Chicago Soul

The Chicago music industry exploded with the growth of soul music in this period, producing thousands of records and dozens and dozens of new labels. The two biggest black music labels Vee-Jay and Chess led in the creation of the Chicago soul brand with names familiar and not so familiar: the former with Etta James and Tony Adams and the latter with Gene Chandler and Moss Tolbert. And yet it's the smaller labels that make up the bulk of the Chicago story: Conlo with Jamo Thomas, Blue Rock with Otis Leaville, Ja-Wes with Sandra Stephens and it's here that we explore some of the finest sounds of the era in this collection.

Soul sisters galore – a heady helping of work from the Chicago scene and beyond – all pulled from the vaults of Brunswick Records! Brunswick had a few key singers in the late 60s who easily rivaled the best at Motown and Atlantic – and they went onto record some great lesser-knowns in the 70s who really kept the groove high, and who come together here in one massive mighty celebration of female soul! Tracks include some great overlooked singles from the label – and titles include "Do The Whoopie" by Sugar Pie Desanto, "Son Of A Preacher Man" by Erma Franklin, "Got To Be An Answer" by Odyssey 5, "Keep An Eye" by Jean Shy, "Play It Fair" by Lavern Baker, "Love Is Easy To Lose" by Jackie Ross, "Stop I Don't Need No Sympathy" by Lyn Roman, "After You" by Barbara Acklin, "Living In The Footsteps Of Another Girl" by The Promises, and "Higher & Higher" by Dana Valery.

Best Of Brunswick - For Groups (The Sound of Chicago Soul), a Various Artists Compilation. Released 2013 on Solid Records.

The set includes Otis Clay, Alvin Cash, Harold Burrage, Betty Everett and Lonnie Brooks and also one of the greatest dance 45rpms of all time, ‘Shake A Tail Feather’ by The Five Dutones., which was taken to international fame when performed by Ray Charles in the movie, The Blues Brothers. ‘Move with the groove’ includes a memorabilia-laden booklet complete with a full history of the labels and potted biographies of the featured artists and to paraphrase Symtec & Wylie’s track is ‘Sockin’ Soul Power’ all the way.

Windy City Soul: Smooth '70s Soul from Chicago Review by Thom Jurek
Back Beats Records is strictly a compilation company based in the U.K. and distributed throughout the European Union at a budget price. What they do is simply compile collections of dance music by well-known and obscure artists from the disco era to the late '90s. And for what it’s worth, when it comes to licensing, they do a terrific job, and this set is a case in point. Compiled by Ian Dewhirst, Windy City Soul collects 21 tracks of Chicago soul recorded during the '70s, most of it in 7" versions. There are plenty of “name” artist mainstays here, such as Barbara Acklin, Major Lance, Gene Chandler, Tyrone Davis, the Chi-Lites, the Impressions, the Dells, etc. What isn’t so obvious are some of the track choices and artists included, such as Sidney Joe Qualis and his slippery, positive groover “Run to Me,” or Mighty Doug Haines original 45 rpm mix of “I’ll Be Right Here,” a stellar example of Northern soul from its latter period. The same goes for Otis Leavill's gorgeous falsetto on “I Love You.” Also check the female vocal trio the Promises' “(I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real,” There isn’t a weak track in the bunch, and this is essential listening for any soul music fan.

"Chess Soul: A Decade Of Chicago's Finest" is a compilation album released in 1998 that celebrates the rich legacy of soul music from the Chicago-based Chess Records. Chess Records was a significant label in the history of American music, known for its contributions to blues, jazz, and soul. This compilation highlights the label's influence and the artists who defined the Chicago soul sound. The album primarily features soul music, with elements of R&B and funk. It showcases the smooth, emotive vocals and rich instrumentation characteristic of the genre.

"Everything Is Everything" is the 1st studio album by American soul artist Donny Hathaway, which was released on July 1, 1970 on the Atlantic Records' subsidiary, Atco. The album was Hathaway's first release after being signed to Atlantic in 1969. Hathaway had already built a reputation early in his life, first as a gospel singer as a child under the name Donny Pitts. Raised in St. Louis, with religious influences, his grandmother Martha Crumwell was herself an accomplished gospel singer and guitarist. After dropping out of Howard University in 1967, Hathaway moved to Chicago, his birthplace, and started working on music for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records label where he was a songwriter, producer, arranger, composer, conductor and session player.

Stellar new Goldmine set of some of the great Chicago soul recorded for the One-derful and Mar-V-Lus labels – most of which has never been reissued before! The set's got 30 great cuts, and lots of it is the type of stuff that we live for (and which we can never find ourselves on 45!) Tracks include "Do The 45" by The Sharpees, "I'm Satisfied" by Johnny Sayles, "Who Are You Gonna Love?" by The Accents, "More Power To You" by Harold Burrage, "Every Beat Of My Heart" by The Du-Ettes, "Twine Time" by Alvin Cash, and more by The Blenders, Otis Clay, The Young Folk, The Admirations, The Sharpees, Beverly Shaffer, Ringleaders, and others! Very raw, with a unique soul sound that's different from the big Chicago hits of the time. © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.