Join us
For the ravenous Northern soul collector, one label consistently brought the goods: Chess Northern soul classics continue to epitomise the sound today.
Attempting to build on the success of ‘Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’ The Temptations’ And Norman Whitfield created ‘Masterpiece’ in 1973.
In the way its music was presented and the universal themes its artists sang of, Motown broke racial barriers to move everyone, no matter their skin colour.
Whether as a songwriter for himself, The Miracles, or for others, Smokey Robinson perfected the art of expression, penning countless classics for Motown.
Released in 1971, ‘Black Rock’ was the first important step towards making The Bar-Kays one of the most reliable and powerful funk groups of the decade.
Benefitting from a luminous, nostalgic sheen, ‘Pronounced Jah-Nay’ is a reminder that R&B duo Zhané were a unique voice in early 90s R&B.
Widely regarded as The Staples Singers’ greatest album, ‘Be Altitude: Respect Yourself’ was released in 1972 and lifted the group above the competition.
If you’re suffering from heartbreak, trying to get next to someone, or dreaming about the unattainable, the best Motown love songs will suit your mood.
Considered too rough for airplay, ‘Yo! Bum Rush The Show’ found Public Enemy starting their countdown to Armageddon, paving the way for genius.
The relationship between Motown and politics runs deep. At the heart of it was great music and a commitment to changing the world.
His insane lifestyle might have risked overshadowing the music, but Rick James was a talented musician whose work speaks for itself.
Making success sound so easy, Tone Lōc’s ‘Lōc-ed After Dark’ was a laidback mega-hit with two juggernaut singles, ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Funky Cold Medina’.
Adapting to the new funk scene of the early 70s, Booker T & The MGs released the perfectly titled ‘Melting Pot’, an album that still sounds in the moment.
Recording ‘The Great March To Freedom’ in Detroit in 1963, the legendary soul imprint captured the origins of Martin Luther King’s most celebrated speech.
One of the finest artists on the illustrious Chess label, Howlin’ Wolf shaped the blues, as this playlist of 20 of the best Howlin’ Wolf songs shows.
