29 Scorching Classics 1968 / Various

The second five volumes, available now, cover the years 1966-1970. Though gospel remained the bedrock of soul music, the sound was transforming fast, thanks to Motown, Stax, the regional innovations of Chicago, New Orleans, and Muscle Shoals, and the funk revolution, led by James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone. The civil rights and antiwar movements were now rolling full speed ahead, and the messages at the heart of the music were often as powerful and invigorating as the grooves themselves. The second half of this incredible story is just as fascinating as the first. Bill Dahl's track-by-track commentary provides extensive biographical info on every artist on every disc.

The prelude to this series, Blowin' The Fuse, definitively covered the history of R&B from 1945-1960, garnering awards and general acclaim. The first five volumes of Sweet Soul Music earned the same enthusiastic response. This is one of the other five jam-packed volumes of Sweet Soul Music, compiled with love by Dave 'Daddy Cool' Booth.