Rock 'N Soul

There are a few transcendent moments where he sounds like Sam Cooke singing a not very good song. Some really nice guitar towards the end of the album though.

a headbopping honky tonk oldie playlist. it's really just a bunch of love song historical curio b-sides but it's a fun time capsule listen. 3.5/5 also the backing vocals to Won't You Give Him are noteworthy in their badness. so there's that

Didn’t love. Might demote more

No the style of music i usually listen too. But it didn't sound bad.

Great voice, nice and relaxing, but overall the same.

Wonderful singing, but the arrangements get kind of old after a full album. Would be better as radio singles.

I could listen to it on repeat

It was very good. No Marvin or Sam level of good but it held it's own.

Really solid foundational soul music. Cry To Me, especially, is fantastic.

So glad this was sent my way as I have nearly forgotten about this artist.

All heart, and true soul.

Fantastic

This was brilliant. Timeless, and soulful.

It's a fine soul album from a legend, don't really see why we should include so many similar soul records, just to cover all the artists bases?

This is quite interesting. So much potential, but in places you can hear how producers, engineers or record company executives have produced so much of the soul out of the recording. This could be so much more. The best comparison is with the Sam Cooke live album on this list that just feels so alive. And that got sat on by the record company for years in order not to frighten teenagers. That’s what this feels like: deliberately turned down in terms of emotion to appeal to the blander end of the audience. Sometimes that’s the backing vocals, sometimes it’s the orchestration (He’ll Have to Go is worse off for that for sure), sometimes it’s just the smoothness of the production. There are some lovely tunes on it, and you can hear the potential in the vocal tracks. But it disappoints me a little: there’s an absolutely fabulous album that could be made here. But that’s what you get sometimes, especially with earlier recordings. I still enjoyed it more than I have most albums I’ve had recently and stuck it on for a second play. But it could be so much more

What a pleasure this album was. The vocals are so strong and proper soulful and the songs are really catchy. Possibly the best album of this genre I've had to date. Mr Burke was such a cool guy.

Great voice, professional production, and brisk rock and roll tunes. Respectable, robust meeting point between rock and soul. Enjoyable and influential but not something I’ll be reaching for again.

Fun classics

some generic soul... more like 2,5 but 2 is harsh

Trying to be mindful of the time it was produced, it was still quite formulaic and not very interesting lyrically. Vocals and production are good; he incorporates a variety of different vocal textures and does it well. A couple of different musical ideas accross songs, occassionally undermined by backing vocals.

3.5

What a voice ! Big fan !

Enjoyed

Cosy

This album proves that man has always been trash, but I do like it. I like the sound I love the old School sound of it. I love his voice is so raspy but pure, but I’ve never heard of him before but I do like. This album has some bangers on it. Beautiful brown eyes and if you need me.

Average soul music, didn’t really stand out to me. 3.

It's alright.

3.5/5

Wow, never heard of this one before! Years of listening to Cooke and Redding but no Solomon Burke appearing on the radar? Not much to say about this one other than his voice is really magnificent - sometimes tender, often powerful. All of the songs are about having a broken heart. The best part, as others have pointed out, is how modern this must of sounded at the time with the soul/rock and roll combo. The music is perfectly passable, but nothing that stands out. Happy to listen to this on my morning commute. Spiritual music with a lot of groove and a bit of edge.

Приятный, я бы даже сказал, уютный соул альбом. Насколько я понял, фигура достаточно значимая для жанра, но ни в нем ни в жанре я в достаточной степени не разбираюсь. Интересно было послушать Can't Nobody Love You в исполнении Бёрка.

Loved his voice. Never heard of him before this but definitely found a new favorite album.

cry to me: 7/10 I really like this, especially the drums. off to a good start just out of reach (of my two empty arms): 8/10 wow just wow I LOVE the harmonic singing. it kinda makes me feel like a 50s housewife happily cooking for her newlywed husband. I love vintage music like this goodbye baby (baby goodbye): 6/10 its really good dont get me wrong but it sound repetitive and the same after a while if you need me: 6.4/10 kinda like a chill background song when you're falling in love, love the harmonic singing still can't nobody love you: 6.5/10 what a man in love someone to love me: 6.5/10 so sensual you're good for me: 6.3/10 sounds similar to the others won't you give him (one more chance): 6/10 such an early morning next door neighbor love story type song hard, aint it hard: 6.2/10 sounds super upbeat for a song about not getting loved the same way back, but I think that's whats beautiful about it you can't love 'em all: 6.8/10 love that shaky instrument thing in the background and the group singing beautiful brown eyes: 7/10 the lyrics are everything, instruments amazing. men should keep yearning like this he'll have to go: 7.5/10 this song made me feel some type of way im blushing wow final rating (personal, not mathematical): 7.5/10 wow I think I just discovered a new fav genre of music. so sensual so cute and makes you wonder in thought. this is the type of music u listen to when you've found THE one. this man was IN LOVE when making this album

Very samey, antiquated style music. Perfunctory soul music like Sam Cooke but not as good. There's only so many love songs I can bother listening to in one go.

8/10 Fav track: Just out of reach (Of my two empty arms)

Solomon Burke obviously has an incredible voice and incredible talent, I feel this album is just missing that feeling to it that makes you just love listening to it. It’s almost as if the songs are watered down.

I like to complain a lot about the 60s/70s folk/soul picks and that you probably don’t need to listen before you die. But I really enjoyed this album. I can give this a strong 4.

Cry to Me is a song I only knew because IDLES covered it. Look at that, it’s actually from the early 60s. This is not music that I usually listen to, but it’s well done. He’s got a good voice, with a great girl group type chorus in the background. I like these kind of songs with the syncopation of the guy’s singing with the music and the chorus interweaving. It’s kinda blues, kinda proto-James-Brown. I’m enjoying the backing music, but there are no credits on the wiki, so I can’t tell who did it - I guess there was a session band? The Spanish-y guitar on “Won’t You Give Him (One More Chance) is interesting, for example, and the piano on “Beautiful Brown Eyes.”

Some pretty solid soul elevated by a great voice. Very samey but a pleasantly brief 35 minutes.

Nice recording and great voice. But this is 12 of the same song. And I didn’t really enjoy it the first time I heard it.

“Before you die you absolutely have to eat this dry cracker.” - Dimery

really really old, too old for me. it's not significant enough to deserve more attention from me

Wednesday, 2 September, 2026 Great soul album. Burke’s voice is smooth. Only a few standout tracks.

really enjoyed it, gives old school love songs vibes

pleasant but a little shmaltzy. a little boring/old-fashioned for my liking.

This was good but it's pretty low key, not a ton of rock 'n' rolls vibes.

The Black Elvis Presley — more soul than rock and roll. Good for an introduction

Incredible voice.

Love this

Buen álbum pero no me parecio innovador.

Interesante el Soul como género. Muy escuchable, aunque es raro como álbum, siento que las canciones no pegan tanto. Pero estuvo bien, imposible ponerle menos de 3.

All I could think of is dirty dancing while listening (and I’m not made abt it)

it's pretty nice. early soul from when it still had a strong connection to its shared roots with rock n roll. even the title acknowledges it. not my favorite thing in this style but i did enjoy it! deserves to be one of the 1001? maybe

Nice Motown music Solomon has a really good voice. I enjoyed it.

I'll listen to this one again

Would buy

It's a pretty good album that I enjoyed, but will likely never seek out again

A wonderful vibe similar to Cloud Nine

i reaaaaaallly liked it 4

Proxima mente les doy

60's blues polished up for the white folk

Soul sounding like soul should! Brothers voice absolutely slaps! Really enjoyed this one!

Great album!!

Like a lot of soul from this era, I think the singing on here is great, but the album just doesn't do much for me overall. Some really great tracks like Cry to Me, Goodbye Baby, and One More Chance though. Just nothing really memorable for me.

What a powerful and soulful voice!

Beautiful soul music. Will listen again

Pleasant enough and historically important, but not really my thing though. Feels like four tracks in and I've heard every trick he's got already. Thanks for the education.

His songs and voice are already familiar - nice to put a name to the body of work.

Doubt I’ll come back to this much but liked this more than most 60s albums

Great soul and R&B tunes. Solomon Burke has a fantastic voice, and I connected with this record more than I typically do with this genre of music from this era. There's just something classic about it.

so fun! first song on the album was on the dirty dancing soundtrack. banger. loved this

I only knew cry to me from the dirty dancing soundtrack, but this was awesome. His voice is incredible.

Listened

Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)

Don't let the Rolling Stones hear this album, they will steal all of it.

I agree it’s important from a historical perspective but it’s too old timey for me

Ehh, it's okay. He has a nice voice. The songs are fine. Just not for me.

Classic rock, for me it doesnt sound special but it probably was new at the time

not my type

Previously known. He is one of a kind.

I enjoyed it, good album with a smooth vibe.

Meh

A lovely listen! Would revisit

Started off great but I don’t think any single song blew my mind

#79 A nice 60s Soul album, but not the most memorable or unique. He has a great voice. Highlights: Cry To Me, You Can't Love 'Em All

just enough black

I'd never really listened to Burke, but this is right up my alley. Cry To Me is a great song and the rest of the album was nearly as good. Solid 8/10 for me.

Pleasant album to listen to. Nothing unexpected, very much in the Sam Cooke vein of bluesy soul. But not quite at Sam Cooke levels. Fantastic voice, great range. Backing music and vocals aren’t breaking any new ground, even for 1964 they’re a little dated. But every now and then the odd track will surprise you and you wonder how good the album as a whole could have been. Won’t You Give Him (One More Chance) being a good example. Solid album all in all.

It's pretty good.

Fantastic voice carrying a generic record

Short but sweet.

The first song is a hit. The whole album is hard to listen to in one sitting

I liked this more than I expected!

Nothing to love or hate. Just old school, early rock and roll.

Good, classic soul. Perfect with Sunday morning coffee.

Some great old soul tunes. Can’t knock his voice either.

Yesterday I had Justin Timberlake, one could argue Burke & JT are in the same genre. They both have similar themes & both can song. I hated JT but I like this. How did r&b go from this to that? 3

Classic 50's and early 60's early Motown. Think Little Richard, Sam Cooke, early James Brown, Stand By Me. Smooth, comfortable, black crooner.

I can totally picture some of these on a fallout soundtrack. I feel it dropped off in second half a bit so kinda glad it was only 30 minutes but a decent 30 minutes .

No you can't love em all. It's a shame really

Maybe not as timeless as it could have been but you can see it's influence on modern music. Overall solid album that leans towards soul rather than rock.

Eh it’s ok

This album made me want to dance so I can see why Cry For Me was on Dirty Dancing. His voice and the the music had all the feels. I will say I liked the first four songs but after that I didn't care for the album as much. I liked the first 4 songs enough to give it a 4.

I really appreciate the jazzy background, and the emotion in the vocals. I don't think he's speaking to me - he has a different target audience.

Nice change of pace. Good singer, good songs. Nothing got to me but still enjoyable.

This is not my grape jam but feels totally fit to be on the list.

I like this album. It didn't blow me away, but I'd listen to it again at almost any time.

Very good. Amazing vocal performance too. Would be much better if it can get remastered today. I wondered if we can get don’t give up on me from the list. I’m expecting something like that from this album but this’s a much happier album. Still very good.

easy listening, and nice to discover a new artist for myself. i don't think there was anything exceptional about this album, but after reading Burke's wikipedia page, i can see why he was included

A fantastic album that’s quick and easy with what feels like a ton of variety when compared to other albums that came out around the same time. Solomon Burke has a wonderful voice that is reminiscent of Sam Cooke, which absolutely isn’t a bad thing. It’s not quite a five, but a very strong four.

A solid soul album that I could listen to all day long.

I’ve never heard of Solomon Burke. His voice is great, but the songs don’t do a whole lot for me. 6/10

Nett, aber nix für dauerhaft

Super!

Really nice actually. Maybe it’s 3 but gets 4 in comparison to recent days.

Good relaxed listen - really enjoyed it. Some songs in there could be in a fallout game 🤌

An artist I’m familiar with from a genre I like: usually a one-way ticket to four-star city. This one however is missing the magic pixie dust. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think I would actively listen to it again with purpose, and therefore I must give it three.

Fine. Cry for me is a perfectly good song, but I guess the hears have just made this 'pleasant' rather than life changing. I can't fault it, but I also can't really recommend it either. Perhaps i'm nlt appreciating the context of the time? It's a weak 3 or a very strong 2. 3, as i'm being generous.

James Brown-like

Still woefully underrated. Love seeing this pop up!

Amazing!

Childhood memory and did NOT disappoint after listening. Catchy songs that catch you in the feels. Legend.

I mean, it was pretty nice. A very smooth and relaxing listen, with extremely professional vocals (great backing vocals too) and instrumentation. The only issue is that it's clearly a bit dated and doesn't necessarily sound 'fresh'. I don't love it, and I certainly don't dislike it, but I could understand why someone would call it 'boring'. I'm glad I listened, but I won't be going out of my way to listen again.

It's a nice album. Smooth as silk. Very little variety between songs - they're all fairly generic Soul love ballads - but at least that one sound is pretty good. Both Burke and his backup singers have great control over their voices and the whole package is well-written and well-performed. It's not a particularly interesting album in the grand scheme of things, but it's listenable and sweet enough. Can picture throwing this on for a cute little slow dance in the kitchen with the missus. Fav tracks: Won'T You Give Him (One More Chance), He'll Have To Go

Genuinely great voice but I think the songs let Burke down here.

This album may get better with more listens, but with the minimal time I gave it, it was kind of same-y. I love his voice, but it was not enough to carry the record alone. I am going to listen again today to see if I missed something. Cry To Me is the biggest hit here Biggest Hit - Cry To Me Biggest Miss - Hard, Ain't It Hard Hidden Gem - Can't Nobody Love You

amazing!

the vibes of this album on a rainy day is IMMACULATE

I had not heard of this artist before today, but this was a lovely 1960s vintage soul album. Beautiful singing.

Nice album

Pretty good! He has an excellent voice and it's an enjoyable soulful album. Nothing spectacular for me, but good overall!

It's an enjoyable listen, but there's much better out there. As much as I think Solomon Burke's voice is perfect here, I feel as if everything else was a little monotonous in terms of production, with each track blending into one another and forming this musical malaise. Don't get me wrong, there are a few bangers here, such as "Cry to Me" and "Beautiful Brown Eyes", however it's nothing that'll stick with me for too long. Still, I don't regret having listened to it, which is why I'm saying that it is good rather than great.

Vraiment vraiment bon

actually great

Great voice, but it's a weird artifact of an age where they tried to de-fang "rhythm & blues", so it's a bit too tame. I mean, it's great sock hop music, but I liked it more for its historical significance than as a listening experience.

I've been digging the early rock albums that I hadn't heard before, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Soul and rhythm & blues built from warm horns, gospel-infused arrangements, steady grooves, and commanding vocals feels like being welcomed into a neighborhood gathering where everyone seems genuinely kind, yet the conversations never move beyond familiar small talk. Solomon Burke's expressive voice is consistently impressive, but for me the album's traditional arrangements and well-worn themes made it feel surprisingly boring. The sincerity is never in doubt, yet neither the music nor the songwriting offered enough variation or surprise to keep me engaged.

Ive been having to listen to so many R&B/ rock lately, but this might just be the creepiest. Solomon Burke's use of the word "girl" every other song feels gross. Also, did you listen to the lyrics on You Can't Love Them All? woof! I understand I'm looking at this through 60 years in the future eyes, but still...

Burke has a lovely voice. I've never been a big fan of this style of female backing vocals.

Soulful voice. A lot of this type record the backing singers are a bit much. Having said that a pleasant listen.

GOOD ALBUM

I had never heard of this album before, I'm glad I do now. what a beautiful record.

Classic early soul, incredibly clean sounding recording. Great vocal performances

Gdjdj

#206/1001 🇺🇸 What a voice Burke has. I'm only familiar with a couple of the tracks here but enjoyed listening. Best Tracks: You're Good For Me, Cry To Me, If You Need Me.

This is the kind of music that stays evergreen to me, something you can listen to at the end of your life and find it still connecting with you. Most of the songs carry this very human element with it that surrounds you in the way I think the best oldies tend to. I see why this was included in the list for sure.

Loved this

some classic R&B great stuff

Sad, lost love, love that never was. Hardy voice. Wasn't totally feeling it probably because of where I am at right now. Worth coming back to.

Great sounds. Really liked this

La voz de este hombre es maravillosa como complementaba a la perfección con los instrumentos y la melodía, nada más que decir muy agradable de escuchar.

Total unknown to me. This feels sort of like standard 60s rock/soul. Nothing too inventive, just solid singing and music playing. Can only imagine the times when doing something like this made for a very comfortable living. Glad I listened to it, might snatch a few tracks out for the playlist but not something I'd return to frequently.

I'd never heard of Solomon Burke. He's a fine soul singer, with elements of Otis Redding, Elvis, and John Fogerty in his voice. The arrangements are fine (including some interesting 12-string guitar on "Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)") and the vocals are strong, but it doesn't have the underlying fire of Motown's Funk Brothers or the Stax "house band." It's very good for its time, but doesn't have the staying power of some of the other '60s classics.

Great voice but, other than the first song, nothing stood out that much. It was background music. Not on same level as some of the other soul greats but an enjoyable enough listen.

Pleasant 60s soul music. A bit more lightweight than the stuff I like best, I'm not sure why but it doesn't hook me like music from Sam Cooke or Otis Redding. Enjoyable enough, if a little samey.

Like the title suggests, some solid rock and/or soul. Top tracks: "Someone to Love Me," "Just Out of Reach (of My Two Empty Arms)"

--Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)...salty and sweet. good stuff --Cry to Me...Burke's got great range. his deep notes are particularly flavorful --Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)...don't care for the tinny production on this one --If You Need Me... pure soul --Hard, Ain't It Hard...Woody Guthrie! it kicks --Can't Nobody Love You...more sexy soul. Sam Cooke reference! --Just Out of Reach...sounds like an Elvis track --You're Good for Me...a bit of a duet. lovely --You Can't Love Them All...there's a Caribbean feel to this. nice change of pace --Someone to Love Me...feels too similar to earlier tracks --Beautiful Brown Eyes...great vocal performance --He'll Have to Go...a beautiful closer

Buena música de fondo para hacer otra cosa

R&B banger

Many, many high points (Cry To Me, Hard Aint It Hard, Goodbye Baby) but a few low spots, too (Beautiful Brown Eyes, Won't You Give Him). 4 stars.

C'était fort sympathique ! J'ai bien aimé, mais j'ai quand même trouvé que c'était finalement assez classique pour un album de cette époque. Je ne suis pas sûr de pourquoi il figure dans ce classement, mais ce n'est pas un genre musical que je connais très bien, donc je ne suis sûrement pas en mesure de prendre la pleine mesure de la qualité de cet album dans son genre musical ?

So good!

🎤😎🕺🏽🍫🍷

done

Day Three - Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke, 1964. ⭐️⭐️ It's hard when you listen to something and you know it's important and formative, but it just doesn't hit for you. Part of it is the arrangement used for these songs, which is a little generic and a disappointing background for his very powerful voice. I knew a couple of the songs from this album, notably "Cry to Me" and "If You Need Me," but at the end of the day, for this kind of gospel-tinged soul I would prefer a female singer. I did not add any songs from this album to my library. Side note: the covers of Woody Guthrie's "Hard, Ain't It Hard" and "He'll Have to Go" popularized by Jim Reeves are so out of place here for me and lowered my review from 3 to 2. :/

me likey

Had a blast listening to this one, it’s like a total time capsule of the early 60s. Solomon Burke’s voice is just unreal, he can go from smooth and soulful to a rough, gritty wail at the drop of a hat. "Cry To Me" is a total standout and honestly shows why he’s one of the godfathers of the genre. That said, you can definitely tell it's an older record. The production feels a bit dated at times, the backing choirs are super cheesy, and some of the instrumentation is a little flat, which takes away from Burke’s incredible performance. Plus, since it’s basically just a collection of singles rather than a cohesive album, it can get a little repetitive by the end, and some of the lyrics are definitely showing their age. Still, his raw talent is so good it carries the whole thing. Does exactly what it says, rock and soul, beautifully done.

I mean, what a voice. Directly reminded me of Otis Redding. Sometimes can be a bit boring tho, no songs really stand out.

The whole essence of this album is literally in its title — rock and soul! So to speak, it plays both sides. Solomon Burke, a former preacher and mortician, a burly man (which proved his undoing in his old age), and the father of twenty-one pil... I mean, twenty-one children, sings here with a velvety, melodic voice, accompanied by a big band, and occasionally breaks into a rock 'n' roll roar. The instrumental is at times reminiscent of the blues of The Rolling Stones, and this is not surprising; the Stones are big fans of Burke and have covered his songs many times. They did it as best they could, though, with all of their roughness, sometimes out of tune; but Solomon himself plays and sings everything precisely — these songs could easily be on the soundtrack of a Hollywood film. Which is often the case. Surprisingly, this album isn't boring for the genre, though it is a bit monotonous. So, as is now the custom for soul albums for me, I give it three stars — but strong ones!

Correct spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/album/152R8N9N0ACnWPNOBIO4M8?si=2vsKouiCSJ2MsNd5kyInYw&utm_source=copy-link

blues with the sauce and soul. hell Yeah

Meh not awful or unlistenable but boring.

decent doo-wop. Songs are fun but get really samey

This was great just kinda garden variety motown/soul but that's my shit and this is done well. Hadn't heard t before

Good stuff, never heard these. 3 stars

Beautiful soulful singing. Only a couple songs stuck out to me, and I found myself skipping others.

buen disco pero no me mueve

Me gustó

Soul at it's finest

This album probably goes so hard for soul enthusiasts. Unfortunately I'm not one of those, so this album is just alright for me. It's got some good songs and it's short enough that it doesn't start to drag, so fine enough for me.

Really pretty

What a voice! This one caught me by surprise.

Hell fucking yeah this thing ROCKS

I’m a fan. His version of “Cry to Me” is great. Solomon Burke didn’t need the back up singers, but it was the 60s. Dates some of the songs, but it still works for me. Somehow early 60s dated sound doesn’t bother me as much as other time periods. It helps that Solomon Burke had an excellent voice.

Pretty average, not good not bad.

Not my style but not bad

Fun sound!

Ok I actually had fun listening to this. His voice is pretty great and the backup singers are nice. It's just .. idk, nothing really jumped out at me.

You’ve got to listen to Rock n Soul if you want to get into that boy’s hole.

Solid album with good sound. Reminds me of a fallout shelter where the most beautiful woman I’ve known is sitting 2km away in a different shelter and all I can do is try and remember her in my mind.

Sam Cooke ish. A little big band, a little rock and roll. The Spanish guitarist is the most interesting part - some tasty noodles and arpeggios. Never heard of him - now I know why

I guess is it's pretty good for this style and era. I'm gonna go with my personal ratting on this one though and give it a 3.

Historically important album even if it is a bit bland in its composition. I like this genre so 7.5/10

Suena como un disco muy atrapado en su época, pero al mismo tiempo suena muy bien y tiene una gran voz

So smooth and his VOICE. A little too one note but I did smile the whole entire time. I like classic crooner style songs though so it’s up my alley.

A great rock & soul (no pun intended) album all around, but I probably could’ve lived without listening to it. Swooning, melodic rhythms laid over with Burke’s expressive voice, but the songs began to feel indistinguishable past a certain point. Three feels good here. STAND-OUT SONG: “Cry to Me” HONORABLE MENTION: “Someone to Love me”

Enjoyable album, and you can definitely hear the influence Solomon Burke had on soul music. A bit forgettable as an album as a whole, but still filled with lots of good songs.

i liked it alot. i have to admit, i never heard of the guy. i would listen to the album again, it had me boppin'

They have been doing a great job of finding good representative early rock albums that don't sound repetitive like a lot of the 80s albums they chose, and this is no different. Very unique. I liked the female background vocals throughout. I liked his occasional wailing. It was a solid album. Only critique is that it falls into the early 60s mantra of minimalist instruments.

All the songs brought a smile to my face. That is worth a 4

Nice voice, but it gets repetitive after a while. Probably due to the fact that it feels like a bunch of singles pretending to be an album, but this was 1964 so I really don’t know how much control Burke had over that.

Its lovely but it gets a little same-ey after a while.

Allllmost a 5 from me. Really great soul, great instrumentation and Reangements, great band, great harmonies, great tunes. Very fun listen.

I just loved every second of this one. I love a 35 minute record where every song packs a punch. After the record was over, I put it back on. I usually not a huge fan of the sock hop ass music, but this one was great.

warmth and soul. not the kind of music I put on a lot, but I enjoy it when I do. I much preferred the A side over the B side. nice soundtrack to a peaceful morning at home.

Strong collection of songs and performances.

Boring

"Cry to Me" should've been on the Voyager Golden Record.

Surprisingly subdued.

Man has there been a single album pre-1965 I disliked? Guys got a great voice, pretty quintessential soul vocals that are easily the best part about this album. Cry to Me’s great and one I definitely have heard before, but I really do like all of the tracks on this one. It’s short and sweet, and each song really is imbued with strong emotions in the absolute best way, probably my favorite thing about Soul in general I don’t think this is the best soul album I’ve listened to or even really particularly close. To me there’s just something disconnected about this one, where it feels like each individual song is better than the album as a whole; maybe it’s something with the theming or how it’s a bunch of singles but it does kinda bring it down. Early days of albums obviously but comparing it to Otis Blue it just doesn’t feel quite as complete a work Regardless, still a very strong album and further proves I just like this genre a lot. Not sure if this one’s stood the test of time as well as some others, but it still stands strong as an album of its time

The top-rated review at the moment nails my thoughts exactly here. Wasn't familiar with Mr. Burke prior to this, but his voice and range are excellent. Easy to see why he was considered one of the founding fathers of soul music. But the actual musical content of the album just lacks variety in a lyrical and instrumental sense. Almost the entirety of the album can be thrown into the "crooning love songs" bucket. That's fine I guess, it's more so indicative of this era of soul & R&B. Also I just now learned that Solomon Burke originally recorded "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". That song had played immediately after this album ended and I had to do a double take. Much slower in tempo than the famous Blues Brothers cover, but both are good recordings in their own right.

Fun album when he cuts loose, a little more boring on the more conservative tracks. Great voice, but it doesn’t really stand out to me over a lot of other 60s soul.

good soul album and i’m not usuallly massive on soul some songs were better than others though

Groovy

Great ‘old’ music. Three stars…

Wasn’t personally for me not saying it’s bad just saying what this album tried to do. I’ve heard done better on other projects.

Nah

Fine. Good even

Типичное представление 60-x. При прослушивании ненароком перемещаешься в джаз клуб в новом орлеане, где американская публика только подступившаяся к званию элиты но совершенно звания не заслуживающая, слушала, в моменте признавая права и талант негра на сцене. Блеск от налаченых до тверда причёсок вместе с сигаретным дымом и классическим мартини на металлических может быть даже серебряных подносах без единой царапины. Все это представляется когда слушаешь этот и не только этот альбом просто данный экземпляр является своего рода "классическим" вариантом. Нет ничего особенного или из ряда вон выходящего но и плохого или противного слуху тоже. Данный альбом явно достоин прослушивания особенно если эстетично веселое настроение на кону. Заслуженные 6/10.

Love malt shop rock.

Maybe I was just happy to hear something from this genre & time I haven’t heard a million times before. This is probably close to 4 songs, but idk how much “doink doink doink doink doink…” piano tinking repetition I can handle, but each of this songs on their own I enjoyed

Goes great with a Pepsi Free

Beautifully sung, and pleasantly smooth but it's also terribly shallow and repetitive. Something that chunter away in the background rather than break life's iron crust.

Adore this album. Perfect for 30° summer chilled afternoon. Made me feel happy for life. Didn't feel the 'rock' element as stated in the title. Pure timeless soul and I'm not mad in the slightest

An album that can definitely see as a movie soundtrack or scene setter. Simple melodies, meaningful lyrics and relevant lyrics. A smooth and sultry tone to his voice. I feel transported back to the 60's at a school dance slow dancing. There's a thin line between blues and soul and songs like Just Out Of Reach and Cry To Me There are a beautiful range of emotions displayed in this album and in an era where song order and transitions between songs wasn't even a figment of artists imaginations yet; a simple rearranging of some songs prior to others could tell a seamless and cohesive story. In that same vein the way they are already structured allows for each raw emotion to be evoked further in their standalone presentations. 12 songs | 34 minutes | 1964 Atlantic Records There were two albums prior to this project: "The Apollo Masters" and "If You Need Me" Oldies playlist | Brokenhearted playlist | Moving on playlist | 60's playlist

Pleasant collection of songs but nothing special. There is a comfortable old fashioned production on this. Like most long playing recordings from the early sixties more a collection of hits with filler rather than a proper album. On the plus side Solomon is a good singer but just let down by uninspiring material

6 / 10

È bello, insomma si fa ascoltare, ma un conto sono 3 canzoni, un intero album di ascolto attivo mi scioglie

It was alright! Good jazz album but not something I'd go out of my way to listen to again

Cry to me is the standout so far. Just out of reach was so over the top it made me cringe. The simpler the presentation, the better the track. Someone to Love Me sounds great because the lack of clutter and production add-ons. The album has some hits and a few good songs, but I was surprised that it had seven top 100 hits.

this is exactly how I feel "From purely a listening standpoint this album is a real joy. Burke's voice is clear, articulate, and soulful. If you're a fan of R&B or soul this album is probably already at the top of your list. Adding in the historical context, that Burke was one of the founding fathers of soul, makes this album even more impressive as you realize that he was forging a new sound" 3.5

Uneven selection that shows impressive range but lacks cohesion.

Such a vibe listening to classic soul + blues like this. Most songs carry old outdated ideas on love but it's from 1964 so. Really enjoyed listening to it. (saved 2; unlikely to keep or shuffle into playlists)

The best soul albums can, even though they usually have the same backing band and vocalists behind each song, make each song seem different and grand. This album does not do that, but it's never bad and it has a few winners. "Beautiful Brown Eyes" is a complete winner, and "You Can't Love 'em All" isn't. So it goes.

Solomon Burke’s Rock 'N Soul (1964) is an absolute milestone. Often overlooked in favor of later 60s heavyweights like Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin, this record proves exactly why Burke was crowned the "King of Rock 'n' Soul." Rock 'N Soul is a vital piece of music history. It captures the exact bridge where 1950s R&B evolved into the powerhouse soul music of the late 1960s. If you love Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, or classic vinyl grooves, this belongs in your rotation

Not the best soul album I’ve ever heard, but alright

This was really good.

I had never heard of Solomon Burke before today and that’s absolutely wild to me. This album was fantastic and I think he deserves to be more well known.

Liked the sound overall. Liked If You Need Me the best.

Rate: 8.5/10.

I'm sure I've heard about him before but it feels like I'm just learning about him today. This dude is amazing. Great voice & fantastic music and lyrics. 1000/5

8.5/10

This was definitely dated, but I found the instrumentals and his singing voice to be beautiful. Fantastic!

Like the title suggest it is an interestig blend of rock n roll and soul music. Solomon melds them well, and he has a fantastic voice to do so. But a lot of the songs are fairly uninteresting.

I liked it quite a bit. I can see why Sam & Dave, among others, got more fame, but this was still a good listen. My wife really liked it a lot. I could have used a bit more variety, but he has a great voice.

Classic soul and definitely worth more than one listen

Hadn't heard this before but really enjoyed it. Until I did a little research, I didn't realize how popular he was in the 60s. He continued performing until his death in 2002, so I'm surprised I hadn't come across him sooner. This is some of the best traditional soul, R&B, and blues I've heard. Glad he made the list. Fun fact: at the time of his death at age 70 , he had 90 grandchildren. Woah.

Good but just not quite there.

What a voice!

Good "Rock and Blues" by one of the early founders of the genre (Soul). And quite the character: showman, salesman, first child at 14, 4 wives, 21 children 350+ pounds. He seems to have really enjoyed life!

68/100. This is just some really great early soul music. Solomon Burke pulls together R&B, gospel and even hints of country into a style that feels incredibly familiar but groundbreaking all at once. Most of the tracks revolve around love and relationships, treating romance as something with real emotional and spiritual weight, though the actual songwriting itself was not the main selling point for me. What really makes this album fascinating is its historical importance. Rock 'n Soul dropped right during the era when soul music was still figuring out its own identity as a distinct genre. Burke played a massive role in bridging the gap between church gospel and secular rhythm and blues, basically helping to map out the musical formula that would define soul music itself. In that sense, the record feels less like a finished product and more like the exact sound of a genre discovering what it could actually become. It is also crazy that Burke does not get brought up nearly as often as guys like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, or James Brown, especially given how huge his influence was on the foundations of soul. His contribution to the genre deserves way more credit than it usually gets.

Maybe a 2.5

Cry to me is such a bop. I don't think I liked any of the other songs quite as much but I do really love 60s soul so I enjoyed this album a lot

3.5 Pretty good listen, he's not Fats Domino though

Incredible voice. The songs aren’t that distinctive or memorable which I suppose is why he didn’t have that many hits and so has been under celebrated.

very solid soul output. great voice.

I have a couple of Solomon Burke compilations and a latter-day album, but listening to this album as it was initially issued by Atlantic in the early 60s was quite a revelation. Burke wanted to distance himself from the term “rhythm and blues”, as he felt it was associated with sinfulness, and instead crowned himself as the “king of rock and soul”. And so…this is one of the early soul records. His voice has a lot of honey, and yet plenty of grit; his sound to me is between that of Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, both of whom he namechecks on one of the tracks. Also, a couple of big country smashes are presented here all souled up, à la Brother Ray’s “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”. There’s even a song that sounds suspiciously like the 60s Drifters (who also recorded for Atlantic), unsurprisingly penned by Lieber and Stoller. Good solid listen, important historically, and deserving of inclusion on this list

Solomon Burke's 1964 album, *Rock 'N Soul*, is a potent document of a soul pioneer at work. While critics are divided on the consistency of its material, the record stands as a powerful testament to Burke's monumental voice and his role in defining the soul genre. ### 🎵 Music, Production, and Lyrics The music on *Rock 'N Soul* is a textbook example of the early 1960s Atlantic Records sound, built on a foundation of gospel, R&B, and country. The production, led by the legendary Bert Berns, is polished yet retains a raw emotional core. * **Music & Production:** The arrangements feature prominent rhythm sections anchored by walking bass lines and subtle guitar parts, lush gospel-influenced organ fills, and punchy horn sections. A deep roster of session musicians, including guitarists Billy Butler and Al Caiola, and pianists Paul Griffin and Hank Jones, provided the backing. The "soul" is further enhanced by excellent backing vocalists, including a young Cissy Houston. * **Lyrics & Themes:** The album explores the classic soul music themes of romantic devotion, heartbreak, and desire, often with a compelling dose of moral complexity. For instance, "Can't Nobody Love You" is a stirring pledge of fidelity and a playful "callout" to rivals like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. Conversely, the playful "You Can't Love 'Em All" is surprising for its resolution to embrace polyamory instead of monogamy. ### 👑 Influence and Legacy The album's title itself was a mission statement. Burke famously believed that rock and soul were intrinsically connected, stating, "without soul, there'd be no rock and without rock, there'd be no soul". He was one of the first artists to be called a "soul singer," a term he specifically chose to align his music with his spiritual background and avoid the "profane" stigma of R&B. The album's influence is cemented by its crown jewel. The lead single, **"Cry to Me"**, is a landmark in soul music. Written and produced by Bert Berns, it is considered one of the first songs to unify country, gospel, and R&B. Its portrayal as an "ode to loneliness and desire" helped define the Southern soul ballad and solidified Burke's place in music history. ### 👍 Pros and 👎 Cons * **👍 Pros:** * **Burke's Magnificent Voice:** The primary reason to listen. His rich, powerful baritone, honed from his days as a preacher, can move from a tender caress to a full-throated, ecstatic cry. * **Classic Tracks:** The album features some of Burke's most essential recordings. "Cry to Me" is an all-time classic, and songs like "Can't Nobody Love You" and "If You Need Me" showcase his vocal prowess. * **Historical Significance:** *Rock 'N Soul* is a vital piece of music history. It captures a pivotal moment when R&B was evolving into soul music, with Burke as a key transitional figure. * **👎 Cons:** * **Inconsistent Material:** This is the most common criticism. While the performances are uniformly excellent, the songwriting is seen by some as unimaginative, with several tracks blending into a "generic fusion". This can make the album feel like it has significant "filler". * **Highlights Overshadow the Rest:** The presence of monumental singles like "Cry to Me" can overshadow the other tracks, which, despite Burke's best efforts, are simply not as memorable. ### 🎙️ Final Verdict *Rock 'N Soul* is an album best appreciated for its peak moments and historical context. It's an album where a monumental voice is sometimes let down by average material, resulting in a classic singles collection rather than a flawless full-length listening experience. However, for fans of classic soul and the history of popular music, it is an essential and rewarding listen. If you're looking to explore *Rock 'N Soul* by Solomon Burke, "Cry to Me," "Can't Nobody Love You," and "If You Need Me" are the essential tracks to start with.

I am not listening to this

Pre Listen: Haven't heard of Solomon Burke. Album cover is definitely dated, would be something I'd overlook in a records store for sure. No expectations, outside of this will probably be decent, but boring. Notable Tracks: Cry To Me - I know he's saying "Don't you feel like cry-cra-cry-cra crying to me" but it sounds like he's saying "Don't you feel like a cracka cracka cracka". Just saying. You Can't Love Them All - My favorite song. I think it got the best song, the soft instrumental ensemble plays together so well. I especially like the acoustic guitar and piano. Post Listen: About what I was expecting. Old soul, nostalgic feeling, one stand out song and the rest wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything incredibly special. A very. *very* inoffensive album. I would almost describe it as cute. Everything is done ok, and again, no bad songs or anything like that. I'm struggling to come up with anything to say deeper than that. Another album I would've really loved a decade ago or so when this was the sum of my music tastes. 3/5.

Good! Added a few of these. Just Out Of Reach was a gem.

Something you’d say “an oldie but a goodie!” to.

классик

Nice as background music. Good soul/jazz. Nothing really grabbed me though.

Smooooooooooooth

Good

This was alright. Good soul music

Lo mismo hay gente para los que este disco es un referente, pero yo solo lo veo como cultura musical. Suena muy bien, pero nada me ha llamado la atención. Esto sería un 2,5 que como no puedo poner lo dejo en 3 por no ser Grinch.

Fucking BANGER. Every song destroyed wow he has such a good voice and I loveeeeed the way the instruments sounded. Also great sonic variety. 4.5

This started slow but ended up delivering. These oldies are hitting. Cheeky songwriting.

Smooth listening, make me nostalgic of something that I didn't even live. I listened some many times and still kicking ass.

Het is heerlijk hoe hij op het eerste nummer zijn buigbare stem gebruikt om elke noot en elke klank onverwacht te plaatsen en zo een heel breed palet aan kleuren en subtiele details te schilderen. Het is teleurstellend hoe dat na het eerste nummer stopt en de rest van de plaat daardoor helemaal plat valt in standaard jaren 60 soul. Dat is leuk, maar niet genoeg om me in de plaat in te trekken.

gewoon oke, er is me niet zoveel bijgebleven van de plaat

klinkt precies zoals je zou denken door de cover

Very nice smooth soul. Beautifully sung and has aged well.

ughh, an endless stream of cheesy love songs

Decent background music and great voice, not sure if I'd go back to it again though

Fine. Solid 6

forgettable

Heard Before? Only "Cry to Me" and "Goodbye Baby" Notes: - production, lyrics and arrangements all very typical of the era. not a bad thing at all, just not really noteworthy. - terrific use of backing vocals, acting almost as a greek chorus at times, amplifying the cause of the narrator. - a bit more mistake variety than i expected. some nice use of 6/8. i especially dig the near-mariachi sound of "Can't Love Em All". - "Cry to Me" is the big hit for obvious reasons. It's got the most thrilling vocal performances, a terrific melody and a slightly atypical lyrical conceit. I love it. - really it's all down to Burke, who sells every song completely, inhabiting the characters with intonation that seems improvised and unhinged while being actually careful and restrained. Verdict: Very much singles+filler, but Burke's surging, unpredictable vocal work elevates it. Listen Again? For sure, if only because my partner is a big soul fan.

Beautiful voice. Soul at its best.

Essential or not, this is an enjoyable listen.

Not that interesting of a sound, really liked won’t you give him (one more chance), but that was pretty much it.

The story of this guy's life is absolutely wild. He was definitely born to be the star in his own musical. The charisma and authenticity shine through on the music and it makes for a fun an entertaining listen. That said, it doesn't really add a ton to the genre and I prefer the styles of Sam Cooke or Ray Charles more.

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. It did start to sound a little one note by the end, but his singing is amazing and the arrangements are quite dense and complex. I’m surprised he didn’t see the same success as some of his peers especially since he’s considered one of the founding fathers of soul music.

Love this album! I'm not super deep into soul so I guess I don't really know what's out there, but this is pretty much exactly what I want/expect from the genre.

Does exactly what it says on the tin

Delightful!

It's good! The arrangements on some of the album cuts were a bit different than what I expected from his other hits (i.e. more acoustic guitars).

Wonderful stuff with this early fusion of soul, gospel and rock and roll.

This is beautiful

Dadgum is this a fusion of rock and soul, solomon sure got that one right.

esto solo recomienda rock? porq ya ko quieroooo

I love his voice but most of the material is blah and cheesy. Balances out to a 3/5

Nice for a Sunday morning

Really lovely vibes here. No much of a soul fan but this exceeded my expectations. If I’m ever in need of a fun record when I’m feeling down this could be the one

Didn't know the guy, but clean and smooth vocals, well performed songs. The songs are mostly dull but inoffensive enough.

Very pleasant, albeit very unmemorable indeed. It's really perfect music to have on if you're working, or feeling a little overwhelmed, or don't really want any music to be very honest. He has a lovely voice, and the songs are well put together. But it doesn't raise the pulse or stir the blood.

Great classic soul r& b record.

2.5 bur

Solomon here doesn’t really get talked about as much as some of his contemporaries but he’s excellent. Smooth, powerful voice. I’m such a sucker for this kind of music