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"...Midnight Mover..."
England's Edsel Records are
no strangers to Soul-reissues. Across the decades they've touched on major
retrospectives for Philadelphia International (O'Jays, Billy Paul, Harold
Melvin & The Blue Notes), Holland-Dozier-Holland's HDH Label and Invictus
Records (Chairmen Of The Board, Freda Payne and The Glass House) as well as
anthologies for Ann Peebles, The Chi-Lites and Al Green covering their Hi
Records label output.
For 2016 - our Demon Group
heroes are tackling the whole of Wilson Pickett's ten-album stay between 1964
and 1972 at the legendary Atlantic Records. This third of five '2on1' sets
issued 26 November 2016 in the UK (see full list below) deals with his fifth
and sixth LPs from the tail ends of 1968 (no bonus tracks).
Across these five
digipak-releases (three come with extras – the 1st, 4th and 5th) - you also get
exclusive single mixes and many unreleased tracks formerly only available on
2009's "Funky Midnight Mover..." – a 6CD mail-order set from Rhino
Handmade – an item that is now long deleted and extremely pricey into the
bargain. The booklets also feature new liner notes from noted Soul writer and
uber-fan Tony Rounce.
Here are the details for
Alabama's finest Midnight Mover...
UK released 26 November 2016
(2 December 2016 in the USA) – "I'm In Love/The Midnight Mover" by
WILSON PICKETT on Edsel EDSA 3061 (Barcode 740155506131) offers 2LPs Remastered
onto 1CD (no bonus tracks) and plays out as follows (53:10 minutes):
1. Jealous Love
2. Stagger Lee
3. That Kind Of Love
4. I'm In Love
5. Hello Sunshine
6. Don't Cry No More [Side
2]
7. We've Got To Have Love
8. Bring It On Home To Me
9. She's Lookin' Good
10. I've Come A Long Way
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th
studio album "I'm In Love" - released February 1968 in the USA on
Atlantic SD 8175 (Stereo Only) and April 1968 in the UK on Atlantic 587 107
(Mono) and 588 107 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.
11. I'm A Midnight Mover
12. It's A Groove
13. Remember, I Been Good To
You
14. I'm Gonna Cry
15. Deborah
16. I Found A True Love
[Side 2]
17. Down By The Sea
18. Trust Me
19. Let's Get An
Understanding
20. For Better Or Worse
Tracks 11 to 20 are his
sixth studio album "The Midnight Mover" - released July 1968 in the
USA on Atlantic 8183 (Mono) and Atlantic SD 8183 (Stereo) and September 1968 in
the UK on Atlantic 587 111 (Mono) and 588 111 (Stereo). The Stereo mix is used.
Each of these five card
digipaks is a gatefold with Volume 3 sporting a comprehensive 16-page booklet
in the left flap with new liner notes from legendary Soul writer TONY ROUNCE –
a man whose name has graced literally hundreds of quality CD reissues. He goes
into all the chart statistics for late 1966 into 1967 where Pickett was coming
off a run of three US R&B No. 1 singles and couldn't put a foot wrong. They
even reproduce Jon Landau and Wendall John's original liner notes for both LPs
- but I'd have to say though that the inner flap and the space beneath the
see-through CD tray being 'blank' and the nondescript colouring of the CD
itself let the visual side down somewhat (could have been filled out with
pictures and black/red label memorabilia) and the lack of bonus cuts may irk
some buyers (don't let that put you off).
But like Volumes 1 and 2
covering his first four albums - the kicking music on offer here doesn't let
anyone down - it really doesn't. If anything I feel that both LPs are sort of
lost Soul nuggets - overshadowed by the more hit-laden earlier LPs. Mastered by
PHIL KINRADE – the tracks are licensed from Warners and are therefore the 1995
Rhino versions of old – full and punchy Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch CD Remasters
from original tapes.
Pickett has scored his
fourth No. 1 R&B single in August 1967 with the brilliant "Funky
Broadway" – so come December 1967 (two months before the album arrived in
February 1968) – his American public was hungry for more. And man did they get
a winner in the song "I'm In Love". As I’ve said on the first two
issues in this Edsel CD series – one of Wilson Pickett's secret weapons was the
songwriting talent of BOBBY WOMACK – a stunning writer with an almost identikit
voice. Womack not only penned the funky opener "Jealous Love" and the
equally Soulful 'looky-here' bopper "We've Got To Have Love" (a
co-write with Pickett) - he also put up two utterly gorgeous ballads for the LP
- the sensual closer "I've Come A Long Way" and the LP's title track
- "I'm In Love".
Atlantic must have known the
second they heard "I'm In Love" that they should lead off the LP's
assault on the charts with a slow love song instead of the usual dancer.
"I'm In Love" proved them right - peaking at No. 4 in December 1967
on Atlantic 45-2448. In fact its Lloyd Price cover version flipside
"Stag-O-Lee" even had a chart shelf life of its own - hitting No. 13
all by itself. When the LP did hit records stores in February - Atlantic
unwisely tried "Jealous Love" as the next single in the same month -
but its good-rather-than-great groove peaked at No. 18 (Atlantic 45-2484 with
"I've Come A Long Way" as its B-side). Far better is the stunning and
sexy Boogaloo of "She's Looking Good" which made No. 7 in April 1968
(Atlantic 45-2504) - a slice of Blue Brothers 60ts Funky Soul - the kind of
hooky dancer that would raise the dead (and they'd be glad of it). Although
it's very hissy (like so many of the recordings) - Bobby Womack's "I've
Come A Long Way" is my kind of Southern Soul joy - a truly beautiful
ballad and surely one of the highlights in two very strong LP sets.
LP number two opens with a
barnstormer - "I'm A Midnight Mover" - another dancer from Womack and
Pickett. Released June 1968 ahead of the LP - Atlantic 45-2528 peaked at a very
healthy No. 6 (the album cut "Deborah" was its flipside). Womack also
contributed the slow and 'way down low' "It's A Groove" - a co-write
with his wife Linda. There's a Sam Cooke warmth to "Remember, I Been Good
To You" where our Wilson worries that his lady has done found herself
someone else. "I'm Gonna Cry" is a co-write with another Soul Hero -
Don Covay. In October 1968 Atlantic tried the warbling guitar and brass Funk of
"I Found A True Love" as the next single - a great little dancer -
Atlantic 45-2558 made No. 11 on the US R&B charts (the album cut "For
Better Or Worse" was the B-side). Pickett's own "Down By The Sea"
is the kind of Soulful groove Gary U.S. Bonds would have chewed in the 80ts
when he was collaborating with Bruce Springsteen on the "Dedication"
and "On The Line" LPs. Even prettier is Bobby Womack's "Trust
Me" - the kind of mid-tempo torch-ballad that allowed Wilson to show off
those 'older the grape...sweeter the wine' set of pipes. The final track
"For Better Or Worse" sounds like Mono as he growls through that
too...
There are other ways to get
this music I know (and cheaper). I reviewed the August 2010 "Original
Album Series" 5CD Mini Box Set for instance which is available for a ten
spot (it has only "I'm In Love") - but I prefer the better
presentation and the ever so slightly uplifted audio in evidence here. And in
truth - even though there are no bonus tracks - both of these albums are killer
enough for any man.
"...Y'all feelin' good
right now..." - Pickett roars on the chugging "Let's Get An
Understanding" before his band wigs out on a Psychedelic Soul groove. Amen
to that baby. Dig in and enjoy...
Titles in this 26 Nov 2016
Edsel CD Reissue Series for WILSON PICKETT
1. In The Midnight Hour/The
Exciting Midnight Mover
(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st
and 2nd LPs plus Three Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3059 - Barcode
740155505936)
2. The Wicked Pickett/The
Sound Of Wilson Pickett
(1966 and 1967 Stereo/Mono
3rd and 4th LPs – no bonus tracks
Edsel EDSA 3060 - Barcode
740155506032)
3. I'm In Love/The Midnight
Mover
(1968 for both his 5th and
6th LPs – no bonus tracks
Edsel EDSA 3061 - Barcode
740155506131)
4. Hey Jude/Right On
(1969 and 1970 Stereo 7th
& 8th LPs with Three Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3062 - Barcode
740155506230)
5. In Philadelphia/Don't
Knock My Love
(1970 and 1972 9th &
10th Stereo LPs with Seventeen Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7112 - Barcode
740155711238)
Edsel have also touched on
PERCY SLEDGE in this series and his stay at Atlantic Records (three digipak CD
reissues):
1. When A Man Loves A
Woman/Warm & Tender Soul
(1966 and 1967 Stereo 1st
& 2nd LPs plus Four Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSA 3063 - Barcode
740155506339)
2. The Percy Sledge Way/Take
Time To Know Her
(1967 and 1968 Stereo 3rd
& 4th LPs with Eight Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7116 - Barcode
740155711634)
3. My Special Prayer/Singles
And Rarities
(1970 fifth and final
Atlantic LP - along with a compilation of 27 Bonus Tracks
Edsel EDSK 7113 - Barcode
740155711337)
