Soul Deep

Product Description
Blessed with uncommon purity and power. Explore an elegant, atmospheric and romantic album from an uncompromising new voice. Featuring 15 tracks including the single 'Soul Deep' as well as the bonus track 'Soul Deep' (Ash Howes Mix). Curb 2003.

Soul Deep,Laura Turner,Curb Records,Adult Contemporary,Pop,Pop Vocals,Popular Music,Rock/Pop

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Soul Deep

Average customer rating: Before and After stax of hits Two and a half magic hours Great mucic with great package Stax & back to my youth.

Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration Various Artists Manufacturer: Stax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Back to Mono (1958-1969) Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) Back to Black West ASIN: B000KP62UM Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) - Carla Thomas
2. LAST NIGHT - The Mar-Keys
3. YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER - William Bell
4. GREEN ONIONS - Booker T. & The MGs
5. WALKING THE DOG - Rufus Thomas
6. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (TO STOP NOW) - Otis Redding
7. CANDY - The Astors
8. RESPECT - Otis Redding
9. YOU DON'T KNOW LIKE I KNOW - Sam & Dave
10. I WANT SOMEONE - The Mad Lads
11. HOLD ON I'M COMIN' - Sam & Dave
12. LET ME BE GOOD TO YOU - Carla Thomas
13. YOUR GOOD THING (IS ABOUT TO END) - Mable John
14. KNOCK ON WOOD - Eddie Floyd
15. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
16. TRAMP - Otis & Carla
17. SOUL FINGER - The Bar-Keys
18. BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN - Albert King
19. SOUL MAN - Sam & Dave
20. (SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY - Otis Redding
21. I GOT A SURE THING - Ollie & The Nightingales
22. SOUL LIMBO - Booker T. & The MGs
23. I'VE NEVER FOUND A GIRL (TO LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO) - Eddie Floyd
24. WHAT A MAN - Linda Lyndell
25. PRIVATE NUMBER - William Bell & Judy Clay
26. WHO'S MAKING LOVE - Johnnie Taylor
27. I FORGOT TO BE YOUR LOVER - William Bell
28. I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING (TO ME) - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

1. TIME IS TIGHT - Booker T. & The MGs
2. SO I CAN LOVE YOU - The Emotions
3. WALK ON BY - Isaac Hayes
4. DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN - Rufus Thomas
5. JODY'S GOT YOUR GIRL AND GONE - Johnnie Taylor
6. MR. BIG STUFF - Jean Knight
7. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Isaac Hayes
8. WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET - The Dramatics
9. RESPECT YOURSELF - The Staple Singers
10. THEME FROM SHAFT - Isaac Hayes
11. SON OF SHAFT - The Bar-Kays
12. THAT'S WHAT LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DO - Little Milton
13. I'VE BEEN LONELY FOR SO LONG - Frederick Knight
14. HEARSAY - Soul Children
15. IN THE RAIN - The Dramatics
16. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE - The Staple Singers
17. STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN - Mel & Tim
18. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE - The Temprees
19. IF YOU'RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers
20. CHEAPER TO KEEP HER - Johnnie Taylor
21. I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Soul Children
22. WOMAN TO WOMAN - Shirley Brown

Amazon.com

When Concord Music purchased Fantasy Records in 2006, the bulging Stax catalog came along for the ride. Not a bad deal, especially since Stax remains one of the richest and most vital sources of '60s and '70s soul, blues, and R&B. The newly reactivated label's debut release is a lavishly boxed double-disc set of 50 highlights--as opposed to hits--from the Memphis label's voluminous vaults to celebrate its 50th anniversary. All the usual suspects appear, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, and the Staple Singers. But the compilers deliver a well-rounded, even eclectic collection by including tracks from such relatively obscure acts as the Astors, Ollie & the Nightingales, the Mad Lads, Linda Lyndell, and Mable John, whose "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" is one of the great lost soul treasures. Propelled in large part by house band Booker T. & the MGs, the majority of these songs have become integral threads in the fabric of American soul. Even at two and a half hours, there's not a dull moment here. That is a testament not just to the Stax musicians, but to a label whose artists defined a classic sound that remains as timeless, relevant, influential, and electrifying as when it was recorded. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

FIRST TIME EVER! 50 GREATEST STAX HITS IN A SPECIAL 2CD BOXED SET. Set includes chart toppers by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, and more

*Packaged in a UNIQUE HARD COVER BOX with LENTICULAR COVER ART *EVERY MAJOR STAX AND STAX-ATLANTIC HIT from the label's 1960s and 70s heyday. *THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE STAX HITS COLLECTION EVER! *Release coincides with the 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAX *DIGITALLY REMASTERED *Features a MULTI-PAGE BOOKLET with notes from "Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax" by noted soul music historian Rob Bowman

Customer Reviews:

Before and After.......2007-07-21

In 1968 there was a changing of the guard at Stax and the results were dramatic. The whole approach to making music so changed (along with so much else in the world at the time) that you hear two almost seperate catalogues. For me, the earlier period just defined "soul" and that music and those musicians hold a very special place in my world. Stax most likely sold a lot more records in the latter period.

It is still a very worthwhile collection as it makes the transition really clear musically and the booklet in the box does a decent job of lending insight into the inner workings of Stax and the folks involved.

I also found it interesting that the best known songs and artists still stood out from the more obscure ones. The public got it right in this reviewer's opinion. The downside to that is that I didn't find many hidden gems.

stax of hits.......2007-07-07

STAX have a reputation for pure soul as opposed to a certain label who
'motored' off in to a commercial watering-down of black music.Here we have
a generous fifty tracks on two cds of real soul music,not all hits,but all
representative of what STAX could do.A great compilation!

Two and a half magic hours.......2007-06-19

When "The Summer of Love" enters the conversation, most of us mean San Francisco, 1967. Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead. Be-Ins. Flower Power. Sgt. Pepper.

If by "love" we mean white kids from all over the country convening in urban crash pads --- well, that sets the bar pretty low, doesn't it? Given the opportunity, we could have done that. A lot of us would, even now. Just tell us where to show up.

A year before Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed there, it was a lot harder to show the love in Memphis. And yet, in an ancient movie theater in South Memphis, black and white musicians made some of the most inspired music we'll ever hear.

Let Motown own the slicker-than-snail-snot "commercial" franchise of urban black music.

And nine bows to Atlantic, with 18 singles on the Billboard Hot One Hundred Charts in the late Spring of 1967 --- ranging from Aretha Franklin doing the unofficial black national anthem ("Respect") to the white Long Island band, the Young Rascals. The only other competition Stax had in this rarified interracial zone in the late `60s: Sly & the Family Stone.

At Stax, something wonderful flourished, and it's in the grooves for all to hear --- starting with an interracial house band backing up such megawatt soul signers as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas and Eddie Floyd. Their influences were various: rock, pop, country, blues. Mixed together, they produced music that was at once familiar and not --- music that jarred the ear just enough that you had to listen to it.

But "produced" isn't quite the right word. At Stax, they mostly recorded "live." Even when they didn't, the theater's acoustics made music sound "live." As a result, you heard an excitement --- a vibrancy --- in these records that was available nowhere else in American popular music. Just listen to one of the 50 songs on the Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration when the horns --- horns! --- kick in and you'll remember how exciting music could be.

There was so much talent on the label it was able to survive the December '67 plane crash that killed Otis Redding and two-thirds of his backup band. The reason: Stax had the Staples Singers coming on strong. And Stax had Issac Hayes.

You remember "Shaft" --- "can you dig it?" But Hayes also self-produced "Hot Buttered Soul", a record that featured an unlikely 18-minute version of "By the Time I Got to Phoenix." This was as radically different from `60s pop music as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."

This two-CD boxed set has hits galore: "Green Onions", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Knock on Wood", "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Respect Yourself." It also has songs you don't know, oddities that sure sound like hits.

The through-line: men and women singing one love song after another. The music can be raw --- loss makes for even better songs than happiness --- but I don't think I'm making it up when I say the primary ingredient of that music is love. First, of course, love of music, pure and simple. But more, love of the historical moment, love of the knowledge that when we're creating together, there's no reason we can't get along.

This Stax set is testimony to a grand idea, now honored too often only with empty words. It's also great fun, music that holds its own with the best pop this country has ever produced --- music so enjoyable you can forget the moral it contains.

Great mucic with great package.......2007-05-21

This is terrific music. These 50 songs will be among the best you will own in your life. No fillers.

Stax & back to my youth........2007-05-20

I am one of the original English fans from the 60's era & the music really took me back to my teenage years. Very good double cd & very speedy delivery service.

Average customer rating: the very best of otis redding vol 1 One of the greats of soul CAN'T BE BEAT!! If you like Otis, you'll love this! Otis at his best

The Very Best of Otis Redding Otis Redding Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits Al Green - Greatest Hits Sam Cooke - Greatest Hits Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 ASIN: B0000032XY Release Date: 1992-11-10

Tracks:

1. These Arms Of Mine
2. Pain In My Heart
3. That's How Strong My Love Is
4. Mr. Pitiful
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
6. Respect
7. I Can't Turn You Loose
8. Satisfaction
9. My Lover's Prayer
10. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
11. Try A Little Tenderness
12. Shake
13. The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)
14. Tramp
15. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
16. I've Got Dreams To Remember

Amazon.com

No other Otis compilation quite satisfies the way the old double-LP best-of does, but never mind: any way you hear Redding's many great moments is a good one. The Very Best splits ballads and up-tempo stuff half-and-half, letting you hear the great one's humanity in every mood--the pile-driving rock of "Respect," the preaching fervor of "Try a Little Tenderness," the nascent reflection of "Dock of the Bay." A record collection with no Otis is a poor thing: here's yours. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

the very best of otis redding vol 1.......2007-05-12

The material brought me back to the late sixties 1968, with memories of his death, December of that year and the coming out of the Beatles White album that same month. It has been a long time since a performer was of his ilk.

One of the greats of soul .......2007-03-21

Otis Redding was one of the greats of soul. He was taken early at the age of twenty- six in a plane crash just three days after recording the song which would be his first number one on the charts, 'Sittin on the Dock of the Bay' That tremendous song is here. It has so much both in its lyric quality and the gripping power of its music. These are its lyrics" I heard it first many years ago and it has been playing in my mind ever since.

Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco bay
'Cos I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time
[...]

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
2000 miles I've roamed
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh wee, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time

There are also other outstanding works here. Redding reportedly did not want to do 'Try a Little Tenderness' but his version is an original and strong one.
The grainy coarseness of his voice was nonetheless lyrical, catching and upbeat in its way.
This is 'Soul Music ' at its best.

CAN'T BE BEAT!!.......2007-01-10

Otis Redding is another of the "great voices" of the past!! His music is unforgettable!! And it's "superb"!! You can't go wrong with this CD...I'll bring you alot of joy & relaxation!! Try it...you'll like it - Guaranteed!!

If you like Otis, you'll love this!.......2007-01-10

So many times I see movies and love the music; only to find out it is Otis Redding. This cd has his best, and you will recognize virtually every song. I love it.

Otis at his best.......2006-11-05

I have always liked Otis Redding. When I listened to the sample tracks on Amazon, I knew that I had to have this CD. It is timeless and I can listen to it and Al Green, over and over. Buy it.

Average customer rating: Mm-hmm! I can smell that funky music! WHAT IT IS ?.....NOTHING BUT A NON STOP PARTY! Amazing. Mind blowing. Worth every penny. And so on. Never a dull moment Soul-tastic... All Hail Rhino! Nobody knows box like Rhino knows box

What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967-1977) Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Soul | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rockin' Bones: 1950s Punk and Rockabilly Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration Hooker Orphans [Fold-out Digipak with 24-page booklet] Cold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities 1968-1974, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000GIWS4W Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

1. Spreadin' Honey -- Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
2. Soul Finger -- Bar-Kays
3. The Shadow Of Your Smile -- Brother Jack McDuff
4. Gangster Of Love (Parts 1 and 2) -- Jimmy Norman
5. The Memphis Train -- Rufus Thomas
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman -- Grassella Oliphant
7. Live Right Now -- Eddie Harris
8. Pig Snoots, Part 1 -- Natural Bridge Bunch
9. Soul Sound System -- The Freedom Sounds featuring Wayne Henderson
10. Snatching It Back -- Clarence Carter
11. Stoned Soul -- Artie Christopher
12. Getting The Corners -- The T.S.U. Tornadoes
13. Sexy Coffee Pot -- Tony Alvon & The Belairs
14. Don't Come Around Here Anymore -- Mark Putney
15. Keep On Dancing -- The Commodores
16. Right On Brother--Part 1 -- The Southshore Commission
17. Pop, Popcorn Children -- Eldridge Holmes
18. It's Your Thing -- Cold Grits
19. It's All In Your Mind -- Soul Angels
20. Funky John -- Johnny Cameron & The Camerons
21. Help Me Make Up My Mind -- Joyce Jones
22. Rock Me Baby -- Lou Johnson
23. Sing A Simple Song -- The Noble Knights
24. Do You Dig It -- Titus Turner
25. Funky Canyon -- Phil Moore Jr.
26. Jan Jan -- The Fabulous Counts
27. Tampin -- The Rhine Oaks

Tracks:

1. Gossip -- Cyril Neville
2. Somebody In The World For You -- The Mighty Hannibal
3. Stanga -- Little Sister
4. Jumpin' Jack Flash -- Ananda Shankar
5. The Deacon -- Brute Force
6. Sookie Sookie -- Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band
7. Right On -- Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers
8. (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go -- Curtis Mayfield
9. Stepping Stones -- Johnny Harris
10. I'm Just Like You -- 6ix
11. Funky Thing--Part 1 -- The Unemployed
12. Messie Bessie -- Shirley Scott
13. Fairchild -- Willie West
14. Cold Bear -- The Gaturs
15. I Can't Get Next To You -- Mongo Santamaria
16. Feelin' Alright -- Lulu
17. Soul Bowl -- Memphis Horns
18. Tuane -- Hammer
19. Take It Off--Part 2 -- Johnny Tolbert & De Thangs
20. Seeds Of Life -- Harlem River Drive featuring Eddie Palmieri & Jimmy Norman
21. Engine Number 9 -- Wilson Pickett

Tracks:

1. Hard Times -- Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
2. What So Never The Dance--Pt. 1 & 2 -- Houseguests
3. Headless Heroes -- Eugene McDaniels
4. Spinning Wheel -- Wade Marcus
5. Bad Tune -- Earth, Wind & Fire
6. Mr. Cool -- Rasputin's Stash
7. Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' To Ya -- Junior Mance
8. Hang On In There -- The Stovall Sisters
9. Funky Nassau (Part 2) -- The Beginning Of The End
10. Whatever's Fair -- Mark Holder & The Positives
11. Face It -- Ed Robinson
12. Wah Wah Man -- Young-Holt Unlimited
13. Rock Steady (alternate mix) -- Aretha Franklin
14. Won't Nobody Listen -- Black Haze Express
15. Goin' Down -- Allen Toussaint
16. Suavecito -- Malo
17. You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin' -- Charles Wright
18. Mo Jo Hanna -- Tami Lynn
19. Ridin' Thumb -- King Curtis
20. Almendra -- Macondo
21. Nuki Suki -- Little Richard

Tracks:

1. Getting Uptown (To Get Down) -- United 8
2. 8 Days On The Road -- Howard Tate
3. Moon Shadow -- Labelle
4. Let It Crawl -- Society's Bag
5. Wanaoh -- Black Heat
6. If It Was Good Enough For Daddy -- Clarence Reid
7. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky -- Claudia Lennear
8. Cosmic Sea -- The Mystic Moods
9. Kissing My Love -- Cold Blood
10. Flute Thing -- Seatrain
11. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove) Part 2 -- The Meters
12. Funky To The Bone -- Freddi/Henchi & The Soul Setters
13. Try It Again -- Bobby Byrd
14. . Teasin' -- Cornell Dupree
15. (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away -- Dr. John
16. Chicken Heads -- Oscar Brown Jr.
17. Rien Ne Va Plus -- Funk Factory
18. Cajun Moon -- Herbie Mann
19. Improve -- Darrow Fletcher
20. Riding High -- Faze-O
21. Four Play -- Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns
22. California Dreamin' -- Eddie Hazel

Amazon.com

Too many reissue compilations are content to merely slice 'n' dice familiar catalog choices in not particularly original ways. But this four-disc, 91-track trove of obscure '70s R&B and funk from Warner-distributed labels great and small argues there's still treasure to be gleaned from studio vaults--a five-hour groove-fest that's as interested in shaking booty as in opening ears. Even the genre's groundbreaking usual suspects (Wilson Pickett, the Bar-Kays, Curtis Mayfield, Earth, Wind & Fire, et al) are represented by selections that aren't immediately familiar, while Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin serves up a radically different, previously unreleased take of "Rock Steady." Still other stars contribute their sonic touches to some of the lesser-known cuts, as witnessed by the patent trippiness of Sly Stone alter-egos 6ix and Stanga on "I'm Just Like You" and "Little Sister," respectively; the stark, party-not-so-hearty contrast of the Mayfield-written-and-produced "Hard Times" by Baby Huey & Baby Sisters; and the Meters' version of "Tampin'," released under the moniker of the Rhine Oaks.

Sequenced in rough chronological order, it's a savvy window into a musical evolution as well, with the rhythmic guitars, organ swells, and horn flourishes of traditional '60s R&B giving way to sinewy synths and increasingly chunky bass lines as the decade grooves on. While savvy hip-hoppers will note that many of the rarities here have already been repurposed by shrewd mixers, it's a revelation to hear them in their original form. A compelling deconstruction of an often clichéd and too-narrowly-defined genre, this is an anthology that showcases music that has influenced such contemporary artists as Tupac, the Beastie Boys, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West, annotated by many of the original musicians who set the dance floor in motion. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

91 tracks deep and five hours long, this multi-artist, 4CD set mines rare, renowned, legendary, and little-known grooves from the vaults of Atlantic, Atco, and Warner Bros Records!

Customer Reviews:

Mm-hmm! I can smell that funky music!.......2007-06-18

Rare indeed; I can't imagine where you would find original 45s or even LPs containing all of these songs. That would be one lifetime task. The good folks at Rhino Records with their remarkable and creative tastes took out all of that hassle for us and now offers a rather unique set of rare funky music from the vaults of Atlantic/Atco and Warner/Reprise dating 1967-1977 with 91 tracks spanning across 4 filled-to-the-brim discs. Any soul music fan will no doubt want to explore this area of the R&B category (funk and I mean pure funk), but at times the flow of the music could seem a bit too much to handle. Some of the cuts go more than 3 1/2 minutes and sound like they might not end any time soon. The other case would be some tracks sound bizarre or unusual in terms of sound due to instrumentation, arrangements, etc. Such "bizarre" tracks are the sitar-laced rendition of "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Steppin' Stones" with a crazed flautist leading the way on a very blazing and dizzy-sounding track. The good outweigh the not-so-good remarkably, though. So get ready to hear punchy horns, infectious, simplistic and driving drumbeats, super funky bass lines, crunchy guitars, oozing organs and ultra-soulful vocals. On disc one, some noteworthy tracks are "Spreadin' Honey", "Get Otta My Life Woman", "Snatchin' It Back", "Sexy Coffee Pot" and "Help Me Make Up My Mind" (an answer to "Can I Chane My Mind"). Be sure to check out "Sookie Sookie", "Feelin' Alright" (done by Lulu (To Sir With Love)!), and "Engine Number Nine" on disc two, "Face It" (love the female backup singers on this), "Wah Wah Man", an alternate extended mix of "Rock Steady", "Suavecito", and "Nuki Suki" (from Little Richard) on disc three as well as "Moon Shadow", "Kissing My Love", "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky", "Chug Chug-A-Lug", "Everybody Wanna Get Rich Rite Away", and "Chicken Heads" on disc four. Those were just some of my favorite tracks, so I may have missed some. Many are instrumentals, but there are a handful with vocalists singing about love, dancing, partying, social concerns, etc. Bottom line: worth checking out and worth the discovery. You definitely won't hear this stuff on commercial radio. Only about three or four songs you'll recognize; the rest is like a surprise. If you're into R&B and want to explore the funk side of it, you can't find a better pick, and about 90% of these songs aren't available (some or many) together anyplace else. The real deal of funk; that is "what it is!"

WHAT IT IS ?.....NOTHING BUT A NON STOP PARTY! .......2007-02-10

This set right here could very well be the holy grail of rare and hard to find grooves. This box set is funkier than a high school locker room! Every track on here is certified stank(aka funky). The most amazing thing about these tracks is that they capture the spirit of the times better than a lot of their more popular comtemporaries(at least in my opinion). "What it is" feels like an audio documentary of underdogs making the funkiest music and having a great time doing it. If you listen to how these tracks are sequenced, you'll feel like a story is being told - rather than just listening to another compliamation of vintage r&b music.

I'm only 25 years old. Every time I play this set, I feel like I'm at a 70's block party, chillin' in a long black cadillac fleetwood and scoping out some foxy mamas with hot pants and thigh high leather boots
(that's how good the music sounds). With 20 plus tracks each per disc, you can't help but be amazed with the consistent quality of the music.

All I gotta say is buy this set and let the funk be your guide to love, happiness, and your rites of passage to throw it on down and dance your
a-- off!!! If you ain't diggin on this, you're diggin a hole for yourself!

Long live the funk baby!

Amazing. Mind blowing. Worth every penny. And so on........2007-02-04

This is the real deal folks. Music with grit and soul and feeling, before the shining distraction of drum machines, computers, samplers, bling, and "MTV's Cribs". I saw an ad for this and went to several book and record stores such as Borders, and to my local hip indie CD store (headquarters to the local music scene circle-jerk), trying to describe it to various clerks. Which was about like trying to teach a card trick to a basset hound. Save yourself the agony of trying to interest a white twenty-something body-piercing pincushion in ordering this set for you, and just get it here. You'll be glad you did. The sheer quantity of great music on this is staggering. I love the mix of instruments with vocal tracks, and the mix of "name" artists like Aretha or The Meters with many very obscure ones. Whoever compiled this did a great job in selecting the track order, so it makes it perfect for a long party. Everyone will be getting up and shaking their groove thang. This is priceless music from a lost era, so grab it before it disappears again.

Never a dull moment.......2007-01-28

I am a funk fan who is still by all means learning...With the passing of James Brown recently, I have tried to speed up this process a little and take as much in as possible. I think this collection of "underground" funk is phenomenal, 4 discs and never a dull moment.

Soul-tastic... All Hail Rhino! Nobody knows box like Rhino knows box.......2007-01-14

I stumbled over this set just a few days ago, and I have to say that it's easily one of the top 10 best random-artist compilations I've ever heard in my life, and I own hundreds of them.

I won't say there's no filler--by filler I mean the cover tunes--and I'm confused as to why "What So Never The Dance" is credited to the Houseguests when this is a longtime Bootsy Collins track? What, is Bootsy in trouble with Warner Brothers and can't re-release his own stuff under his own name anymore?

But disc one is an absolute gem--you can't make your own mix better than they've done it here. If you're a fan of James Brown, Parliament, Otis Redding, Sly Stone, the aforementioned Bootsy, Tower Of Power, Prince, early Stevie Wonder, Motown, Isaac Hayes, then you shouldn't be without this set.

Absolutely worth buying.

Average customer rating: Classic R&B That Grooves Like Crazy! Kick It, Wicked Soul for the Soul Lots of good R&B quality vs quantity

Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits Wilson Pickett Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Otis Redding The Best of Sam & Dave James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! Sam Cooke - Greatest Hits The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's ASIN: B000002IKQ Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Don't Fight It
2. In The Midnight Hour
3. 634-5789
4. Ninety-Nine And One-Half (Won't Do)
5. Land Of 1000 Dances
6. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
7. Mustang Sally
8. Soul Dance Number Three
9. Funky Broadway
10. I'm In Love
11. She's Lookin' Good
12. I Found A True Love
13. I'm A Midnight Mover
14. A Man And A Half
15. Hey Jude
16. You Keep Me Hangin' On
17. Sugar Sugar
18. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
19. Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number Nine
20. Don't Knock My Love (Part 1)
21. Mama Told Me Not To Come
22. I Found A Love
23. It's Too Late
24. If You Need Me

Customer Reviews:

Classic R&B That Grooves Like Crazy!.......2007-03-25

Aside from James Brown, "Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits" is the funkiest CD in my collection (and I've got a LOT of funky CD's.) I'm a bass player and back when I started out I decided I wanted to learn how to really groove, so I decided I'd study the masters of classic R&B. This was the first CD I bought and I still listen to it regularly when I want to reconnect with rhythm. Check out the way Pickett rides Jerry Jemmott's stuttering bassline on "Man And A Half" and see if you can stand still! These are classic cuts that really belong in everyone's music collection and if you dig R&B/Soul/Funk, you definitely need this disc.

Kick It, Wicked.......2007-01-11

Start with a heapin' helpin' of Otis Redding, fold in just enough James Brown, then add a soupcon of Little Richard, and you've got something approximating the Wicked One, Wilson Pickett - one of soul music's premier practitioners and standard bearers. Indeed, it would be hard to find an R&B/Soul singer with more raw authority and feeling. This music doesn't encourage you to get down, it commands you.

The hits you absolutely have-to-have are all here, and it's amazing how well they stand up. For a quick clinic in "The British Invasion," check out Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. The Rolling Stones may have gotten mileage from it, but Pickett's version lays the foundation, it's authentic and electrifying. Midnight Hour, Mustang Sally, Land Of 1,000 Dances, Funky Broadway, and many others have all been covered by countless lesser practitioners and frat house bands - hearing the original "reference" versions is an unadulterated thrill.

Like many Greatest Hits CDs, some clunkers flew in under the radar. I could have lived without the cover of Hey Jude, a song that was bad even when the Beatles did it. The appearance of Sugar Sugar is a mystery, the Randy Newman classic, Mama Told Me Not To Come, is equally out of place. These missteps, from later in Wicked's career, do not mar what is truly a superb CD that would be cheap at twice the price.

One song in particular set-me-a-thinkin', (an expression nobody would have ever used where I'm from), A Man And A Half. This song has the endearing braggadocio we all came to love when practiced by Bo Diddley who "wore a cobra snake for a necktie." It contains the memorable line, "Shakespeare wrote poems about me even before I was born." Like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett exuded an unapologetically powerful and charismatic male energy that is woefully out of fashion now. If you put Babyface and Pickett in the same room, Babyface would most likely die of fright.

Shame on me for skipping past the fantastic back-up bands, especially those funky horns! Required listening.

Soul for the Soul.......2007-01-09

This product is an embodiment of soul music punctuated with blues, a combination that brings back pleasant memeories.

Lots of good R&B.......2006-04-15

If you like Wilson Pickett, or traditional R&B, this CD has many good songs on it. Great value.

quality vs quantity.......2006-03-24

I am very disappointed in the quality of this CD.
24 hits on this CD. But sound quality is poor and CD is not fluid.
Kind of skippy.

Average customer rating: Incredible Soul Indeed!! Super Soul Great CD!!! Great Collection of 60's and 70's Soul Well its soul all over again

The Incredible Soul Collection Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Philly Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music Soul | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: #1's (Eco-Friendly Packaging) Motown Classics: Gold Midnight Soul The Motown Story, Vol. 1: The Sixties Pure 60's: The #1 Hits ASIN: B0000AINP0 Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

1. Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
2. Respect - Aretha Franklin
3. Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
4. Stop! In The Name Of Love - The Supremes
5. In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
6. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson
7. Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
8. Soul Man - Sam
9. Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
10. But It's Alright - J.J. Jackson
11. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
12. Green Onions - The MG's
13. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
14. Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
15. Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters
16. What'd I Say (Part 1) - Ray Charles

Tracks:

1. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
2. Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight
3. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
4. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
5. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
6. Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
7. Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton
8. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
9. A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like) - Aretha Franklin
10. I'll Be Around - Spinners
11. Show And Tell - Al Wilson
12. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
13. You Are Everything - The Stylistics
14. La-La-Means I Love You - The Delfonics
15. Love On A Two-Way Street - The Moments
16. Love Won't Let Me Wait - Major Harris

Album Description

The Incredible Soul Collection mines 32 definitive tracks, including #1 pop & R&B classics from Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin. Slipcase. Rhino 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible Soul Indeed!!.......2007-06-27

I have always enjoyed the pure rush I feel when listening to the great hits of Motown, and this CD set is one of the best.
I actually asked for this set as a Christmas gift & enjoyed it so much that I ordered the same CD's for a good friend of mine.
The collection of songs is outstanding and makes road trips or just an afternoon of kicking back an absolute blast.

Super Soul.......2007-03-09

This CD has a super anthology of songs that you loved from the 60's & 70's, all the great artists, Marvin Gaye, the Commodores, Otis Redding, the Supremes, Aretha. If you like the Motown Sound, this is a great collection.

Great CD!!!.......2006-08-25

I love this CD. It has so many of the songs I love all on one CD. It is great!

Great Collection of 60's and 70's Soul .......2006-06-01

The Incredible Soul Collection is an awesome 2-CD collection of some of the best songs from the 60's and 70's. Aretha, Marvin, Ray, Otis, Sam & Dave, and Gladys Knight and the Pips are just a few of the great artists on this collection.

This set is great to put in on a long drive, or on a lazy weekend afternoon. It makes you nostalgic and wistful on one hand, and grateful on the other hand that this music still lives and breathes in the hearts and minds of those of us who first experienced it so long ago.

Well its soul all over again.......2006-05-10

I can only say that it is the best of the best
I just have to tell u that walk down memory lane wowowow
just listen just listen just listen!

Average customer rating: THE LAST TRACK THAT IS ON THE 1ST TRACK A Revelation A must have A treat I Love Aretha!

Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings Aretha Franklin Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Soul | Live Albums | R&B | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns Live at Fillmore West Amazing Grace Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits ASIN: B00000IPY3 Release Date: 1999-05-04

Tracks:

1. Organ Introduction (On Our Way)
2. Opening Remarks
3. On Our Way
4. Aretha's Introduction
5. Wholy Holy
6. You'll Never Walk Alone
7. What A Freind We Have In Jesus
8. Precious Memories
9. How I Got Over
10. A. Precious Lord, Take My Hand/B. You've Got A Friend
11. Climbing Higher Mountains
12. Amazing Grace
13. My Sweet Lord (Instrumental)
14. Give Yourself To Jesus

Tracks:

1. Organ Introduction (On Our Way)/Opening Remarks
2. On Our Way
3. Aretha's Introduction
4. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
5. Wholy Holy
6. Climbing Higher Mountains
7. God Will Take Care Of You
8. Old Landmark
9. Mary, Don't You Weep
10. Never Grow Old
11. Remarks By Reverend C.L. Franklin
12. Precious Memories
13. My Sweet Lord

Amazon.com essential recording

This Rhino re-release of Amazing Grace is at least as much a work of love as of marketing. The sound is beefier and clearer, but most importantly, the two-day church sessions are included. So, there's much more church (specifically, Reverend James Cleveland's marvelous orating) on the record, as well as contemporaryisms such as a cool organ rendition of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord." Originally released as a double LP in 1972, Amazing Grace cracked the Billboard Top 10 on its release, making it one of the best selling gospel records of all time. Grace was recorded in a large Baptist church with an ultraenthusiastic audience in the pews, a full, funky band, and the Southern California Community Choir under the direction of Franklin's mentor, Cleveland. Her voice is melismatic and intensely emotional, yet pure and controlled, as if she is channeling the Holy Ghost. Franklin's father, the brilliant preacher Reverend C.L. Franklin, makes a brief, proud appearance, remarking, "She has never left the church!" Other highlights include the beautiful "Wholy Holy," an 11-minute, heart-stopping "Amazing Grace," and Inez Andrews's stirring "Mary, Don't You Weep." Way more than a return-to-the-roots record, this set is an inspired gospel-soul workout that arguably showcases Franklin's strongest singing ever. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

THE LAST TRACK THAT IS ON THE 1ST TRACK.......2007-05-16

THE CD OVERALL IS OKAY, BUT I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED IT BUT MY DAUGHTER LOVE IT SO WELL, I AM NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH IT BUT I CAN LIVE WITH IT.

A Revelation.......2006-12-10

Amazing Grace is widely acknowledged to be Aretha Franklin's magnum opus. With her 1972 return to gospel roots, she evolved from "Queen of Soul" to "The Queen." As her father, Reverend Franklin, notes to a rapt audience during one of the two night performances: "she can sing anything." This isn't filial boasting; it's an understatement. Recorded in a large Baptist church with the Southern California Community Choir, Aretha belts her way through traditional hymns, standards and pop tunes alike--and in the process redefines them. Her overall performance is a revelation. Period.

If praising Amazing Grace is needlessly redundant, the Rhino reissue itself is worth discussing. For those accustomed to the orginal record, be prepared for some changes. In the spirit of preserving the integrity of the event, the producers have reproduced both night's performance in their near entirety. Vocal overdubs peppered judiciously throughout the original release have been removed in favor of celebrating the imperfect but more immediate live setting. Thus, "Old Landmark" and "How I Got Over" sound noticeably rougher, though more authentic, than their studio-enhanced counterparts.

A must have.......2006-11-09

This cd is timeless- If you love Aretha you must own this cd

A treat.......2006-09-19

This is a remastered version of Aretha Franklin's breakthrough 1972 gospel album AMAZING GRACE. This was recorded in front of a live audience in 1972, culled from two live performances with the Southern California Community Choir, Ken Lupper, and the Rev. James Cleveland at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. This two disc set features the original 14 tracks, and a bonus 15, making it 29 tracks in total. It is great to hear the music unedited! This is a must have for Aretha's big fans!

I Love Aretha!.......2006-03-18

This is one of the best gospel compliations I have heard. I love the combination of Aretha Franklin and the choir and Rev. James Cleveland.

Average customer rating: Do you really want this? Stax/Volt is monumental! What a waste of money this was...... AN EDUCATION IN SOUL MUSIC 101 Whew!

The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 Various Artists Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Doo Wop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music 1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music 1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music Oldies | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Northern | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music 1960-1969 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1950-1959 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975 Chess Blues Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 ASIN: B000002IQU Release Date: 1991-04-30

Tracks:

1. Fool In Love - Veltones
2. 'Cause I Love You - Carla & Rufus
3. Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas
4. You Make Me Feel So Good - The Chips
5. A Love Of My Own - Carla Thomas
6. Last Night - Mar-Keys
7. I Didn't Believe - Rufus & Friend
8. I'm Going Home - Prince Conley
9. (Mama, Mama) Wish Me Good Luck - Carla Thomas
10. Morning After - Mar-Keys
11. The Life I Live - Barbara Stephens
12. About Noon - Mar-Keys
13. Burnt Biscuits - Triumphs
14. I Kinda Think He Does - Carla Thomas
15. Foxy - Mar-Keys
16. You Don't Miss Your Water - William Bel
17. Formula Of Love - William Bell
18. Goofin' Off - Macy Skipper
19. Wait A Minute - Barbara Stephens
20. Sunday Jealous - Nick Charles
21. That's The Way It Is With Me - Barbara Stephens
22. No Tears - The Tonettes
23. Pop-Eye Stroll - Mar-Keys
24. The Three Dogwoods - Nick Charles
25. Why Should I Suffer With The Blues - The Canes
26. Whot's Happenin'! - Mar-Keys
27. Just Across The Street - The Del-Rios
28. There's A Love - The Del-Rios
29. Can't Ever Let You Go - Rufus Thomas

Tracks:

1. Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
2. Behave Yourself - Booker T. & The MGs
3. Any Other Way - William Bell
4. I'll Bring It Home To You - Carla Thomas
5. Sack-O-Woe - Mar-Keys
6. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
7. Teardrop Sea - The Tonettes
8. The Dog - Rufus Thomas
9. Jelly Bread - Booker T. & The MGs
10. I Told You So - William Bell
11. Bo-Time - Mar-Keys
12. Home Grown - Booker T. & The MGs
13. My Imaginary Guy - Deanie Parker & The Valadors
14. Just As I Thought - William Bell
15. What A Fool I've Been - Carla Thomas
16. The Hawg, Part One - Eddie Kirk
17. Don't Be Afraid Of Love - Oscar Mack
18. That's My Guy - Cheryl & Pam Johnson
19. Chinese Checkers - Booker T. & The MGs
20. Somebody Mentioned Your Name - William Bell
21. What Can I Do - Bobby Marchan
22. That's What My Heart Needs - Otis Redding
23. What Can It Be - The Astors
24. Bango - Billy & The King Bees
25. Them Bones - Eddie Kirk
26. Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas
27. I'll Show You - William Bell

Tracks:

1. Pain In My Heart - Otis Redding
2. Gee Whiz It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
3. Mo' Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
4. Frog Stomp - Floyd Newman
5. Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas
6. You Won't Do Right - Bobby Marchan
7. Wondering (When My Love Is Coming Home) - The Drapels
8. Each Step I Take - Deanie Parker
9. The Honey Dripper - The Van-Dells
10. Who Will It Be Tomorrow - William Bell
11. Come To Me - Otis Redding
12. Don't Leave Me This Way - Otis Redding
13. I Don't Want You Anymore - Eddie Jefferson
14. Restless - The Cobras
15. Somebody Stole My Dog - Rufus Thomas
16. Big Party - Barbara & The Browns
17. That's Really Some Good - Rufus & Carla
18. Night Time Is The Right Time - Rufus & Carla
19. Security - Otis Redding
20. Dream Girl - Oscar Mack
21. Closer To My Baby - Dorothy Williams
22. I've Got No Time To Lose - Carla Thomas
23. Young Man - The Drapels
24. Soul Dressing - Booker T. & The MGs
25. After Laughter (Comes Tears) - Wendy Rene
26. Can't Explain How It Happened - Ivory Joe Hunter
27. Bush Bash - Mar-Keys
28. Please Return To Me - The Fleets

Tracks:

1. Jump Back - Rufus Thomas
2. Chained And Bound - Otis Redding
3. In My Heart - Barbara & The Browns
4. Spunky - Johnny Jenkins
5. Bar B-Q - Wendy Rene
6. The Sidewalk Surf - Mad Lads
7. Can't Be Still - Booker T. & The MGs
8. A Woman's Love - Carla Thomas
9. Yank Me (Doodle) - Baracudas
10. That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
11. Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
12. Don't Let Her Be Your Baby - Del-Rays
13. Can't See You When I Want To - David Porter
14. My Lover - Barbara & The Browns
15. Got You On My Mind - The Admirals
16. How Do You Quit (Someone You Love) - Carla Thomas
17. Biggest Fool In Town - Gorgeous George
18. Banana Juice - Mar-Keys
19. Little Sally Walker - Rufus Thomas
20. A Place Nobody Can Find - Sam & Dave
21. Goodnight Baby - Sam & Dave
22. Boot-Leg - Booker T. & The MGs
23. Outrage - Booker T. & The MGs
24. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding
25. I'm Depending On You - Otis Redding
26. Candy - Astors
27. Give You What I Got - Wendy Rene

Tracks:

1. Stop! Look What You're Doin' - Carla Thomas
2. Willy Nilly - Rufus Thomas
3. Don't Have To Shop Around - Mad Lads
4. Crying All By Myself - William Bell
5. I Take What I Want - Sam & Dave
6. When You Move You Lose - Rufus & Carla
7. Respect - Otis Redding
8. Make It Me - The Premiers
9. The World Is Round - Rufus Thomas
10. In The Twilight Zone - The Astors
11. Blue Groove - Sir Isaac & The Do-Dads
12. You Don't Know Like I Know - Sam & Dave
13. Grab This Thing (Part 1) - The Mar-Keys
14. Be My Lady - Booker T. & The MGs
15. Comfort Me - Carla Thomas
16. I Can't Turn You Loose - Otis Redding
17. Just One More Day - Otis Redding
18. I Want Someone - The Mad Lads
19. Birds & Bees - Rufus & Carla
20. Philly Dog - The Mar-Keys
21. I Had A Dream - Johnnie Taylor
22. Satisfaction - Otis Redding
23. Things Get Better - Eddie Floyd
24. I'll Run Your Hurt Away - Ruby Johnson
25. Hot Dog - Four Shells
26. Let Me Good To You - Carla Thomas
27. Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

Tracks:

1. Laundromat Blues - Albert King
2. Sugar Sugar - Mad Lads
3. Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need) - William Bell
4. Marching Off To War - William Bell
5. My Lover's Prayer - Otis Redding
6. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) - Mable John
7. I Got to Love Somebody's Baby - Johnnie Taylor
8. I Want A Girl - Mad Lads
9. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
10. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
11. My Sweet Potato - Booker T. & The MGs
12. Booker Loo - Booker T. & The MGs
13. Oh, Pretty Woman - Albert King
14. Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody - Sam & Dave
15. Never Like This Before - William Bell
16. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
17. Patch My Heart - Mad Lads
18. Sisters' Got A Boyfriend - Rufus Thomas
19. Come To Me Darling - Ruby Johnson
20. When My Love Comes Down - Ruby Johnson
21. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
22. Crosscut Saw - Albert King
23. Little Bluebird - Johnnie Taylor
24. Toe Hold - Johnnie Taylor
25. Jingle Bells - Booker T. & The MGs

Tracks:

1. You Got Me Hummin' - Sam & Dave
2. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place - Mable John
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Carla Thomas
4. Please Uncle Sam (Send Back My Man) - Charmels
5. Something Good (Is Going To Happen To You) - Carla Thomas
6. Raise Your Hand - Eddie Floyd
7. Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) - Johnnie Taylor
8. I Don't Want To Lose Your Love - Mad Lads
9. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave
10. Let Me Down Slow - Bobby Wilson
11. Hip Hug - Her - Booker T. & The MGs
12. Everybody Loves A Winner - William Bell
13. Mini-Skirt Minnie - Sir Mack Rice
14. When Tomorrow Comes - Carla Thomas
15. The Spoiler - Eddie Purrell
16. I Love You More Than Words Can Say - Otis Redding
17. If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now) - Ruby Johnson
18. Same Time Same Place - Mable John
19. Tramp - Otis & Carla
20. Soul Finger - Bar-Kays
21. Knuckelhead - Bar-Kays
22. Shake - Otis Redding
23. Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King
24. Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
25. I Can't Stand Up - Sam & Dave
26. Don't Rock The Boat - Eddie Floyd

Tracks:

1. My Inspiration - Mad Lads
2. Love Sickness - Sir Mack Rice
3. Sophisticated Sissy - Rufus Thomas
4. I'll Always Have Faith In You - Carla Thomas
5. How Can You Mistreat The One You Love - Jeanne & The Darlings
6. Love Is Doggone Good Thing - Eddie Floyd
7. Groovin' - Booker T. & The MGs
8. Slim Jenkins Place - Booker T. & The MGs
9. Glory Of Love - Otis Redding
10. I'm A Big Girl Now - Mable John
11. Wait You Dog - Mable John
12. You Can't Get Away From It - Johnnie Taylor
13. Eloise (Hang On In There) - William Bell
14. Knock On Wood - Otis & Carla
15. I'm Glad To Do It - C.L. Blast
16. C.L. Blast/Double Up - C.L. Blast
17. You Can't Run Away From Your Heart - Judy Clay
18. I'll Gladly Take You Back - Charmels
19. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
20. Daddy Didn't Tell Me - Astors
21. Give Everybody Some - Bar-Kays
22. On A Saturday Night - Eddie Floyd
23. Don't Hit Me No More - Mable John
24. Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed - Johnnie Taylor
25. Winter Snow - Booker T. & The MGs
26. Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday - William Bell
27. What'll I Do For Satisfaction - Johnny Daye
28. Pick Up The Pieces - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

1. Down Ta My House - Rufus Thomas
2. As Long As I've Got You - Charmels
3. Soul Girl - Jeanne & The Darlings
4. Cold Feet - Albert King
5. Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
6. Wrap It Up - Sam & Dave
7. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
8. Don't Pass Your Judgement - Memphis Nomads
9. Lovey Dovey - Otis & Carla
10. I Got A Sure Thing - Ollie & The Nightingales
11. Big Bird - Eddie Floyd
12. A Hard Day's Night - Bar-Kays
13. Next Time - Johnnie Taylor
14. A Tribute To A King - William Bell
15. Every Man Ought To Have A Woman - William Bell
16. Able Mable - Mable John
17. The Memphis Train - Rufus Thomas
18. I Think I Made A Boo Boo - Rufus Thomas
19. What Will Later On Be Like - Jeanne & The Darlings
20. Hang Me Now - Jeanne & The Darlings
21. Soul Power - Derek Martin
22. Bring Your Love Back To Me - Linda Lyndell
23. A Dime A Dozen - Carla Thomas
24. Whatever Hurts You - Mad Lads
25. The Happy Song (Dum Dum) - Otis Redding
26. (I Love) Lucy - Albert King
27. I Ain't Particualar - Johnnie Taylor

Customer Reviews:

Do you really want this?.......2007-04-17

If you're reading this, you probably don't need me to tell you about how great the music was that came out of Stax records in the 60s. What you probably do want to know is if you should plunk down $100 of your hard-earned money for this box set.

If you're not already a fan of Stax or 60s soul, this probably isn't the best place to start. Check out the 4-disc Stax Story, which includes 3 discs of primo Memphis soul and a disc of killer live tracks. If you're left wanting more, this singles collection is the next step.

Next, you should know that you're not getting nine discs of solid gold. There is some filler, but amazingly little. If you enjoy discovering obscure or hidden nuggets, there's a whole gold mine waiting for you here. During the years covered here, the quality control at Stax seems to have been set at an incredibly high level.

Finally, note the dates in the title. This set ends in 1968, when Stax records dissolved its partnership with Atlantic. This box is released by Atlantic, so it also ends in 1968, although Stax continued releasing music into the mid-70s. This is something that will drive completists crazy, although it's not a deal-breaker, at least in my opinion. Following Otis Redding's death in 1968, the music coming out of Stax gradually became smoother and more orchestrated, so the music collected here is mostly the grittier, hard-grooving Stax. That said, though, this set won't get you the gems that did come out of late period Stax, so if you're looking for classics like the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself" or "I'll Take You There," Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft," or Linda Lydell's "What a Man"--all classic, well known songs--you won't find them here.

Stax/Volt is monumental!.......2006-06-05

"Knock On Wood", "Soul Man", "Gee Whiz", "Green Onions,"
"Last Night", "Hold On I'm Comin'", "Walkin' The Dog" and
"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." What do all these songs have in common? Sure, they're great soul and rhythm & blues tunes, but something more. What do Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding and Albert King have in common? Rhythm & blues and soul superstars, yes, but that same something is also true. These songs and these artists all recorded for the "little label that could": STAX. In the '60s, Stax became a local R&B music giant in Memphis. The company was founded and ran by Jim Stewart, a country fiddle player and former banker, who was first exposed to R&B when he recorded a local doo-wop group called the Veltones with their song, "Fool In Love." As Rufus Thomas a local disc jockey heard the song, he and daughter Carla cut "Cause I Love You", a great R&B gem for Jim. When the record got out, Atlantic Records heard this fresh new sound and got in on the distribution deal with Stax that would exist as a handshake deal to a documented deal up until May 1968. What also happened during that time? Musical history.

At nine CDs, this set offers the complete history of what made Stax absolutely phenomenal. As you listen all the way
through, hopefully not all in one sitting since it's quite exhaustive unless you end up loving it that much, you'll notice as you start from disc one the experimental stages at trying to find and develop a distinct sound and progressing towards it. Some of the songs on disc four display it and from there on all the way to disc nine, it's there and ever-driving as can be. This is the ultimate example at what a box set is all about: covering as much material as possible. That doesn't even begin to describe what's presented here; it's too good because it is what it is: complete. There are 244 tracks in all and each CD has 25+ tracks clocking in with 70+ minutes of music on each.
It's complete all right for it features every A-side released by Stax and the subsidiary Volt along with a few well-known B-sides. That means every Stax or Volt record released by the stars like Rufus Thomas, ("Walkin' The Dog", "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog", "Jump Back", "Sophisticated Sissy", etc.), Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz", "B-A-B-Y", "Stop! Look What You're Doin'", "Pick Up The Pieces", etc.), Otis Redding ("These Arms of Mine", "Mr. Pitiful", "Respect", "Try a Little Tenderness", etc.), Booker T. & the MGs ("Green Onions", "Jelly Bread", "My Sweet Potato", "Hip-Hug Her", etc.), Sam & Dave ("You Don't Know Like I Know", "Hold On! I'm Comin', "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", "Soul Man", etc.), Eddie Floyd ("Things Get Better", "Knock On Wood", "Raise Your Hand", "Big Bird", etc.), William Bell ("You Don't Miss Your Water", "Never Like This Before", "Share What You Got", "Eloise Hang On In There", etc.), Albert King ("Laundromat Blues", "Crosscut Saw", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Cold Feet", etc.) plus so many, many more. So if you know that those artists who were very consistent at Stax, there's pratically a full CD's worth of their songs here spread throughout the nine discs. Whether they were hits or not, everything is here including some unusual numbers that seem to break the normal Stax scheme like Macy Skipper's "Goofin' Off" which is humorous dee-jay kind of track, Cheryl and Pam Johnson's "That's My Guy", which sounds like a show-bizzy, TV commercial kind of tune, Nick Charles' "Sunday Jealous" and "The Three Dogwoods" which sound like soft, dry pop songs of that era,
and the Del-Rays' "Don't Let Her Be Your Baby" which tries to emulate the Beatles or the Dave Clark Five. This has got everything, so calling all collectors! It comes with a little 80-page book that could be worth about $15 separately so getting this with music is a bargain. The book has liner notes about the artits, the music, some real nice photos of the stars plus a track by track listing including the original catalog number and chart position (for those applicable) for each song.

Is it worth it? Absoultely. Pricey, but worth it. Finding this kind of music is getting rarer and rarer. Especially considering that about less than of these tracks didn't chart at all. Sure, the well-known hits can be found on smaller collections. This is the only collection that I know that has all the other stuff with it. Don't worry about parting with that kind of money. Being a musician and music fan, I can't think of a better investment, and if it's something you really enjoy, that makes it even more worthwhile. Here they are preserved on CD forever.

It's more than music to listen to. It's music you can dance to and groove to. Just listen to the sizzlin' guitars, the deep, pumping bass, the tight drums, the soulfulness of the vocalists and just the whole formula of each song. The sound quality is not good...it's perfect! Though everything is in big fat mono, since these were from the master tapes used on the original 45s (hence "singles" in the name), the sound is crisp and crystal clear. It sounds amazing on a system with adjustable bass output. Just crank that bass up, baby; it's practically what makes R&B. Every song is worth listening to for they help tell the story of Stax. They are all little gems. If a record didn't chart at all or it charted very low, so what? These people made music at leisurely paces and were great improvisers and just wanted to get out there, jam and do their own thing. If it sold and it was a hit, fantastic. If not, well, it was worth a shot. There is a good balance of the fast songs as well as the slow ballads. These are practically the unsung heroes of soul music; absoultely raw, gritty, rock-solid, vital and energetic they were. It was the opposite of Motown, their seemingly unbeatable giant of a competitor that was more slick and stylized in soul music. What's important lies in the musicality of the musicians and singers. Truly, this is what soul music is all about; it tells a story and expresses every human being's innermost and outermost feelings. Musicians can learn so much from this, for everyone involved here shows true musicianship. The thing was to make people appreciate and, yes, make them move to it. You can laugh with it, cry with it, and feel absolutely "soulified." It could make everyone, young and old, black and white, get up and dance and throw their cares away. It didn't matter what they were singing like Rufus Thomas on songs that have silly-sounding titles or lyrics like "Somebody Stole My Dog", or "I Think I Made A Boo Boo", you can just get up and let the driving music move you. You can laugh, but you'll find that you're laughing because it makes you feel good. So, they weren't Dylan or Lennon & McCartney. One listen to this entire set is all it takes, and you're hooked. Give this to a six year old and he or she will be a fan for life. Really, you'll never get tired of this music. The '60s were a time of social change and civil rights awareness. If only this music could have been more well-known and all these songs could have been hits, this would have brought everyone together to dance the day and night away. There's nothing like soul music. What more is there to say except that if you would like to have just one box set for your music collection, you just found a gold mine. That being said, if American music was the equivalent of a jewelry collection, all these songs would be the rare, precious and priceless gems.
So, to quote from a Mar-Keys' song, "grab this thing" because you'll want to keep it forever. It is thee essential and complete relevance of why Stax was the "little label that could"...and did!

What a waste of money this was.............2005-11-07

Having been a casual fan of Stax records for a few years; I decided earlier this year that I should go all out and splurge on this 9-CD box set. Big mistake.

I have many, many complaints about this set; but what it basically boils down to is that this whole set is an absolute mess. It misses many key B-sides such as Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle" and Booker T & The MG's "Tic Tac Toe"; and doesn't even include every a-side the label released, despite the title of the compilation (where are the sides that Hoyt Johnson released for the label?). The linear notes by Steve Greenberg (the man who gave us that phony "Soul Queen" Joss Stone; and the headache-inducing Baha Men) are horrible, mostly focusing on his personal opions of the artists and/or songs rather than the stories behind them. And within the sections for each disc in the booklet; they entries aren't actually arranged in any particular order (least of all the order of the tracks on the CDs, that would make too much sense). And there should've been more photos, too.

Add to this the set's main problem: the music. The fact is that most of the songs on here are really lame. Seriously. "Why did you buy it, then?" I hear you say. Well; the Stax songs I was familiar with (such as "Green Onions"; "B-A-B-Y"; "You Don't Miss Your Water"; "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"; "Soul Man"; "Born Under A Bad Sign" etc) are all great songs. "Well, why don't you like this set then" you're thinking. Answer: because the 30-or-so great songs on here are sandwiched between over 200 filler songs over 9 discs.

If you think I'm being harsh on these songs, I'm not; I can appreciate songs like Wendy Rene's "Bar-B-Q" and the Memphis Nomad's "Don't Pass Your Judgement"; but aside from a few good numbers and a few pleasent-but-dull numbers, most of the non-hits on here are pretty bad.

Basically, if you really like a Stax artist then go and buy a best-of for that artist; if your looking for a sampler of Stax's best songs, then go and buy the 4-CD Stax Story; don't bother with this one.

AN EDUCATION IN SOUL MUSIC 101.......2003-07-09

I bought this set originally as individual CD's but thankfully was able to trade them in once I found out it had been boxed and got it with the Atlantic 8 CD box. They complement each other quite well with very minimal repition between the two sets. Originally this Stax/Volt set was released as a LP Sized box set with an appropriately sized booklet, so my review is based on that format. This set contains all of the Stax/Volt single "A" sides and key "B" sides to boot between the years 1959 and 1968 when Stax/Volt & Atlantic parted ways. The book is extremely informative, with great colour photos of original labels and the artists in question. I'm assuming it has maintained the same level of thoroughness in it's smaller format judging by the photo above. Like the Atlantic box this is an essential collection that serious music collectors should have and an incredible education on the roots of black soul music. Being Australian I hadn't heard 95% of this or the Atlantic stuff before with the odd Otis Redding, Booket T. & The MG's & Sam And Dave tracks reaching the airwaves or record shelves here. It's only with adult hindsight that I was able to delve backwards to investigate further.. I was in "Time Warp" mode back in the late 80's/Early 90's thanks to a similarly named Record store here in Sydney. This set is lovingly compiled and most of the tracks reveal a gritiness missing from today's so-called version of R & B (don't start me on that!) There isn't a lot I can add that my fellow reviewers haven't already stated. From one stand point this music is probably very personal to those who grew up listening to it (like the Beatles for me). But I love soul music too and to hear the grooves put out by that Stax/Volt house band puts so many others to shame for sheer quality and toughness. There are probably those who don't understand the difference between Motown & Stax/Volt/Atlantic. From an Aussie view, it's like comparing the Beatles & the Stones.. The Beatles would be Motown (slick & professional, great sounding records but tough when need be - they were fans of and influenced partly by that label) while the Stones would Stax/Volt/Atlantic (not as slick in appearance, rough on the edges but bluesy & gritty - most of their influences came from the deep south & Chicago blues). I hope that make sense. I've wanted to get the other 2 Stax sets for a while and maybe down the track I will..it's on my 5 year wishlist plan! That said buy this set for some thoroughly great music and an insight into a great label's massive but very important legacy.

Whew!.......2003-03-23

Probably the greatest box set there is. Out of all the tracks there are only two out and out duds - the Nick Charles ones. What is so amazing about this set is the incredible continuity of quality. Booker T. and the MG's....this truly is their legacy. What fabulous musicians...the tastiest that ever scratched their sound into vinyl. All of the Stax classics are here (Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Bookert T.,Albert King, Bar Kays, etc.) but the real treat are the ones that I was never aware of (William Bell, Mable John, The Astors, Gorgeous George). This is maybe the only huge box seat that is worth the dough.

Average customer rating: FOREVER ARETHA, FOREVER THE QUEEN OF SOUL Soul is a Serious Business - and She's Got it Down! One Of The All Time Best Timeless soul diamond Heart and Soul

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You/Including Respect Aretha Franklin Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Icons | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Lady Soul Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul Aretha Now Dusty in Memphis Young, Gifted and Black ASIN: B0000033IS Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

1. Respect
2. Drown In My Own Tears
3. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
4. Soul Serenade
5. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream
6. Baby, Baby, Baby
7. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)
8. Good Times
9. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
10. Save Me
11. A Change Is Gonna Come
12. Respect (Stereo Version)
13. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (Stereo Version)
14. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man (Stereo Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

This is the album on which Aretha finds her voice. She'd previously recorded for another label, but this Atlantic debut created the sound that has come to define her. The tracks read like a greatest hits collection: "Respect," "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," "Dr. Feelgood," "Baby, Baby, Baby," "A Change Is Gonna Come," and the title track. She's alternately pumped full of soul or scraping her inner being to find more. A classic. --Robert Gordon

Customer Reviews:

FOREVER ARETHA, FOREVER THE QUEEN OF SOUL.......2007-03-08

If you don't have this CD in your collection, you are truly missing a treasure. With this CD, we see "Aretha" bringing the "fervor" of gospel music to the world of circular music in a way that no other African-American musical artist has done with the exception of Ray Charles and James Brown. She is unapologetic as she lets her voice soar to a spiritual place that can only be reached by someone who's church upbringing is as much a part of her being as the water she drinks and the air she breaths. You will "go to church" when you hear her sing Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" and the song that has become every woman's anthem, "Respect".

On this CD, Aretha not only defines Rhythmn and Blues; she also defines her version of the Blues. Her Blues is not the Blues of Big Mama Thorton, KoKo Taylor, or Etta James. Aretha's Blues doesn't try to compete or "rock" like a man's Blues. Aretha's Blues is a woman's Blues--smart, sassy, pleading, proud, and defiant all at the same time. One gets to feel it all when she belts out "I Never Loved A Man the Way I Love You," "Soul Serenade," and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man".

And the piano playing--yes, that's Aretha--that pure syncopated gospel style that many church going African Americans take for granted on any given Sunday morning.

Add this body of work to your Aretha collection. You won't have the blues for long and you will come to understand what it means to "go to church."

Soul is a Serious Business - and She's Got it Down!.......2007-02-23

Yeah, I've always been a fan of Aretha's. But I gained a new appreciation for her upon hearing this soul landmark. It's seriously up there with those Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder classics. She is, simply, the ultimate soul singer, with the ultimate soul anthem to her credit: Respect. She took the Otis Redding song and gave it quite the makeover. Sure, Otis' version is great, but this one puts it and any other covers of it to shame and back. The rest of the album lives in Respect's shadow, but there's lots more to like about it: the bluesy title track, for one, as well as moving versions of Do-Right Woman, Do-Right Man and Sam Cooke's oft-covered A Change is Gonna Come. Speaking of covers, I love her versions of Drown in My Own Tears and Good Times. Sure, both are overrecorded, but Aretha somehow gives them personality. And Dr. Feelgood has to be her most underrated. Even a few of the minor tracks (Soul Serenade; Baby, Baby, Baby, Save Me) would've led the way on a lesser album.
Be sure to buy this. I know that most consider soul a more singles-based genre than an album-based one, but there are quite a few good soul LP's out there that deserve the same recognition as the '60's rock classics. This is one of them.

One Of The All Time Best.......2007-02-15

A definite CLASSIC, and I do not use that word loosely. Bought this album when it first came out, and now own the CD. It is timeless. If you like music, any music, then you owe it to yourself to own this record!!! Don't think twice, just buy it.....

Timeless soul diamond.......2007-01-13

Worth checking out on the merit of transcendent hit "Respect" alone, "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You" is one of my favorite soul albums for three main reasons: Aretha's voice, of course, the ripping backing band she's got, and the songs.

Anyone with a radio has probably heard Aretha belt out "Respect" and other hits, but checking out an entire album really enhanced my appreciation of her remarkable voice. Her range and power are extraordinary, and to think of her pounding the keys while singing out her anguish and happiness really makes the album magic. Her lively wailing on "Drown in My Own Tears" is soaked in authenticity, and her sultry readings of the title track and "Dr. Feelgood" make it a surprisingly steamy affair. It's great to hear Aretha pour her sweat, heart, and guts into these songs and hear the soft, hard, fiery and sweet sounds her voice is capable of.

The backing band is tight and spot on--there's some really gnarly blues guitar, for instance, on the title track, and "Save Me" doesn't drop a funk-soaked beat. Throughout the whole album, the saxes and brass shine and accentuate the spaces between Aretha's confessions, illustrating the soul truth that simple is powerful. The background singers also help support Aretha's power with soft harmonies (like on the jazzy "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream").

Last, the songs are stupendous. Not only does Franklin conquer Otis Redding's "Respect" and cut the definitive version, she also reimagines Sam Cooke's "Good Times" and gives the man a run for his money on her tender reading of "A Change is Gonna Come." Along the way, she also manages to make soul classics out of a few other songwriters' tunes ("Do Right Woman") AND co-write some soul classics of her very own. Serious business indeed.

I love this CD and listen to it all the time--no matter how radio-overplayed "Respect" is, this album still glitters with the magic that created it and remains part of the bedrock of my modest soul collection.

Heart and Soul.......2007-01-10

It's a bautiful record, from the best aretha's atlantic period. It's one of the most important r'n'b records of all times...Any more words are not required!!
Roberto from Italy (Tuscany)

Average customer rating: Otis! ****3/4. One of the all-time classic soul records Oddly overrated classic soul LP Best soul album ever. Not even a compilation, just great

Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul Otis Redding Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Soul General | Soul | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Soul General | Soul | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Icons | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable The Dock of the Bay I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You/Including Respect Lady Soul In Person at the Whisky a Go Go ASIN: B000002IHD Release Date: 1991-06-11

Tracks:

1. Ole Man Trouble
2. Respect
3. A Change Is Gonna Come
4. Down In The Valley
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long
6. Shake
7. My Girl
8. Wonderful World
9. Rock Me Baby
10. Satisfaction
11. You Don't Miss Your Water

Amazon.com essential recording

Otis Blue has always been that rarest of beasts: a '60s soul album that could actually have been made as an album, rather than as a slapdash assortment of singles and fillers. The point being that there is no filler among these eleven classic Redding tracks that range from the crisp stomp of "Respect" and the Stones' "Satisfaction" to the touching pop of the Temps "My Girl" and Sam Cookes "Wonderful World"--not forgetting, of course, the heart-rending anguish of "Ole Man Trouble" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long." Otis Blue captures Redding at the very peak of his raw, unpolished powers, with the peerlessly punchy backing of Booker T. and the MGs. --Barney Hoskyns

Customer Reviews:

Otis!.......2007-02-23

Tired of what passes for soul these days? Had enough of Destiny's Child, John Legend, etc.? Then let me tell you about Otis Redding. This is the man who penned Respect - yeah, so Aretha's version is definitive, but his ain't too shabby either. This also contains Otis' first big hit, the oft-covered I've Been Loving You Too Long, which has survived being butchered by the Rolling Stones - out of its many covers, it's best heard here. And speaking of the Stones, Otis' version of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction is a surprisingly good reading of the just rock classic, especially considering it's a fine example of record company prostitution - the Rolling Stones had hit big with it a few months prior to this album's release. Otis' is funky, soulful, etc. And how about the bluesy Ole Man Trouble? Man, that song's a killer. "Don't want you, Ole Man Trouble, don't need you, Ole Man Trouble..." damn! Is that soul, or what? Two cool Sam Cooke covers (Shake and Wonderful World) round this classic album out. I enjoy every song (with the possible exception of a rather limp My Girl), and this is one of my favorite Soul LP's.

****3/4. One of the all-time classic soul records.......2006-07-28

I don't know if "Otis Blue" is the greatest 60s soul record ever released, as some have suggested, but I'm convinced it must be in the top-10.
"Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul" is a bit brief by today's standarts, and I do prefer the Stones' own version of "Satisfaction" to this one, but virtually every thing else is terrific. The arrangements are lean and uncluttered but suitably muscular, and Otis Redding was not the least of the many fine vocalists of soul's "golden age".

Redding is equally convincing on slow, gospel-like tunes like "A Change Is Gonna Come" and up-tempo soul stompers like "Respect", and he receives excellent backing by guitarist Steve Cropper and a tight four-man horn ensemble (two trumpets, two saxes).
Highlights include almost every song. A gritty, grinding "Down In The Valley", a rarely-compiled cover of Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World", the aching ballad "I've Been Loving You Too Long", and "Shake", a driving dance-friendly party tune. Whether or not the blues classic "Rock Me Baby" benefits from this arrangement depends on how you feel about blues to begin with, I guess, but Steve Cropper's playing is certainly very good.

Some of Otis Redding's best self-penned songs are here, like "Ole Man Trouble" and the aforementioned "Respect" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long", and while a good case can be made for the "Dock Of The Bay" being Redding's best original album, I think this one deserves a tie at least.
"Otis Blue" should not be missing from any self-respecting soul collection. Music collection, really.
It's got a beat and you can dance to it. Ot just sit there alternately swaying and bopping your head like a deranged pigeon.

Oddly overrated classic soul LP.......2006-05-23

This is probably Redding's most famous and acclaimed single LP; it's one of only two that Rhino keeps in print domestically at mid-price. (The other is the ubiquitous semi-compilation, DOCK OF THE BAY). Redding's incredible force of personality carries all of his LPs, and they're all quality entertainment, but most of them are erratic. OTIS BLUE is as uneven as any of them but contains a handful of seminal performances.

Side A is much stronger than side B, and contains all of the original material Redding brought to this session. As expected, the three originals are all outstanding. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a justly famous, dynamic torch ballad; "Ole Man Trouble" (repeated, perhaps to more poignant effect, on DOCK OF THE BAY) receives a cavernous arrangement, anchored to a dissonant Steve Cropper riff, with lyrics of overwhelming despair. And the version here of "Respect" is sleeker and punchier than Aretha's, although necessarily it lacks much feminist interest. I prefer it anyway.

There are also three Sam Cooke songs, which suggests that Redding might have had a fuller tribute in mind to the then-recently deceased legend. Otis improves on both "Shake" and "A Change is Gonna Come" - the latter is skeletal and gut-wrenching, the former gloriously raunchy. (Despite the album's title, Redding's concerns throughout the album are pretty earthy - a lusty blues showcases Cropper on both sides of the LP, although the performances aren't among Redding's most memorable.)

Side B features a take on "Wonderful World" that is more radical, but not nearly apt or successful as the late-Cooke pieces on Side A. There's also a perfunctory version of "My Girl" that, like the two blues, slows the album's momentum and leads me to wonder why this is usually classed as Redding's masterpiece when discs like THE IMMORTAL OTIS REDDING are just sitting there unnoticed. After an odd (but basically reverent) version of "Satisfaction", complete with fuzz guitar, Redding takes William Bell by the collar and shakes "You Don't Miss Your Water" free, cutting to the quick just as he did with "A Change Is Gonna Come". His rendering of the immortal soul ballad is as eccentric and indispensible as The Byrds'.

Either three-and-a-half or four stars. DOCK OF THE BAY, which is just as cheap and is, to a certain extent, cobbled together (side B extracts tunes from three previous Redding LPs and one Stax compilation) is probably a better starter.

Best soul album ever........2005-09-05

This is for me the best soul album ever.
All songs are beautiful, contains true soul arrangements without
frequent and disruptive background vocals.
Redding is in top form. His songs like Respect or I've Been Loving You Too Long are great and his covers like Satisfaction or Down in the walley too.
This is essential music for every soul fans.
Note: I have this album on mono.

Not even a compilation, just great.......2005-08-30

You would think that this album is one of the many compilations of the greatest Otis Redding songs. But it isn't! It's an actual album, maybe still released as a collection of singles but definitely great.

You won't hear a lot of the great Redding/Cropper compositions because there are only three.

It starts with one of the best Redding openings. The choppy, on first hearing not to good, intro of 'Ole Man Trouble'. But you will never forget it.

Song 2 has been made more famous by Aretha Franklin, but Otis' rendition of his own 'Respect' has a different meant and a great horn part in the pumping intro followed by Donald Dunn's great bassline.

There are three Sam Cooke songs on this album, the first being the anthem 'A Change is Gonna Come'. As a great Sam Cooke fan I have to admit that Otis gives such a gutwrenching all out performance that is rivals Cooke's version.

'Down in the Valley' has a great bass/piano beat, it may not be the best song on the album, but it's still very good.

Track 5 is an Otis standard, the great 'I've been loving you too long', one of his best vocal/ballad performances.

Another Cooke song is 'Shake' recorded a lot wilder than Cooke did. This may actually be closer to what Cooke intended but he was of course bound by record label rules. If he had put this on his 'live at the harlem square club' album it would probably have sounded like this.

'My Girl' is a song that everybody will know and the same goes for Cooke's 'Wonderful World' which is one of the best covers of this song.

'Rock Me Baby' is one the bluesiest songs Otis ever recorded and it rivals the BB King Original, helped by the rumbling bass beat.

Otis gives a great and original version of the Stones' 'Satisfaction'. It's the horns that make the song.

The slower 'You Don't Miss Your Water' ends the album. An 11 song sample of Otis' many talents is over.

Great album

Average customer rating: King & Queen: Aces Awesome The Perfect Duo Soul Monarchy King and Queen

King & Queen Otis Redding & Carla Thomas Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads The Soul Album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul In Person at the Whisky a Go Go ASIN: B000002IR9 Release Date: 1991-06-11

Tracks:

1. Knock On Wood
2. Let Me Be Good To You
3. Tramp
4. Tell It Like It Is
5. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
6. Lovey Dovey
7. New Year's Resolution
8. It Takes Two
9. Are You Lonely For Me Baby
10. Bring It On Home To Me
11. Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis

Customer Reviews:

King & Queen: Aces.......2006-11-08

Memphis has produced many great musicians. Sam Phillips' Sun Studio, launched in February 1952, boasted Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison. Beale Street started BB King's career. And then there was Stax/Volt, home to Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Johnnie Taylor and Rufus Thomas. These Stax acts, ably backed by one of the greatest studio bands of all time, otherwise known as Booker T. and the MGs, have left us unmatched rhythm and blues. (Now, I'm not going to get into the argument of which had the greatest studio band, Detroit's Motown, Atlantic's Muscle Shoals, or Stax: I'm just not competent to do so, unfortunately. I'm just going to say that with Booker T and the MGs behind him, Otis Redding has to be on the short list for greatest rhythm and blues singer, greatest Southern soul singer, however you prefer to characterize his music.) "Sitting on The Dock of the Bay," "Knock on Wood," "Try a Little Tenderness," "I'm Coming Home:" the man had range. What he didn't have, on his own, was humor: that's where Carla Thomas, daughter of Rufus, came in. "Tramp" is an exuberant corn-pone-flavored duet: once heard, it lingers in the mind, or at least in mine. It's funny. The rest of this record, first released in 1967, lingers well, too: the covers of several rock and roll masterpieces like "Tell It Like It Is," "It Takes Two,"and "Bring It On Home to Me," are crisp, light-handed, and sure-footed.

People say that the late, great Marvin Gaye never sang better than when he was paired with Tammi Terrell; that's a matter of personal taste, and I wouldn't say the same about Otis Redding and Carla Tucker. I would say they sang superbly together: if you love 1960's Southern soul, you want to get this rare record before it goes out of print.

Awesome.......2005-08-05

I had to write this because I couldn't believe that none of the people that already reviewed it mentioned "Are You Lonely For Me, Baby?" Definately the best song on the album and one of the best Otis ever recorded. The rest kick ass too.

The Perfect Duo.......2005-07-30

How can anybody from Georgia - even the South - not think that Carla Thomas & Otis Redding are sui generis. The song "Tramp" with their clever exchange of lyrics, and gold digger/dirt farmer jokes is a hoot. "Otis," says Carla, "you ain't nuthin' but country." Otis replies, "That's right, baby. Yes I is." She complains, "You can't buy me diamonds or minks." And he comes back, "Why, woman, I can buy you anything you want - rat, squirrell, frog, anything!" The romantic songs are as good as it gets, as well.

Soul Monarchy.......2000-12-05

Otis Redding & Carla Thomas recorded one album together, but it is an R&B gem. Motown started the duet album trend by pairing Marvin Gaye with Mary Wells, Kim Weston & most famously Tammi Terrell, so this was Stax/Volt's rebuttal. The album is made up of mostly covers, but Mr. Redding & Ms. Thomas attack the songs with a ferocity and verve that makes them sound all there own. Mr. Redding's smooth voice easily mingles with the sass of Ms. Thomas' and this is no better illustrated than on "Tramp" which is pure Southern Soul. They do a tender take on Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is" while ripping it up on Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood" & "Lovey Dovey". It is interesting to hear them do the Gaye/Weston song "It Takes Two" as there is always was a rivalry between Motown & Stax/Volt. King & Queen was a boastful title and the two more than live up to the claim.

King and Queen.......2000-11-02

A fairly swell collection of duets between Otis and Carla. They fit together like, well, King and Queen. If you like the Stax/Memphis sound and Otis Redding and/or Carla Thomas, you can't go wrong on this one. Their version of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" is an absolute classic. Great Album. Buy it before it goes out of print!

Rap Music:

1. Staring at the Divine
2. Streets of Love/Rough Justice [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Limited Edition] [Import]
3. Sunflower
4. Tanx [Original recording remastered] [Import]
5. Tell Me the Truth [Import]
6. The Beauty of Letting Go
7. The Collection [Import]</