Beginning slowly and soulfully with its first three
R&B
classics, this excellent 16-song package lives up to its title, while representing only a slice of the legendary black music from this worthy label.
Arthur Conley
never again came close to
"Sweet Soul Music,"
but it's as potent a tribute to
Southern soul
as you could want.
Aretha Franklin
has almost a third of the tunes here, but who's complaining? Two tunes by the underrated
Clarence Carter
are a treat, as is the album-closing
"Rainy Night in Georgia"
by the dignified yet soulful
Brook Benton
. ~ Mark Allan