Atlantic Unearthed
'Soul
Brothers'
WSM/Warner/Rhino
UK release date July 2006
One thing is certain - nearly everything that is getting released on
the Atlantic/Rhino label these days is red hot!!. No exceptions here
with the latest two releases from their vast back catalogue on the
Atlantic label. Speak to any deserving record collector over the last
forty years and its a safe bet that their collection contains a fair
amount of music issued on the Atlantic and its subsidiary labels bet
their taste soul, funk, jazz or even rock. Soul collectors need no
introduction to this legendary labels output that played host to the
likes of the Drifters, Lavern Baker, Booker T & the MG's just to
mention a couple.
During the mid 1960's when soul music naturally progressed from what we
knew as R'n'B into soul a host of artists from Otis Redding, Arthur
Conley, Sam & Dave, and the late Wilson Pickett scored countless
hits on the label and firmly established themselves as household names
over the following five years or so. A few of them were lucky to
transgress into the 1970's although many only had hits in the sixties.
Like so many other artists of that genre, a number of their recordings
were never released commercially and found themselves relegated to the
record companies archives (which thankfully are now slowly getting
released) and collectors are also turning their attentions to these
artists LP's of that era to discover a vast array of album tracks that
are also worthy of attention - that's where this CD comes into it's own
and delivers both.
Opening with an unreleased tune from Pickett recorded in 1972 entitles
'Can't Stop A Man In Love' written by Terry Woodford/George Soule and
produced by his usual team of Shapiro/Crawford this is a cracking tune
most typical of his output around that time and delivered in his usual
style with a great arrangement and was clearly tailored for the nations
dance floors where this will clearly become a favourite on the modern
soul scene in the near future. Arthur Conley was another star at
Atlantic and his classic 'Sweet Soul Music' from 1967 is perhaps one of
the greatest moments in soul music history. Whilst he cut some fine
music for Atlantic nothing quite matched the aforementioned tune
although this CD tries to correct that by including his excellent
unreleased 'Rome' (Wasn't Built In A Day) a song recorded during his
glory years and sounding so much like a Sam Cooke tune complete with
assumed backing by Booker T & the MG's turning it into a punchy
uptempo affair. Sam Cooke actually co-wrote the song hence the
similarity.
Northern soul fans will thrill at the inclusion of Darrell Banks' 1968
Cotillion flip side single 'The Love Of My Woman' which with the name
Don Davis at the helm you know you are going to have a superb tune.
Northern soul at its very best and proving yet again that so many flip
sides could, and indeed should have released in their own right. Singer
RB Greaves may not have set the recording on fire when he scored a
minor pop/soul hit with 'Take A Letter Maria' at the beginning of the
70's but I have really taken to his 1970 version of Procul Harum's
million seller 'A Whiter Shade OF Pale' which is kept respectfully
close to the original and he does the song justice.
Percy Sledge was singer I could take or leave although that said there
is no denying his overall talent and apart from his obvious million
seller from 1966 and perhaps 'Baby Help Me' none of his other
recordings have inspired me to dig deeper into his catalogue of
recordings. Compiler David Nathan has decided on Percy's previously
unreleased 'Baby, Baby, Baby' a lovely downtempo affair similar in
arrangement to his other hit 'Warm And Tender Love' with a gentle
southern soul feel making further plays inevitable. This is one song
that really should have been released in 1969 when it was recorded.
The great Walter Jackson really did epitomise OUR kind of music and was
a master at the ballad songs - its no wonder he was held in such high
esteem and one listen at his rendition of Eugene Record's song for the
Chi Lites 'Coldest Days Of My Life' will have you hooked. If only the
quality radio stations out there would pick up on this song for their
late spots????. This CD caters for all different moods of soul music
and southern soul fans will be aware of the Soul Clan in 1968 who were
a collaboration of Solomon Burke, Arthur Conley, Joe Tex, and Ben E
King with the resulting single 'Soul Meeting' being issued on Atlantic
and the flip side to that single is included here entitled 'That's How
It Feels' and no better southern soul will you find anywhere.
Other songs on this CD can be found from the great Sam & Dave,
James Carr, Carl Hall, and the great Otis Clay who covers a well known
James Carr song, the great Bobby Womack and the late Donny Hathaway
making a total of sixteen soul grabbin' tunes of the highest order. Now
before moving to another page - read the next review for the Soul
Sisters.
Rating 9/10
Atlantic Unearthed
'Soul Sisters'
WSM/Warner/Rhino
UK release date July 2006
Here we go with the
above CD's companion disc this time featuring some of the soul sisters
from the Atlantic stable. Opening the proceedings is their jewel in the
crown artist the wonderful Aretha Franklin who surely must have been
their hottest and most consistent hit maker between 1967 - 1974. Aretha
takes the Paul Anka composition 'My Way' and delivers a blistering semi
gospel version that only she can do. I always liked 'It's Growing' by
Motown's Temptations and sister Marjie Joseph decided that the song
needed a personal touch done southern style and result is quite amazing
and does this great song justice. I always considered Patti Labelle to
have been a major star in the wrong hands and it is a travesty that she
didn't get the right material to give her, and her Bluebells, a major
hit during the 1960's where she struggled amongst fierce competition to
make her mark. It is also unbelievable that she had to wait almost
twenty years to enjoy major chart success with MCA Records. This CD
highlight's her previously unreleased version of Inez & Charlie
Foxxs' (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) 'Count The Days' proving without doubt that this
is THE hit version and such a shame for a missed opportunity.
Lovely to see the late Mary Wells included here with the fabulous
'Hands Off My Baby' from her previously US only Ichiban CD a few years
ago. Mary had massive success at Motown but I always considered her
stint at Atlantic to be amongst her finest work during the 60's. This
song is sheer brilliance from the songwriting genius of Richard
'Popcorn' Wylie/Tony Hester complimented with a production from one
Carl Davis you just know that this northern soul tune is going to be
around for years to come.
I remember back in 1970 seeing Doris Troy here in the UK where at the
time she had recently joined Apple Records and that concert (whilst
poorly attended) was a stark reminder of what a great talent she was.
With numerous great tunes to her credit including the northern soul
anthem 'I'll Do Anything' from 1965 it was a couple years earlier that
she scored a hit with 'Just One Look' a song that the Hollies also
scored heavily with in the UK. I immediately picked up from this CD her
1964 single 'Please Little Angel' partly written by Motown's
songwriting husband and wife duo Ashford & Simpson. Stripped down
to a very basic melody the chorus line is so catchy its brilliant!
By the time Dee Dee Sharp recorded the passionate 'My Best Friends Man'
in 1966 she had already clocked up a number of dance hits around the
catchy Mashed Potato theme but then things got really serious musically
and the result was this gorgeous offering co written by her one time
husband Kenny Gamble. Dee Dee recorded more fine sides including 'What
Kind Of Lady' in 1968 and even joined Philadelphia International
records for a spell in the 70's. There's a couple interesting cover
versions to mention, firstly the unreleased 'Rescue Me' from the late
Dee Dee Warwick, and Baby Washington's interpretation of Jimmy Ruffin's
excellent 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' which it seems was
relegated to a flip side in 1969.
Possibly the three strongest cuts on this compilation are the 1972
Atlantic single from sister Jackie Moore with 'It Ain't Who You Know'
which finds this lightweight song growing on you the more you hear it.
Moore had a very distinct vocal style and enjoyed a number of hits on
the label during the early seventies - but there again when you have
the likes of Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro writing for you then you
really can't fail - oh, and by the way in this case thrown in Motown
arranger David Van DePitte for good measure.
The catchy dance tune 'Be Thankful For What I Got' a self written tune
for the now legendary diva Barbara Lewis is a long way from her 1963
hit 'Baby I'm Yours' and it goes without saying that Barbara recorded
consistently good records over the years and even had an LP on Stax as
well as a massive single for Atlantic 'I Remember The Feeling'. 1968
saw this single released for the label and was co written by Lou
Courtney. Last up is the fabulous Miss Bettye Swann with a previously
unissued side from 1973 written by two well figures within soul music
circles namely Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones. The song which didn't
register with me as being anything special initially, has consistently
grown on me over the last few weeks and proves conclusively that Bettye
never sacrificed quality for commerciality and that she was a soul
music genius. It's difficult to understand why 'I Ain't That Easy To
Lose' wasn't released at the time and why such a damn good song has
remained in the vaults for 33 years?
Other artists on this fabulous CD include Esther Phillips, Sweet
Inspirations, Laura Lee, Judy Clay and Irma Thomas. Like the Soul
Brothers set above this gives the listener an across the board
selection of southern, northern, and classic soul.
Essential listening for both CD's.
Rating 9/10