Isaac Hayes - Joy (Universal 1973) The Break is sampled by Boogie Down Productions, Eric B & Rakim, Ultramegnetic MCs, Massive Attack and Jungle Brothers Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul (Universal 1969) Public Enemy used "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" for "Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos" Isaac Hayes - …To Be Continued (Universal 1971) "The Look Of Love" sampled by Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg Dogg and LL. Cool J Isaac Hayes - Tough Guys (Universal 1974) To be found on Geto Boys's "Mind Playing Tricks on Me", also sampled by Destiny's Child and Ice Cube The Stylistics - Round 2 (Avco) Or pick a compilation, but make sure that you get "Children Of The Night" The Temptations: All Directions Sky's The Limit Masterpiece Cloud Nine All these are very good albums well worth owning. Teddy Pendergrass - Turn Off The Lights - the best of… Good starting point as it contains the highlights of his music before he got ill. Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black (Twinight 1968) Syl Johnson - Dresses Too Short (Twinight 1970) Re-issued on one CD by Kent Records Classic soul. Sam Dees - Second To None (Kent) Sam Dees - The Show Must Go On Sam Dee has written more top 10 hits that I can list here, but he is a great singer too, as these recordings shows. Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm (Motown 1975) Classic silk soul! Smokey Robinson - When There's Smoke (Motown 1979) D'Angelo did a version of "Crusin'" on his debut album, here is the original. Bobby Womack - Looking For a Love Again (Manhattan 1974) Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street The Impressions - This Is My Country (Curtom 1969) The Impressions - The Young Mods Forgotten Story (Curtom 1969) Curtis Mayfield at his peak before he went solo Stevie Wonder - Music Of My Mind (Motown) This is a must have album by Stevie Wonder. Rick James - Street Songs (Motown 1980) The only album by Rick James you'll need. Try to get the deluxe edition with the live set recorded in Long Beach, CA July 1981. One of the best live albums of all times with plenty of artistic presence and long wicked versions of the studio takes. Tom Browne - Funkin' For Jamaica (Arista 1980) Wicked Jazz funk Bobby Patterson - How Do You Spell Love? The Paula Recordings 1971-1973 (Demon 2001) Excellent compilation of tracks from this great soul singer Bill Withers - Live At Carneige Hall (Columbia) Long jazzy versions of his hits: Use Me, Ain't No Sunshine, Grandma's Hands and Harlem Also check his first and second albums: Bill Withers - Just As I Am (A&M 1971) Bill Withers - Still Bill (A&M 1972) Jimmy Lewis - Still Wanna Be Black (Ace 1997) Sensuous southern soul on this compilation containing tracks recorded between 1962 and 1972. Howard Tate - Get It While You Can (The Legendary Sessions) These are early recordings by his truly great singer. Fast dance floor friendly funk Howard Tate - Howard Tate (Atlantic 1968) On a more soulful tip Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love (Stax 1967) Great funky soul off Stax records Freddie Scott - Cry To Me - The Best of (Columbia 1998) "Are You Lonely For Me Baby" "Cry To Me" He has a gritty voice and sweet soul arrangements. O.W.Wright - Giant of Southern Soul 1965-1973 (Connoisseur 2001) This is a great starting point for checking up this singer. Clarence Carter - Snatching it Back (Rhino 1993) Got all his hits: Looking For A Fox, Slip Away, Back Door Santa, I'd Rather Go Blind and Patches Gladys Knight & The Pips Most of her stuff off Motown in the 1960s and 1970 is worth owning. Pick a collection at random for starters. The Isley Brothers - 3+3 (T-Neck 1973) Great timeless soul music. This album has "Summer Breeze" which still is being dropped at bars and discos all around the world The Isley Brothers - Brother, Brother, Brother (T-Neck 1972) With a slightly more political edge than on the 3+3 album. Sam Cooke- Night Beat (reissued by abcko 1997) Here is Sam Coke with a small combo of totally responsive musicians. You'll need two albums by Sam Coke; "Night Beat" is one of them. The other album you'll need is "Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963" with a sizzeling hot band and Sam in top shape. Judy Clay - Private Number (Stax 1968) Sexy soul by Judy Clay. Title track has got a hook that lingers for ever Al Green - All his recordings off Hi Records in the 70s is a must. Lamont Dozier - Peddlin' Music on The Side (Warner 1977) For it has "Going Back to My Roots" on. Ike & Tina Turner - The Hunter (Blue Thumb) Ike & Tina Turner - Outta Season (Blue Thumb) The Blues and raw soul music Bobby "Blue" Bland - Dreamer (Beat Goes On 2002) Contains "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" which was sampled by Jay-Z Essential Jazz Artists and Albums Constantly changing of course. but right now I would say that the following jazz albums are the current faves: Charles Mingus - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus Absolutely wicked bass player. Top Notch free jazz and yet listening friendly. Pharaoh Sanders - Love Will Find A Way Cool tenor sax. Electric soft jazz. Paul Chambers - Go Great bass player. Late night jazz. Wynton Kelly - Kelly At Midnight My favourite piano player. Low key, yet innovative. Thelonius Monk - Misterioso Everything by Monk is great. He is the piano man of all times in my book. Jan Garbarek - In Praise of Dreams Soprano sax and electronics. Chill out jazz. Sahib Shihab- And All Those Cats Baritone sax and flute. Cool jazz recorded in Italy with musicians from UK, USA, Italy and Sweden between 1964-1965