The Very Best of Wilson Pickett

50 Essential Albums of 1967 (50 music items)

"Not just for the half-rhyme's sake was this repurposed gospel up-and-comer called the wicked Pickett. If there were a genre dubbed hard soul, he'd exemplify it, and the reason there isn't is that none of his rivals commanded a voice so tough or an attack so unyielding. By his standards a love song is something suitable for a phone booth wall at the midnight hour – "634-5789," perfect. That's one reason dance records that don't quit such as "Funky Broadway" and "Mustang Sally" were his wheelhou"

500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die! (500 music items)

"A hard-assed titan of ’60s soul who could almost strip paint with his larynx, “wicked” Pickett could sweet-talk your girl into his bed and was so awesome you’d think he could even make “Hey Jude” funky. And he could. Standout track: “Engine No. 9”"