www.CostaRicaTicas.com

My picks but please chime in: (1) James Taylor--If you haven't been as close to the edge, maybe you can't appreciate...and he's been over the edge; (2) James Hunter--aggregates every pre-soul style and makes it his own; (3) Delbert McClinton--Texas soul/R&B at its finest...and grown into a hell of a songwriter too; (4) Darryl Hall--hear him sing Me and Mrs. Jones on the Hall & Oates DVD and then let's talk; (5) Van Morrison--need I say anything?

Female division--The list begins with Carole King and ends with Phoebe Snow--something about Jewish women singer/songwriters...they exude soul.

BONUS--Carole King/James Taylor Live at the Troubadour a CD/DVD package--it's all familiar and so right--Talk about the "Music of Our Generation"--Oh my! Extra bonus --is it just me or does their drummer Russ Kunkle have a marked resemblance to Brother Pops?

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Bonnie Bramlett, former Ikette and Stax backup singer, put out some of the best straight 60's R&B as the singer for Delaney and Bonnie. Listen to her composition "Groupie" (better known via The Carpenters as "Superstar") for a lesson in how just a little dip here and inflection there distinguishes great pop singing from great soul singing. Also check out "Things Get Better", ''That's What My Man Is For", and her version of Aretha's "When The Battle Is Over".

Also, Dusty Springfield on "Dusty In Memphis".

Not to be included on the list: Janis Joplin, who might belong on the list of best blue-eyed soul thieves (almost all her stuff was a complete lifting of other singers' performances).

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It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

100% agree with Brother El Tranquilo on both...and shame on me for not listing especially Dusty Springfield, stone cold bitch that she was.
Tracey Nelson, Angela Strehli and Marcia Ball also deserve strong mention.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Sinatra of course.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

I love a good joke, yes I do. Frank Sinatra (who famously never owned a pair of blue jeans) is sui generis and an Ameican music icon...but a soul singer?...not so much...unless you expand the definition so far as to be meaningless.
Let me add a duo--The Righteous Brothers, of course.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I did not notice the " soul" part before I posted. I thought it just said blue eyed singer. Sinatra was not a soul singer but a crooner. James Taylor to me is more in the folk category but I am not very familiar with his stuff.

_________________
I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

Oh, at first I thought this post was pretty gay but.........nah, its def pretty gay.



Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

Brother Cujo'S--You are big enough to squash me like a bug. BUT anybody who thinks a topic on singers who bring deep real emotion up from their toenails and deeply believe in what they are singing, has even intimations of homosexuality is deserving of not scorn but abject pity. Now tell Brother BKTuna you think the blues is poofy--I'll sell tix to THAT cage match. And strongly bet on the outcome.
PS--And the truly sad thing is, no, you weren't joking. If I were you, I'd stick to topics I knew something about--it's obviously not this. The adults are now invited back into the room.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Awe Jazzy.....I was kidding, but not particularly in tune with my softer side at the momment. I'm honestly funnin' with ya.

I got a 'lil soul.... (also a bit jealous I don't have blue eyes )



Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

I have to have Van Morrison at the top of my list

BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

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BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

Brother Cujo'S--In a moment of weakness or rage, I said some things a bit over the top. I hereby throttle those comments back about 75%. I just didn't pick up on the "funnin'" part, but please even in fun don't attack that part that runs to my core, the fiber of my being, and that's pop music especially Music of Black Origin (MOBO). Anything is discussable...or ignorable.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Mick Hucknall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN4fh_3eBvQ

Oh yes--absolutely and thanks for the reminder! His version of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" at least equals the original. No fake soul with this guy.
And of course one of my favorite movies is "The Commitments" dontcha know.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I like this one as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HazsQfku ... re=related

And I`ll add Michael McDonald, blue eyed soul for sure and a living legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1n99Q- ... re=related