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"...Love The Way You Carry Yourself…"
Featuring the legendary first ten singles issued by Memphis Soul Man LUTHER INGRAM on the Ko Ko label between 1966 and 1971 (A&B-sides) – this Kent-Soul CD represents something of a wet dream for Soul aficionados. Rated by many Soul Vocalist fans as one of the great voices of the period – Ingram's "Pity For The Lonely" is primo Ace reissue territory – and typically they’ve done a bang-up job. Here are the ‘more reasons than one’ to buy this CD reissue beauty…
UK released July 2007 – "Pity For The Lonely: The Ko Ko Singles Volume 1" by LUTHER INGRAM on Ace/Kent Soul CDKEND 279 (Barcode 029667227926) breaks down as follows – all USA 7" singles unless otherwise noted (60:08 minutes):
1. You've Got To Give Love To Get Love
2. I Can't Stop (Version 1)
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records 101, 1967, both tracks by Luther Ingram
3. Missing You (Version 1)
4. Since You Don't Want Me (Version 1)
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records 103, 1968, both tracks by Luther Ingram and Leslie McFarland)
5. You Can Depend On Me
6. Looking For A New Love
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2101, November 1968, A-side by Luther Ingram, B-side a co-write with Leslie McFarland
7. Pity For The Lonely
Using "Looking For A New Love" as the B-side (see 6) - the A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2102, March 1969, A-side by Dorian Burton and Gertrude Jones
8. Puttin' Game Down
9. Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KAO-2103, July 1969. "Puttin' Game Down" (written by Stacy Johnson) was also issued as his first 45 in the UK on Stax Records STAX 142 in February 1970 - but with (10) "My Honey And Me" as its A-side. "Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)" also turned up as the USA B-side to "Be Good To Me Baby" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2107 in 1971. "Puttin' Game Down" also showed up as the B-side to the April 1972 USA 45 issue of "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2111.
10. My Honey And Me
11. I Can't Stop (Version 2)
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KAO-2104, November 1969. Luther Ingram and Leslie McFarland wrote the A, Ingram the B-side. A-side was also his 1st UK 7" single on Stax 142 (see 8 and 9 above) in February 1970. "I Can't Stop (Version 2)" also turned up in 1972 on the USA B-side of "I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm)" on Ko Ko Records KOA-2113.
12. Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One)
13. Home Don't Seem Like Home
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2105, April 1970. It was issued as his 2nd single in the UK in June 1970 on Stax Records STAX 148 but with the sides reversed. "Ain't That Lovin' You…" was written by Homer Banks and Allan Jones and first recorded by Johnnie Taylor at Stax in 1967. It charted at Number 6 on the R&B charts in the USA and at No. 45 on Billboard Pop. "Home Don't Seem Like Home" is a Johnnie Taylor and John Baylor song.
14. To The Other Man
15. I'll Just Cost You Honey
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2106, December 1970. "To The Other Man" was also used as the B-side to "Love Ain't Gonna Run Me Away" in 1973 on Ko Ko Records KOA-2116.
16. Be Good To Me Baby
Using "Since You Don't Want Me (Version 2)" as its B-side (see 9) – the A&B sides of Ko Ko Records 2107, June 1971
17. I'll Love You Until The End
18. Ghetto Train
The A&B-sides of Ko Ko Records KOA-2108, September 1971.
19. My Honey And Me (Radio Promo) – Radio Advert Snippet (Previously Unreleased Until 2007)
The 16-page booklet has liner notes handled by Soul Expert TONY ROUNCE whose knowledge and warmth for the music exudes out of every sentence (with help from Dean Rudland, Steve Guarnori and other collectors/fans). Rounce has done literally dozens of these booklets for Ace and Edsel and it makes for a properly informative and entertaining read. The song-by-song breakdown text - is also peppered by photos of those uber-desirable Ko Ko and Stax 45s that make collectors weak at the knees. Ace have even managed to locate sheet music for "My Honey And Me" with the lyrics – typically wicked stuff.
NICK ROBBINS and BOB SHREAD have done the Audio Restoration and Mastering at Sound Mastering in the UK and these primo slices of Southern Soul and Funk sound fabulous. The earlier Ko Ko Recordings are crude (to be blunt) but the audio quality here is clear and full of Mono presence. By the time you get to Single 3 onwards – the audio ups its game considerably to a point where it's filling your room –overall a great job done.
There's an embarrassment of riches here – there really is. Ingram was possessed of an amazingly expressive voice - at home with groovers and ballads alike. Tunes like "Looking For A New Love" (so Wicked Pickett), "Pity For The Lonely" (lilting Ben E. King) and the truly gorgeous "Ain't That Loving You…" are the kind of gems that make fans declare Soul Music as being the only genre worth listening too. I regularly used to slip "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)" onto a CD-R in Reckless - and without fail it would bring punters to the counter - some with tears in their eyes from memories stirred (lyrics from it title this review).
The CD is also funky in the shape of the guitar-driven "My Honey And Me" (how did this not chart in the UK or its UK B-side not get airplay?) while the slinky "Home Don't Seem Like Home" is such a winner. "I'll Just Call You Honey" and the socially conscious "Ghetto Train" end it on an upbeat note. Using the backdrop of "My Honey And Me" as it plays, the 42-second Radio Spot for the 'House Of Wax' Record Shop, 1205 East Washington Avenue, North Of Little Rock is a curio – but a damn cool one.
Ingram passed away in March 2007 aged 69 – but with this and the subsequent volumes – the mighty Ace Records of the UK have done his recorded legacy a total solid. Genius and then some…
