Above - The April 1987 UK Seven x Double-Album VINYL BOX SET
(Originally Issued December 1985 in the USA)
Both Original Vinyl Box Sets (1985 and 1987) Had 186 Tracks
The Seven CDs in both countries however were Truncated Versions
- Down to 163 Tracks
The UK CDs Volumes 1 to 7 also originally issued April 1987
(reissued October 1990)
Below - The October 1991 USA-ONLY 8CD 203-Track Upgraded Box Set (CD only)
Volume 8 was NEW over the 1985 Vinyl Box Set and 1987 Truncated 7 x CDs
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Below: US October 1991 Volume 5
Newly Configured from the 1987 dates of 1962-1966 to 1961-1965
Was Not Issued Individually in the USA in 1991 or in the UK
Reissued However in UK/Europe in March 2006 in Different Artwork
- see Next Set of Photos
Below: UK/EU March 2006 Reissue on Rhino/Warner Platinum
Each Volume (1 to 8) Was Released Individually only in UK/EU
There Was Also a Card Wrap Version that gathered up all Eight Volumes
All were Budget-Priced (usually £3.99) and used the 1991 Remasters
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"…Green Onions…"
Here in the spring of 2024 - this unassuming and admittedly rather naff-looking Soul CD compilation from Rhino and Warner Platinum has been in the UK and EUROPEAN budget-priced marketplace for almost the guts of 20-years. Issued back in March 2006 as Volume 5 of 8 – it was/is a bit-part showcase for the mighty Atlantic Records and their staggering Black Music Legacy. But don't let the cover fool you - what lies within is solid ***** material despite the no-star presentation.
In fact - none of the eight cheap-and-cheerful "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" reissue volumes look like much – garish big-lettered front cover art with a piddly gatefold-inlay inside that barely lists titles and artists and not much else. But (as I say) man oh man the music is fabulous. However, to understand what you have in hand and the journey as to how it got here requires some serious investigative history that is worth explaining (including the photos provided above). So, here goes…
The Seven x Double-Albums VINYL BOX SET for "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" was first issued in the USA in December 1985 on Atlantic 7-81620-1 and belatedly in the UK in April 1987 on Atlantic 781 620-1. Housed in distinctive black and red packaging (like their Fifties labels) - the individual 2LP sets inside each had unique artwork, extensive liner notes and were also issued as stand-alone 2LP sets. Sometimes sold outside of the box in the UK and Europe - the individual 2LP sets were Atlantic 781 293-1 (Volume 1), 781 294-1 (Volume 2), 781 295-1 (Volume 3), 781 296-1 (Volume 4), 781 297-1 (Volume 5), 781 298-1 (Volume 6) and 781 299-1 (Volume 7).
There were also 7 individual CDs issued in the UK in April 1987 (reissued Oct 1990) each with the above catalogue numbers but the code -2 instead of 1 for CD (781 293-2 etc). And despite some catalogue books stating that Atlantic 781 292-2 was issued in April 1987 as a CD BOX - there was NO Original 12" x 12" box set for the CDs at that time - and worse - 6 of the 7 individual CD volumes had their track lists truncated - reducing 186 on the vinyl doubles by 17 to 163 in total on CD.
It then transpired that unspecified tracks across the whole seven-volume kaboodle had the wrong takes used. Atlantic USA decided to rectify both the shortfall of tracks on the seven CDs and the wrong masters issue and reissued the entire box set again - but with more tracks and only on CD. So, in October 1991 "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" was relaunched on Atlantic 7 82305-2 in the USA (Barcode 075678230523) - this time as an 8CD 12" x 12" box set with 203 tracks (17 extra). The individual booklets that came with the original 7CDs were taken out (replaced with a simple gatefold track list inlays that used the old artwork) and expanded into a full-sized 36-page booklet inside the box (pictured above). The reissue also used the distinctive black and red packaging of the 1985 vinyl box on the front, and the artwork style remained the same for each CD on the inside (collage photos). It also admitted that mistaken masters had been used on the original set but were now all correct. It was ONLY issued as an 8CD Box Set and ONLY in America.
In March 2006 in the UK and Europe however, these 8 Volumes were finally reissued as stand-alone CDs for the first time (no vinyl), but with different artwork (also pictured above). They were also released without the booklets that accompanied the 1987 issues or the bigger booklet from the 1991 reissue box - just basic gatefold inlays.
Completists should also note - to add further salt to a reissue wound - there was a 255-Track JAPAN-ONLY issue of "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974" on Warners/Atlantic WPCR-14441 released 25 May 2012 - again with different artwork - which added on 52 new tracks on 2 NEW BONUS DISCS. Chosen by noted Japanese expert Keishi Suzuki - the two extra CDs contained very rare Fifties Blues and R'n'B on Disc 9 and lesser-seen Soul Sides on Disc 10 - much of it unavailable elsewhere. Those two extra volumes are NOT available anywhere else and are exclusive to that Japanese anthology.
Back to the CD in hand. So, what you have here is an American-Based Box Set CD from 1991 subsequently issued 2006 in Europe as a stand-alone. For this review we concentrate on Volume 5 of 8 which deals with 1961 to 1965. Here are the track-by-track details…
UK released 20 March 2006 - "Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 5 - 1961-1965" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino/Warner Platinum 8122-77580-2 (Barcode 081227758028) breaks down as follows (74:09 minutes, no Bonus Tracks):
1. Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) – THE COASTERS (April 1961, US 45-Single on Atco 45-6192, A-side)
2. Amor – BEN E. KING (July 1961, US 45-Single on Atco 45-6203), A-side) *
3. Last Night – MAR-KEYS (October 1961, US 45-Single on Stax S-107, A-side)
4. I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) – THE IKETTES (November 1961, US 45-Single on Atco 45-6212, A-side)
5. You Don't Miss Your Water – WILLIAM BELL (November 1961, US 45-Single on Stax S-116, A-side)
6. I Found A Love – THE FALCONS and Band (Ohio Untouchables) (January 1962, US 45-Single on Lu-Pine L-1003, A-side)
7. Cry To Me – SOLOMON BURKE (December 1961, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2131, A-side)
8. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) – BEN E. KING (April 1962, US 45-single on Atco 45-6222, A-side)
9. Green Onions – BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s (July 1962, US 45-single on Stax S-127, A-side – originally a B-side on Volt 102 in May 1962)
10. Up On The Roof – THE DRIFTERS (September 1962, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2162, A-side)
11. See See Rider – LaVERN BAKER (October 1962, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2167, A-side)
12. I (Who Have Nothing) – BEN E. KING (June 1963, US 45-single on Atco 45-6267, A-side)
13. If You Need Me – SOLOMON BURKE (March 1963, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2185, A-side)
14. These Arms Of Mine – OTIS REDDING (November 1962, US 45-single on Volt 45-103, A-side)
15. Hello Stranger – BARBARA LEWIS (March 1963, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2184, A-side)
16. On Broadway – THE DRIFTERS (March 1963, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2182, A-side)
17. Just One Look – DORIS TROY (April 1963, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2182, A-side)
18. (Do The) Mashed Potatoes (Part 1) – NAT KENDRICK And THE SWANS (March 1963, US 45-single on Dade 45-5004, A-side)
19. Land Of 1000 Dances – CHRIS KENNER (October 1962, US 45-single on Instant 3252, A-side)
20. Walking The Dog – JOE TEX (September 1963, US 45-single on Stax S-140, A-side)
21. Release Me – ESTHER PHILLIPS (October 1962, US 45-single on Lenox NX-5555, A-side)
22. Mercy, Mercy – DON COVAY (July 1964, US 45-single on Rosemart 45-801, A-side)
23. Under The Boardwalk – THE DRIFTERS (June 1964, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-2281, A-side)
24. And I Love Him – ESTHER PHILLIPS (March 1965, US 45-single on Atlantic 45-216, A-side, Beatles cover version)
25. Hold What You've Got – JOE TEX (November 1964, US 45-single on Dial 45-4001, A-side)
26. Mr. Pitiful – OTIS REDDING (January 1965, US 45-single on Volt 45-124, A-side)
27. Baby I'm Yours – BARBARA LEWIS (August 1967, US 45-single on Stax S-231, A-side)
Some had complained about the sound quality on the original 1987 CDs - as well as wrong versions of songs being used (personally I found the audio quality of the VINYL doubles to be superlative). So Atlantic made efforts with the 1991 CD reissue which of course has been used for these 2006 British reissues. The liner notes tell us that all tracks were "digitally remastered from mono and true stereo originals" and that "in this edition, the proper tracks have been used in all cases".
BOBBY WARNER and JIMMY DOUGLAS carried out the Digital Transfers while ZAL SCHREIBER and STEVE INNOCENZI did the mastering. The quality on these CDs is shockingly good - full of life and clarity. It's a joy to listen to. Sure, in the decades since there have been reissues (by Bear Family especially) that knock spots off the 1991 sound offered here (try their "Joe Turner Rocks" or their "Sweet Soul Music" volumes 1961 to 1975). But what you do get is fantastic all the way to the finish. To the tunes for Volume 5…
The first of three volumes from the 8CD Box Set dealing with the transition from Fifties Rhythm and Blues to Sixties Soul and Funk – Volume 5 (1961 to 1965) sees trailblazers like William Bell, Solomon Burke, Ben E. King, The Drifters and of course Otis Redding sit alongside a strong contingent of ladies busting down the genre doors – The Ikettes, Doris Troy, Esther Phillips, and Barbara Lewis to name but a few. With 27-cuts, Volume 5 is also heavy on content even if it doesn't contain a single Bonus Track (all the other volumes do).
It opens with a witty novelty, the triple-somersaulting 1949 tattoo'd on her rear "Little Egypt" – a temptress who lures our hapless hero from The Coasters into seven kids crawling around the floor while she's out shopping in the Mall. The Salsa shaker-shuffle of "Amor" slinks across your speakers as Ben E. King comes on like Nat King Cole whose had a few too many oysters. We then the first genuine masterpiece – the truly fantastic mostly-instrumental "Last Night" – the kind of brass-punching organ-grinding tune you have heard in so many hipster hip-shaking movies and TV programmes (and in speaker-kicking audio too). By contrast, the dooby-doo and gong-gong chants by The Ikettes pining over a suitor who's been gone too long in "I'm Blue" is merely good. Slow 1961 Soul comes a high-hatting out of your speakers with "You Don't Miss Your Water" – William Bell the Playboy years bitten by something stronger, and I don't mean a miffed Tarantula (love done got our man).
What a great groove – pained lyrics – gorgeous audio – Solomon Burke demonstrating why so many rated him as the best with "Cry To Me" (now that I rehear it, I catch John Fogerty growling for Creedence – similar fabulous voice). Darling is lying to a distraught Ben E. King in "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" – the 17-year-old with her eyes on something tastier over by the Coke dispenser. Serious contender for the greatest song ever made (well certainly most influential instrumental) comes a boogieing out of your stack next – the Memphis Sound monster that was and still is "Green Onions" – Hammond organist Booker T. Jones with his Fender Telecaster guitarist Steve Cropper creating an unrepeatable legend. It was initially issued on Volt as a B-side to "Behave Yourself", but quickly flipped by DJs and Fans so that Stax reissued it as an A-side in July 1962. Astonishingly and despite a release on a September 1962 London Records 45-single in the UK as an A-side (HLK 9545), the normally savvy to what's good British ignored it (they liked the 1964 LP of the same name and charted that). It was not until The Who used "Green Onions" in 1979’s movie for "Quadrophenia" did the Sixties Mod instrumental chart - Atlantic K 10109 issued late Nov 1979 with "Boot Leg" on the flipside finally making the UK singles chart (it rose to No. 7).
Perhaps overplayed in 2024 by oldies stations, "Up On The Roof" by The Drifters is still the loveliest of 60ts Soul and it is presented here in warm and summer-tenderness audio. LaVern Baker escapes her domination of Fifties R&B by capturing the prevailing shuffling Soul winds with her catchy "See See Rider" (what I say) – a great inclusion. Ben E. King goes for castanet melodrama once again with "I (Who Have Nothing)" but in all honesty, time has not been kind to this kind of weeper. A pair of yearning-burning pleaders from Solomon Burke and Otis Redding class up the listen with "If You Need Me" and "These Arms Of Mine" before being replaced by the sweet shuffle of "Hello Stranger" – Barbara Lewis caressing a strange mix of organ Salsa and old-school shoo-bop backing vocalists – the song become her signature tune.
Classics don’t get much better than "On Broadway" – The Drifters singing of magic in the air – the something-else girls – the glitter – but an inability to enjoy it all because all you have in your pocket is one thin dime. The mention of guitar-playing as the singer’s way of poverty must have appealed to George Benson who famously covered "On Broadway" in the Seventies to huge success on Warner Brothers.
While The Bar-Kays get their instrumental vs. shouts moment with "Soul Finger" – the naff and fey lyrics in the Joe Tex tune "Skinny Legs And All" have not worn at all well over the decades – embarrassing really. Thankfully that momentary glitch is firmly kicked into touch with the gorgeous Wilson Pickett take on the Bobby Womack song "I'm In Love" – a genuine masterpiece and Soul discovery for those buying first time. Poignant and touching as the Otis Redding song might have been especially after his untimely and horrible passing - "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" has always felt weedy to me and not representative of his power (the Remaster is so clean and lovely though). Archie Bell gets his Drells guitar player to fall in during the infectious "Tighten Up" – a funky talker and words that became synonymous with late Sixties Soul. Better for me is the sweet Soul slink of "Slip Away" followed by the mid-tempo shuffler "Too Weak To Fight" – Clarence Carter being a huge fave of mine – two counts of top tunes – rasp and rolling vocals – the brass and groove so sexy.
Linda Ronstadt would have a go at "Just One Look" on her 1978 "Living In The U.S.A." album – the big Doris Troy moment fifteen years earlier in 1963 – while Wilson Pickett would take a true monster of a Sixties Frat Party set list "Land Of 1000 Dances" – presented here in its original form by Chris Kenner. All versions float my boat. The remainder of the CD veers more to Mellow Soft Sixties Soul with the likes of The Drifters sauntering "Under The Boardwalk", Joe Tex testifying good advice for lovers in "Hold What You've Got" while a classy Barbara Lewis has a gorgeous ballad in "Baby I'm Yours" – a sweet spot that has drawn many to cover it in subsequent decades.
To sum up – while maybe not as immediate on the ears as say Volumes 6 and 7 that deal with 1965 to 1969 – Volume 5 is still a winner. And in 2024 and despite being technically deleted, you can get Volume 5 of 8 of Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (or any of the others) individually on popular auction sites often for less than four quid.
But (if you got the readies) I would argue that such is the riches on offer across all eight volumes that you consider the big daddy - splashing out on that 1991 US LP-Sized 8CD Box Set with its full booklet and genuine sense of visual purpose. Set you back maybe £60 – but what a wow it is!
If the Big Bad 8-Disc Red and Black Box isn't in your budget purview and you want primo Sixties Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Funk and Rare Groove – then go for this individually released Volume 5 Thunderbuck Ram of a CD compilation (and get Volume 7 too while you are at it).
But I warn you – the need for the other seven and booklet explanations will quickly manifest itself thereafter…
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