My current favorite is Gladys Knight and the Pips, "I've Got to Use My Imagination" (album version here; awesome live performance here -- god, she's SO FUCKING AMAZING I LOVE HER).

I also love the late great Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up" (this is the only (abbreviated) version of the recorded version I can find on youtube to give you an idea of its awesomeness, but the full track should be pretty easy to find)

Gotta run for now, but will think of others to post later!

Dusty Springfield. There's a load of great stuff on Dusty In Memphis; I'd recommend "Breakfast In Bed," "Son Of A Preacher Man," or maybe "So Much Love."

You think some Roberta Flack would fit in? Killing Me Softly? (I love Roberta :)

Misty Blue by Dorothy Moore.

Break Up to Make Up by The Stylistics.

Or, Betcha By Golly Wow by the Stylistics.

Pretty much anything by Sam Cooke.

Try some of these, or any other records by these artists (actually, a bunch, like Solomon Burke and Carla Thomas, are pretty much pure gold no matter what song you choose). Plus people have already suggested great things, especially Sam Cooke (my favorite artist in any medium, full stop). Also I've left some great stuff off. If you're looking for obscure or rare sides, let me know too, I have stacks of them. Or if you're having trouble finding any tracks, I can figure a way to wrap 'em up for you.

Wendy Rene - "Give You What I Got"
Wallace Brothers - "Lover's Prayer"
Martha Reeves - "Nowhere to Run"
Otis Redding - "These Arms of Mine"
Joe Tex - "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
Gloria Jones - "Tainted Love"
Ann Peebles - "I've Been There Before"
Solomon Burke - "Words"
Mary Wells - "Laughing Boy"
Sam & Dave - "You Got Me Hummin'"
Betty Wright - "Clean Up Woman"
Ruby Johnson - "Come To Me My Darling"
King Floyd - "Groove Me"
Irma Thomas - "Wish Someone Would Care"
The Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"
Carla Thomas - "Gee Whiz! (Look at His Eyes)"

Tomorrow I will put them all online, if I can remember.

woah - I almost stopped at the "I need to make him and his brother" line and thought this was going to be something very different indeed.

You absolutely have to include some Donny Hathaway in this mix or the Universe will rain down frogs upon your kin.

Wendy Rene - "Give You What I Got"
Wallace Brothers - "Lover's Prayer"
Martha Reeves - "Nowhere to Run"
Otis Redding - "These Arms of Mine"
Joe Tex - "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
Gloria Jones - "Tainted Love"
Ann Peebles - "I've Been There Before"
Solomon Burke - "Got To Get You Off My Mind" (I don't have "Words" handy)
Mary Wells - "Laughing Boy"
Sam & Dave - "You Got Me Hummin'"
Betty Wright - "Clean Up Woman"
Ruby Johnson - "Come To Me My Darling"
King Floyd - "Groove Me"
Irma Thomas - "Wish Someone Would Care"
The Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"
Carla Thomas - "Gee Whiz! (Look at His Eyes)"

thaaanks all :)