Less up-tempo, frantic and danceable - and considerably more melodic - than regular 60s Soul, the roots of SOUTHERN SOUL can be dated back to the mid-50s. This 60-track, 2-CD set comprehensively explores the birth of Southern Soul, from the point where Gospel, R&B; and even rural Country began to merge. Many of the genre's biggest names are featured herein, notably Ray Charles, Bobby Bland, Sam Cooke, Ted Taylor, Ivory Joe Hunter, Brook Benton, Solomon Burke, Arthur Alexander, Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Little Willie John, Betty Lavette, Little Esther Phillips, etc. Also included are deep Soul cuts from James Brown, Otis Redding, Roy Brown, Ruth Brown, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, William Bell, The Tams, Barbara Lynn, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Joe Tex, etc., names perhaps more readily associated with regular R&B; and/or 60s Soul. This is a unique and irresistible collection of hits and collectors' obscurities, many of the latter unavailable elsewhere on CD.