of the best of the year. It's an instant anthem extolling praise on this Southern Soul Blues music. Sample lyric: "Boy you must have been on the moon somewhere/Cuz our kind of music is still here/And it ain't going nowhere/....Clarence Carter's still strokin/And Bobby Rush is still wearing it out/Theodis Ealey still standing up in it/And Ms. Jody's still in the house". Sublime shuffle bumping jams like "It's A Reunion", "You Didn't Appreciate What You When You Had It", "Where Can I Find A Good Man" and "Your Man Was Looking For That Good Thing" abound. Meanwhile she's having a Sam Cooke-like party with the re-write "Another Get Drunk Party" and the Bluesy "Ms. Jody Don't Mind Breakin' Up Somebody's Home" is pretty much the Ms. Jody persona to a
75. Marvin Sease records have always been a somewhat frustrating experience for people with mature taste. He is always backed by solid production and southern soul melody and has a good singing voice. BUT Sease gained his notoriety by dirty lyrics! The infamous "Candy Licker" from his debut album became his ticket to fame and has been followed up by many sequels ("I Ate You For Breakfast", "Do You Need A Licker?", "I Ate The Whole Thing", "Woman Would Rather Be Licked") and despite the stale subject matter Sease's following kept buying his records. The question is: Do people buy Marvin Sease for his music or for his raunch? Or maybe it is both? I, for one, like his music and wish he'd lay off the superfluous filth. Sexiness and innuendo are one thing..but blatant pornography is another. Anyway, Sease has signed with Malaco Records and released another solid CD filled with excellent southern soul ("Bad Love Affair", "I Wanna Do You", etc..) and pure nastiness ("Pump My Juice", "F- All Y'all"). The best though is the irresistible "Sit Down On It"- yet another answer song to Theodis Ealey's immortal "Stand Up In It". As far as what you want from Marvin..it's likely here. 76. 
Barbara Carr "Footprints On The Ceiling" (Ecko 1997)
Rollicking party blues album from this throaty blues belter. John Ward and company provide Carr with some good, sassy soul blues material in the Denise LaSalle vein, such as the cheeky "If You Can't Cut The Mustard (I Don't Want You Licking Around The Jar)", "The Bo Hawk Grind" & "Good Looks Can Get Him But It Takes Good Lovin' To Keep Him Home". Carr also shows her softer side on "Make Me Feel Like Like You Feel It Too" & "God Blessed Our Love", but it's juke joint jumpers like "We're Gonna Boogie" where Carr really shines. 77. 
Jaye Hammer
"Hammer" (Ecko 2012)
Ecko certainly listens for certain types of voices when it comes to signing male artists to the label. Hammer has a youthful, elastic tenor like label mate Donnie Ray. Their styles are almost interchangeable except for the fact Donnie Ray co-writes or writes most of his own songs. Ecko had Carl Sims, Sterling Williams and have O.B. Buchana and now they brought in Sonny Mack with his very similar, earthy, slightly-weathered voice. The writing staff just knows how to use these voices to full effect time and time again. "Hammer" will be Jaye Hammer's introduction to most but Hammer released a decent album seven years prior ("Work It On Me"). "Hammer" is far superior with bangin' tracks like "Making That Booty Roll", "Mississippi Slide" and "I Can Love You Like That". The subject matter is cliché at this point but "I Thought It Was Jody (But It Was Judy)" is clever. 78 .
Tyrone Davis
"Call
Tyrone" (Malaco 1999)One of his strongest latter day discs includes the great "Call Tyrone", his best bedroom ballad since "In The Mood". The sugary "Ooh La La" is a smash midtempo head-bobber. One minor complaint, however. Tyrone sings "you're just like Janet Jackson" and follows that with "There's nobody like you". Isn't she "like" Janet Jackson? "Turn Back The Clock" could be a sequel to "Turn Back The Hands Of Time"? Despite the polished synthetic backdrop Tyrone still manages to make it soulful.
79. Hands down best debut of the year for sure. The club joint "Loop The Loop" is getting a lot of action but it's the slow jams that steal the show. Easley is magic on "Wantcha Back", "Your Love is Amazing" and "If I Let You Got". Most of this disc is ripe for mainstream Urban AC stations but without payola who knows if it'll get the chance.
80. If Sam Cooke were alive today perhaps he would make an album like this. Omarr has the voice and learned the phrasing of the late Soul titan (he often puts on a dynamic tribute show "The Greatest Song", however, contains original songs inspired by Cooke-written mostly by Carl Marshall. Real instruments were used on this album. Showing the versatility of the Southern Soul market the swinging "Everybody's Dancin'" became a bit of a hit, charting on the SBR Top 25. Omarr is especially wonderful on ballads evidenced by the title cut, "Give Me Your Love", "Still My Love Grows" and the Bobby Conerly-conceived "Everybody Needs Somebody Sometime"
81. It's easy to believe Smith is also a radio DJ when you hear that deep smoky voice chat us up on the new hit "Has It Come To This". Like Frank-O Johnson he also has a strong singing voice able to deliver on many forms of blues n' soul. "Has It Come To This" is the brand new single on this satisfyin' 15 song collection. Smith reminds us how we got our woman. "...you got her by taking flowers to her at her job...by taking her out to dinner and dancing, swingin'...you used to give her money to go to the beauty salon" but you don't do it anymore. Hey, the women get reminders too on what they used to do so it's equal opportunity. This is one of the better "same thing you did to get her/do the same thing to keep her" songs I've heard. Songs like this balance out the many "cheating" songs in the Southern Soul/Blues world. Next Smith puts on a vocal tour de force with "Tonight", a fantastic bluesy ballad that is part Ray Charles and part Johnny Adams. A gem! Nearly as good is "Stick And Stay" and his surprising deep soul rendition of Bob Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door". I'm sure Bob would be proud. Smith also excels on soul/blues winners like "Stacked In The Back", "Louisiana Bound" and the B.B. King-influenced "Stuck On You" and takes you to the dance floor on "Dance With The One", featuring a squawking sax solo by Don Diego plus the Lucky Peterson-produced "Fell In Love". And like a sweet after dinner port Smith closes the disc with a tender ode to mama ("Mother"). A must have CD 82.  Uvee Hayes
"Play Something Pretty" (CDS 2009)
Uvee Hayes has straddled the lines between Blues, Soul, Jazz and later Southern Soul throughout her career. She is one of precious few artists that have been able to make a mark in mainstream Blues as well as the Southern Soul markets. "Play Something Pretty" resulted in a breakthrough of sorts for Hayes in the chitlin' circuit when "Maintenance Man" began receiving heavy airplay buoyed courtesy of WDIA out of Memphis. This 17 (!) set is a perfect showcase for Hayes' mastery of Contemporary Blues, Urban AC smoothies and some Southern Soul. The gorgeous title cut, a Johnnie Taylor cover, features a riveting vocal duet with Otis Clay. 83. 
Toni Green
"Mixed Emotions" (Soultrax 1998)
Produced by the late great Quinton Claunch who also co-wrote six of the cuts here. Recorded and mixed at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Recording Studio, Lester Snell on Hammond B-3 organ, Thomas Bingham on guitar and Jim Spake on sax are listed among the musicians. Some is programmed, but the horn section is real. Toni wrote two songs with Quinn Golden ("Don’t Do Me (If You Can’t Do Me Right)" and "Stop Playing Me Close"). 84. Last year he delivered the fabulous soul/blues disc "Get Down Tonight" (featuring the hits "Juke Joint Slide" & "Get Down Tonight"- and several shoulda been smashes) and he aims to keep the momentum flowing here with this new party-themed disc. Things start off right with the dancer "Just Another Hole In The Wall", which is a kissing cousin to Carl Sims' recent hit "It's Just A Party". The first single is "Ease On Down In The Bed" with Lee Shot giving a humorous Bobby Rush-esque monologue on how to please your woman ("Ease on down in the bed a little further..."...but after he moves on down past her navel..he kisses her...her...her right knee- hee hee). A solid straight slow blues tune "You're Slackin' In The Bedroom" is here as is the album's highlight "I'm A Nibble Man", a smooth midtempo head bobber that's made for cruisin' in your ride. Not far behind is the thumping blues groove of "That's Really What The Blues Is All About". Lee Shot even revisits the "freak" theme with the self-penned "I Gotta Go Home So I Can Get My Freak On". All tracks are good but unfortunately there's only 9 new cuts here as track 10 is a "radio version" of "Ease On Down...". Fans of Southern soul blues, Lee Shot Williams or simply Ecko's (John Ward) patented sound will be very pleased. 85. The amazing vocals of one-time Arista Recording artist/Gerald LeVert-produced Geoff McBride are the highlight of this fine set of Southern Soul originals and covers. The Memphis-inspired movers "Stuck" & "She's Powerful" and the aching ballad "I'll Work For You" have all received extensive airplay throughout the South and in the UK. (Footnote: The now hard-to-find set was repackaged and self-released as "Takin' Off" later in the year and McBride is no longer with the group) 86. Brinston continues his artistic hot streak with Ecko Records. Last year's remarkable "Sidepiece Motel" (our pick for Best Southern Soul/R&B Album Of 2017) was a tough act to follow but "Kitty Whipped" acquits itself admirably. Lots of keepers like the title track, "I'll Do Me A Big Girl", "Nothing Like Good Sex", "Club Booty", "Daisy Dukes & High Heel Boots" and "Buckle Up". 87. F orget about the jivey and dated cover, this is seriously good soul music by a exceptional singer. Lee Fields joins Frank-O for a hit remake of Joe Tex's "Hold On". Meanwhile "Let's Make Love Tonight" is a stone classic- a definite hit for somebody (it was covered by Bobby "Blue" Bland) if not for Frank-O. The gorgeous hook on "Talk Dirty To Me" sounds suspiciously like Johnnie Taylor's "Still Crazy" (written by Rich Cason). "Night Time Love/Daytime Pain" is a deep soul cheating song while "Somebody Called My Wife" is a humorous romp with Frank-O name dropping some so-called "friends" who may have blew the whistle on his two-timin' ways. The title cut has a big soulful chorus that you will be singing hours after you heard it.88. 
Ernie Johnson
"In The Mood" (Waldoxy 1995)
This essential disc has it all- rollicking juke joint blues ("I'm In The Mood For Love"), soulful, aching slowies ("Cold This Winter", "Share You With Someone Else"), midtempo southern soul ("Move Along", Robert Cray's "Bouncin Back"), even a finger-snappin' jazz soul song ("Love's On The Other Line"). Every song a gem- expertly produced by the Malaco staff. Props to the "Heavyweight Rhythm Section" featuring Clayton "Clyde" Ivery on piano and B-3, Big Mike Griffin and William Andrew Thomas on guitar, Lil David Hood on bass and Paul "Heavy" Lee on drums. The "Muscle Shoal Horns" are Charles Rose- trombone, arranger, Harvey Thompson- tenor sax, Doug Moffet- baritone & alto sax and Gary Armstrong trumpet.
89. Album number 7 and final album for Ecko Records continues the successful formula of mostly programmed party soul music. "Turn It Loose" & "Chuck Strut" were the minor hits here. Amazingly after 7 albums the Ecko/Chuck Roberson formula never got tiring. One of his better Ecko albums. Chuck's voice is still in it's prime. 90. So Billy Ray did it "My Way" on this new Waldoxy release. (Don't worry he didn't cover Paul Anka here). We hadn't heard from Billy Ray since the death of Jimmy Lewis. See, Charles released three discs for Lewis' Miss Butch imprint, scoring hits with "I Been Partying All Night", "Sweet, Black & Hot" and "Shake My Shaker" but creative control was certainly that of Mr. Lewis on those projects. Here Charles is credited with writing 7 of the 10 cuts and even is named "co-producer" and the song pretty much remains the same. The ubiquitous Rich Cason provided the dynamite leadoff hitter "Nursery Rhymes", which reminds me of 1970s Curtis Mayfield- spacey, creeping and funky. Billy Ray's brilliant with his double-tracked vocals and Southern drawl. Cason knows his programming but his results are schizophrenic overall. His lame "Let's Do This" is a pale imitation of the Neptunes. I kept hoping Kelis would jump in and elevate this half-baked jam. And you want to talk about jarring. Right before this track is a straight-up slow blues "There's A Rat Loose In My House" (previously done by Bobby "Blue" Bland). It's a Charles original as is the fun, midtempo "Southern Girls Got The Booty" (anybody remember Chuck Strong's "Southern Girl"?). Another celebratory romp in praise of some gifted women below the equator. Love the handclaps on this one. 91 
Shirley Brown "Unleashed"
(Malaco 2009)
Shirley doesn't record very often (this is only her 3rd this decade) but when she does the results are always exceptional. Phenomenal voice that occasionally brings to mind the one and only Aretha. "Unleashed" features a great track written by Luther Lackey ("Ain't Gonna Get No More Of My Love"). This album was voted "Best Southern Soul/R&B Album" in the 2009 Blues Critic Awards for Southern Soul/R&B.
92. This is now the fourth new CD on O.B. Buchana in less than three years and in my book it's his best since his Ecko debut ("Shake What You Got!"). Why? A higher percentage of good hooks and better rhythm tracks. His last couple discs had but a few good cuts and featured too much of that "bucka bucka bucka" percussion sound Morris J was putting on everything he touched. But "Goin' Back Home" has the bass upfront like on the propulsive "Booty Mover" (2 versions), perhaps the label's best dancer since the irresistible "Booty Scoot". It's naturally very similar and has a celebratory shake-what-you-got feel that could be OB's biggest hit yet. Other good'uns include the bumper "I'm About To Lose My Wife To My Woman", the beachy "Mississippi Swing" and Big John Cumming's "I'm Goin' Back Home". How can you not agree with these lyrics: "I made a trip up North to visit some of my friends/They said 'OB you oughta move up here 'cuz the good times never end...but I came to the conclusion this I just cannot do...there's just one thing wrong/Y'all don't have no Southern Soul music when I turn on my radio". Amen! But speaking of lyrics, the otherwise snappy "Come And Get It While He's Gone" includes the unctuous refrain "She said: 'come and get while he's gone/I'm soaking wet and I ain't wearing no drawers". Puh- Lease. Ruins a decent booty mover. His inferior cover of Chuck Roberson's "Lollipop Man" is also a nuisance to me but the lovely "Everything Sweet Reminds Me Of You" hits the mark. As said before this one's got the goods overall. It'll be interesting to see if folks suffer from O.B. burnout though. 93. "Sexified" is his fifth disc and may be his best. This is party soul exemplified like the shuffle bumpin' radio candy "I'm Your Man In The Streets" that opens the disc. Next up is the funky "Freak Cowboy" with Rick saying he needs a real horse not just a "pony" (you hear that Sheba Potts-Wright?). The retro-disco "Heavenly Lady" evokes the spirit of Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra and is one of the brightest spots. A yearning vocal and sweet refrain. One of the key ingredients on this project is Morris J. Williams- giving mo' flavor to the aging Ecko sound. Williams plays synthesizer, sings backing vocals and creates some of the rhythm tracks on this release- he even co-wrote 8 of the 11 cuts here- most notably the grinding booty shaker "Shake What You Got" (not the O.B. Buchana hit) and "Baby Mama Drama". On The latter Lawson complains he's got 5 babies by three different women..but wait! There's two more on the way! I think he should take Frankie Lee's advice from "The Ladies And The Babies"! ("If you can't afford to help support the babies/You better think twice before you grab the lady!") More woman issues crop up on "That Boogie Bear". Even though his woman is playing him for a fool he sho'nuff can't resist that "booger bear". The cut also features some tight drums via Curtis Steele. "She Was Cheatin' Better Than Me" borrows the "Booty Scoot" bassline and is a potential hit single on an album with commercial appeal. Yep, "Just Another Juke Joint Party" indeed. 94. Cunningham wastes no time riding the buzz he created with his first disc by dropping another instant classic with "I Get By", which is identical thematically to his "Check To Check". The vocal arrangement on the refrain is extreme honey. But like his previous album the leadoff singles are somewhat deceptive of what's actually on the album. "Omar Cunningham" is predominately creamy smooth R & B ballads like "Sweet Sweet", "She's Making Eyes", "Sorry Man" (with Jerry "Boogie" McCain), "Momma" and "Shysters And Wannabes". The latter, a moody creeper, is a duet with Willie Clayton where the legend hips the young gun Cunningham to the pitfalls of the game. This and all tracks are exquisitely sung and the production is clean and slick. The only other upbeat jam is "My Baby" and that's perhaps the only fault you could find with this set of original songs. 95. King George didn't reinvent the wheel but he recorded 7 songs that all sound like and eventually were singles. The biggest hit, "Keep On Rollin'", turned out to be Southern Soul's most popular song for several years straight. It sits at 75 million views on YouTube as of writing. Other gems include "Night-Time", "Too Long" and "Leave & Party". 96. John Ward's Ecko Records has gotten a ton of mileage out of bold, brash, bawdy, bodacious "independent women". They began with Barbara Carr and carried on with Sheba Potts-Wright, Denise LaSalle, Sweet Angel and most notably, Ms. Jody. The label's habit of star-making of these tough gal artists is undeniable. "Vivacious" Val McKnight is first and foremost a songwriter. In fact it's unusual to receive a CD from Ecko where the artist has written the majority of the material. On "Ain't Nothing Like A Country Boy" it's your typical shuffle-bumping, down-home blues, mid-paced southern soul (think Clarence Carter "Slip Away") with themes like partying/dancing ("Let's Party", "Shake Something", "It's Booty Shakin' Time"), sex ("Let's Do Some Freaky Stuff", "I'm In Love With My Husband And My Sidepiece", "I'm A Do It All Woman"), relationships ("You Want Your Cake And Eat It Too"). A successful formula indeed and McKnight's attitude-filled voice and phrasing suits this material to a T. 97. Like many others on this list Stax Records alumni William Bell got a "new lease" on their career in Southern Soul. Bell started his Wilbe (originally Wilbe Recording Corporation) record label back in 1985 and is responsible for launching the careers of Jeff Floyd and Lola. Bell's own most successful LP was "New Lease On Life" released in 2006. Several songs were pulled as singles including the title track, "Playaz Only Love You (When They're Playing)" and "Honey From The Bee". As of February 2018 Bell has only released one more album of new songs, "This Is Where I Live", a reunion with Stax Records in 2016. 98. 
Kenne' Wayne
"The Licka Sticka"
(MTE
2001)
It all comes together on this disc: the voice, the songs, the production. Two big hits are found here. The party-shaking opener "The Party Ain't Over" is one of his best songs and must serve as the perfect encore to his shows. "The Licka Sticka" one ups the "Candy Licker" because with Wayne you get a "licka" and a "sticka", or "two for the price of one" as he sings. The song is also notable for it's hip James Brown nod ("baby come here quick let me show you how I lick and stick" sung ala "Licking Stick"). "Room 244" is another upbeat party soul jam of the highest order (no relation to the Little Milton song of the same name). A great slowie is "I Left My Woman", where Kenne may have left her for "Sue" but she left him for "another fool". "Gonna Miss Me" contains an aching vocal from Wayne- one of his best to date. Another highlight is the Johnnie Taylor tribute, "Encore", where Kenne's vocal phrasing is even remarkably like the legend himself. This disc is the definitive Kenne' Wayne so far.
99. Former Ca$hflow singer Simeo was one of the first to lean Southern Soul heavily into Contemporary R&B territory and found a lot of resistance from some radio personnel and self righteous critics so you could say Simeo was ahead of his time since a good percentage of "Southern Soul Blues" is now R&B/Hip Hop slanted. "Pimpin'" produced ace tracks like "Step Up", "Play N' Soul" and the title cut. Simeo has gone on to be an in demand producer in both R&B and, yep, now "Southern Soul" (Floyd Taylor's last two albums were dominated by Simeo productions and songs) 100. 
Sir Charles Jones "The Masterpiece"
(Southern King Ent 2018)
Just like his 2014 effort "Portrait Of A Balladeer", this new opus is heavy on slow jams. Nobody in Southern Soul does them better, however. The first couple tracks that have saturated the Southern Soul market are the sublime love song "My Everything" and "Call Me". The latter joint features Calvin Richardson & Omar Cunningham. The three trade vocals on verses and harmonize throughout in the background. There's more creamy ballads like "This Is Your Night", "Destiny" & "Squeeze Me". Pure aural sex. Now onto the few uptempo numbers. The hard-slapping "Wherever I Lay My Bone" features the red hot Pokey Bear. Meanwhile, "Step It Out" employs a Zydeco rhythm and talk box. My pick for best cut is hands down "Fight The Pain", a midpaced beater with lots of dirty guitar, dramatic keyboard synths, live drums and a vocal arrangement that brought Johnnie Taylor to mind. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***SEE ALBUMS 1-50 HERE (C) Blues Critic LLC 2025. All written material found on this website is the property of Blues Critic and may only be used with permission and full accreditation (either "Blues Critic" or "Dylann DeAnna of Blues Critic") given plus a link to this website. |
Bobby Jonz "In The Mood For Love" (Ace 1997)
Jaye Hammer
"I Can Lay The Hammer Down
Simone De "A Definitive Collection" (Premier Music Ent.
2007)
Sheba Potts-Wright "I Need A Cowboy To Ride My Pony" (Ecko 2004)
Quinn Golden "A Little Sumpin Sumpin"
Luther Lackey "The Preacher's Wife"
(Ecko 2010 )
T.K. Soul "Undisputed"
(Soulful 2007) 
Donnie Ray "Drowning In My Own Tears" 
Jeter Jones "Dhis Him"
(Jonez Boyz 2016)
Roy C
Jeff Floyd
Mel Waiters "Material Things"
(Waldoxy 1999) 
Swamp Dogg
"Resurrection"
Cicero Blake
"Wives Night Out" (Ace 1996)
Denise LaSalle "Pay Before You Pump"
Lenny Williams "Unfinished Business" (Lentom
2010)
Willie Hightower "Out Of The Blue"
(Soultrax 2018)
Will Easley
"Sweet Sexy Soul" (CDS 2008)
Vel Omarr "The Greatest Song I Ever Sang" (Special
Soul Music 2012)
Gregg A Smith
"Greatest Hits: Collector's Edition" (G-Man
2005)
The Rhythm All-Stars "s/t" (Jomar/Silk 2008)
David Brinston "Kitty
Whipped
Frank-O Johnson
"OJ I'm Guilty" (Ace 1996)
Chuck Roberson
Billy Ray Charles "Southern Soul...My Way" (Waldoxy 2005)
Rick Lawson
"Sexified" (Ecko 2005)
Omar Cunningham
King George
Val McKnight
"Ain't Nothing Like A Country Boy" (Ecko 2022)
William Bell "New Lease On Life" (Wilbe 2006)
Simeo "Southern Soul Pimpin'" (Simeo Enterprises
2009)