We asked DJ Dave Monroe what goes over best with the crowd at The Soul Hole at The Foundation on Monday nights from 10 until closing time and he gave us this list of gems, in alphabetical order:

Barbara Acklin, "Am I the Same Girl?" (Brunswick 7", 1968)
The Young-Holt Trio replaced Acklin's vocal with piano and managed to sneak it out as "Soulful Strut" first, but accept no substitutes. Pure shimmering soul magic from the moment the backing vocals enter.

Roy Brown, "Slow Down Little Eva" (Imperial 7", 1963)
More cowbell! Maximum R&B. Thank you, Brent Goodsell.

The Caprells, "Close Your Eyes" (Bano 7", 1970)
A skittering soul/funk hunter/seeker not entirely unlike Duke Ellington's "Caravan," with doo-wop embellishments and a nigh unto barbershop denouement.

Lena Horne and Gabor Szabo, "Rocky Raccoon" (Buddah 7", 1970; also released on a Skye LP/7")
African American jazz singer + Hungarian American jazz guitarist + Liverpudlian English country and western song = people inevitably ask about it, so ... rumored to feature Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums (his "Soul Drums" breakbeat underpins Beck's "Devil's Haircut").

Etta James, "Seven Day Fool" (Argo 7", 1961)
The rhythm section pounds, the chanteuse belts, violinists arpeggiate, and riot grrls realize just who at least one their collective grandmothers must have been. My favorite moment here is when Ms. James momentarily finds herself having to chase the R&B monstrosity she's set in motion, just barely catching her breath in time for the last chorus.

Johnny and The Expressions, "Boys and Girls Together" (Josie 7", 1967)
This is what I imagine coming on like gangbusters sounds like, all horns, bass, kick drum and falsettos.

The Kelly Brothers, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" (Excello 7", 1970)
Turn-of-the-decade smoove southern soul cover of the Tommy James bubblegum ballad, with a show-stopping vocal break. Crystalline, sky blue and persuasive, indeed.

Henry Lumpkin, "Soul is Taking Over" (Buddah 7", 1968)
Damn straight. And it's doing it with a clap track.

Marlena Shaw, "Let's Wade in the Water" (Cadet 7", 1966)
I've gone through too many copies and to too much expense NOT to list this one. Effortlessly cool jazz vocals (ex-Count Basie Orchestra, first female artist signed to Blue Note) over effortlessly cool soul backing. The Ramsey Lewis version on eleven. Where the shoe leather hits the talcum.

U.S. Warren and The Genghis Pea, "Hard Headed Woman" (Chytowns 7", 196?)
Someone once even called me at work to ask about this one on behalf of an interested drum 'n' bass kid. Skittering snare, pedal bass, insane guitar breaks, and the finest second verse ever pressed to vinyl:

You wanna give me driving lessons
Teach me how to drive a car
But you ain't ever had a driver's license
Can't even ride a bike

"Sacrifices rhyme to complaining accurately," as Andy Noble puts it.

Plus a prediction ...

Della Reese, "It Was a Very Good Year" (ABC 7", 1967)
"Touched by an Angel" + Frank Sinatra = Eartha Kitt + crazy.

And then there's all the stuff our guest DJs spin as well, from doo-wop and Hammond jazz and beach music to
boogaloo and Northern soul and deep funk, but ...

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