Looking for a soul and funk playlist that goes beyond the usual hits? You’re in the right place. This handpicked collection of 22 rare soul gems and gritty funk anthems is a love letter to the deep cuts — the overlooked, the underplayed, the absolutely unforgettable. Hit play — and leave your hat on.
Let it roll
Come on & Gettit – Marion Black
If soul music had a secret recipe, Marion Black would be the keeper of the spice rack. With a voice smooth as velvet and a groove that glides straight into your hips, “Come on & Gettit” is a gem of bittersweet longing. Released in 1970, the track didn’t top charts, but in funk circles, it’s a sacred whisper. Black’s voice drips with urgency — like a lonely saxophonist wailing into a foggy night. It’s soul for insomniacs and dreamers alike.
You Got a Good Thing Going – Dicky Williams
Sometimes the title says it all. “You Got a Good Thing Going” hits like a slow-burning confession over whiskey at 2 a.m. Though the album hails from the early ‘80s, Dicky Williams stayed true to his roots — rich in blues, gospel and gritty Southern soul. His voice? A sandpaper sermon from a man who’s seen heartbreak and danced with it. Raw, real, and as sticky as a humid Louisiana night.
I Need You Woman – Eddie Floyd
1969 wasn’t just the year of the moon landing — it was also the year Eddie Floyd launched Rare Stamps, a collection of emotional missiles, one of them being “I Need You Woman.” With that signature Stax Records heat, this song doesn’t ask for love — it begs for it. Floyd, best known for “Knock on Wood,” reveals a more tender side here. His voice crackles with longing, like a letter set on fire just before it’s mailed.
(I Gotta) Hold On To My Love – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
British soul with the heat of a Memphis summer? Look no further than Geno Washington and his explosive Ram Jam Band. “(I Gotta) Hold On To My Love” doesn’t just groove — it stampedes. Known for their sweat-soaked live shows in the ‘60s, this band played soul like it was a full-contact sport. Geno’s vocals punch, plead and party all at once. A sonic adrenaline shot in three blazing minutes.
My Elusive Dreams – Joshua Dillard
1972 gave us a melancholic masterpiece with “My Elusive Dreams.” It feels like a late-night drive through fog — slow, wistful, and hauntingly honest. Joshua Dillard remains a shadowy figure in soul’s archives, but this song alone etches his name into the genre’s emotional hall of fame. His voice carries the weight of every missed chance and lost love. It’s not just a song — it’s a sigh with rhythm.
So Says My Heart – Pat Melfi, Lattimore Brown
This track doesn’t whisper sweet nothings — it declares war on indifference. “So Says My Heart” is a powerhouse ballad that wraps raw emotion in a velvet glove. Lattimore Brown, a man whose life reads like a Southern Gothic novel, delivers vocals soaked in lived pain. Pat Melfi, more of a behind-the-scenes figure, helped pen this under-the-radar gem. Together, they summon a soulful sermon that aches with honesty and unfiltered vulnerability.
Get Aboard the Soul Train – Dorothy Norwood
Before “Soul Train” was a TV sensation, Dorothy Norwood was already turning gospel into groove. “Get Aboard the Soul Train” isn’t just a song — it’s an invitation, a call to arms, a spiritual ticket to liberation. Known as “The World’s Greatest Storyteller,” Norwood merges church fire with street swagger. Released during the early ‘70s, this track explodes with brass, bounce and belief — a funky sermon that moves both feet and spirit.
Leave Your Hat On – Etta James
Let’s be real: when Etta James tells you to “Leave Your Hat On,” you don’t ask questions — you turn the lights down. Her rendition is smoke and fire, sensuality wrapped in grit. From the 1974 album Come a Little Closer, this version slinks and struts like it owns the room. Etta’s voice? Pure seduction soaked in whiskey and rage, capable of melting walls or starting revolutions. Not safe for the faint of heart — or weak of knees.
Tired of Busting My Brain – Geater Davis
1971 brought us this overlooked soul cry from Geater Davis, one of the genre’s most criminally underrated voices. “Tired of Busting My Brain” hits like an exhausted exhale from a man crushed under life’s weight. Davis had a vocal tone that could bruise — deep, smoky, and heartbreak-hardened. This track isn’t flashy. It’s the sound of working-class blues, of bills unpaid and dreams delayed. And yet, it’s irresistibly beautiful.
Can I Change My Mind – Don Bryant
When Don Bryant asks, “Can I Change My Mind?”, it’s not rhetorical — it’s soul-searching. Originally written for Tyrone Davis, Bryant’s own version pulses with regret and hope. Released in the late ‘60s, the song rides a tight groove, pairing buttery vocals with a backbone of brass. Bryant — once a hit songwriter at Hi Records and now in a late-career renaissance — proves that great soul never dies. It just waits for the right moment to ask the right question.
Can’t Find No Substitute for Love – Larry Williams, Johnny Watson
Released in the funk-drenched mid-70s, “Can’t Find No Substitute for Love” is no-nonsense heartache with a dirty grin. Larry Williams and Johnny “Guitar” Watson bring the heat with swagger and syncopation. These two weren’t just musicians — they were sonic alchemists. Williams’ vocal grit paired with Watson’s electrified funk makes this a soul jam with muscle. Love might be elusive, but this groove is in-your-face and unforgettable.
Especially for You Baby – The Four Puzzles
Talk about rare soul gold. “Especially for You Baby” is a warm, velvet-wrapped heartbreaker from the nearly mythic group The Four Puzzles. Not much is known about them — which only adds to the cult-like status of this 1960s track. The harmonies are tighter than a three-piece suit, and the mood? Pure, unfiltered devotion. It’s the kind of song you’d slow dance to in an empty kitchen with tears and toast. Obscure? Yes. Essential? Absolutely.
You’ve Got to Crawl Before You Walk – The Lost Generation
1970 gave us soul that spoke like a wise uncle — and The Lost Generation were the philosophers of the genre. “You’ve Got to Crawl Before You Walk” delivers tough love with a silky smile. Produced by the legendary Carl Davis, this Chicago-based group combined lush arrangements with street-smart lyrics. Their blend of grit and elegance turns this track into both a warning and a lullaby. It’s soul wisdom set to strings and groove.
Get Up and Get Down – The Dramatics
Put down your coffee — this one hits harder than caffeine. From the explosive 1971 album Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get, “Get Up and Get Down” by The Dramatics is the ultimate call-to-action funk bomb. With those unmistakable harmonies and a bassline that refuses to sit still, the track sounds like joy doing jumping jacks. These Detroit legends brought drama to soul — quite literally — and this track proves why they remain dancefloor royalty.
Blind Man – L.A. Carnival
The L.A. Carnival might not be a household name, but their 1970 track “Blind Man” is a masterclass in psychedelic funk. Born out of Omaha, Nebraska (yes, really), the band channeled Curtis Mayfield and Sly Stone into something wild, gritty, and gloriously groovy. “Blind Man” is protest, poetry, and percussion all rolled into one. The fuzzed-out guitar, heavy rhythm section, and socially charged lyrics make this track a hidden funk grenade — ready to blow minds.
She’ll Never Be Your Wife – Irma Thomas
The year was 1972, and Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” delivered this simmering, spine-tingling anthem of defiance. “She’ll Never Be Your Wife” isn’t just a song — it’s a raised eyebrow and a mic drop. Thomas, long overshadowed by Motown giants, carved her path with emotional intelligence and powerhouse vocals. Here, she blends heartbreak with quiet fury, turning personal pain into a soulful middle finger wrapped in elegance.
Use Me – Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips didn’t just cover Bill Withers’ “Use Me” — she turned it into her own soulful gospel of sensual resilience. Released in the early ‘70s, this version crackles with attitude and vocal acrobatics. Phillips, whose career spanned jazz, blues, and soul, battled demons but never lost her fire. Her raspy phrasing here is hypnotic, drenched in lived experience. She doesn’t beg — she commands. And the result? A sultry, swagger-filled classic.
Come Together – The Meters
It’s not a Beatles cover. It’s a full-blown funk overhaul. The Meters, New Orleans’ tightest rhythm machine, turn “Come Together” into a syncopated strut. Released in 1976, this version slaps with greasy organ grooves, tight drums, and no-nonsense attitude. The Meters don’t waste time — they play. Every note here is soaked in street funk, giving Lennon’s original a second life in bell bottoms and sunglasses. A must-hear reboot for groove connoisseurs.
Watch Dog – Barbara & The Browns
When Barbara & The Browns recorded “Watch Dog,” they didn’t expect it to become a cult classic. But this southern soul cut is pure gold. Barbara’s voice — raw, pleading, powerful — rips through the speakers like a storm in church shoes. Hailing from Memphis, this group mixed gospel fire with secular smoke. The track is about love, betrayal, and that sixth sense when something feels off. It’s short, sharp, and absolutely searing.
Hanging Heavy in My Mind – Doris Allen
Closing things out is Doris Allen, a name that deserves way more spotlight. “Hanging Heavy in My Mind” is a deep soul treasure from 1969, drenched in sorrow and steel. Allen’s voice soars and shatters, carrying the weight of grief and grace in every note. This is soul at its most intimate — not polished, but painfully pure. The instrumentation is minimal, allowing her anguish to take centre stage. A curtain call soaked in emotion.
Bonus Track: Give It To Me – The Mob
Surprise encore? You bet. “Give It To Me” by The Mob isn’t your typical soul track — it’s brassy, funky, and built for dancing on sticky club floors. This Chicago outfit fused rock, soul, and R&B into one ecstatic wall of sound. Released in 1971, the song is a party invitation in platform shoes. Horns scream, drums pound, and the vocals are pure showbiz. If this doesn’t get your shoulders moving, check your pulse.
Black Betty – Son of Dave
And finally, the wild card. “Black Betty” by Son of Dave is a twisted, beatbox-blues reimagining of a folk classic. It’s raw, it’s hypnotic, it’s almost dangerous. With just a harmonica, stompbox, and loop pedal, this modern-day one-man band transforms the track into a swampy fever dream. It’s the perfect endnote to a playlist full of love, longing, and loud truth.
The Playlist
- Come on & Gettit – Marion Black
- You Got a Good Thing Going – Dicky Williams
- I Need You Woman – Eddie Floyd
- (I Gotta) Hold On To My Love – Geno Washington, The Ram Jam Band
- My Elusive Dreams – Joshua Dillard
- So Says My Heart – Pat Melfi, Lattimore Brown
- Get Aboard the Soul Train – Dorothy Norwood
- Leave Your Hat On – Etta James
- Tired of Busting My Brain – Geater Davis
- Can I Change My Mind – Don Bryant
- Can’t Find No Substitute for Love – Larry Williams, Johnny Watson
- Especially for You Baby – The Four Puzzles
- You’ve’ Got To Crawl Before You Walk – The Lost Generation
- Get Up And Get Down – The Dramatic
- Blind Man – L.A. Carnival
- She’ll Never Be Your Wife – Irma Thomas
- Use Me – Esther Phillips
- Come Together – The Meters
- Watch Dog – Barbara & The Browns
- Hanging Heavy in My Mind – Doris Allen
- Give It To Me – The Mob
- Black Betty – Son Of Dave
Leave Your Hat On. by Funkologie on Mixcloud
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