1 – King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar – This is as playful as Kendrick ever gets, for a full fledged rap superstars he isn’t a particularly cheerful fellow though you think he would be on this Roots sage – B+
2 – Prisoner – Jordan Bratton – Better than possible and while Chance The Rapper always helps, the a capella intro with the sweet harmonies in the background is among the prettiest things you’ll hear this year – A
3 – Let’s Stay Together – Al Green – In the heart of the 1970s,was soul never better before or since. Certainly, who is Green’s equal in 2015? Not even Green himself – A+
4 – Never Too Much – Luther Vandross – Cocaine fueled flow and glow soul – A
5 – When Can I See You Again – Babyface – This is the blueprint for 21st century r&b when the r&b isn’t hip hop induced – A
6 – Take A Bow – Madonna – Co-written by Babyface, this stands as her greatest soul song, nothing icy here, it is creamy, gorgeous, with deep harmonies on a bed on melody. One of her top five songs – A+
7 – Pour It Up – Rihanna – Rihanna is an ice queen, this stunning stripper ode, “all i see is signs, all I see is dollar signs” might well be the one undeniable truth about her – A
8 – We Found Love – Rihanna – Back in 2011, Calvin Harris reinvented EDM as modern MOR, and the world hasn’t been the same since – A
9 – 7/11 – Beyonce – A rhythmic trip – B+
10 – Dream A Little Dream Of Me – Ella Fitzgerald – Armstrong on trumpet before he joins possibly the greatest American singer of all time – A+
