A masterpiece of soul music. Recommended albums you should listen to at least once.
Soul music is a sound that delivers human emotions—joy and sorrow, love and anger—directly to the heart.
This genre, which blossomed from the 1960s to the 1970s, boasts countless timeless masterpieces that continue to move listeners across generations.
Once you hear it, many of you will find yourselves captured by its intensity and delicacy.
In this article, we’ve gathered must-hear, gem-like classics born during soul’s golden age.
Whether you want to experience profound emotion through music or you’re new to soul and searching for a new favorite, we hope you’ll discover a record to cherish!
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Soul music masterpieces: Must-listen recommended albums (1–10)
What’s Going OnNEW!Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was an artist who went beyond the Motown mold to pursue his own artistry.
His What’s Going On is a landmark album released in 1971 that changed the course of soul music.
Although the record label initially opposed it, its social message and beautiful sound moved many people, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The dramatic structure in which the tracks flow seamlessly into one another makes it feel like a single film.
This work expresses urgent questions for society with an embracing gentleness and sophisticated melodies.
Its calm yet burning groove resonates deeply in the listener’s heart.
It’s perfect for a quiet night when you want to sink slowly into the depths of music.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve SeenNEW!Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke, a pioneer of soul music known as the “King of Soul.” With a voice honed in the gospel tradition and a refined style, he was a great singer who had a profound impact on popular music.
The album Night Beat, released in 1963, is a significant work recorded the year before his death.
It carries a serene, bluesy atmosphere, as if capturing the very air of the late-night sessions.
Flashy arrangements are kept to a minimum, and the simple setup—featuring, for example, the young Billy Preston on organ—beautifully supports the vocals.
Sam Cooke’s lustrous voice comes through directly, and listening to it brings a sense of calm.
It’s a perfect album for those who want to savor the depth of song in the stillness of the night.
RespectNEW!Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, the great songstress known as the “Queen of Soul” and celebrated for her gospel-honed, overwhelmingly powerful vocals.
The piano and voice she cultivated in church have continued to exert a profound influence on popular music.
In 1967, she moved to Atlantic and, with everything in place, released the album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.
There’s a famous anecdote about how production troubles forced them to change recording locations during the sessions, but the album went on to dominate the R&B charts and cement her golden era—a historic masterpiece.
Its sound, where gospel’s fervor and urban sophistication fuse to dazzling effect, truly stands as a monument of soul music.
If you want to experience music that genuinely shakes the soul, be sure to give it a listen!
My GirlNEW!Otis Redding
Otis Redding, the great singer who represents Southern soul.
His “Otis Redding Sings Soul,” released in 1965, is arguably his masterpiece.
The perfectly synced performance with Booker T.
& the MG’s backing him is the very pinnacle of the Stax sound.
He covers many hit songs of the time, yet each one is thoroughly imbued with Otis Redding’s own color.
The way he soulfully delivers rock classics shows an expressive power that transcends genre boundaries.
Listening to it, you’re overcome by a fiery emotion that feels like it shakes your soul.
If you want to experience the profound depths of soul music, this is absolutely an album you should hear.
Love and HappinessNEW!Al Green
Al Green, the singer who helped lead Memphis soul, is an artist known for his sweet voice that blends the secular and the sacred.
His “I’m Still in Love with You,” released in 1972, is one of his signature works.
It achieved major success on the U.S.
charts and has had a lasting impact, being sampled in many hip-hop tracks.
The sound he crafted with producer Willie Mitchell isn’t flashy, but it has a warmth that slowly seeps into your heart.
It’s an album packed with the talent that earned him high acclaim at the Grammy Awards and beyond.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in rich, concentrated soul that can transform the atmosphere of a room.