The Artist/Album: Various Artists, Chicago Soul (Soul Jazz, 2004)
The Reason(s) We Can’t Stop Listening: As much as we relish the rare soul records that pass through the pipelines of reissue labels like Numero Group, it’s nice to be reminded of just how rock solid that era’s key imprints were. Chess Records is one prime example, a peddler of such familiar names as Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and the rest of the A-listers on the sleeve to your left. Soul Jazz’s Chicago Soul compilation is by no means a be-all, end-all survey of Motown’s Midwestern brother. It’s a nice starter kit, though, right down to the expansive liner notes that hammer home just how influential all of the above were, and still are.
Available At: Amazon · Forced Exposure · Insound
