USA Today Music — "Barry White, Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield are big influences for me. But I'm also a metal head." more info

Guardian Music — Stuck in Lonesome Town? Stranded on the Lost Highway? You're in good company, as our losers playlist showsMusic seems populated by losers. That's the impression you gave last week, when I asked you to nominate your favourite songs about losers. It se... more info

Guardian Music — Draftees were at a loose end as the US prepared to pull out of Vietnam – and expressed their frustrations in raucous funk bands performing covers of songs such as Backstabbers and Smiling Faces SometimesIn 1971 the US was pulling troops out of Viet... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — “People Get Ready” was a vessel for the zeitgeist of the Civil Rights Movement. The Impressions’ earnest, glowing harmonizer made a perfect anthem, thanks to a sing-a-long chorus and a positive, be-gospeled message: a fair shake is on it’s wa... more info

Guardian Music — You don't have to be a crate-digger to appreciate the soul brilliance of DarondoEven those suspicious of soul fans' thirst for obscure tracks should hear this one. Didn't I is transcendent, up there with the best of Curtis Mayfield or Al Green.It's a... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — We were expecting two new mixes from Andy to lead up to the UK tour in November. However he has been in touch over the weekend to give us this brand new mix - 'What The World Is Waiting For...' - and asked that it be uploaded first.The other two mixe... more info

Guardian Music — Our writers are picking their favourite albums. Here, Emma Warren bounces along to OutKastAquemini was the album that turned me into a raving OutKast fan, a position consolidated by subsequent albums Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. I consi... more info

Aquarium Drunkard — Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown 1973-1980: Not unlike Studio One Soul, the (excellent) compilation released by Soul Jazz Records, this 2001 Blood & Fire collection focuses on the American soul and R&B impact/influence on Jamaican music. While per... more info

Soul Sides — Billy Preston: John Henry Without a Song God Is Great From I Wrote a Simple Song (A&M, 1971) Billy Preston is one of those soul men who I’m constantly rediscovering (and damn happy when I do). I guess I don’t associate him on the same level as a... more info

Guardian Music — Soul singer Syl Johnson claims rappers used 1967 song without permissionJay-Z and Kanye West may face legal action over an unauthorised sample on their latest album. Soul singer Syl Johnson is considering suing the rappers over a clip on Watch the Th... more info