Rock 'N Soul

It was what the name of the record promised.

Wasn't a bad listen

It's crazy that it's 60 years old and feels like it's even older than that. But he has a good voice, the songs are fine, and I didn't hate it.

Cool album…didn’t really seem outstanding though.

Like... I won't say it's bad but like this there's a lot of albums in the sixties. At this time, love ballads are too strong. But you can't let the feeling that it's always the same thing go. But it's still a great album and voice.

If I could give this negative stars I would

This challenge is making me more appreciative of soul as a genre and I am happy to listen to more of it. Solomon's voice is very clear and beautiful to listen to. This album is another vibe and nice as background music. However it can feel one note at times.

3/5 One of the founding fathers of soul... This album was very good, but it became a bit like background music for me after a while. The songs sounded very similar, so I wish there was more variation. Other than that I was vibing and having a good time still, hence why I'm rating it this.

Good to start the week. "Cry to Me" is the best one by far.

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: None I haven't really formed an opinion on this album in any capacity. I listened during my nighttime routine and then I listened for a second time during work the following morning, and really, nothing popped out to me. I was not rocking and rolling, or grooving, but I wasn't pulling my hair out either. It came and went. It was fine.

The thing about this old time rock and soul music is that it was before my time so I have no sense of how impactful this was back then. These songs sound all too familiar and not too adventurous nowadays but perhaps back then it sounded fresh. If it did sound fresh back then it doesn’t seem to have stood the test of time and I have a feeling that there were others who came before and after who did it much better. He does have a killer voice though and I wish he had some more interesting material to sing over but then again this is probably his thing and what he’s best at.

This is kinda easy listening if a little boring. If you were telling me this was quite influential, I would believe it but also I would think it's not stood the test of time as what it's influenced. I don't think I'll be chasing that again and feels kinda unremarkable now.

157/1089 instantly recognisable opening track a really nice listen, not something i see myself going back to really but it was just good vibes, good voice, good music. an enjoyable half hour faves: Cry To Me, Goodbye Baby 55/100

01) Cry to Me - 9,0 02) Just Out of Reach - 8,5 03) Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) - 8,0 04) If You Need Me - 7,5 05) Can't Nobody Love You - 7,5 06) Someone to Love Me - 7,0 07) You're Good for Me - 7,0 08) Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) - 8,0 09) Hard, Ain't It Hard - 8,0 10) You Can't Love Them All - 8,0 11) Beautiful Brown Eyes - 7,5 12) He'll Have to Go - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,83 (78/100) Current ranking: 264/770

I have never heard of him but I liked this! However, the standout track was ‘Cry To Me’ and I do wish the rest of the songs had that same raw, messy quality.

Honestly I always rate these kinds of albums too high, because they're just nice to listen to. Parts of this made me sleepy, but not in a bad way. It's like I was lulled. Probably a 3.5.

Some really good singles on here, but overall pretty bland.

0/12 bekannt 4/10 Beste Songs: if you need me, won’t you give him, can’t nobody love you

A mixed bag, I actively hate rock n' roll ballads but on balance I'd give this one a ⭐⭐⭐ as there were some tolerable tracks

Nice background music :)

There are elements of rock on some of these songs, but even adjusting for what "rock" meant in 1964 this is a disappointingly normal soul album given the title. Burke has great range, capable of smooth crooning and hitting deep notes. But his presence is a bit lacking, and you can't hear the pain in his voice like you can with the greats. His range does allow him to excell at the traditional pop-sounding "Just Out of Reach" and a couple other notably different songs, but the majority of this is well-produced and well-played soul that doesn't stand out in the genre. Little Richard was not a soul singer, and Burke has a more technically impressive voice, but if you want the energy of rock and the passion of soul, Richard had that years before this album.

Dang, it's good, easy listening. I think I could vibe to this almost anytime. A perfect liminal space album.

I came for the rock but I stayed for the soul.

Great voice! His control and range are great too. Songs are nice and smooth, but overall lack variety. Do have to say, I prefer listening to this over Elvis.

Sounds nice, soothing but strong. Not crazy about any song but as an album it's simply a nice listen.

Nice Soul Record.

Das Album ist 60 Jahre alt?! So viele gute Motive!

Quality soul music. I'd rate it five were it to be even more amusing and exceptional from the sound perspective. Anyway, a record worth listening.

I've liked this album a lot. It's so enjoyable and addictive. The songs are pretty good, all of them, and, even if there is not much variety, what is there is fantastic. So, for me, it's a solid nine.

Old school classic love songs, love the screams Kinda Grease

5/10 Pretty good not my vibe

the vocals on this album are so good i keep coming back to it already, definitely an album im happy to have been introduced to top 3: - cry to me - just out of reach (of my two empty arms) - he’ll have to go

Wonderful classic soul

Burke's vocals are impressive and enjoyable. Among the 50's/60's music in this genre, this was something I enjoyed more than most.

я не собираюсь это слушать. 1/5

Пьяный бомж, поёт в падике, потому что его выгнала из дома жена.

I recognized Solomon Burke's picture but couldn't tell you what he sang, which is surprising considering he sits comfortably with other soul singers I like, such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. My first pass through this didn't do much for me (other than "Cry to Me"), but decided to listen again with headphones. That was the move, because I appreciated it a lot more. Not all of this hits, but it's pretty great regardless. Burke's voice is obviously amazing, the guitar is surprisingly intricate, and I'm generally a sucker for this kind of '60s soul. Thumbs up. FUN FACT: Solomon Burke and I have the same birthday. What does that mean? Nothing.

Meh! This was better than the other oldies we have had, in my opinion. I liked that it was lively at points (like in You Can't Love 'Em All) instead of just the melancholic, yearning love songs.

Don't You Feel Like Crying? 1001 Albums Generator 181 (12/15/2025) The most interesting thing about this album is that the bassline of You Can't Love Em All is basically Stand By Me and the horn melody that comes in around 1:32 is the vocal melody of Basket Case by Green Day, so in a way this song almost plays like a mashup between a song that had just come out and a song that would exist 30 years in the future. I pretty much have nothing to say about this album. The tracks are so interchangeable that the order on Spotify is completely different than the original order. How do I know? Oh, well, the tracklisting is literally on the album cover. It's all totally passable, forgettable crooning oldies. I kind of like how on the Spotify ordering, there's a little run starting around Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) that has a few songs with some country tinges, which were kinda fun. I'm sorry for being so dismissive of a guy that was apparently a legend, but I just can't with these oldies. 2/5. Favs: Cry To Me Can't Nobody Love You Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) Least Fav: He'll Have To Go

I'm not sure this will ever go out of style.

AMAZINGGGG

It's fine. Not blowing my mind, but not bad.

I've never heard of this artist or album but I thought it was overall not bad.

Just kind of generic. Didn’t do anything for me…

Some good old fashioned motown! this was a nice easy listen

this was a fun, fresh, and moving way to start my morning. and I had no idea that Cry To Me was his!

Old fashioned rock n roll with some innovative twists on the formula.

Eh. Basic 60’s sound. Some good tunes but nothing groundbreaking.

All of these songs are good, but more so as songs I'd have playing in the background than be actively listening to. Saved If You Need Me and You Can't Love Them All. The melody of the lyrics of If You Need Me made the song really stick out to me immediate earworm. You Can't Love Them All is a fun song that made me smile, I can see it releasing today and being received well.

Better than most early rock'n'roll.

Overall I thought this was excellent, exactly what I would like to see from this list. An album that’s new to me and actually really good. the only reason I’m not going to 5 stars is that I’m not much of a soul aficionado and I want to leave some room for growth, but definitely 4+ stars.

Much better than the rest of the selections for this week! Great singer

Solomon Burke needs more love! I have loved "Cry to Me" since it was in Dirty Dancing. Not as many standout hits as say Sam Cooke or Otis Redding but lots of good stuff....

I've heard some of the songs beforehand, a great voice and easy to see how he was also a preacher the way he delivered the songs

Great listen, and enjoyed reading up about this guy, hope he shared the royalties out equally between his 21 kids 😯😅

Bonus point for being ahead of its time before music had really been invented.

Man. They don't make music like this any more. Imagine being in the clerb when You're Good For Me drops. What a time.

Nice voice but pretty bland everything else, I feel like I've heard everything on there a dozen times already

I thought I'd really enjoy this album based on how much i love Cry to Me, but the other reviews are correct, the other songs on this album are just a bit lacking. My two standouts were Cry to Me and Someone to Love Me, i don't think I'd listen to this album again.

There’s a sweetness to Solomon Burke. It’s a sweetness that binds the soul and soft rock together like honey in a sandwich; an oddly antiquated kind of sincerity that pushes this record even further back in time than it actually originated from. It feels, at times, as if the attitudes, customs and ways of seeing in here come from another epoch entirely – one I struggle to fully subscribe to. That said, the timelessness of a melody like the lead vocal in “Cry to Me” is entirely beyond debate. It’s a temporal concertina – the listening equivalent of that shot in Jaws where the background recedes to the point of vanishing and all that’s left is a startled, near-horrified face. The classics will live forever. The rest of it, though, might have well and truly already had its day.

An incredible vocal performance, from the range to the timbre… just gorgeous I loved the raw emotion in his voice. However did find the instrumentals a little lacking, backing vocals felt sort of dreary in parts. I still very much enjoyed this and its strengths cannot be looked over. I also thought some of the more country style songs were lovely with his voice. 2.5/5

good soul, 3.5

Mostly sounds like nostalgia for me. Won't You Give Him One More Chance is a solid track, as well as some others in here. 3/5

Cool, but not for me

I can appreciate it, but not really my style. Not one I would have on regular rotation. Recognized Cry to Me from somewhere and then realized it was from Dirty Dancing.

Salomon es uno de los grandes del soul y este es uno de los mejores discos del género. Una suerte de Thriller del soul. 7 de las 12 canciones fueron éxitos. Algunas como If you need me, se convirtió en clásico por derecho propio. Burke es una mezcla única de James Brown, ray Charles, Sam Cooke y Otis Redding, además del creador literalmente del Soul. Aquí nos encontramos con uno de sus mejores discos, al nivel de la resurreccion con Don´t give up on me. Cry to me, digna del mejor Sam Cooke o Elvis, fue versionada luego por los Stones o los Pretty things. If you need me (coescrita por Pickett junto a Bateman el de Please Mr. Postman) no desmerece un ápice de la original. De hecho, la versión de Burke fue la que tuvo mayor éxito. La jugada se la devolvió con el que sería su tema más conocido y no por su versión original sino por la de Pickett o los Blues Brothers: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. Can´t no body love you es una joya. Imposible distinguir si es soul, rock o pop. Hard, Ain't It Hard es una genial versión de un tema country de Guthrie. Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) es una base de son cubano?? You Can't Love Them All es otra gema, una más. Como Beautiful Brown Eyes, donde la voz del reverendo suena solemne. Cierra He´ll have to go, un broche maravilloso para un disco imprescindible.

Easy listening. Something to boogie to or just relax. Could have been in a Fallout game too.

Generally alright. I could toss this on in the background. Enjoyable. Inoffensive. Isn't really gripping me. "You Can't Love'em All" is a banger though. Great track. Was the only one to really jump out at me, but in general I was whelmed by the album.

This is just a nice record to have playing on a Sunday afternoon while cleaning the house or something. It sounds great - it’s a clear and bright artifact of its time in the best way. Well performed and crystal clear production for an album that is over 60 years old.

Can't nobody love you is great! It's hard to really judge an oldy rock n roll record for me, on a first listen and all, but it's quite good!

A couple songs that I recognized. Overall, a good solid soul record.

This album is pure class from start to finish. Burke’s voice is a force of nature—rich, commanding, and full of soul. Every track feels like it’s carved out of the foundations of modern R&B and rock, yet it still sounds timeless. The arrangements are tight, the grooves are irresistible, and the emotion in his delivery is undeniable. Would love to hear it on vinyl.

smash-hit-filled soul pop music from the 1960s. all of the songs featured are ballads about the ups, downs... trials and tribulations of romance. if there's one thing i can say about the album, is that burke knows how to sing loud and proud. you can imagine him gripping the mic and sweating as he sings. other than that performance level, the music really nothing special to me i'm afraid. sappy love songs that were pretty typical for this era, nothing really of note this time around.

wel oke

They have a nice voice but music like this does nothing for me

Good stuff. Not something I’d listen to very often, but good music nonetheless.

Heavier on the soul than the rock, lovely stuff!

Does what it says on the can. A good solid bit of popular music history without any true standout tracks.

amazing, amazing, amazing - to look back at what passed for romantic and lovely lyrics in a bygone era. an album, seemingly, dedicated to the worst woman possible. both described as feeding our vocalist dirt and being disliked and distrusted by everybody else in the entire world. love wins somehow

Oh yeah, rly nice

Helt kurant blues som sikkert var nyskapende da det kom. Greit å høre på og er relativt kort, men kommer nok ikke til å sette på dette igjen.. 🤷

Gjentakende, masete tekster ikke noe for meg i dag. Helt okei som bakgrunn kanskje

First one that I had never heard of before. I enjoyed it but wasn't blown away - suprising mix of influences from country, jazz, crooner, soul, rock and roll. I knew one or two of the songs from parody versions but not the originals.

Knows what it is, great vocals. Nice in the background

6 a simple smooth love classical ballad album that id want to play to someone, someday.

old school, slow, chill

It's a great album for those who enjoy soul, i do like it from time to time but it wouldn't be my 5-star genre. I do want to state that it is a top state of the art of its kind, the genre is not just for me. So if you like it, don't worry about people's 3s or 4s, you'll enjoy it

meh

Fun sound and I appreciate their messages. Don’t love the singer’s style/voice.

- Love the richness of his voice in the lower registers, and when he hits the high notes, there’s great emotion, and I love the raspy effect. The mid registers aren’t as interesting, but they’re nice enough. - The melodies are sweet. - The guitar and keys provide nice counterpoint to the songs, and the horns are simple and easygoing in support of the melodies. I could use a bit more instrumental on the songs without guitar. - My gripes are: 1) I wish the subject matter was more varied - we get it… you love her and/or she’s just not that into you. Is this a 60s albums thing - being *all* about love? It’s pretty boring. The old traditional albums that I’ve listened to so far on this list (Sinatra, Fats Domino, this) have been one-dimensional like this. It can also feel patriarchal. 2) When the backing vocals are thin/shouty and lacking complexity, it can feel unbalanced with his rich vocals. 3) The second half of the album wasn’t as engaging as the first half.

Much like a lot of the older and legacy picks for this list, I don't really see what is so essential about this project despite it having a very well known track like Cry to Me. It is a pretty standard Soul project from this time with the string arrangements and very surface level writing that feels so overdone when looking back on this era of music, but hey I guess I can't complain too hard because this project is still "good" in my eyes. I didn't get a whole lot out of this project but I guess I enjoyed it during the entirety of its' runtime. I think it is a solid and safe Soul project but there are much better efforts in the same genre from the 60s I would rather have than this.

As the title says.

Was hoping for more rock, but a decent album.

It was fine for what it was. Nothing blew my mind but nothing was hard to listen to. Perfectly fine.

Un po' troppo slow per i miei gusti

Great voice, easy listening

Yes. Good.

This was pretty good. Never heard Solomon Burke’s music before. It was nothing to blow my world apart, but it is well sung and well delivered. I’m not sure what I’d get from listening to it again, but I’ve got no complaints.

Good example of 60s soul music. Good versatile voice. I like most of the songs. Favorite song: you can't love 'em all.

Some great original soul on here. Highlights: "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" and "Can't Nobody Love Me"

Cool, mais correct, mais cool quand même. - Cyril, j’te fais une balise temporelle pour mieux te retrouver, je t’ai répondu en trois partie sur Virgin Suicide, Machine Head et Heaux Tales

I love these crooner albums and am never sad to hear one on!

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The songs are pretty fun to listen to and I liked his voice

I liked this album!! I'm not one for blues and soul if im being honest, but I can understand why its on this list-- it just doesn't age particularly well in my eyes. songs added to 1001 playlist: You're Good For Me

Very nice voice, a bit samey samey as an album and I zoomed out a few times. Chill, enjoyable, sentimental.

A pioneer of the soul genre, Solomon Burke's rich vocals drive his 1964 release 'Rock 'n Soul'. While he wasn't much of a songwriter, Burke's soulful delivery acts like both a warm blanket in the quieter parts and a vibrant ball of energy when he lets the passion loose. There's a great deal of dimension to his voice that justifies his reputation as the 'King of Rock 'n Soul'. He may not be as iconic as James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding or Barry White, but Solomon Burke certainly has the talent to match them! Best songs: Cry to Me, Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye), Hard, Ain't It Hard

Veldig behagelig å høre på.

Great blend of blues, country, gospel, and soul.

Not blown away by the songs or any of the music. Good soul voice, no doubt. But voice alone not enough to put this anywhere near the 4 category.

I think i might always have this as my soundtrack to a Monday. By the end of the day i was singing along, particularly from You're Good For Me onwards. Beautiful Brown Eyes is one hell of a song also. I hadn't heard of him before, so well done 1001 albums for this one!

Great vocals, I wasn't into the arrangements too much though.

Loved this. Straight onto the Sunday sessions playlist at the mythical Café Kelvinos (which incidentally has recently been granted a mythical liquor license and will henceforth be opening on Wed/The/Fri evenings for dedicated evening sessions) Despite being self confessed soul boy, I wasn’t familiar with the work of Solomon Burke. I am now, what a great find! I ended up spending an evening listening to old school soul, Sam, Otis etc An absolutely solid 4 stars.

Burke really is a great singer. He can go between smooth and gritty in a way not many others are capable of. I think the musicians are also brilliant. It’s hard for me to point out what is lacking. I think the simple answer is the songwriting. Whatever it is, it leaves me with a feeling that it could have been a five star record but it only delivers half of its potential. 3/5

Very good

Väitän että jossain toisessa mielentilassa tää olis voinu nousta jopa kolmoseen, mutta nyt muutama kelpo viisu ei jaksa kannatella sinne asti. Moni biisi vois hyvin soida Tarantinon leffoissa. Ehkä liian sielullista itelle tämmönen

Jätän kyllä teeskentelemättä että edes läpällä yrittäisin analysoida tällästä museopaskaa. Eihän tuohon aikaan muuta musaa tehty ku juuri tällästä geneeristä shittiä, eikä tämä erotu siitä massasta millään tasolla. 6 minuutissa levy kuunneltu läpi

Ei kyllä saa tällaisesta mitään irti…

Tässon kaveri joka runsaan levytyssaldon lisäks tykitteli myös perillisiä maailmaan tuimalla tahdilla. No sen voi varmaan laskee aina plussaks, mutta en tiiä vaikuttaako omaan arvosanaan. EHKÄ. No mut kuitenkin, on tää ihan jees mut ei kyl jaksa kuunnella kertaa enempi. Varmaan vähän liian vähän fallout radioo ja samalla liian vähän rokettirollia. Eli semmonen keskiviiva jossa on molemmat puolet haettu mukaan. Keskiviiva-arvosanalla siis mennään ja soppii eppäillä että tätä enää kuuntelisin.

Ilman ymmärrystä levyn historiallisesta merkityksestä ja ajan kulttuurin kokemisesta, jää tämä hyvin mitättömän kuuloiseksi kokonaisuudeksi.

No nyt. Todella kovaa ajoa. Vähän yllätti kun levy näyttäisi olevan vuodelta 1964. Omaan korvaan kuulosti ainakin 10 vuotta vanhemmalta, sekä biisien että soundien osalta. Kuuntelin kuulokkeilla junassa, niin pystyi oikein keskittymään. Tosi vahvoja americana-kaikuja. Oikein pystyin mielessäni matkustamaan 50-luvun puolivälin yhdysvaltalaisen pikkukaupungin tanssiaisiin jossa vähän ensin jorailtiin Solomon Burken tahtiin, ja sitten saattoi päästä saattamaan nättiä kellohameista tyttöä kotiin, jossa appiukkokokelas istuu kuistilla haulikon kanssa. Vähän huvitti jokaisen biisin feidausloppu, mutta kai se oli ajan tapa. Yhtä kaikki, hienoja biisejä ja tosi väkevää tulkintaa! Tilanteen ja fiiliksen mukaan kun mennään, niin tää on viiden tähden kamaa!

What a voice. The quality seems to dive a bit in the 2nd half of the (very short) album, but the openers are amazing.

A thoroughly enjoyable listen. I'm a little annoyed that I haven't stumbled across it before, to be honest. I knew only the opening track, and what an opening track it is. His voice gives me genuine chills in places on this album. Just beautiful.

A little aggressive in my ear, but overall I was okay with it.

Had some good qualities but sounded repetitive!

Great singer, but more of that music that has only historical value.

🤷.

Not my taste, but OK.

Quite enjoyed it, Soulfull - great voice

Went down easy.

Trotz Burkes kraftvoller Stimme bleibt das Album hinter seinen Möglichkeiten zurück. Die Songauswahl wirkt uneinheitlich, und der emotionale Tiefgang fehlt oft.

Best Track - "Can't Nobody Love You"

2 sterne

Pioneering and talented

Album ok, de soul com diu el títol.

Very enjoyable classic soul. This is definitely an album I want to listen to again.

A classic soul album it seems but wasn’t really rock.

"Hey that's the song from dirty dancing!"

Interesting record. You can feel Burke's voice change from song to song. You can't love 'em all!

I enjoyed it

Veldig koselig musikk Beste sang: Can't nobody love you

No conocía este disco. Por alguna razón solo estoy familiarizado con "Don't Give Up on Me" ("alguna razón" = RYM), más cerca del final de la carrera de Solomon Burke que del comienzo. Y algunos hits. Y fue una sorpresa muy agradable. Por ahora le voy a poner tres estrellas, pero lo voy a escuchar mañana nuevamente. Para no mandarme cagadas. Y es que es un disco que parece que envejeció. Es solo soul y RnB. Pero al mismo tiempo es un disco de 1964. Medio que hizo al soul y al RnB (junto a Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Nina Simone y la mar en coche). Es un disco breve, de unos 35 minutos, quizás un poco repetitivo. Curiosamente los intentos por desviarse de la fórmula me parece que son los peores números (te miro a vos, Just Out of Reach, un intento de country). Igual hay pequeñas cositas en las canciones que muestran un origen más distinto: Cry to Me, por ejemplo, no difiere mucho del resto, pero tiene un poquito de twist en su origen. Las canciones del disco están arregladas con bronces y coros, que se suman a una banda chica (batería, guitarra, bajo), pero lo que destaca es, sobre todo, la excepcional voz de Burke. Los arreglos son muy bonitos, pero a veces parecen un poco excesivos. El disco no tiene ni una sola canción de Burke, ni tuvo que ver con la dirección musical, lo que un poco lo pone atrás de otros músicos de la época. Dicho eso, es un disco muy disfrutable. Casi todas las canciones son buenas o, en el peor de los casos, entretenidas. La canción que me gustó más, al menos por ahora es Won't You Give Him One More Chance, con su guitarrita loca y melodía requete pegadiza. El primer y último tema del disco son muy buenos, me da la impresión de que son los hits obvios del disco; If You Need Me y You're Good for me, son como los temas más "soul" (soul de los 60s) del disco. You Can't Love Me All también está buena. Me hace acordar a algo pero no puedo poner el dedo sobre que es. ¿Algo mexicano? Los vientos son medio mariachis ¿Algo pop de los 60s como los Hollies? Los coros tienen esa vibra. Siento que escuché algo así. Ahh. En cualquier caso, el tema está bueno. En fin, linda sorpresa, pero no creo que pueda tener más de tres estrellas. Al menos por ahora, con solo tres escuchas.

This exemplifies why I love real recordings. All the character. All the vibes.

135/1001 Solomon Burke - Rock 'N Soul Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ This was a very pleasant surprise. What a voice! Yes there were moments that felt it was a little samey, but the fact that as an artist who was forging the sound of soul, you can be more lenient. Definitely one for a chilled day soundtrack.

Classic soul.

This is lovely, I just love that soul.

This was such a fun listen. Brief in duration but easily replayable. Something about this era of music is bound to give me goosebumps. Although I was not familiar with the artist (the unsung king of soul) it still felt familiar to me. Standout tracks: I'll be home

This is a high quality collection of songs with the rich voice of Solomon Burke and warm backing track. This style of soul/RNB doesn’t really resonate with me as much as later evolutions of the style however I understand the huge historical impact and influence of this album/artist. I love the emotion and singing on this album and of course cry to me is a classic. Unfortunately it’s not my style and not something I would listen to.

Pretty unique blues sound and voice - songs don't sound repetitive despite simple rythyms.

Sounds better in the evening rather than on the way to jury duty

9/10

Love the way this album is mixed and my favorites were the tracks on side 1 of the album. I had never heard this artist before (I don’t think)

It's a bit of a mixed bag between songs that are impressive, where you can tell they were influential, and songs that feel like they're from the forgettable soundtrack of an old romance film. Pretty decent but maybe not fully for me.

Loved it. Specially Goodbye Baby

Wide range of vibes off the album, not really my thing. Favorite song is probably can’t nobody love you

An album that reminds me a lot of Little Richard (You've Got Me), but that's because of the style of music and the singer's voice. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this album, even though I don't find the sequence of songs particularly interesting.

Sounds good.

A few good tracks. Some of it is a bit wet.

Great soulful vocals

Pretty good Motown soul artist, I wonder if I heard a track of his in a Scorsese sequence.

Beautiful music. Just the sort of soul I was hoping we'd get from this list.

Album No. 0052 on my list. Never heard of Solomon Burke before, this was a completely fresh album for me. I like the mixture of rock and soul in general, but found the songs themselves not that outstanding. I find it hard to name any outstanding songs, even though on the other hand, none of them are really bad. I’ll add “Cry To Me” and “He’ll have To Go” to my playlist though. In essence: 2/5 stars.

3.0 - Ok

An enjoyable album. I would listen to it again honestly. Favorite track: If You Need Me

Dear lord this is a great album. How did I not find this earlier in life.

Klasse

3 out of 5 Some nice blues/jazz/soul oldies. Not too bad.

dont know it!

Not bad. I'm not super into this style of soul but it was enjoyable. Burke has an amazing gritty voice and the accompaniments are groovy. Favorite songs: You're Good for Me, Won't You Give Him a Chance, Beautiful Brown Eyes.

I can understand why people would like this but it’s just not my music taste, or i could be hangry right now i’m not sure

It was some old school classic rock and soul like the album name. I realize I can never sing like that. I don't have soul. But sounded good.

Soulful, my wife would love this album

Not heard of this before but a very solid album

He has a great charming voice, I just find it kinda monotonous and dated I guess. Tracks to Track: Cry To Me

I feel like this album falls victim to the same detriments that other soul albums of this era have, at least for me. Little Richard, James Brown, Sam Cooke and now Solomon Burke were all excellent performers whose albums I have been handed as part of this project. And in each of those cases, I have lamented that this purely audio experience cannot capture or represent both the impact each artist had on popular culture and music, nor can it demonstrate their insane performance skills. Burke has an ability to really reach, to wail and to pour all of his being into his voice. Simply hearing it is great, but to see the performance is to know it. And you don't get that here. Should I hold that against the album? Is it the album's fault (or Burke's) that this was released at a time when music videos and live performances couldn't be viewed on demand? No, I shouldn't. And I'll try not to. I could listen to Burke sing literally anything. He has such an infectious voice and soul about him. But beyond his voice, the backup singers are absolutely pouring out their souls into these tracks as well. And while they sound dated, the effect isn't lost. The band, too, is excellent. An album like this can't work without these elements. The one thing I would say that's a negative about all of this is that, after a while, the energy gets a little overwhelming. I wouldn't have minded a few breaks of slower songs in there to break up the energy. But that doesn't detract from it being a great album, because it is. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye), If You Need Me, Can't Nobody Love You, Someone to Love Me

7/10 Favorites: Cry to Me He’ll Have to Go

Good album easy listen.

Pretty classic soul album. no particular song blew me away, but overall had a good vibe that I enjoyed. 3/5.

I enjoyed this. Jazz always just hits.

Definitely good music. I just don't love slow, swingy, bluesy jazz. It's not even like I didn't enjoy it, it's just not my taste. 2 outta 5

I really like this era of music and the soul and authenticity it brings. I enjoyed listening to this and may come back to it. But it pales in comparison to some of the similar albums.

Bon album de soul/blues, pas de chose particulière à rajouter

C’est sympa mais je pense que je vais oublier ..

De retour dans le style habituel, c'est bien mais j'ai l'impression d'entendre le même album en boucle 3/5

Enjoyed it somewhat. Listened twice. Great performance but held back by production imo. Not as lively as his contemporaries. But what to do I know really

I can see why people like this, but it's not really for me. It has that oldies feel and I'm not into that. Wow, what a beautiful voice, though.

no soul in here

I have to say, I am not well-versed in the soul genre; I have no idea what makes a soul album good or bad. This was just alright to me. Mr. Burke has a good, powerful voice that delivers the lyrics with great feeling, but after a few songs, they really started to meld together. There was very little variety from song to song, both musically and thematically. I’ll give it a 3/5 because it was mostly enjoyable, but kind of bland.

This music always has a tinge of nostalgia. Gauzy memory flashbacks in holiday movies, etc.

A great record I've never heard! Super soulful voice.

Beautiful album. Lots to like here. Funny dichotomy of romance.

At first, I really wasn't sure I was going to like it. It's a fine album, but I started skipping the songs about halfway through if they didn't get my interest after 30 seconds. I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to any of the songs, but I wouldn't turn any of them off if they came on. Skipped: Can't Nobody Love You, Just Out of Reach, You're Good For Me, Someone to Love Me, Beautiful Brown Eyes Neutral: Goodbye Baby, Won't You Give Him (One More Chance), If You Need Me, Ain't It Hard, Liked: Cry to Me, You Can't Love Them All, He'll Have To Go Loved: N/A Album Favourite: He'll Have To Go

I feel bad for all the 5 stars I’ve given now, because this was 100% deserving. A great album

4estrelas

Big vocal range showcased by these songs.

I'd never heard of Solomon Burke but I came to really appreciate him over the course of an album - he has a great variety of sounds and strengths across the album. I'm glad this album was on the list!!

Dreary

Solomon Burke’s smoky voice perfectly captures the spirit of “rock ’n soul,” but the album as a whole feels a bit repetitive. After four or five songs, I started to lose interest a little.

This album is an easy listening soul record. Some aspects of it are dated, but Burke's versatile and emotional voice makes up for it. The combined effect is a nice, relaxing record to listen to after a long day.

279/1089 - Samey but great voice. Definitely a good pick for the historical value of this album too.

I only knew Cry to Me. Enjoyed the rest of this. Great voice.

This was the first soul album I have ever given a full listen and I was surprised in the emotion this album brought. Honestly one of the most eye opening listens of my life and I am excited to learn more about soul from this list. I will sadly have to point out, the repetition this album had. This for me kept it away from that perfect spot of 5 stars. My three highlight tracks are, Cry to Me, Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye), and Can’t Nobody Love You.

Pleasant document of the early soul sound, with blues inflection (or back when it was understood that rock was part of the blues tradition). And an interesting contrast to Dylan trying to do the same thing (sort of) to much more annoying effect. Solomon is just so much cooler. The name checks of Ray and Sam, setting out the big three of their time. That said, I think the arrangements were a little busier than I prefer with Burke. This is much more influenced by the sound of the time, whereas his later, sparser ballads is the sweet spot for me.

Why is it just now I'm hearing him now?

This album goes so hard. He’s speaking the truth in every one of those songs. That’s really how he feels.

4/5 hrnst gy evr.

Honestly a really solid soul album, great for the morning.

1964 No thank you. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ until I'd had enough Revisit ❌️ ★☆☆☆☆ (2/10)

Great voice, with great feel. Really gave it the "soul" in the title. I did find the soul was more prevalent than the "rock" aspect, though it fits that descriptor when considering it in the Elvis-era of "rock" over something more modern. Some of the songs had more of it, too, especially on the later half. Regardless of the genre, his vocal efforts filled each song with passion and emotion that made it worth listening to. My main negative is that it was mostly boring outside of the vocals. The instrumentation wasn't all that interesting and really seemed to be there just to accompany the vocals (which, again, were great). That made it feel less engaging as it went, even though it was pretty short. Also gotta knock it down a bit since the artist didn't write the songs, which is my preference in these evaluations. Still, giving it a lot of credit for the performance and execution. It was a good listen. Overall: 3.5/5

Such a great voice. Nice listen.

Not my style of music at all but fine

Det va gøy, helt klart den type musikk æ ikke har nokka imot å høre på, men veldig sjelden oppsøke på egenhånd, så de her jevnlige dryppan i albumprosjektet e en fin påminnelse om at smaken min kan gå den veien også.

Beautiful, soulful (duh) voice. This is someone I would've loved to have seen live.

Solomon Burke's incredible, soulful voice that shines throughout the album. While the lyrics and backing musicianship are excellent, some moments do feel a bit boring.

⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 92 The Crooner of ‘Rock & Soul’ delivers powerful soul with middling arrangements. Solomon Burke was a pioneering American soul singer and preacher, often referred to as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Soul.” He was one of the key figures in shaping soul music in the 1960s, blending elements of gospel, R&B, country, and rock into his music with a deeply emotional and powerful vocal delivery. Burke’s voice is commanding, passionate, and utterly sincere. He could preach over a beat, cry out with heartbreak, or soothe with tenderness — often within the same song. His gospel roots are front and center, but he adapts them effortlessly to secular material. This album doesn’t play like a typical studio LP. It’s a compilation of Burke’s hit singles and key tracks from his early Atlantic years, giving it the feel of a greatest hits record — however lack the cohesiveness of a complete album. 🎧 Classic Track: Cry To Me 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Won’t You Give Him (One More Chance) 🎧 Personal Favorite: He’ll Have To Go 🚫 Skip Track: You’re Good For Me Themes range from heartache and longing to strength and survival. While the lyrics are mostly straightforward, Burke’s delivery gives them weight. Produced by Bert Berns, the album features the classic Atlantic Records sound: punchy horns, snappy drums, and smooth backing vocals. The arrangements are tight but never overpowering — always leaving space for Burke to shine. 🖼️ Album Artwork: 60’s run of the mill Rock ’n Soul was released not as a thematic studio album, but a strategic compilation of singles, meant to solidify his image and commercial position. This matters because the album, despite its title, isn’t cohesive in the way landmark soul albums would later become. It’s a singles collection masquerading as an LP, and while the quality is high, it lacks narrative flow. Burke leans heavily on melodrama in some tracks. For listeners not attuned to gospel’s emotional expressiveness, it can feel overwrought. His range — while powerful — is occasionally restrained by arrangements that aim more for radio accessibility than vocal exploration. There’s a lack of sonic diversity across the album. The tempos and arrangements stick to a safe midrange. Compared to what Marvin Gaye or James Brown would be doing just a few years later, this feels static. The production, while clean, doesn’t challenge Burke or the listener — it serves the songs but rarely elevates them.

Amazing album. It was pleasure to listen to it. One track added to my collection. However, sounds outdated and it is not my genre.

It was fine, nothing special. Solomon has a great voice, but the instrumentation is somewhat generic in my opinion. No track really stood out to me. Fav track: "Cry to me" Not a bad album, just kinda boring. 2/5

Kunne hørt men blir for typisk og litt kjedelig.

Classic soul. Not something I'd come across before but very enjoyable.

I was worried I might have a dud here but I actually quite enjoyed this. Very soulful, excellent voice, but perhaps a touch samey over the course of what is a very polite 35 minute run time. Cry To Me is a highlight and looking over reviews, it was featured in ‘Dirty Dancing’, which I have seen more than I care to admit thanks to having an older sister, although I didn’t specifically remember this song. It’s clearly influential, and whilst there is definitely a place for this, I’m not sure when I’d return here, although in the right mood, if someone put it on, I’d be happy enough to listen.

Solid Atlantic soul record with all the usual strengths and flaws like uneven songwriting and lyrics full of cliché. It's a fun listen, even if it doesn't surpass its peers in my book.

6/10… Soul

Some nice, soulful music. Nothing stood out as being particularly outstanding, but it's a decent listen overall.

very soulful, a great voice. An easy listening album. Not a lot of variety between songs. Feels like a Sunday morning vibe

Not a name that I knew well enough - it was only dimly familiar, so thank you, 1001. He was clearly hugely gifted and influential, and I loved his voice. The songs are arranged simply, but he expresses much emotion in that considered, restrained setting. Proper soul.

Really good album, a classic!

This album is that old gospel/soul sound that I used to hear on R&B dusty radio on Sunday afternoons back in the 80's. That 60's soul sound from Atlantic records that was more earthy and gritty than the Motown sound that was blowing up.

Nice listen

So good

Less well known than Otis, Sam and James and I wonder why. Gorgeous vocals and warm songs that engulf you in a hug.

As a massive IDLES fan I was familiar with Cry To Me although not the original artists version. Superb voice this guy and I’m embarrassed I’ve not heard of him before. Really good album with only a couple of songs that haven’t aged so well.

I always enjoy listening to the beginnings of rock and roll and this album was no exception. I won’t revisit it but I didn’t not enjoy it.

Pretty cool. Gave me Good Friday vibes

I enjoyed this very much. I had never heard of Solomon Burke, but not anymore.

Good, but a bit generic and boring soul. I like soul with a bit more grit than this.

beautiful voice but the album is too boring for me

Lovely voice, pretty standard songs for the genre, I did enjoy it a lot though. 3.4

6/10 Such a great voice, just the songs are not up there with it.

This was pleasant but I can’t say I will come back to this much, worth hearing for the history but not enough meat on the bone for me.

Great sounding vocal, didn't stay too long but still felt it lacked any big wow moments and variety.

Great voice. Backup singers. Horns. Vibe. It’s all working. This was another great one for our time at the lake.

It’s historically important, and it’s fun/energetic, but it all blended together. Although I can recall the feeling and style of the music, a day after having listened, I can’t name a standout track.

His voice is good, but as a whole this album is kinda samey. Favorite songs were Cry To Me and Can’t Nobody Love You

This style of music always reminds me of spending time with my Pop Pop

A fun and pleasant romp, but of the other 60's albums I've listened to on this list, this one strikes me as the one with the least variety and least staying power. Still, decent.

Love songs from a hustle-king-pastor with 21 kids. Now I've seen it all. His voice is great, cry for me is excellent. The other songs aren't as standout but I simply have very little to complain about here. Could use some more variety. Still a solid soul record.

Not a bad album, but it did just make me want to put on Sam Cooke.

Jazz/Gospel je dirais, plutot bien oour des moment calme ou juste un petit peu moins que calme

Quite good, its not as straightforwardly rock n' roll as that Little Richard album, which I think I like a lot more, its got elements of Soul stuff and also I feel like there's some Latin stuff in there a bit, notably with the acoustic guitars on some songs. The stacked backing vocals are also really good, and his singing is quite good as well and I feel like totally inspired people like Robert Plant. Not really too much else to say, I always feel like stuff from this era is a bit limited, but I guess this expands it a bit. He also has a few vocals styles so he's not always just yelling. Favourite songs: out of reach (of my two empty arms), won't you give him (one more chance), Beautiful brown eyes. Overall around 6/10

06/10/2025 I don't really remember it. So there was clearly nothing to set it apart from the rest, but it was good. Spotify listeners: 1.9 million

Enjoyable.

Favorite tracks: Cry To Me, Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) This album was enjoyable, but the songs all centered around the same themes and sounded too similar for anything to stand out very much. Also, I would have thought this was from the 50s rather than the 60s - it feels a bit dated for that time. Not a bad album, but I'm surprised it made this list. Side note: taken as a whole, lyrically this album is such a red flag 😂 let the girl go, my dude

Trevligt

Sweet men kanske inte så spännande. Men nosar på högre betyg.

I remembered on listening that Cry to Me by IDLES is a cover

Sounds like christmas Little too slow Boring

Burke is an undoubtedly talented and expressive performer capable of embodying the wide range of emotions, but unfortunately the songs on this record aren't much more than garden-variety mid-60s R&B.

Fun easy listen, his voice is amazing

Rockin' good times

Great horns. Good voice. Like it as a 60s album but not my thing overall

Wonderful record that I had never heard!

What a voice! Burke’s versions of some of these songs are the best I’ve ever heard. He should be a bigger name in soul up there with Otis Redding and Al Green, because this was excellent.

I appreciate this for the kind of music it is but this album is more “introspective scenes in The Sopranos” music than it is “classic R&B road trip” type music.

It was ok, but I wasn’t feeling it as much as I’d hoped.

Decent Soul album, but it doesnt speak to me.

I'm shocked that I hadnt heard of Solomon Burke before this listen. He has such a great voice. The album itself is mostly standard early 60's soul and ballads. I was also struck by the session musicians on the record, especially the guitar player. They really rip and help to elevate the album. Ultimately, it's a bit "standard." I don't think that ill listen to the whole album again, but all in there are definitely some great tracks that I'll seek out again. Notable tracks: Cry to Me, Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)

Nada demais. Voz legal, arranjos regulares, o que se espera. Entra por um ouvido e sai pelo outro, mas entendo sua inclusão na lista, e imagino que na época esse disco tenha agradado muita gente. Não envelheceu tão bem. 2/5

Great singing throughout, but it’s tough to fully connect with an album from this time period. Still an enjoyable listen today though.

Solomon Burke’s music might sound dated by today’s standards, but his voice remains undeniable. He had a gift for delivering raw emotion with power and grace, the kind of voice that could carry any song regardless of the era’s production choices. Tracks like Can't Nobody Love You and Cry to Me stand out as timeless showcases of his range and soul. Listening now, you can’t help but wonder what his music would have been like if he had come up in the 2000s, where modern soul and blues revival production could have given his voice a fresh canvas. Still, this album holds strong as a piece of classic blues and soul history. 8/10.

Beautiful soulful songs with a just as beautiful message. Very easy 5/5

Solid stuff, would listen again

very nice

Old enough it’s cool again. Enjoyable. Call and response backup singers were fun, as was the little doowop kinda vibe on some tracks.

Someone who wanted to take soul more seriously than just have it as lover's tunes which it often got reduced to. It's a great album with many different interpretations and some of Burke's own writings. For the time it might've been superb, now it's "only good" with the selection of songs.

Black Elvis ballads 3

Great singer. Great songs. 👍

This sounds like the 60's. Not necessarily bad, but definitely not my thing.

Great voice, some amazing songs.

Just one excellent song among other just fine songs

What a velvety voice, like if Sam Cooke and Elvis had a baby and taught it to sing like Bobby Vinton.

The fast songs are catchy. The rest is trite.

Classic R&B and soul with some early rock and roll elements and great vocal performance. A little repetitive but overall a nice listen.

Powerful voice, great performances and brilliant songs. The background accompaniments are simple, but effective. It's no wonder he was copied so extensively.

Nice work Sandra

Nearly everything I know about Solomon Burke (which is admittedly very little) came from reading Nick Hornby's High Fidelity. (Weirdly the track listing/order on Apple Music does not match what is on the cover or on Wikipedia. But the Wikipedia page also lists only Burke (vocals) in the "Personnel" section and I definitely hear instruments being played, so who knows...) The lyrics to "He'll Have to Go" are kind of hilarious. "Hard Ain't It Hard" sent me down a Woody Guthrie rabbit hole. Good album.

First listen, beautiful voice. I like the epiphany that he can and will fuck all those women up there on the street. Took me multiple tries to finish 5/10

Edit... I listened to an expanded collection so a couple of my fav tracks should not have been included here. Lowering to two stars based on that. Old school early rock 'n roll soul. Be Bop Grandma made me smile so wide. Arrangements represented the era, his voice & range were easy to listen, I can imagine the background singers dancing along. And that brass bass/sousa on some tracks was just yes. I recall Cry To Me from Dirty Dancing. Listened before? N Saved tracks? A couple Favorite tracks? Be Bop Grandma, Just Out of Reach of My Two Empty Arms, Cry to Me, ⭐⭐⭐ Liked it, saved several tracks

I was whelmed

Eh, of the time. Do not like the references to little girls every other song. Nor that the songs all relate to how good said little girl is or the sexual proweress of the singer lol. Good singer, music good albeit basic and repititive at a certain point. But didnt even finish it because knew was not going to be into the rest of the songs. So one stars.

Not really my thing but it was relaxing

2.5

Opens with an absolute banger. Beautifully done 60s soul. Sultry and cool.

This one was nice to throw on, mostly because I like getting more 60s rock, R&B, and soul albums in the mix. It’s got that warm, classic vibe that just feels easy to listen to, and the mix of styles kept things moving. The downside is nothing really jumped out. There weren’t any songs that made me stop what I was doing or want to go back and play them again. It worked best as background music while I was doing other stuff. Overall, Rock n’ Soul was fine. Not bad at all, just not super memorable either. It’s the kind of album you don’t mind having on, but you probably won’t be talking about it afterward.

This was great

Great album!

Good simple music - really enjoyed

Alright.

I love soul, and I was previously unfamiliar with Solomon Burke! Gorgeous ballads- I especially enjoyed "You're Good for Me".

Listening to this will have you wishing you had a group of background singers to emphasize your mundane deeds. If the cake I'm baking needs 2 cups of sugar I need the singers to chime in after I add 1 cup with "he just needs 1, 1 more cup!"

5/5 - True Classic Rock ... Soulful and smooth - A record with heart and soul. If you like Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Lionel Richie, The Spinners, etc., this is a record for you.

3 out of 5. Not a bad voice, another album that would be good to cook to or something.