In case you aren’t familiar, St. Paul and The Broken Bones is a band packed full of make-you-feel-good soul. Their recent single, “Call Me”, is on constant rotation here at the studio. Although based in Birmingham, Alabama, the group has ties to the Shoals – lead guitarist Browan Lollar is a Shoals native, and the band’s upcoming debut album, Half the City, was produced by Ben Tanner and is being released by Single Lock Records on February 18. The playlist below, curated by “St. Paul” himself, displays a playful knowledge and enjoyment of soul-rooted music.

Name: Paul Janeway
Band: St. Paul and The Broken Bones
Instrument(s) you play: Holler in a microphone
Hometown: Chelsea, AL
Presently residing: Birmingham, AL

AC: When did you start playing music?

PJ: When I was 4 years old, I started singing in church. I think my first song was “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”. I started playing guitar as a freshman in high school. I am a pretty lousy guitar player though.

AC: What are some of your proudest moments as a musician (or in your life)?

PJ: The first time we sold out a show at Bottletree Café here in Birmingham was a great moment. Also, the time I sang at the Muscle Shoals documentary premiere up in Muscle Shoals. I got to sing “When A Man Loves a Woman” and Spooner Oldham was playing keys to my right. It doesn’t get much bigger than that in my book.

AC: What do you do when you’re not playing music?

PJ: I spend as much time with my lady, Caroline, and my dog, Mavis, as I possibly can. I also watch way too many episodes of The Simpsons.

AC: What makes your heart sing?

PJ: It would probably be Saw’s BBQ in Birmingham. It probably makes my heart do a lot of things.

AC: Tell us about your playlist.

Marvin Gaye – “Distant Lover”
Marvin Gaye sings with such ease. The background vocals in this one mesmerize me a bit.

Willie Hutch – “Mack Man (Got to Get Over)”
The groove in this song gets me bobbing my head. I like songs that do that to me.

William Bell – “I Forgot to be Your Lover”
My favorite soul song right now.

Tom Waits – “All the World is Green”
I always swore that this would be the first song I would ever dance to the day I got married.

Al Green – “Back Up the Train”
This is young Al Green and he just blows me away.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “Hiding All Away”
I like how this song punches me in the face.

D’Angelo – “Playa Playa”
The first track off of one of my favorite albums of all time.

The Rance Allen Group – “There’s Gonna Be A Showdown”
Rance Allen is the best gospel singer I have ever heard.

Prince – “If I was Your Girlfriend”
Prince is Prince. One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists ever.

Rev. Clay Evans – “Room at the Cross”
This song moves me every time it comes on the player.

Syl Johnson – “Concrete Reservation”
Syl Johnson is one of the best soul singers that was never a huge star.

Johnnie Taylor – “Ain’t That Loving You”
This is actually one of my favorite love songs. It makes me so happy.

The band is currently on tour promoting Half the City. Order the album here, and catch St. Paul and The Broken Bones live in a city near you:

2/15 | Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
2/18 | Tuscaloosa, AL – Oz Music
2/20 | Nashville, TN – Grimey’s
2/21 | Florence, AL – Shoals Theatre
2/22 | Atlanta, GA – The Earl
2/23 | Anniston, AL – CD Cellar
2/26 | Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
2/27 | Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
2/28 | Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
3/1 | Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
3/2 | Newport, KY – Southgate House
3/6 | Savannah, GA – Savannah Stopover
3/7 | Columbus, GA – The Loft
3/8 | New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks

Photo courtesy of David McClister Photography, LLC.