As a songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff knows a thing or two about baring the soul… and signed to Stax with his new band The Night Sweats, we suspect he knows a thing or two about Soul. With the band’s album P.T.O (following his 2010 solo debut In Memory of Loss) out 21 August, Rateliff has made us this Playlist of tracks that cut one deep to the soul…
Otis Redding – Respect
“Aretha made this song famous, but Otis wrote it and his rendition is outstanding.”
Boscoe – He Keeps You
“Numero Group reissued this hidden gem in 2007. The whole album is dynamite.”
Bill Withers – Hope She’ll Be Happier
“His performance of this at Zaire 74 is heartbreaking. The arrangement is so minimal, it’s all about that voice.”
The Chambers Brothers – Time Has Come Today
“Blaring soul from this group of brothers.”
Arthur Conley – Burning Fire
“Just a soulful and pure love song.”
Baby Huey – Hard Times
“This track is so pure, released the year after he passed away at the ripe age of 26.”
James Brown – Please, Please, Please
“Brown’s breakthrough single is just him pleading for three solid minutes. Yep.”
Joe Tex – I Gotcha
“An early rival of James Brown, this track has all the soul of Soul Brother Number One.”
Wendy Rene – After Laughter (Comes Tears)
“From the recognizable instrumental intro to Rene’s soulful vocals, this song has it all
Eddie Floyd – Knock On Wood
“This Stax original has been covered plenty of times, but the original is king.”
For more head to Nathanielrateliff.com.
