The year 1961 was a turning point for black American music. Blues and rhythm’n’blues had been popular for many years, but by and large, the white acts were cherry-picking the best songs and taking them into the charts. By 1961, the black record labels were finding a way to make their own product more commercial so that it would appeal to a bigger audience. The music would take on a different name – Soul! It was a great term and even today when you say a record has soul, you mean that it has passion and commitment at its core.
Disc 1
1. Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes
2. Tossin’ And Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis
3. Mother-In-Law – Ernie K-Doe
4. Hit The Road, Jack – Ray Charles
5. Ya Ya – Lee Dorsey
6. It’s Gonna Work Out Fine – Ike & Tina Turner
7. Mama Said – The Shirelles
8. Turn On Your Love Light – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
9. Gypsy Woman – The Impressions
10. Last Night – The Mar-Keys
11. Tower Of Strength – Gene McDaniels
12. That’s It-I Quit-I’m Movin’ On – Sam Cooke
13. You Don’t Miss Your Water – William Bell
14. Find Another Girl – Jerry Butler
15. Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues – The Miracles
16. Amor – Ben E. King
17. Don’t Cry Baby – Etta James
18. Every Beat Of My Heart – Gladys Knight & The Pips
19. Some Kind Of Wonderful – The Drifters
20. Raindrops – Dee Clark
Disc 2
1. Stand By Me – Ben E. King
2. I Don’t Want To Cry – Chuck Jackson
3. Jamie – Eddie Holland
4. A Little Bit Of Soap – Gene McDaniels
5. Take My Love (I Want To Give It All To You) – Little Willie John
6. Mighty Good Lovin’ – The Miracles
7. At Last – Etta James
8. Baby, You’re All Right – James Brown & His Famous Flames
9. I’m Telling You – Jerry Butler
10. I Wake Up Crying – Chuck Jackson
11. Big John – The Shirelles
12. I’m Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) – The Ikettes
13. Sweets For My Sweet – The Drifters
14. I Don’t Want To Take A Chance – Mary Wells
15. Hide Away – Freddy King
16. Funny – Maxine Brown
17. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide – Marvin Gaye
18. I Want A Guy – The Supremes
19. Twistin’ Postman – The Marvelettes
20. (I Don’t Know Why) But I Do – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry