That's Soul Vol. 1-6 [1995] Various Artists (6 x CDs) | BUTTERBOY

VA - That's Soul Vol. 1-6 [1995] (6 x CDs)

SOUL

Released in 1995 by WEA Germany, That’s Soul 1-6 is a six-CD treasure trove that dives headfirst into the rich, emotive world of Atlantic soul. It’s not flashy, not overhyped, just a beautifully curated set that honours the artists, the grooves, and the grit that defined soul music’s golden age. The That’s Soul series was originally released as individual volumes before being compiled into the six-CD box set in 1995.  Each disc in the set corresponds to a previously issued compilation, often with identical track lists and artwork. These standalone volumes circulated in Europe throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, primarily on vinyl and CD. The 1995 box set simply brought them together in one cohesive package.

Each volume is packed with classics, deep cuts, and a few surprises, all drawn from the Atlantic, Atco, and Stax catalogs. You’ll find the heavyweights here: Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Sam & Dave, Solomon Burke, and Carla Thomas, among others. But what makes this set special is its sequencing, it doesn’t just stack hits. It flows like a well-worn mixtape, moving from dancefloor burners to heartache ballads with ease.

Volume 1 opens with Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” and rolls through Arthur Conley’s “Sweet Soul Music,” Aretha’s “I Never Loved a Man,” and Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood.” By Volume 3, you’re deep into the groove with King Curtis’s “Memphis Soul Stew,” The Bar-Kays’ “Soul Finger,” and Otis’s “Dock of the Bay.” Volume 5 throws in curveballs like Rex Garvin’s “Sock It To ’Em J.B.” and Arthur Conley’s cover of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” showing how soul artists reinterpreted pop with grit and flair.

The mastering is clean and respectful, no brickwall compression, no gimmicks. These tracks retain their analog warmth, their tape hiss, their emotional punch. The packaging is modest but functional, and while liner notes are sparse, the music speaks volumes.

For collectors, this set is a goldmine. For newcomers, it’s a masterclass in soul’s emotional range and rhythmic power. And for anyone who believes music should move both body and spirit, "That’s Soul" 1-6 is essential listening. (B)

Produced in homage (sic) to the 1968 This Is Soul compilation beloved of so many of us

(me included still have my vinyl original and it introduced many of the UK to soul music) and this expands and develops the theme into 6 further complete volumes

This Is Soul (1968) Discogs