Customer Reviews

Chess Soul: Decade of Chicago's Finest

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Anyone with even a passing interest in '60s Soul should not be without this in their collection. Not a bad apple in the bunch. Absolutely essential.

Even though I grew up in the mid-west in the 60's listening to WLS and WLAC, I only remember a few of the songs on this double album. But all of the others seem like "old friends," and match those found in any STAX collection. Chess also has some great Blues collections, but if Soul's your game, this is one of the best!

The Chicago Soul sound was distinguished by it's emphasis on appealing and beautiful harmony and melody, much of it the trademark of Curtis Mayfield and producer Johnny Pate. It is well represented on this CD with beauties as "Voice Your Choice" by the Radiants, "The Entertainer" By Tony Clarke (not to be confused with the Scott Joplin tune, but still an underrated masterpiece), "Selfish One," "mama Didn't Lie," Billy Stewart's "Strange Feeling," Gene Chandler's "To Be A Lover." Even if you did not grow up with this music, it will certainly make you feel good!

I missed the soul celebration of the sixties and early seventies, probably in a drug induced stupor. This two CD set is a great way to get caught up. The selection is wonderful, the sound quality is too. I hate to say one song could possibly be worth the price of a CD set, but Fontella Bass singing for Respect comes close.