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"…I've
Got Someone I Can Call My Very Own…"
Now here comes a Stax-Soulful goody – released
Stateside first (delayed all the way until 1975 in the UK) – the original
American vinyl LP hit the US R&B charts in early July 1973 and quickly
proved a winner, eventually settling at No. 3 on the LP charts (back in the
days when albums shifted genuinely huge numbers).
It was held in affection then and remains so to this
day. Hardly surprising then that the Taylor in Silk was due a
digital dust off and the new custodians of the Stax Records legacy (Concord
Music Group of the USA) have done a nice job on this CD reminding us of its
lurve charms (the 8-track album is augmented with a generous Six Bonus Tracks -
the A&B-sides of three stand-alone US Stax 45s). Here are the velveteen
details...
Released Monday 16 May 2011
in the UK - "Taylored In Silk" by JOHNNIE TAYLOR on Concord
Music Group, Inc/Stax 0888072328754 (Barcode 0888072328754) is part of the 2011/2012 'Stax Remasters' Series and breaks down as follows (55:58 minutes):
1. We're Getting Careless With Our Love [Side 1]
2. Starting All Over Again
3. Cheaper To Keep Her
4. Talk To Me
5. I Believe In You (You Believe In Me) [Side 2]
6. One Thing Wrong With My Baby
7. I Can Read Between The Lines
8. This Bitter Earth
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Taylored In Silk" by JOHNNIE
TAYLOR – released June 1973 in the USA on Stax Records STS-3014 and July 1975
in the UK on Stax Records STX 1012
9. Hijackin' Love
10. Love In The Streets (Ain't Good As The Love At Home) – Tracks 9 and
10 are the A&B-sides of an August 1971 US 45 on Stax STA-0096 (no UK issue)
11. Standing In For Jody
12. Shackin' Up – Tracks 11
and 12 are the A&B-sides of a January 1972 US 45 on Stax STA-0114 and May
1972 UK on Stax 2025 083
13. Doing My Own Thing
(Part 1)
14. Doing My Own Thing (Part
2) – Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of an April 1972 US 45 on
Stax STA-0122 (no UK issue)
The new 12-page booklet has very knowledgeable and affectionate liner
notes by BILL DAHL who did the exceptional liner notes on Bear Family’s
1961-1970 "Sweet Soul Music" CDs (10 volumes) and their 1945-1960
"Blowing The Fuse" series on R'n'B music (16 volumes). I’ve reviewed
nearly all of them. You also get the original artwork on the front and rear of
the booklet, musician and session details etc. But it's a shame the booklet
doesn’t go any further. There’s no new photos, no memorabilia - and it makes
the inlay feel workmanlike at best – even a little dull – when it should have
spread its wings a little. But the big news is the SOUND…
I've reviewed the other titles in this new 'Stax Remasters' Series (see
list below) and duly raved about the fabulous sound quality on all – especially
after years of lacklustre reissues in jewel cases and repro digipaks. Well this
is the same. 24-bit remastered from the first generation tapes at JOE TARANTINO
Mastering in Berkeley, California – the audio quality is fantastic – which of
course makes you reassess every song – and here it gives incredible clarity to
these hugely underrated slices of Seventies Soul.
The whole album is good and very much in a smoochy mode – songs about
lovin' and cheatin' and not getting' caught cheatin' etc. "I Believe In
You (You Believe In Me)" made the top spot on the US R'n'B charts in June
1973 (lyrics above) while the lovely cover of Prince Phillip Mitchell's
"Starting All Over Again" is superlative Stax Soul. The
witty lyrics of Mack Rice' "Cheaper To Keep Her" still bring a smile
to a face and a tap to a foot - while the sound quality on the mid-tempo
"I Can Read Between The Lines" is gorgeous.
And the funkier singles are a huge treat – off-setting the slightly
loverman feel of the album. "Hijackin' Love" made Number 10 on the US
R'n'B charts – and with its fantastically punchy funk rhythm – it's easy to
hear why. The "…using me for a spare…" choppy Soul of "Standing
In For Jody" is great - as is the JB funk of its wicked B-side
"Shackin' Up" (another song about another woman's husband). The
guitar opening of "Doing My Own Thing" makes you think you’ve
stumbled on a John Lee Hooker Blues session, but it then settles into a great
Soulful groove which brings the guitar back later. "Part 2" feels
like a great James Brown B-side you’re glad you’ve rediscovered. Very, very
good indeed…
To sum up – this is as superlative value-for-money reissue with
top-notch Seventies Soul and sound quality that trumps everything that’s gone
before…
PS: STAX REMASTERS Series to 2014 are (all
reviewed):
1. Green Onions – BOOKER T & THE M.G.’S (1962)
2. McLemore Avenue - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (1970)
3. Woman To Woman - SHIRLEY BROWN (1975)
4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (1972)
5. Born Under A Bad Sign - ALBERT KING (1967)
6. I’ll Play The Blues For You – ALBERT KING (1971)
7. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (1972)
8. Taylored In Silk - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (1973)
9. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (1970)
