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"...Mustang Sally..."
England's Edsel Records are
no strangers to Soul-reissues. Across the decades they've touched on major
retrospectives for Philadelphia International (O'Jays, Billy Paul, Harold
Melvin & The Blue Notes), Holland-Dozier-Holland's HDH Label and Invictus
Records (Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne and The Glass House) as well as
anthologies for Ann Peebles, The Chi-Lites and Al Green covering their Hi
Records label output.
For 2016 - our Demon Group
heroes are tackling the whole of Wilson Pickett's ten-album stay between 1964
and 1972 at the legendary Atlantic Records. This second of five '2 on 1' sets
issued 26 November 2016 in the UK (see full list below) deals with his third
and fourth LPs from the tail-ends of 1967 (no bonus tracks).
Across these five
digipak-releases (three come with extras - the 1st, 4th and 5th) - you also get
exclusive single mixes and many unreleased tracks formerly only available on
2009's "Funky Midnight Mover..." – a 6CD mail-order set from Rhino
Handmade – an item that is now long deleted and extremely pricey into the
bargain. The booklets also feature new liner notes from noted Soul writer and
uber-fan Tony Rounce.
Here are the details for Alabama's finest Midnight
Mover...
UK released 26 November 2016
(2 December 2016 in the USA) – "The Wicked Pickett/The Sound Of Wilson
Pickett" by WILSON PICKETT on Edsel EDSA 3060 (Barcode 740155506032)
offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD (no bonus tracks) and plays out as follows
(61:11 minutes):
1. Mustang Sally
2. New Orleans
3. Sunny
4. Everybody Needs Somebody
To Love
5. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
6. She Ain't Gonna Do Right
7. Knock On Wood [Side 2]
8. Time Is On My Side
9. Up Tight Good Woman
10. You Left The Water
Running
11. Three Time Loser
12. Nothing You Can Do
Tracks 1 to 12 are his 3rd
album "The Wicked Pickett" - released January 1967 in the USA on
Atlantic 8138 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8138 (Stereo). It was released February
1967 in the UK on Atlantic 587 057 (Mono) and 588 057 (Stereo). The MONO mix is
used.
13. Soul Dance Number Three
14. Funky Broadway
15. I Need A Lot Of Loving
Every Day
16. I Found A Love, Part I
17. I Found A Love, Part II
18. You Can't Stand Alone
19. Mojo Mamma [Side 2]
20. I Found The One
21. Something Within Me
22. I'm Sorry About That
23. Love Is A Beautiful
Thing
Tracks 13 to 23 are his 4th
album "The Sound Of Wilson Pickett" - released August 1967 in the USA
on Atlantic 8145 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8145 (Stereo) and in the UK on Atlantic
587 080 (Mono) and 588 080 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.
Each of these five card
digipaks is a gatefold with Volume 2 sporting a comprehensive 16-page booklet
in the left flap with new liner notes from legendary Soul writer TONY ROUNCE –
a man whose name has graced literally hundreds of quality CD reissues. He goes
into all the chart statistics for late 1966 into 1967 where Pickett was coming
off a run of three US R&B No. 1 singles and couldn't put a foot wrong. I'd
have to say though that the inner flap and the space beneath the see-through CD
tray being 'blank' and the nondescript colouring of the CD itself let the
visual side down somewhat (could have been filled out with pictures and
black/red label memorabilia) and the lack of bonus cuts may irk some buyers.
But like Volume 1 covering
1965 and 1966 - the kicking music on offer here doesn't let anyone down.
Mastered by PHIL KINRADE – the tracks are licensed from Warners and are
therefore the 1995 Rhino versions of old – full and punchy Bill Inglot and Dan
Hersch Remasters from original tapes.
How can you not think of the
1991 film "The Commitments" every time you hear the stunning
"Mustang Sally" – a 1965 signifying-dancer that just wants to ride
sally ride ("Three Time Loser" was the flipside). Even now it's hard
to understand why it didn't give him his fourth US R&B No. 1 – instead
peaking at No. 6 on Atlantic 45-2365 in December 1966. At least it received the
Grammy Hall Of Fame Award in 2000. The album followed on from the winning
single in January 1967 and the hey-hey-hey shimmy-shimmy beat of MS continues
with the fantastic "New Orleans". Atlantic then tried the Solomon
Burke smoocher "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" b/w "Nothing
You Can Do" as his next 7” single - Atlantic 45-2381 making a respectable No.
19 in February 1967. Secret weapons for the LP came in the shape of songwriter
DAN PENN who along with Fame Studio's Rick Hall and others penned "She
Ain't Gonna Do It Right", "Up Tight Good Woman" and "You
Left The Water Running" – the kind of brass/organ driven Southern Soul
that sends so many collectors into frenzies of arm-hugging – especially on the
Northern Soul circuits.
Album No. 2 opens with a
total winner – the shing-a-ling with your miniskirts of "Soul Dance Number
Three". Gerry Wexler wrote this wicked irresistible groove providing
Pickett with a No. 10 on the R&B charts in July 1967 (Atlantic 45-2412)
while its equally cool flipside "You Can't Stand Alone" charted at
No. 26 on its own merit. The label had tried the two-parts of "I Found A
Love" on Atlantic 45-2394 - and despite saturation Wilson Pickett product
it too peaked high - No. 6 in April 1967. Consolidating his by now
superstar-status - "Funky Broadway" did the magic again in August
1967 when Atlantic 45-2430 went to No. 1 R&B (his fourth in two years).
Part of a reissue like this
is the undiscovered LP cuts that never get the attention they deserve - in the
case of the forgotten album "The Sound Of..." it's three from the
fabulous pen of Bobby Womack. Womack was a writer and singer with a similar
growl and gravel voice - but more than that he seemed tailor-made for Pickett's
song needs. Womack contributed a trio of genuine Soul gems - the majestic
torch-ballad "I Found The One"
followed quickly by another slow and Bluesy tune "Something Within
Me" (check out that Chips Moman lead guitar) and finally the 'I done you
wrong' song "I'm Sorry About That".
There are other ways to get
this music I know (and cheaper). I reviewed the August 2010 "Original
Album Series" 5CD Mini Box Set for instance which is available for a ten
spot - but I prefer the better presentation and the ever so slightly uplifted
audio in evidence here. And in truth - even though there are no bonus tracks -
both of these albums are killer enough for any man.
"...This love's got a
hold on me...Lord have mercy..." - Pickett sings on the wonderful
"Something Within Me". Amen to that baby. Dig in and enjoy...
Titles in the 26 Nov
2016 Edsel CD Reissue Series for WILSON PICKETT are:
1. In The Midnight Hour/The
Exciting Midnight Mover
(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st
and 2nd LPs plus Three Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3059 - Barcode
740155505936)
2. The Wicked Pickett/The
Sound Of Wilson Pickett
(1966 and 1967 Stereo/Mono
3rd and 4th LPs – no bonus tracks
Edsel EDSA 3060 - Barcode
740155506032)
3. I’m In Love/The Midnight
Mover
(1968 for both his 5th and
6th LPs – no bonus tracks
Edsel EDSA 3061 - Barcode
740155506131)
4. Hey Jude/Right On
(1969 and 1970 Stereo 7th
& 8th LPs with Three Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3062 - Barcode
740155506230)
5. In Philadelphia/Don’t
Knock My Love
(1970 and 1972 9th &
10th Stereo LPs with Seventeen Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7112 - Barcode
740155711238)
Edsel have also touched on
PERCY SLEDGE in this series and his stay at Atlantic Records (three digipak CD
reissues):
1. When A Man Loves A
Woman/Warm & Tender Soul
(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st
& 2nd LPs plus Four Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3063 - Barcode
740155506339)
2. The Percy Sledge Way/Take
Time To Know Her
(1967 and 1968 Stereo 3rd
& 4th LPs with Eight Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7116 - Barcode
740155711634)
3. My Special Prayer/Singles
And Rarities
(1970 fifth and final Atlantic LP - along with a compilation of 27 Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7113 - Barcode 740155711337)
Edsel EDSK 7113 - Barcode 740155711337)
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