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"...How Can I Put Out The Flame (When You Keep The Fire Burning)..."
On page 4 of 12 in the booklet of this lovely October 2023 British CD reissue and remaster, a 29 year-old female singer steeped in Alabama Gospel, Soul and R&B has signed her 1970 Fame Records black and white publicity shot over 'To Rick Hall – Love Candi Staton'. Not really surprising CS acknowledged her Mentor, Label Owner and Producer (Rick Hall) when you hear the quality leaping off this – her second studio album for Fame Records – and a huge Southern Soul Music draw for fans of that genre.
Some history first - Candi Staton's acknowledged-as-superlative debut album "I'm Just A Prisoner" had been preceded by three singles in 1969 and early 1970 before its April 1970 US release on Fame ST-4201. Those 45-sides and other quality song inclusions by the likes of Clarence Carter, George Jackson, Raymond Moore and other legends guaranteed its entry on the May 1970 Billboard R&B LP charts and a ten-week stay with a peak of No. 37. Time for round two..
Reaching around for material for his ex Jewell Gospel Trio singer (her 50s stint as a young woman) – Producer and Fan Rick Hall went back to the September 1968 US 45 of "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. It was arranged and recorded quick, released August 1970 and promptly got huge airplay - spending 14 weeks on the Billboard R&B Singles Top 100 with a peak of No.24. Gigs followed in Vegas with Ray Charles (who rated her as a female version of him) and a marriage to Clarence Carter (baby number four cooking too). Other Country influences on the album are in the Harlan Howard cover of "She Called Me Baby" where she made it He instead of She. To the details of this new CD Reissue...
UK released Friday, 27 October 2023 (November 2023 in the USA) - "Stand By Your Man" by CANDI STATON on Ace Records/Kent Soul CDKENM 517 (Barcode 029667108928) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of her second studio album on Fame Records in 1970 (now in Mini LP Repro Rigid Artwork front and rear) that plays out as follows (30:54 minutes):
1. Stand By Your Man [Side 1]
2. How Can I Put Out The Flame (When You Keep The Fire Burning)
3. I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')
4. Mr. And Mrs. Untrue
5. Too Hurt To Cry
6. He Called Me Baby [Side 2]
7. Sweet Feeling
8. To Hear You Say You're Mind
9. What Would Become Of Me
10. Freedom Is Just Beyond The Door
Tracks 1 to 10 are her second studio album "Stand By Your Man" - released December 1970 on Fame Records ST-4202 in STEREO (no UK issue) and January 1971 German Issue on Capitol Records 1C 062-80 753 in STEREO. Produced by RICK HALL at Fame Studios in Alabama - it peaked at No. 12 on the US R&B Billboard charts (12 weeks on chart).
Candi Staton and Ace Records fans have been before - June 2011 saw the fabulous 2CD compilation "Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters" on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEN2 353 (Barcode 029667235327) give them all three of her superb Southern Soul American LPs on Rick Hall's Fame Records plus non-LP single-sides and even threw in unreleased - all from her stay there 1969-1972. So those owning that will probably not need this reissue no matter how pretty or natty it looks and sounds.
First up - two of the songs on the Fame Records debut album "I'm Just A Prisoner" from April 1970 that preceded "Stand By Your Man" in December 1970 are unfortunately repeated here – they are "I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')" and "Sweet Feeling". So there is only eight new songs. Presentation-wise, you get a Rigid Oversized Mini LP Card Sleeve CD Reissue and Remaster like those Japanese paper reissues collectors so love. Remastered from original STEREO tapes, each release comes with a new Colour Inner Sleeve (a photo on both sides), a 12-page liner-notes booklet complete with photos, memorabilia and new interviews with Candi by Soul aficionado IAN SHIRLEY (see photos above). "I'm Just A Prisoner" (the debut) is in the series too - but the third Fame LP "Candi Staton" from 1972 is not.
Audio-wise, I can't stress enough how good this CD reissue sounds - remastered from original tapes with great sympathy. In fact Ace Records have put it out on VINYL too – 27 October 2023 on Ace Records/Kent Soul HIQLP 127 (Barcode 029667019811) with the Inner Sleeve and Notes. All very tasty...
The original American album artwork is faithfully reproduced on front and rear – an afro hairstyle Candi smiling from the back sleeve in her flowery dress amidst super-hyped liner notes about how she’s a girl and a woman and a beautiful singer and not even women’s lib (the kind of nonsense that tells you nothing). As you undo the shrinkwrap, there is a new colour inner sleeve (the original LP didn't have one) with a period photo of our hero on front and rear wearing the same clobber as the cover photo. The studio for FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) is pictured along with Producer and mentor Rick Hal and his trusted Fame Gang on in-house musicians on the inner booklet page. And in-between the track list info/writing credits and the new CS interviews by Shirley are publicity photos, a trade review of the LP, a foreign picture sleeve for "Sweet Feeling" b/w "Evidence" and US 45s as well as a wedding photo to Clarence Carter. They even have sheet music for "He Called Me Baby". It's all very tasteful and revealing. And the audio is glorious - STEREO and kicking.
I will admit that I don't particularly love "Stand By Your Man" by 'anyone' even if it is a Grammy nominated performance by Candi Staton. Far better is the George Jackson and Raymond Moore torch ballad "How Can I Put Out The Flame (When You Keep The Fire Burning)" where Candi sings it like she really means it - her love tortured by the mere presence of the man she's trying to forget (stunning Brass and Piano arrangements). It first turned up as a US 45 single on Fame and was on the debut album too - but frankly even if it is a repeat song here - I'll take the fantastic Funk-Chug of "I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')" any day of the week (dig that shimmering guitar and those ladies testifyin' in the background). Irwin Levine and Toni Wine provided the dangerously truthful "Mr. And Mrs. Untrue" where Candi goes slow Soulful - her shades on as she shuffles through the hotel lobby hoping not to be spotted as she waits for the elevator up (gorgeous audio on this too). "Too Hurt To Cry" lifts the spirit up with its cheery piano-led Motown coquettish feel - drum whacks hitting your speakers along with guitar flicks and brass fills - the George Jackson and Raymond Moore composition ending Side 1 on a beautifully arranged high - Candi nailing it with that husky hurt in her voice.
Changing the lyrics in the Howard Harlan song from 'She' to 'He' - Candi gives a Soul jaunt to the Side 2 opener "He Called Me Baby" - a clever re-working of another Country Classic into a sexy Brass chugger. But that's kicked into touch rapido by the fabulous "Sweet Feeling". In
fact, in the UK, Capitol Records clearly felt the slinkier "Sweet
Feeling" stood a better chance than "Evidence" as the A-side in
Blighty (it was the reverse in the USA). Shame they weren't right. The song is familiar to 60ts Soul lovers because it was a Clarence Carter gem on Atlantic Records in 1968 - the flipside of the Ho Ho Ho "Back Door Santa" where CC had called it "That Same Old Feeling". We then get church-organ pleader with "To Hear You Say You're Man" - a superb Candi Staton original where she just-gotta testifies like Aretha - complete with spoken lines as it hits the two-minute mark. Barbara Wyrick provided the equally slow and soulful "What Would Become Of Me" - a could-I-live from day-to-day without you question song where Candi sings it like she means it - again. The album ends on some geetar Soul-Funk - "Freedom Is Just Beyond The Door" - a leaving-you-for-good statement song - if only Candi can get past the finality of that last handle turn.
"Stand By Your Man" wasn't issued on Capitol UK as an LP but Capitol in
Germany did issue a copy in January 1971, although I can't say I've ever seen one. It may only
have ten songs on it - but like its predecessor - it's another Southern Soul winner and you can so hear why copies part for money on popular sites. I
liked this reissue so much, I nabbed the debut "I'm Just A Prisoner" CD
reissue too.
A cook Kent Soul re-release then (those HIQLPs are gorgeous too) and timely reminders in both cases as to why we love Soul Music from these halcyon decades so much. Candi Staton would leave Fame Soul behind when she demands that "Young Hearts..." should run free in her mid Seventies Warner Brothers Disco years - thereafter becoming a household name.
But "I'm Just A Prisoner" and "Stand By Your Man" from 1970 is where the Southern Soul smarts started. Buy them both and enjoy these criminally forgotten peaches...
See also my review for her debut "I'm Just A Prisoner"
