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. 

1. Cold Sweat (False Start)
James Brown

2. Watch the Dog That Bring the Bone
Sandy Gaye

3. Ohoopee River Bottomland
Larry Jon Wilson
from the film Heartworn Highways

4. Brass Buttons
Gram Parsons

5. See See Rider Blues
Ma Rainey & Her Georgia Jazz Band

6. Georgia Buck
Precious Bryant

7. Raggy Levy
Jake Xerxes Fussell

8. Untitled
Killer Mike
featuring Scar

9. I Want the Lord to Do Something For Me
Straight Street Holiness Church Choir

10. Sweet Picking Time in Toomsboro, Ga.
Tut Taylor 
with Norman Blake

11. Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

12. The Living Bubba (live)
Drive-By Truckers

13. Awake
Smoke

14. The Winter Is Coming
Elf Power

15. Tried to Be True
Indigo Girls

16. Potter’s Field
Alice Swoboda

17. Diamond Joe
Bessie Jones

18. As Bad As I Am
Ruby the RabbitFoot

19. I’ve Got Dreams to Remember (Rougher Dreams)
Otis Redding

20. Aquemini
OutKast

21. Lonesome Atlanta Blues
Bobby Grant

22. Recent Title
Pylon

23. Midnight Rider
Allman Brothers Band

24. Midnight
Futurebirds

Recorded especially for the Oxford American
LISTEN HERE

25. Moon River (1961 demo)
Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer

Order the Oxford American’s Georgia Music Issue & CD today!