The Best Soul & R&B Albums of the 1960s
Our pick of the essential soul & r&b records released in the 1960s, ranked.
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1I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love YouAretha Franklin
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
The album where Aretha found her voice at Atlantic, fusing gospel fire with secular soul on 'Respect' and the title track. Raw, commanding and historic. The Queen of Soul announces herself.
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2Otis BlueOtis Redding
Otis Blue
Recorded in a single marathon session, it captures Redding's raw, generous soul at its peak, covers and originals alike. Urgent and deeply felt. Essential 1960s soul.
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3Stand!Sly and the Family Stone
Stand!
Joyful, integrationist funk-soul at its peak, idealistic and irresistible. 'Everyday People' anchors it. A high point of the era.
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4Hot Buttered SoulIsaac Hayes
Hot Buttered Soul
A radical, expansive soul record of long, orchestral reinventions that changed the genre's scope. Lush and bold. A landmark.
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5Lady SoulAretha Franklin
Lady Soul
A run of near-perfect soul singles gathered into one essential set, sung with unmatched power and feeling. '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' is a high point. Peak Aretha.
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6Live at the ApolloJames Brown
Live at the Apollo
An electrifying live document that captured Brown's raw command. Thrilling and historic. One of the great live albums.
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7The Dock of the BayOtis Redding
The Dock of the Bay
A posthumous peak built around its timeless title song. Soulful and beloved. A high point.
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8Night BeatSam Cooke
Night Beat
A late-night, bluesy set that shows the depth beneath Cooke's pop sheen. Intimate and soulful. An underrated classic.
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9Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicRay Charles
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
A bold, genre-crossing landmark that reframed country through soul. Lush and influential. A historic record.
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10Cloud NineThe Temptations
Cloud Nine
A psychedelic-soul pivot toward funk and social themes. Bold and influential. A turning point.