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"…Book Of Memories…"
Something of a lost CD gem in a veritable sea of Soul Compilations - "Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers - 16 Lost Classics By The Greatest Soul Men Ever" seems to have gone largely unnoticed and like its Soul Sisters companion volume (also from June 2006) - there are just too many goodies on here for that. So let’s get to the newly found discoveries…
UK released 19 June 2006 - "Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers: 16 Lost Classics By The Greatest Soul Men Ever" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Atlantic/Rhino 8122-77625-2 (Barcode 081227762520) it plays out as follows (49:56 minutes):
1. Can't Stop A Man In Love – WILSON PICKETT (Recorded February 1972, Previously Unreleased)
2. How Does It Feel – BOBBY WOMACK (February 1967, B-side of the USA 7" single "Find Me Somebody" on Atlantic 2388)
3. You Left The Water Running – SAM & DAVE (Recorded July 1969, a Previously Unreleased track 1st issued on the "Sweat 'n' Soul Anthology" CD set in 1993)
4. Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) – ARTHUR CONLEY (Recorded June 1967, Previously Unreleased)
5. Book Of Memories – PERCY WIGGINS (1967 USA 7" single on Atco 6479, A-side)
6. That's How It Feels – THE SOUL CLAN [featuring Arthur Conley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Don Covay and Joe Tex] (June 1968 USA 7" single, B-side to "Soul Meeting" on Atco 2530)
7. I Love You More Than Words Can Say – OTIS REDDING (March 1967 USA 7" single on Volt 146, A-side)
8. Baby, Baby, Baby – PERCY SLEDGE (Recorded September 1969, Previously Unreleased cover of the Aretha Franklin song)
9. Hold On – JAMES CARR (May 1971 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2803, A-side - His lone single on Atlantic)
10. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man – OTIS CLAY (April 1970 USA 7” single on Cotillion 44068, A-side)
11. Lovebones – MIGHTY SAM (January 1970 USA 7" single, B-side of "I've Got Enough Heartaches")
12. The Love Of My Woman – DARRELL BANKS (1968 USA 7" single on Cotillion 44006, B-side to "I Wanna Go Home")
13. Coldest Days Of My Life – WALTER JACKSON (1970 USA 7" single on Cotillion 44077, B-side to "Bless You")
14. Whiter Shade Of Pale – R. B. GREAVES (November 1970 USA 7" single on Atco 6789, A-side – a Procol Harum cover version)
15. Change With The Seasons – CARL HALL (1972 USA 7" single on Atlantic 2856, B-side to "Need Somebody To Love")
16. What A Woman Really Means – DONNY HATHAWAY (Recorded January 1973, "Extension Of A Man" Album Outtake, Previously Unreleased in 2006 – later appeared on the "Someday We'll All Be Free" February 2010 4CD Book Set)
The compilation is produced by DAVID NATHAN who also does the informative and affectionate liner notes - with the remastering done by long-time tape maestro and Rhino associate DAN HERSCH. Being from differing time frames, the sound ranges from very good - R.B. Greaves' rare cover of the Procol Harum classic "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" - to full-on fantastic like Otis Redding's lovely ballad "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" in beautifully clear audio (a cover of the Al Kooper written Blood, Sweat & Tears song-classic from their debut album "Child Is Father To The Man" on Columbia Records).
As you see from the track list above, there are some previously unreleased songs, rare non-album B-sides and rarities like the one-off single James Carr did for the label. The choices are clever (many first time on CD) and heavy on ballads, which I personally like. "Book Of Memories" is a lovely organ-driven slow song (lyrics above) while The Chi-Lites would redo Eugene Record's "The Coldest Days Of My Life" to great effect on Brunswick in 1972. Besides – any hint of a new Donny Hathaway track and I must own it. Fans will also appreciate those hard-to-find-on-digital B-sides from cult names like Carl Hall, Darrell Banks and Walter Jackson.
I also know that such compilations of unreleased are notoriously dicey given that the tunes were canned once – and usually for good reason. But here – the quality level is shockingly high (as it is on the companion volume given over to Atlantic Soul Sisters). So - for lovers of Atlantic Records 60ts and 70ts primo swaying Soul - this is a little sweetheart of a compilation and after a few listens even the lesser tracks have grown on me.
To sum up – a tasty little set then – and I was so impressed I bought its 16-track companion "Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters" straight after it…
