VA - Save A Seat For Me: A Soul Chronology Volume 3 1955-1957 (2013)

History of Soul Records presents the third of a series of anthologies covering the genesis of soul music. Part of the History of Soul series, this double CD presents 56 breathtaking blues and spiritual tracks and some of the most impassioned, compelling vocal performances ever to be recorded. The accompanying illustrated booklet sets out the historical background and explains some of the technical features that make these beautiful songs the precursors of soul music. The Five Blind Boys Save A Seat For Me, Dorothy Coates righteous 99 And A Half, the Soul Stirrers pop-infused yet impassioned Touch the Hem Of His Garment and the Staple Singers glowering Uncloudy Day are not mere stylistic affectations. The uncompromising emotional fire of these records directly reflects the struggles of their times. Similarly, the declamatory exuberance of Ray Charles s call and response classic I ve Got A Woman, the lived-through resilience of BB King s Ten Long Years and the forthrightness of Bobby Bland s It s My Life Baby all speak directly of a new-found African American boldness, the boldness of the self-validated and the determinedly free spirited. These are the sounds and soul of those reclaiming their seat of choice on the bus. Exuberance and rebellion, individuality and community, pain and joy, nature and spirit: this is the music of people who refused oppression.
Tracklist
Disc: 1
1 Ray Charles - I've Got A Woman - Ray Charles
2 The Caravans - The Angels Keep Watching - The Caravans
3 Jimmy Scott - Don't Cry Baby - Jimmy Scott
4 Bobby "Blue" Bland - It's My Life, Baby - Bobby 'Blue' Bland
5 The Davis Sisters - Twelve Gates To The City - The Davis Sisters
6 Big Maybelle - Ocean Of Tears - Big Maybelle
7 The Aladdins - Help Me - The Aladdins
8 Little Richard - Directly From My Heart - Little Richard
9 B.B. King - Ten Long Years - B.B. King
10 Robert Anderson - Sweeter As The Days Go By - Robert Anderson
11 Nappy Brown - It's Really You - Nappy Brown
12 The Soul Stirrers - The Last Mile Of The Way - The Soul Stirrers
13 Ray Charles - Drown In My Own Tears - Ray Charles
14 Clara Ward - Come On - Clara Ward
15 Little Willie John - Need Your Love So Bad - Little Willie John
16 The Drifters - Honey Bee - The Drifters
17 The Five Royales - Come On And Save Me - The Five Royales
18 Jesse Belvin - Dear Heart - Jesse Belvin
19 The Sheiks - So Fine - The Sheiks
20 Aretha Franklin - Never Grow Old - Aretha Franklin
21 Earl King - Those Lonely, Lonely Nights - Earl King
22 Ray Charles - Hallelujah I Love Her So - Ray Charles
23 The Davis Sisters - He's My King - The Davis Sisters
24 The Diablos - The Way You Dog Me Around - The Diablos
25 Earl Gaines - It's Love Baby - Earl Gaines
26 The Swan Silvertones - Jesus Brought Me - The Swan Silvertones
27 Solomon Burke - I'm All Alone - Solomon Burke
28 Original Gospel Harmonettes Ninety Nine And A Half - The Original Gospel Harmonettes

Disc: 2
1 James Brown - Please, Please, Please - James Brown
2 Aretha Franklin - While the Blood Runs Warm - Aretha Franklin
3 Ann Cole - Easy Easy Baby - Ann Cole
4 Little Willie John Fever - Little Willie John
5 The Five Blind Boys - Save A Seat For Me - Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi
6 Ray Charles - Lonely Avenue - Ray Charles
7 Original Gospel Harmonettes - That's Enough - The Original Gospel Harmonettes
8 Linda Hopkins - I Can't - Linda Hopkins
9 The 5 Royales - Mine Forevermore - The Five Royales
10 The Drifters - I Should Have Done Right - The Drifters
11 Silver Quintette - Sinner's Crossroads - Silver Quintette
12 Big Maybelle Pitiful - Big Maybelle
13 Billy Gayles - Let's Call It A Day - Billy Gayles
14 The Soul Stirrers Wonderful - The Soul Stirrers
15 Nappy Brown - I Cried Like A Baby - Nappy Brown
16 Marie Knight - I Put My Trust In Thee - Marie Knight
17 The Gardenias - Flaming Love - The Gardenias
18 Wynona Carr - Should I Ever Love Again? - Wynona Carr
19 Ray Charles - Ain't That Love - Ray Charles
20 The Soul Stirrers - Touch The Hem Of His Garment - The Soul Stirrers
21 Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Farther Up The Road - Bobby 'Blue' Bland
22 The Gum Drops - Natural Born Lover - The Gum Drops
23 The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day - The Staple Singers
24 Gene Allison - You're My Baby - Gene Allison
25 Billy Stewart - Billy's Blues, Part 2 - Billy Stewart
26 The Sensational Nightingales - To The End - The Sensational Nightingales
27 Little Joe & The Thrillers - This I Know - Little Joe & The Thrillers
28 The Highway Q.C.'s - There's Something On My Mind - The Highway QC's