As we learn afresh every year, there is no way to convey the whole of a state’s musical legacy on just one compilation, especially a Southern state! Faced with this impossible task—with a subject no less daunting than the home state of James Brown, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Sam & Dave, Sharon Jones, and Ray Charles (to name the soul stars)—we turned to the only honest methodology we know: if you can’t include everything, make sure everything you include is masterful.
Full liner notes and credits for these songs appear in the Georgia Music Issue. We believe every one of these songs is worthy of representing the Empire State of the South.