I've been looking at this thread, and no way can I come to any kind of decision. The Who for instance, Tommy, Quadrophenia, Who's Next, A Quick One, The Who Sell Out, even Meaty, Beaty Big & Bouncy - possibly the best Greatest Hits type album of all time.

So I'm going to come up with a list of early '70s classic soul albums, one album per artist. Now this is good stuff. In no particular order:

1. Al Green: Al Green Gets Next To You (original UK album release)

2. Bill Withers: Just as I am

3. Billy Paul: 360 Degrees of Billy Paul

4. Donny Hathaway: Everything is Everything

5. Temptations: Sky's The Limit

6. Stevie Wonder: Music Of My Mind

7, Sly & The Family Stone: There's a Riot Going On

8. Isaac Hayes: Black Moses

9. Don Covay: Super Dude

10. Chi-Lites: A Lonely Man

11. James Brown: Soul Brother Number 1 (yes it's a compilation but it was the first JB album I ever bought)

12. Bobby Womack: Understanding

13. Curtis Mayfield: Superfly

14. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On

15. Bar-Kays: Black Rock

16. David Ruffin: My Whole World Ended

17, Joe Simon: Drowning In The Sea of Love

18. The Dramatics: What You See is What You Get

19. War: The World Is a Ghetto

20. Jean Knight: Mister Big Stuff

21. Staple Singers: Be Altitude: Respect Yourself

Ok, I'll stop now or I'll be here all night!

So none of you are interesed in early '70s soul?

Ignorant f**kers.

OK Lofty

1. Songs in the Key of Life by, Stevie Wonder [not really early 70's though]

2. That's the Way of the World by Earth Wind & Fire

3. Spinners by The Spinners

4. I've Got So Much to Give by Barry White

5. Get on the Good Foot by James Brown

Nice selection, Lofty, there's quite a few on there that I would have included in my own list. I've been giving this a bit of thought, and finally came up with the following (one album per artist and in no particular order): -

01 - Curtis Mayfield - Roots

02 - Al Green - Let's Stay Together

03 - Sly & The Family Stone - Fresh

04 - Millie Jackson - Caught Up

05 - James Brown - The Payback

06 - Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On

07 - Temptations - Masterpiece

08 - Isaac Hayes - Joy

09 - Ohio Players - Skin Tight

10 - Rufus - Rags To Rufus

11 - Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand The Rain

12 - Funkadelic - Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

13 - Parliament- Up For The Down Stroke

14 - Isley Brothers - 3 + 3

15 - Undisputed Truth - Face To Face With The Truth

16 - Aretha Franklin - Spirit In The Dark

17 - Gladys Knight & The Pips - I Feel A Song

18 - Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

19 - Johnny Bristol - Hang On In There Baby

20 - Diana Ross - Diana Ross

21 - Syreeta - Stevie Wonder Presents...

22 - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

23 - O'Jays - Backstabbers (ode to Everton)

24 - Supremes - Floy Joy

25 - Barry White - Can't Get Enough

Some greats already mentioned, a few more to consider:

Melvin Van Peebles - Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song

The Impressions - First Impressions

Esther Williams - Let Me Show You

The Meters - Fire On The Bayou

Johnnie Taylor - One Step Beyond

J R Bailey - Just Me N You

Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall

Johnny Guitar Watson - Aint That A Bitch

The Brothers Johnson - Right On Time

Marvin Gaye - I Want You

Booker T & The MG's - Melting Pot

Fred Wesley & The JB's - Damn Right I Am Somebody