Soul Archives
Mavis Staples - If you're of a certain age, this CD is an invitation to time-travel back to the 1960s. Not the '60s of war protest.
The Dionne Warwick Collection - How can you tell if you're young? Well, when you think of Dionne Warwick, do you think of those infomercials for the Psychic Friends Network? Is the l
Alicia Keys - I usually make fun of Valentine’s Day. It’s too depressing to do anything else. All those couples jammed into restaurants.
Amy Winehouse - It's damn rare that a three-minute pop confection digs under your skin, lyrics sticking to the tip of your tongue, a mental itch clawing at you so
Ann Peebles: I Can’t Stand the Rain - I come from a line of merchants --- people who are used to bargains and discounts. Retail?
Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul - So Aretha Franklin, godmother to Whitney Houston, didn't sing at Whitney’s funeral. Still, comparisons flash --- they can’t not. First, th
Corinne Bailey Rae - I don't watch “Grey's Anatomy.” I don't follow the pop charts, I don't watch awards shows.
Elvis Presley: Ultimate Gospel - This is about Elvis Presley’s Ultimate Gospel. [For the Amazon MP 3 download, click here.
He Is the Light, Al Green -    For a lot of people, Al Green is the sophisticated version of Barry White. Consider the songs he released in the early 1970s: "T
James Brown - It takes nothing away from Michael Jackson to say that James Brown set the stage for him. Look here, and you can see Michael say it himself. And look
Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - The funniest moment I've seen on film or TV recently appeared in a commercial for Dos Equis beer.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - What songs do you find in the duets of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, recorded in long ago 1967? Oh, just classics: “Ain’t No Mountai
Otis Redding: Live in Europe - One of the greatest live recordings ever made begins with the corniest of introductions --- a self-consciously “groovy” MC has the French
Otis Redding: Love Man - I’ve spent more time than usual in the car this summer, ferrying the child around. Naturally, we listen to her music.
Otis Redding: The Immortal Otis Redding - In the book I’m writing, I’m approaching the moment when everything skids south and a very nice man is brought to his knees.
River Deep Mountain High, Ike and Tina Turner - "River Deep Mountain High" --- the song ranked #33 on Rolling Stone's list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" --- is credited to Ike
Ryan Shaw -     Ryan Shaw Videos Interview and Performance Snippets
Ryan Shaw: Live -     Ryan Shaw Highline Ballroom, New York March 1
Sade -     Sade Videos Cherish the Day Smooth Operator No Ordi
Spirit in the Dark, Aretha Franklin - There's a lot to be said for loud music; raw energy is the foundation of rock. But there's also a lot to be said for quiet music, like Chopin, th