Classic soul, funk and R&B, and a setup worthy of the records
OlSkoolMusic is an independent listening guide to old school soul, funk, R&B and early hip-hop. Find a place to start, hear how the sound moved from Motown to new jack swing, and put together a record setup that does those albums justice.
Flip through the crates
Each era and scene page explains what changed in the sound, who drove it, and which albums make the best way in, with links onward to the full listening guides.
- 60s1960s soulGospel voices, Detroit polish and Memphis grit, from Sam Cooke to Aretha.
- 70s1970s funkJames Brown’s rhythm revolution, P-Funk, Sly and the big bands.
- 80s1980s R&BSynths, drum machines, Minneapolis funk and velvet ballads.
- BronxEarly hip-hopBlock parties, breakbeats and the funk records that built rap.
- DetroitMotownHow a Detroit label made soul into pop, and where to start beyond the hits.
- PhillyPhilly soulGamble & Huff, lush strings and the rhythm section that led to disco.
- Late nightQuiet stormThe late-night radio format and the slow, adult R&B it named.
- NJSNew jack swingTeddy Riley’s swing beats, where R&B met hip-hop at the end of the 80s.
Start with these records
Six albums that each open a different door. None of them needs any background to enjoy, and each one leads to a guide with what to hear next.
- Aretha Franklin, 1967I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Gospel power meets a tight Southern rhythm section. The quickest way to hear what “soul” meant in the 60s.
Explore 1960s soul - Marvin Gaye, 1971What’s Going On
A Motown star takes control and makes a continuous, socially aware song cycle. Play it start to finish.
Read the album guide - Stevie Wonder, 1973Innervisions
Wonder plays most of the instruments himself, and the synth bass on “Living for the City” points straight at the future.
See the 70s funk starter list - Parliament, 1975Mothership Connection
P-Funk at its most focused: horns, Bootsy’s bass, Bernie Worrell’s keys and a sci-fi concept that never gets in the way of the groove.
See the 70s funk starter list - Luther Vandross, 1981Never Too Much
The template for sophisticated 80s R&B: a light, bouncing title track and ballads built to take their time.
Read the 1980s R&B guide - D’Angelo, 1995Brown Sugar
What happens when a 90s artist absorbs all of the above. A bridge back to the classics for anyone who came in through neo-soul.
Read the album guide
Test your ear: Crate Digger Challenge
Pull five records from the crate and answer a question about each one: sounds, scenes, producers and the stories behind them. Two or three minutes, a new daily crate, no sign-up.
Hear these records properly
Classic soul and funk were cut to be felt: bass lines, horn sections, room sound. A modest record setup brings that out, but only if the parts match. The most common first-timer mistake is a turntable with no phono preamp plugged into speakers that expect a line-level signal.
Our buying guides start with that compatibility question, then cover budget, space and what each choice gives up.
From the archives
Recently updated
Who curates OlSkoolMusic
OlSkoolMusic is an independent site, not the official home of any artist, group or label. Our editors choose records for how well they introduce an era or sound, and we check release details against label and discography sources before publishing.
Gear recommendations come from manufacturer specifications and compatibility research, not hands-on lab testing, and we say so on every guide. Some gear links go to Amazon; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we choose what to recommend