Chicago is one of the great American cities famous for creating musical history.

The 'Windy City' has nurtured great artists, great music, and great radio.

Curtis Mayfield, the Chi-Lites, Walter Jackson, the Lost Generation, and Ramsey Lewis are just a few of the 2nd generation Chi-Town classic soul sensations.

One of the best first generation compilations featuring a treasure trove of Chicago goodies is the double CD Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest.

2008's Cadillac Records movie featuring Beyonce' as Etta James is a semi-fictional account of the story of Chicago's Chess Records, and it's founder, Leonard Chess.

After the blues era peaked, Chess, notable for recording the blues masters, turned his attention to the emerging R&B scene.

Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest, showcases recordings made between 1961 - 1971.

What makes the Chess soul sound so distinctive is the close lineage the music has to the blues.

Many of the 45 songs featured in this collection were regional rather than national or international hits. All the more reason to take a closer look at the tone and texture that makes these songs stand out.

It doesn't get any better than the vintage classic soul sound of Gene Chandler, Fontella Bass, Etta James, and Billy Stewart.

Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest was first issued in 1997, to mark the 50th anniversary of the record label.

There's an authentic raw edge to most of these songs.

Singing with emotion is the audience pleasing formula used by these artists.

You won't find as much of the slick uptown production style that marked the later sophisticated soul of Motown, Stax, Atlantic, and Philadelphia International Records.

Regardless, Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest is an excellent anthology revealing why the Windy City is so important in the history of R&B.

Take a look through the track list. These songs will bring back great memories.

CD 1

1. "Mama Didn't Lie" - Jan Bradley
2. "Strange Feeling" - Billy Stewart
3. "I've Been So Lonely" - Cookie & The Cupcakes
4. "Soulful Dress" - Sugar Pie DeSanto
5. "Love Ain't Nothin' (But A Monkey On Your Back) - Johnny Nash
6. "Who's That Guy?" - The Kolettes
7. "Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud" - Tony Clarke
8. "I Had A Talk with My Man" - Mitty Collier
9. "I Can't Help Myself" - The Gems
10. "Don't Mess Up A Good Thing" - Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure
11. "Voice Your Choice" - The Radiants
12. "Selfish One" - Jackie Ross
13. "The Entertainer" - Tony Clarke
14. "I Do Love You" - Billy Stewart
15. "Love Is A Five Letter Word" - James Phelps
16. "The Soul of A Man" - Fontella Bass
17. "Temptation Bout To Get Me" - The Knight Brothers
18. "Do I Make Myself Clear?" - Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto
19. "Take Me For A Little While" - Jackie Ross
20. "What About Me?" - The Valentinos
21. "I'm Satisfied" - Mitty Collier
22. "Searching For My Love" - Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces
23. "Only Time Will Tell" - Etta James

CD 2

1. "Rescue Me" - Fontella Bass
2. "I'm Not Ashamed" - Bobby McClure
3. "Stay By My Side" - Jo Ann Garrett
4. "Have Pity On Me" - Billy Young
5. "Wade In The Water" - Ramsey Lewis
6. "I Fooled You This Time" - Gene Chandler
7. "Don't Pass Me By" - Big Maybelle
8. "Lonely Girl" - Andrea Davis
9. "To Be A Lover" - Gene Chandler
10. "Don't Knock Love" - Barbara Carr
11. "I Believe She Will" - Eddie & Ernie
12. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" - Marlena Shaw
13. "A Love Reputation" - Denise LaSalle
14. "Dirty Man" - Laura Lee
15. "I Can't Make It Without You" - Fred Hughes
16. "Hold On" - The Radiants
17. "Good To Me" - Irma Thomas
18. "You Left The Water Running" - Maurice & Mac
19. "Oh What A Day" - The Dells
20. "Baby, I Love You" - Little Milton
21. "Losers Weepers" - Etta James
22. "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation" - The Dells

Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest

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