The No.1 Classic Soul Album

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I Heard It Through the Grapevine
producer:
Norman Whitfield
bass [1962 Fender Precision Bass]:
James Jamerson (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
congas and tambourine:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
drums (drum set):
Uriel Jones (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
French horn:
Don Ozga (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10) and Edwin Jones (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
guitar [1964 Gibson Firebird III]:
Eddie Willis (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
guitar [Fender Telecaster with Jazzmaster Neck]:
Joe Messina (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
Hammond organ [B-3]:
Earl Van Dyke (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
tom-tom:
Richard "Pistol" Allen (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
Wurlitzer electric piano:
Johnny Griffith (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10), Marlene Barrow (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10), Louvain Demps (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10) and Jackie Hicks (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
orchestra:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
strings arranger:
Paul Riser (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
orchestrator:
Paul Riser (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
recorded at and mixed at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 80), Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 93), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 119) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 307)
cover recording of:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Scandinavia AB, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Marvin Gaye3.73:15
2I Say a Little Prayer
recording engineer:
Tom Dowd (on 1968-04-17)
producer:
Jerry Wexler
bass:
Jerry Jemmott (on 1968-04-17)
drums (drum set):
Roger Hawkins (drummer and producer) (on 1968-04-17)
guitar:
Tommy Cogbill (on 1968-04-17)
piano and lead vocals:
Aretha Franklin (on 1968-04-17)
background vocals:
The Sweet Inspirations (on 1968-04-17)
arranger:
Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Music UK Ltd. (not for release label use!), Atlantic Recording Corporation (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 1968) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1968)
recorded at:
Atlantic Studios (1841 Broadway, New York, 1957–1991) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (on 1968-04-17)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 117)
cover recording of:
I Say a Little Prayer (on 1968-04-17)
lyricist:
Hal David
composer:
Burt Bacharach
publisher:
Blue Seas Music, Inc., Casa David Music, Jac Music, MCA Music Ltd., Rondor Music (Australia), Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!) and Windswept Pacific Music Ltd.
part of:
Baby It’s You! (jukebox musical, book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott)
Aretha Franklin4.33:33
3(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay
producer:
Jerry Bruckheimer, Steve Cropper and Don Simpson (American film producer, screenwriter, and actor)
bass guitar:
Donald “Duck” Dunn (US bass guitarist, session musician, record producer & songwriter) (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
drums (drum set):
Al Jackson, Jr. (Booker T & The MGs drummer) (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
guitar:
Steve Cropper (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
keyboard:
Isaac Hayes (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07) and Booker T. Jones (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
trumpet:
Wayne Jackson (trumpet/horn, member of The Mar-Keys and The Memphis Horns) (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
vocals:
Otis Redding (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
whistling:
Otis Redding (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) and Atlantic Recording Corporation (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 1968)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 26), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 38), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 44) and Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 45)
recording of:
(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay (from 1967-11-22 until 1967-12-07)
writer:
Steve Cropper and Otis Redding
publisher:
East Publishing Inc., East/Memphis Music Corp., Irving Music (BMI), Irving Music, Inc., Rondor Music (Australia), Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division, Warner Bros. (holding: file NO releases), Warner Bros. Music Ltd. (UK subsidiary, so named 1970‐01‐23–1971‐04‐26 and 1972‐04‐25–1988‐08‐23), Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner/Chappell Music Japan, Synch division (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), Yamaha Music EH(CM) and Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (holding company – do not use as release label)
recording of:
(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (Oliver Lake/World Saxophone Quartet arrangement)
composer:
Steve Cropper and Otis Redding
arranger:
Oliver Lake
arrangement of:
(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding4.32:42
4My Cherie Amour
producer:
Henry Cosby
lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (from 1967 until 1968)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1967 until 1968)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 399)
recording of:
My Cherie Amour (from 1967 until 1968)
writer:
Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Sawandi Music, Stone Agate Music and 大洋音楽 (Taiyō Music)
Stevie Wonder4.32:57
5Let’s Stay Together
recorded at:
Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, United States
recording of:
Let’s Stay Together
writer:
Al Jackson, Jr. (Booker T & The MGs drummer), Al Green (US soul singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer) and Willie Mitchell (US soul/R&B & funk producer, trumpeter & singer)
publisher:
Al Green Music Inc. (BMI-affiliated), Al Jackson Jr. Music, Burlington Music Co., Ltd. and Irving Music, Inc.
Al Green44:47
6Midnight Train to Georgia
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 74), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 432) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 470)
recording of:
Midnight Train to Georgia
lyricist and composer:
James D. Weatherly (American singer/songwriter)
Gladys Knight & the Pips4.54:36
7The Tracks of My Tears
producer:
Bill “Smokey” Robinson
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1965)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 50) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 54)
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1965-05-19)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1971-05-06)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles4.252:52
8Reach Out I’ll Be There
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1966)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1966), Marlene Barrow (in 1966), Renaldo Benson (in 1966), Louvain Demps (in 1966), Abdul “Duke” Fakir (in 1966), Jackie Hicks (in 1966) and Lawrence Payton (in 1966)
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs (in 1966)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1966)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 78) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 206)
recording of:
Reach Out, I’ll Be There (in 1966)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd., Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Four Tops43:00
9In the Midnight Hour
recorded in:
Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1965-05-12)
producer:
Jim Stewart (US producer, founder for Stax & Volt Records) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone:
Floyd Newman (on 1965-05-12)
drums (drum set):
Al Jackson (Booker T & The MGs drummer) (on 1965-05-12)
electric bass guitar [electric bass]:
Donald “Duck” Dunn (US bass guitarist, session musician, record producer & songwriter) (on 1965-05-12)
guitar:
Steve Cropper (on 1965-05-12)
piano:
Joe Hall (Memphis pianist) (on 1965-05-12)
tenor saxophone:
Charles “Packy” Axton (on 1965-05-12) and Andrew Love (on 1965-05-12)
trumpet:
Wayne Jackson (trumpet/horn, member of The Mar-Keys and The Memphis Horns) (on 1965-05-12)
vocals:
Wilson Pickett (on 1965-05-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1965, in 1992) and Atlantic Recording Corporation (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 1992)
recorded at:
Stax Studios (Recording studio for Stax Records) in Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1965-05-12)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 5), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 134) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 218)
recording of:
In the Midnight Hour (on 1965-05-12)
writer:
Steve Cropper and Wilson Pickett
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Cotillion Music Inc. (BMI), East Publishing Inc. and Irving Music, Inc.
Wilson Pickett32:35
10Dancing in the Street
producer:
William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Thomas Bowles (on 1964-06-29)
bass guitar:
James Jamerson (on 1964-06-29)
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye (on 1964-06-29)
guitar:
Joe Messina (on 1964-06-29), Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (on 1964-06-29) and Eddie Willis (on 1964-06-29)
other instruments [tire iron]:
Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29)
percussion, tambourine and vibraphone [vibes]:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-06-29)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-06-29)
trombone:
George Bohanon (on 1964-06-29) and Paul Riser (on 1964-06-29)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29)
background vocals:
Rosalind Ashford (on 1964-06-29), Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29), Betty Kelly (on 1964-06-29) and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter) (on 1964-06-29)
lead vocals:
Martha Reeves (on 1964-06-29)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 7), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 40), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 130) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 403)
recording of:
Dancing in the Street (on 1964-06-29)
writer:
I. Hunter, M. Gaye and W. Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), FCG Music, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Martha and the Vandellas3.552:37
11My Guy
bass:
James Jamerson (in 1964)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (in 1964)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (in 1964) and Eddie Willis (in 1964)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1964)
organ:
Earl Van Dyke (in 1964)
piano:
Johnny Griffith (in 1964)
trombone:
George Bohanon (in 1964) and Paul Riser (in 1964)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (in 1964) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (in 1964)
vibraphone:
Dave Hamilton (US guitar/vibraphone player) (in 1964)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1964), Marlene Barrow (in 1964), Louvain Demps (in 1964) and Jackie Hicks (in 1964)
lead vocals:
Mary Wells (Motown singer) (in 1964)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1964)
recording of:
My Guy (in 1964)
lyricist and composer:
Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobette Music (UK) Ltd.
Mary Wells4.22:51
12Soul Sister, Brown Sugar
recording of:
Soul Sister, Brown Sugar
writer:
Isaac Hayes and David Porter (US soul musician, producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Rondor Music (London) Ltd. and Warner Chappell North America
Sam & Dave2:30
13I Get the Sweetest Feeling
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Brunswick Recordings (in 1968)
recording of:
I Get the Sweetest Feeling (in 1968)
writer:
Alicia Evelyn (songwriter and performer) and Van McCoy
publisher:
Alley Music, TM Music Ltd., Trio Music (publisher) and Van McCoy Music
Jackie Wilson4.52:57
14The Soul City Walk
recording of:
The Soul City Walk
writer:
Victor Carstarphen (keyboardist, composer and producer), Gene McFadden and John Whitehead
publisher:
Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Archie Bell & the Drells3:14
15(Take a Little) Piece of My Heart
producer:
Bert Russell Berns
vocals:
Erma Franklin (in 1967-08)
conductor:
Gary Sherman (mid-20th century composer, arranger & conductor) (in 1967-08)
arranger:
Gary Sherman (mid-20th century composer, arranger & conductor)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1967)
recording of:
Piece of My Heart (in 1967-08)
writer:
Bert Russell and Jerry Ragovoy
publisher:
Campbell Connelly, MPL Music Publishing Inc., Sloopy II Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020), Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09), Web IV Music Inc. and Wren Music Co.
Erma Franklin3.752:33
16This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)
producer:
Lamont Dozier, Holland–Dozier (with Brian Holland) and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recording of:
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Holland–Dozier–Holland
composer:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Sylvia Moy
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.) and Stone Agate Music Division
The Isley Brothers4.252:47
17Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1970-01-24 until 1970-12-03)
vocals:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Golden World in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 233) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 389)
recording of:
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
lyricist:
Barrett Strong
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations4.353:49
18Hey There Lonely Girl
recording of:
Hey There Lonely Girl
lyricist:
Earl S. Shuman (composer / lyricist)
composer:
Leon Carr
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd.
Eddie Holman4.653:36
19If You Don’t Know Me by Now
producer:
Kenneth Gamble (songwriter for Philadelphia International) and Leon Huff (Philly soul producer, of Gamble & Huff)
background vocals:
The Blue Notes (Harold Melvin’s group, 1954–mid‐1960s) (in 1972)
lead vocals:
Harold Melvin (in 1972)
arranger:
Bobby Martin (US soul/R&B producer/arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1972) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1972, in 1991)
recorded at:
Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (in 1972)
recording of:
If You Don’t Know Me by Now (in 1972)
writer:
Kenneth Gamble (songwriter for Philadelphia International) and Leon Huff (Philly soul producer, of Gamble & Huff)
publisher:
Island Music Ltd., Mighty Three Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner Chappell North America and Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd.
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes3.753:24
20Ain’t No Sunshine
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters) and Eddy Manson
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972)
cover recording of:
Ain’t No Sunshine
lyricist and composer:
Bill Withers
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and EMI Songs Ltd.
recording of:
Ain’t No Sunshine
lyricist and composer:
Bill Withers
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and EMI Songs Ltd.
Michael Jackson3.354:11
2CD