Which Soul and R&B albums should everyone listen to at least once in their lifetime?

Submitted by MajesticMidnite t3_zpuq48 in Music

What are some of the most essential R&B and soul albums in your opinion, and which of them do you believe everyone should listen to at least once?

I'm currently building up my music collection, and one of my goals is to get more familiar with older soul music. As part of this endeavor, I was wondering what members of this community consider to be the greatest R&B and soul albums of all time.

Which R&B and Soul albums do you consider to be the most essential and why?

Please don't hesitate to list as many as you see fit.

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mcu_33 t1_j0upaxf wrote

Barry White - stone gon’

Teddy Pendergrass - Teddy

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DevinBelow t1_j0uptqd wrote

Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace (specifically the complete recordings if you can find it)

Aretha Franklin - I've Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club '63

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On?

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key Of Life

A lot of the best R&B was not really written around the LP format, so definitely get some "Best of" compilations of Smokey & The Miracles, The Crystals, The Supremes, The Four Tops and that kind of classic Motown stuff too, but those five albums above are all absolutely essential.

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monkee67 t1_j0uqcz4 wrote

Marvin Gaye- What's going on

Prince - Sign of the Times

Sly and the Family Stone - There's A Riot going ON

Stevie Wonder - Inner Visions

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Ihadsumthin4this t1_j0uqxe9 wrote

Ray Charles -- A Man and His Soul

Arguably the pinnacle.

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Malice_n_Flames t1_j0uv75t wrote

Hate to recommend a best of but in this case it it appropriate.

“Essential Bill Withers”…… or any Bill Withers

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BodhiK187 t1_j0v0qxx wrote

D'Angelo - Brown Sugar & Voodoo

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beepbeep7654 t1_j0v3bqs wrote

Mamas Gun - Erykah Badu

The Belle Album - Al Green

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qb1120 t1_j0vf1a3 wrote

No idea how old you are, so I don't know what you consider "old" but here's a good variety

Usher - Confessions

Prince - too many good ones, but maybe Purple Rain

Boyz II Men - II

Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On

The-Dream - Love/Hate

The Weeknd - After Hours

All For One - All-For-One

Rick James - Street Songs

Brian McKnight - Anytime

Mariah Carey - Daydream

Alicia Keys - Diary of Alicia Keys

TLC - CrazySexyCool

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ToxicAdamm t1_j0vtho5 wrote

Al Green's Greatest Hits (ranked 52 on the Top Albums of All-time)

Maxwell - Urban Hang Suite

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Broad_Leopard_2816 t1_j0vty6d wrote

Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin On

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

Al Green - Let’s Stay Together

Curtis Mayfield - Super Fly

James Brown - The Payback

Michael Jackson - Off the Wall

The Jacksons - Triumph

Prince - Sign O’ the Times

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar

Maxwell - Maxwell’s Urban Hange Suite

Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope

Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun

Usher - 8701

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

The Weeknd - Trilogy

Anderson .Paak - Malibu

NxWorries - Yes Lawd

Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights

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boneman429 t1_j0vu9ng wrote

Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

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