Chicago Soul: A Guide to the Windy City Sound

Chicago soul explained: the labels, producers, arrangers and records that gave the Windy City its [...]

The Best Northern Soul Compilations to Buy on CD and Vinyl

The best northern soul compilations on CD and vinyl, from Kent's rarities series to Wigan [...]

I Can’t Stand the Rain Album Review: Ann Peebles at Her Best

Our I Can't Stand the Rain album review: Ann Peebles, Willie Mitchell and the Hi [...]

Vinyl Grading Guide: How to Grade Soul Records and 45s

Vinyl grading explained for soul collectors: the Goldmine scale, styrene 45s, label damage, promos and [...]

Philly Soul: A Guide to the Sound of Philadelphia

Philly soul explained: Gamble, Huff and Thom Bell, Sigma Sound, MFSB and the essential records [...]

The Best Curtis Mayfield Albums, Ranked

The best Curtis Mayfield albums ranked, from Curtis and Super Fly to the overlooked There's [...]

Hi Records History: Willie Mitchell, Al Green and Memphis

Hi Records history from rockabilly instrumentals to Al Green, Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios and the [...]

James Carr — You Got My Mind Messed Up: The Deep Soul Album

A retrospective review of the 1967 Goldwax album widely held to be the greatest deep [...]

The Best Soul and Funk Reissue Labels: A Collector’s Guide

The soul and funk reissue labels worth following, what each one does best, how to [...]

Muscle Shoals: How a Small Alabama Town Made the Best Soul Records in America

FAME, the Swampers and 3614 Jackson Highway: how two unglamorous buildings in north-west Alabama produced [...]