Metacritic Aggregate: 2020 Old Music: Blues/Gospel/R&B

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

Reissues, compilations, vault music, etc. For new records, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Hanging Tree Guitars (Music Maker Relief Foundation) {31}: DW:49, PJ:72, PO:+, Rx:1, TN:*; xcg:4, xgh:9, xjc:3, xjdc:36, xjl:3, xjy:1, yrb:2 -- RC:A, TH:A-
  2. The Harry Smith B-Sides (Dust-to-Digital -4CD) {14}: Mj_r:18, RC_v:2, SE_r:64, TL_r:6; aqd:+, jjm_c:+, ns_r:5
  3. Ready or Not: Thom Bell's Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978 (Ace) {13}: SE_r:5, TL_r:1, U:*, YW_r:10
  4. Roberta Flack: First Take [50th Anniversary Deluxe Addition] (SoulMusic.com) {12}: AS:*, Mj_r:12, RC_v:5; npr_lo:4, npr_x:+, rs_r:6, tbm:+ -- A:100/1
  5. Stone Crush: Memphis Modern Soul 1977-1987 (Light in the Attic) {12}: AM:*, Mj:*, PO:+, RC:*, RC_v:24, SC:*, SE_r:46, TL_r:8 -- A:80/4, TH:**
  6. The Staple Singers: Come Go With Me: The Stax Collection (Craft) {9}: AM:*, Fld:*, Mj:*, RC:*, RS:*, SE_r:65, U:*; npr_x:+rc_s:10 -- M:88/5
  7. Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers: Get in Union (Field Recordings) {8}: Pf:*, PO:+, SC:*; aqd:+, bc_r:*, npr_x:+ -- A:89/2, TH:**
  8. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In) (Daptone) {8}: AS:*, EW:*, Gl:*, KX:48, Mj:*, Sp:*, V:* -- A:78/4, M:85/5, TH:*
  9. Dave Alvin: From an Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings (Yep Roc) {7}: ND_r:17; ns_r:9, tbm:21 -- TH:***
  10. John Lee Hooker: Documenting the Sensation Recordings 1949-1952 (Ace) {6}: AAJ:*, RC_v:14, SE_r:52; mj_b:4
  11. Kenny Carter: Showdown: The Complete 1966 RCA Recordings (Kent) {5}: SE_r:75; rc_s:1, tbm:+
  12. Sam Cooke: The Complete Keen Years (1957-1960) (ABKCO -5CD) {4}: Gl:*, Mj:*, SE_r:40, U:* -- M:85/4
  13. Spring NYC Soul (Ace) {4}: YW_r:4
  14. The Soul of the Memphis Boys (Ace) {4}: SE_r:69, TL_r:9
  15. Aretha Franklin: Aretha (Rhino -4CD) {3}: Mj:*; rc_s:6, vbs:+
  16. The Meters: Gettin' Funkier All the Time: The Complete Josie/Reprise & Warner Recordings 1968-1977 (Soul Music) {3}: RC:*, U:*, W:* -- M:82/4
  17. Prince: Up All Nite With Prince: The One Nite Collection (SMG -5CD) {3}: Pf:*, SE:+; mm:+ -- A:67/2
  18. Carla Thomas: Let Me Be Good to You: Atlantic & Stax Recordings 1960-1968 (Soulmusic -4CD) {3}: rc_s:4, tbm:+
  19. The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection (Craft -2CD) {2}: rc_s:5
  20. Loleatta Holloway: Loleatta/Cry to Me (Kent) {2}: rc_s:2
  21. Evelyn "Champagne" King: The RCA Albums 1977-1985 (SoulMusic -8CD) {2}: AM:*; am_z:+
  22. Eugene McDaniels: Outlaw (Real Gone Music) {2}: AM:*, U:*
  23. New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers: Vol 1 (2007, Stony Plain) {2}: AM:*; mj_b:6 -- A:75/2
  24. Esther Phillips: Brand New Day: Lenox/Atlantic & Roulette Recordings 1962-1970 (Soulmusic -5CD) {2}: rc_s:3
  25. Sister Sledge: Thinking of You: The Atco/Cotillion/Atlantic Recordings 1973-1985 (SoulMusic -6CD) {2}: AM:*; am_z:+
  26. Brother Theotis Taylor: Brother Theotis Taylor (Mississippi) {2}: PO:+; aqd:+
  27. Dinah Washington: Jukebox Pearls: A Rockin' Good Way (Bear Family) {2}: rc_m:5
  28. Crawling Up a Hill: A Journey Through the British Blues Boom 1966-71 (Grapefruit -3CD) {2}: AM:*; am_z:+
  29. This Is Fame 1964-1968 (Kent Soul) {2}: Mj:*, SE_r:76
  30. James Booker: Classified (1983, Craft) {1}: U:*
  31. Solomon Burke: The King of Rock 'n' Soul (SoulMusic) {1}: tbm:+
  32. Jarrod Dickenson: Ready the Horses (2017, self-released) {1}: pm_s:14
  33. Manfredo Fest: Brazilian Dorian Dream (1976, Far Out) {1}: AM:*
  34. Loleatta Holloway: Loleatta/Cry to Me (Kent) {1}: Mj:*
  35. Sparkle: Sparkle (1979, Cultures of Soul) {1}: bc_r:*
  36. Big Joe Turner: The Complete Boss of the Blues (Bear Family -2CD) {1}: SE_r:72
  37. The Viscaynes: The Viscaynes & Friends (Org Music -19) {1}: PO:+
  38. Dionne Warwick: Deja Vu: The Arista Recordings (1979-1994) (Soulmusic) {1}: AAJ:*
  39. Jackie Wilson: Whispers (1966, Edsel) {1}: rc_s:8
  40. Danny Woods: Aries (1972, Demon) {1}: rc_s:7
  41. Disco Demands Part Six (BBE) {1}: bc_r:*
  42. Inner City Review (Arc) {1}: YW_r:33