"The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles Volume 2: 1968-1971" (1993 and 2014 UMG/Stax 9CD Brick Block Box Set with Nine Card Sleeves and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Mr. Big Stuff…"

This 9-disc STAX RECORDS Volume 2 Box Set spanning the years 1968 to 1971 first appeared in 1993 in 12" x 12" form to heaps of praise - and rightly so. Volume 3 followed in 1994 - a whopping 10-disc set that covered 1972-1975 - while Volume 1 (handled by Atlantic Records) had done the 9-disc 12" x 12" deed for the formative years (1959 to 1968) in 1991.

Since that time - 'Concord Music Group, Inc.' have acquired the Stax catalogue - and in 2011 began trickling out "Stax Remasters" single CDs of label favourites like The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor and Booker T. & The M.G.'s (I've reviewed all 9 titles to date - see PS below). 

Now in 2014 and 2015 - Concord are reissuing the two huge "Singles" boxes they have control over in stripped down 5" x 5" 'Brick Block' packaging (slip up lid, card sleeves and booklet - more manageable) - Volume 2 in December 2014 and Volume 3 in February 2015. There's even talk of the mighty Volume 1 (presently garnishing unhealthy prices on auction sites) being reissued in the same form in early 2016. Let’s get to the details...

The December 2014 reissue of "The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles Volume 2..." by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Universal Music Group/Stax 9SCD-4411-2 (Barcode 025218441124) begins in May 1968 and ends in December 1971 and also includes offshoot labels like Volt, Enterprise, We Produce and a lone entry for Respect Records. 

In order to do this 216-Track 9CD Soul Behemoth proper justice - I've done a track-by-track layout of each disc including release dates and catalogue numbers. "The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singers Volume 2: 1968-1971" breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (78:10 minutes):

1. I Was Born To Love You - SHIRLEY WALTON (January 1968, Enterprise EN-001, A)

2. Precious, Precious - ISAAC HAYES (February 1968, Enterprise EN-002, A)

3. Send Peace And Harmony Home - SHIRLEY WALTON (April 1968, Enterprise EN-004, A)

4. Soul Limbo - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (May 1968, Stax STA-0001, A)

5. I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) - EDDIE FLOYD (May 1968, Stax STA-0002, A)

6. It's Been A Long Time Coming - DELANEY & BONNIE (May 1968, Stax STA-0003, A)

7. What A Man - LINDA LYNDELL (June 1968, Volt VOA-4001, A)

8. I Like Everything About You - JIMMY HUGHES (July 1968, Volt VOA-4002, A)

9. Stay Baby Stay - JOHNNY DAYE (July 1968, Stax STA-0004, A)

10. Private Number - JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL (July 1968, Stax STA-0005, A)

11. So Nice - THE MAD LADS (August 1968, Volt VOA-4003, A)

12. Long Walk To D.C. - THE STAPLE SINGERS (August 1968, Stax STA-0007, A)

13. Give 'Em Love - THE SOUL CHILDREN (August 1968, Stax STA-0008, A)

14. Funky Mississippi - RUFUS THOMAS (August 1968, Stax STA-0010, A)

15. Lovin' Feeling - THE CHARMELS (August 1968, Volt VOA-4004, A)

16. Where Do I Go - CARLA THOMAS (August 1968, Stax STA-0011, A-side - the B-side is "I've Fallen In Love" which charted in July 1969 - see Disc 3 Track 17)

17. Bed Of Roses - JUDY CLAY (September 1968, STAX STA-0006, A)

18. Bring It On Home To Me - EDDIE FLOYD (September 1968, Stax ATA-0012, A)

19. It's Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul) - JEANNE and THE DARLINGS (September 1968, Volt VOA-4005, A)

20. Who's Making Love - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1968, Stax STA-0009, A)

21. Mighty Cold Winter - DINO and DOC (October 1968, Volt VOA-4006, A)

22. Hang 'Em High - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (October 1968, Stax STA-0013, A - mistakenly credited as the B)

23. You're Leaving Me - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (October 1968, Stax STA-0014, A)

24. Copy Kat - THE BAR-KAYS (October 1968, Volt VOA-4007, A)

25. I Forgot To Be Your Lover - WILLIAM BELL (November 1968, Stax STA-0015, A)

26. Running Out - MABLE JOHN (November 1968, Stax STA-0016, A)

27. My Baby Specializes - WILLIAM BELL & JUDY CLAY (November 1968, Stax STA-0017, A)

28. I'll Understand - THE SOUL CHILDREN (November 1968, Stax STA-0018, A)

Disc 2 (75:15 minutes):

1. The Ghetto - THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1968, Stax STA-0019, A)

2. Blues Power - ALBERT KING (November 1968, Stax STA-0020, A)

3. The Echo - THE EPSILONS (December 1968, Stax STA-0021, A)

4. Funky Way - RUFUS THOMAS (December 1968, Stax STA-0022, A)

5. Take Care Of Your Homework - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (December 1968, Stax STA-0023, A)

6. I Like What You're Doing To Me - CARLA THOMAS (January 1969, Stax STA-0024, A)

7. I've Got To Have Your Love - EDDIE FLOYD (January 1969, Stax STA-0025, A)

8. Let 'Em Down Baby - JIMMY HUGHES (January 1969, Volt VOA-4008, A)

9. Love Is Here Today And Gone Tomorrow - THE MAD LADS (January 1969, Volt VOA-4009, A)

10. It Ain't Long Enough - JUDY CLAY (February 1969, Stax STA-0026, A)

11. Mellow Way You Treat Your Man - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (February 1969, Stax STA-0027, A)

12. Private Number - SONNY STITT (February 1969, Enterprise ENA-9001, A)

13. Time is Tight - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (February 1969, Stax STA-0028, A)

14. Double Or Nothing - THE MAR-KEYS (March 1969, Stax STA-0029, A)

15. (Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay - OTIS REDDING (March 1969, Stax STA-0031, A)

16. So I Can Love You - THE EMOTIONS (March 1969, Volt VOA-4010, A)

17. Don't Stop Dancing (To The Music) (Part 1) - THE BAR-KAYS (March 1969, Volt VOA-4011, A)

18. One More Chance - MARGIE JOSEPH (March 1969, Volt VOA-4012, A)

19. I Wanna Be Good (To You) - JIMMY DOTSON (March 1969, Volt VOA-4013, A)

20. Finger Lickin' Good - ART JERRY MILLER (March 1969, Enterprise ENA-9002, A)

21. Tighten Up My Thang - THE SOUL CHILDREN (April 1969, Stax STA-0030, A)

22. My Whole World Is Falling Down - WILLIAM BELL (April 1969, Stax STA-0032, A)

23. Testify (I Wanna) - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (April 1969, Stax STA-0033, A)

24. Drowning On Dry Land - ALBERT KING (May 1969, Stax STA-0034, A)

25. Do The Cissy - THE STINGERS (May 1969, Stax STA-0035, A)

26. Don't Tell Your Mama (Where You've Been) - EDDIE FLOYD (May 1969, Stax STA-0036, A)

Disc 3 (78:42 minutes):

1. Mrs. Robinson - BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (May 1969, Stax STA-0037, A)

2. Love's Sweet Sensation - WILLIAM BELL & MAVIS STAPLES (May 1969, Stax STA-0043, A)

3. Just Because Your Love Is Gone - DARRELL BANKS (May 1969, Volt VOA-4014, A)

4. Chains Of Love - JIMMY HUGHES (June 1969, Volt VOA-4017, A)

5. Happy - WILLIAM BELL (June 1969, Stax STA-0038, A)

6. The Challenge - THE STAPLE SINGERS (June 1969, Stax STA-0039, A)

7. Soul-A-Lujah - JOHNNIE TAYLOR, EDDIE FLOYD, WILLIAM BELL, PERVIS STAPLES, CARLA THOMAS, MAVIS STAPLES, CLEOTHA STAPLES (June 1969, Stax STA-0040, A)

8. Never, Never Let You Go - EDDIE FLOYD & MAVIS STAPLES (June 1969, Stax STA-0041, A)

9. Just Keep On Loving Me - JOHNNIE TAYLOR & CARLA THOMAS (June 1969, Stax STA-0042, A)

10. I Need You Woman - WILLIAM BELL & CARLA THOMAS (June 1969, Stax STA-0044, A)

11. I've Got A Feeling - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (June 1969, Stax STA-0045, A)

12. It's Time To Pay For The Fun (We've Had) - JEANNE and THE DARLINGS (June 1969, Volt VOA-4015, A)

13. I Could Never Be President - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (June 1969, Stax STA-0046, A)

14. By The Time I Get To Phoenix - THE MAD LADS (June 1969, Volt VOA-4016, A)

15. Long And Lonely World - COLETTE KELLY (July 1969, Volt VOA-4018, A)

16. Midnight Cowboy - THE BAR-KAYS (July 1969, Volt VOA-4019, A)

17. I've Fallen In Love - CARLA THOMAS (July 1969, Stax STA-0011, A-side. The B-side "Where Do I Go" is on Disc 1, Track 16)

18. Slum Baby - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (July 1969, Stax STA-0049, A)

19. The Best Part Of A Love Affair - THE EMOTIONS (July 1969, Volt VOA-4021, A)

20. By The Time I Get To Phoenix - ISAAC HAYES (July 1969, Enterprise ENA-9003, A)

21. Walk On By - ISAAC HAYES (July 1969, Enterprise ENA-9003, B)

22. Tupelo (Part 1) - POP STAPLES, ALBERT KING, STEVE CROPPER (August 1969, Stax STA-0047, A)

23. Water - POP STAPLES, ALBERT KING, STEVE CROPPER (August 1969, Stax STA-0048, A)

24. The Sweeter He Is (Part 1) - THE SOUL CHILDREN (August 1969, Stax STA-0050, A)

25. You're Driving Me (To The Arms Of A Stranger) - MAVIS STAPLES (August 1969, Volt VOA-4020, A)

Disc 4 (75:22 minutes):

1. Open Up Your Heart (Let Me In) - THE NEWCOMERS (August 1969, Volt VOA-4022, A)

2. Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side) - EDDIE FLOYD (September 1969, Stax STA-0051, A)

3. When Will We Be Paid - THE STAPLE SINGERS (October 1969, Stax STA-0052, A)

4. Grinder Man - JOHN LEE HOOKER (October 1969, Stax STA-0053, A)

5. Born Under A Bad Sign - WILLIAM BELL (October 1969, Stax STA-0054, A)

6. What You Gonna Do - MARGIE JOSPEH (October 1969, Volt VOA-4023, A)

7. I'm So Glad - JIMMY HUGHES (October 1969, Volt VOA-4024, A)

8. Beautiful Feelings - DARRELL BANKS (October 1969, Volt VOA-4026, A)

9. Your Love Was Strange - THE DRAMATICS (October 1969, Volt VOA-4029, A)

10. Love Bones - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (November 1969, Stax STA-0055, A)

11. Hard To Say Goodbye - DELANEY & BONNIE (November 1969, Stax STA-0057, A)

12. Got To Get Rid Of You - J.J. BARNES (November 1969, Volt VOA-4027, A)

13. Habit Forming Love - REGGIE MILNER - (November 1969, Volt VOA-4028, A)

14. My Thing is A Moving Thing - THE T.S.U. TORNADOES (November 1969, Volt VOA-4030, A)

15. Stealing Love - THE EMOTIONS (November 1969, Volt VOA-4031, A)

16. When Tomorrow Comes - THE EMOTIONS (November 1969, Volt VOA-4031, B)

17. Wrapped Up In Love Again - ALBERT KING (December 1968, Stax STA-0058, A)

18. Do The Funky Chicken - RUFUS THOMAS (December 1969, Stax STA-0059, A)

19. California Girl - EDDIE FLOYD (January 1970, Stax STA-0060, A)

20. Tribute To A Black Woman (Part 1) - BERNIE HAYES (January 1970, Volt VOA-4032, A)

21. Sang And Dance - THE BAR-KAYS (February 1970, Volt VOA-4033, A)

22. Hold On, I'm Comin' - THE SOUL CHILDREN (February 1970, Stax STA-0062, A)

23. Love's Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (Part 1) - CHUCK BROOKS (February 1970, Volt VOA-4034, A)

24. Help Me Put Out The Flame In My Heart - ERNIE HINES (March 1970, Stax STA-0063, A)

25. Black Key - ROEBUCK "POP" STAPLES (March 1970, Stax STA-0064, A)

Disc 5 (76:22 minutes):

1. Bracing Myself For The Fall - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (March 1970, Stax STA-0065, A)

2. All I Have To Do Is Dream - WILLIAM BELL & CARLA THOMAS (March 1970, Stax STA-0067, A)

3. Singing About Love - JEANNE and THE DARLINGS (March 1970, Volt VOA-4035, A)

4. Goodies - CHRIS and SHACK (March 1970, Volt VOA-4036, A)

5. Just The Way You Are Today - BARBARA LEWIS (March 1970, Enterprise ENA-9012, A)

6. The Creeper Returns - LITTLE SONNY (March 1970, Enterprise ENA-9013, A)

7. Guide Me Well - CARLA THOMAS (April 1970, Stax STA-0056, B)

8. Give A Damn - THE STAPLE SINGERS (April 1970, Stax STA-0066, A)

9. Steal Away - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (April 1970, Stax STA-0068, A)

10. Your Sweet Lovin' - MARGIE JOSEPH (April 1970, Volt VOA-4037, A)

11. I Forget To Remember - JONES and BLUMENBERG (April 1970, Volt VOA-4039, A)

12. Can't See You When I Want To - DAVID PORTER (April 1970, Enterprise ENA-9014, A)

13. Never Be True - CARLA THOMAS (May 1970, Stax STA-0061, A)

14. Can't You See What You're Doing To Me - ALBERT KING (May 1970, Stax STA-0069, A)

15. Sixty Minute Man (Part 2) - RUFUS THOMAS (May 1970, Stax STA-0071, A)

16. The Preacher And The Bear - RUFUS THOMAS (May 1970, Stax STA-0071, B)

17. Something - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (May 1970, Stax STA-0073, A)

18. Seeing Is Believing - THE MAD LADS (May 1970, Volt VOA-4041, A)

19. You're My Only Temptation - ROZ RYAN (June 1970, Volt VOA-4040, A)

20. What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me - PAUL THOMPSON (June 1970, Volt VOA-4042, A)

21. Right, Tight And Out Of Sight - BRANDING IRON (June 1970, Volt VOA-4043, A)

22. (What's Under) The Natural Do - JOHN KaSANDRA (June 1970, Respect TAA-2501, A)

Disc 6 (75:41 minutes):

1. My Girl - EDDIE FLOYD (June 1970, Stax STA-0072, A)

2. I Have Learned To Do Without You - MAVIS STAPLES (June 1970, Volt VOA-4044, A)

3. Play The Music Tornadoes - THE T.S.U. TORNADOES (July 1970, Volt VOA-4038, A)

4. Lonely Soldier - WILLIAM BELL (June 1970, Stax STA-0070, A)

5. Heart Association - THE EMOTIONS (July 1970, Volt VOA-4045, A)

6. I Stand Accused - ISAAC HAYES (July 1970, Enterprise ENA-9017, A)

7. Brand New Day (Theme From "The Landlord" OST) - THE STAPLE SINGERS (August 1970, Stax STA-0074, A)

8. Sweeter Tomorrow - MARGIE JOSEPH (August 1970, Volt VOA-4046, A)

9. Cool Strut - BERNIE HAYES (August 1970, Volt VOA-4047, A)

10. You Put The Sunshine Back In My World - THE NEWCOMERS (August 1970, Volt VOA-4049, A)

11. Montego Bay - THE BAR-KAYS (August 1970, Volt VOA-4050, A)

12. Get It Together (Parts 1 & 2) - RUBY ROBINSON & THE HUNGRY FIVE (August 1970, Enterprise ENA-9019, A)

13. Wade In The Water - LITTLE SONNY (August 1970, Enterprise ENA-9021, A)

14. You're Movin' Much Too Fast - THE NIGHTINGALES (September 1970, Stax STA-0076, A)

15. The Best Years Of My Life - EDDIE FLOYD (September 1970, Stax STA-0077, A)

16. I Am Somebody (Part 2) - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (September 1970, Stax STA-0078, A)

17. I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life - CARLA THOMAS (September 1970, Stax STA-0080, A)

18. Soul Machine - REGGIE MILNER (September 1970, Volt VOA-4048, A)

19. (Follow Her) Rules And Regulations - THE TEMPREES (September 1970, We Produce 45-1801, A)

20. (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1) - RUFUS THOMAS (October 1970, Stax STA-0079, A)

21. Love Changes - CHARLENE and THE SOUL SERENADERS (October 1970, Volt VOA-4052, A)

22. Put Your World In My World (Best Of Two Worlds) - THE SOUL CHILDREN (November 1970, Stax STA-0075, A)

23. Love Is Plentiful - THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1970, Stax STA-0083, A)

Disc 7 (75:23 minutes):

1. Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom) - THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1970, Stax STA-0083, B)

2. Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas - THE STAPLE SINGERS (November 1970, Stax STA-0084, A)

3. Too Many Lovers - SHACK (November 1970, Volt VOA-4051, A)

4. Black Christmas - THE EMOTIONS (November 1970, Volt VOA-4053, A)

5. The Mistletoe And Me - ISAAC HAYES (November 1970, Enterprise ENA-9006, A)

6. Ask The Lonely - BARBARA LEWIS (November 1970, Enterprise ENA-9027, A)

7. Jody's Got Your Girl And Gone - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (December 1970, Stax STA-0085, A)

8. Finish Me Off - THE SOUL CHILDREN (January 1971, Stax STA-0086, A)

9. Oh, How It Rained - EDDIE FLOYD (January 1971, Stax STA-0087, A)

10. The Look Of Love - ISAAC HAYES (January 1971, Enterprise ENA-9028, A)

11. Electrified Love - ERNIE HINES (January 1971, We Produce 45-1802, A)

12. Melting Pot - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S (February 1971, Stax STA-0082, A)

13. That's The Way I Like It (I Like It That Way) - BARBARA LEWIS (March 1971, Enterprise ENA-9029, A)

14. Mr. Big Stuff - JEAN KNIGHT (March 1971, Stax STA-0088, A)

15. You Make Me Want To Love You - THE EMOTIONS (March 1971, Volt VOA-4054, A)

16. Stop! In The Name Of Love - MARGIE JOSEPH (March 1971, Volt VOA-4056, A)

17. I Don't Wanna Lose You - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (April 1971, Stax STA-0089, A)

18. (Girl) I Love You - THE TEMPREES (April 1971, We Produce XPA-1803, A)

19. The World Is Round - RUFUS THOMAS (April 1971, Stax STA-0090, A)

20. A Penny For Your Thoughts - WILLIAM BELL (April 1971, Stax STA-0092, A)

21. Never Can Say Goodbye - ISAAC HAYES (April 1971, Enterprise ENA-9031, A)

22. I Don't Want To Be Like My Daddy - THE NIGHTINGALES (May 1971, Stax STA-0091, A)

Disc 8 (72:32 minutes):

1. You've Got To Earn It - THE STAPLE SINGERS (May 1971, Stax STA-0093, A)

2. Hold On To It - THE LIMITATIONS (May 1971, Volt VOA-4057, A)

3. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - THE DRAMATICS (May 1971, Volt VOA-4058, A)

4. Born Too Late - BRANDING IRON (May 1971, Volt VOA-4059, A)

5. Just Ain't Strong As I Used To Be (You Done Fed Me Sumpin') - JIMMY HUGHES (May 1971, Volt VOA-4060, A)

6. That Other Woman Get My Man And Gone - MARGIE JOSEPH (June 1971, Volt VOA-4061, A)

7. If You Think It (You May As Well Do It) - THE EMOTIONS (June 1971, Volt VOA-4062, A)

8. Shame On The Family Name - CALVIN SCOTT (July 1971, Stax STA-0094, A)

9. Blood Is Thicker Than Water - EDDIE FLOYD (July 1971, Stax STA-0095, A)

10. Hijackin' Love - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (The Soul Philosopher) (July 1971, Stax STA-0096, A)

11. Sweetback's Theme - MELVIN VAN PEEBLES (July 1971, Stax STA-0097, A)

12. The Breakdown (Part 1) - RUFUS THOMAS (July 1971, Stax STA-0098, A)

13. Pin The Tail On The Donkey - THE NEWCOMERS (July 1971, Stax STA-0099, A)

14. Them Hot Pants (Part 1) - LEE SAIN (July 1971, We Produce XPA-1804, A)

15. If That Ain't A Reason (For Your Woman To Leave You) - LITTLE MILTON (August 1971, Stax STA-0100, A)

16. It's Good To Be Careful (But It's Better To Be Loved) - SHACK (August 1971, Volt VOA-4063, A)

17. Where Would You Be Today - ILANA (August 1971, Volt VOA-4064, A)

18. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven - ALBERT KING (August 1971, Stax STA-0101, A)

19. Got To Get Away From It All - THE SOUL CHILDREN (August 1971, Stax STA-0102, A)

20. Love's Creeping Up On Me - UNITED IMAGE (August 1971, Volt VOA-4065, A)

21. Show Me How - THE EMOTIONS (August 1971, Volt VOA-4066, A)

22. If I Give Up, I Want It Back - DAVID PORTER (August 1971, Enterprise ENA-9037, A)

23. A Woman Named Trouble - LITTLE SONNY (September 1971, Enterprise ENA-9034, A)

Disc 9 (69:58 minutes):

1. Losing Boy - EDDIE GILES (September 1971, Stax STA-0103, A)

2. Respect Yourself - THE STAPLE SINGERS (September 1971, Stax STA-0104, A)

3. I'll Kill A Brick (About My Man) - HOT SAUCE (September 1971, Volt VOA-4067, A)

4. You Think You're Hot Stuff - JEAN KNIGHT (September 1971, Stax STA-0105, A)

5. All For The Love Of A Woman - WILLIAM BELL (September 1971, Stax STA-106, A)

6. Theme From Shaft - ISAAC HAYES (September 1971, Enterprise ENA-9038, A)

7. Jamaica, This Morning - THE MG'S (October 1971, Stax STA-0108, A)

8. Gone! The Promise Of Yesterday - THE MAD LADS (October 1971, Volt VOA-4068, A)

9. Girl, Come On Home - MAJOR LANCE (October 1971, Volt VOA-4069, A)

10. (Let Hurt Put You In The) Loser's Seat - JONI WILSON (October 1971, Volt VOA-4070, A)

11. My Baby Love - THE TEMPREES (October 1971, We Produce XPA-1805, A)

12. Now Do You Move A Mountain - THE LEADERS (November 1971, Volt VOA-4072, A)

13. Black Nasty Boogie (Part 1) - BLACK NASTY (November 1971, Enterprise ENA-9039, A)

14. Do The Funky Penguin (Part 1) - RUFUS THOMAS (November 1971, Stax STA-0112, A)

15. You've Got A Cushion To Fall On - CARLA THOMAS (November 1971, Stax STA-0113, A)

16. Get Up And Get Down - THE DRAMATICS (November 1971, Volt VOA-4071, A)

17. Son Of Shaft - THE BAR-KAYS (November 1971, Volt VOA-4073, A)

18. Don't Cha Mess With My Money, My Honey, Or My Woman - L.V. JOHNSON (November 1971, Volt VOA-4074, A)

19. I Can Smell That Funky Music - ERIC MERCURY (November 1971, Enterprise ENA-9041, A)

20. A Sadness For Things - CALVIN SCOTT (December 1971, Stax STA-0110, A)

21. That's What Love Will Make You Do - LITTLE MILTON (December 1971, Stax STA-0111, A)

22. Standing In For Jody - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (The Soul Philosopher) (December 1971, Stax STA-0114, A)

CONTENT: A word about the content first because there are a few anomalies:

STAX Label: There's 114 Stax A-sides (2 with B-sides included) plus 1 stand-alone B-side - but the following numbers are MISSING:

STAX STA-0056 is "Some Other Man (Is Beating Time)" by CARLA THOMAS released November 1969 as the A-side to "Guide Me Well"

STAX STA-0081 is "So Easy To See" by PROUD AS PUNCH released September 1970 - possibly absent because it's a Rock track and outside the 'Soul' parameters of this box

STAX STA-0107 is "Don't Do It/I'm With You" by THE NIGHTINGALES with "Can Get Away" as the B-side is also missing because it was released in 1972 so outside the remit of this box (its on Volume 3)

STAX STA-0109 is "Yum Yum Yum (I Want Some)" by EDDIE FLOYD and was released January 1972 so is on Volume 3

VOLT Label: There's 74 Volt singles for the period but the following are missing:

VOLT VOA-4025 is "Amazing Grace" by REV. MACEO WOODS and THE CHRISTIAN TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR (released October 1969)

VOLT VOA-4055 is "Frisco Here I Come" by LOU JOHNSON (released March 1971)

ENTERPRISE, RESPECT and WE PRODUCE:

22 singles represent the Enterprise label (with the occasional extra B-side for Isaac Hayes) but the catalogue numbers goes as high as 41 (the numbers not represented were presumably never released). There is one Respect Records single and five on the rare We Produce label (none missing).

The visual impact is tasty too. The 62-page colour booklet has full discographies, an essay on the period called "Finger Snappin' Time: Stax Moves On" by ROB BOWMAN (co-produced the box with BILL BELMONT), black and white publicity photos for the artists in between the text, full colour plates of William Bell, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes and many more, a two-page collage of singles, many trade adverts for Billboard and finally Song Indexes and Dedications. PHIL DE LANCIE at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley carried out the remasters from original tapes (with tape assistance from ANDREW NIEDZWIECKI) and the sound is uniformly great throughout. The Seventies tracks in particular have superb audio. To my ears there is absolutely 'no' difference to the audio presented on this 2015 reissue to that of the 1994 original (no upgrades then). But as the original Box Set had such great sound anyway - that's no real loss - and frankly this new 'cubed' edition is more manageable (will sit alongside other CDs on your shelves) and is so much easier to access and use (cheap too).

The hits like "I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)", "Respect Yourself", "Theme From "Shaft", "Mr. Big Stuff" and so many more could probably cram two whole CDs - but it's the stuff in between the cracks that makes for such a great surprise. Artists like Reggie Milner, The T.S.U. Tornadoes, Ilana, Calvin Scott, Shack, Ernie Shines, United Image and Paul Thompson aren't exactly names that roll off the tongue (or Soul register for that matter) - but therein lays the brill nature of such a massive overhaul like this - the dip in and discover something factor. Tracks like the wicked "Tighten Up My Thang" by The Soul Children or the Blues-Funk of "Can't You See What You're Doing To Me" by Albert King is fantastic stuff. Mid tempo gems like "So I Can Love You" by The Emotions sends me every time while "Singing About Love" by Jeanne & The Darlings is a great lesser-heard dancer. The Rock-Soul sides of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett are unjustly forgotten too. And frankly I can't get enough of The Staple Singers or Mr. Blaxsploitation himself Isaac Hayes - every one of their righteous and funky grooves still amazingly fresh to this day.

With the original issue commanding big bucks - this new 2014 Universal/Concord reissue is retailing beneath thirty quid for nine-discs - now that really is uptight and outtasite...

PS: titles in the "STAX REMASTERS" series 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 (1974)

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 (1969)

I've also reviewed in-depth Volumes 1, 3 and 2017's Volume 4 in the 'Singles Series' - see separate entries...

"Stax Singles Volume 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (February 2017 USA Craft Recordings/Stax 6CD Brick Block Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

This Review Along With 215 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"SOUL GALORE!" 

60ts Soul, R&B, Northern Soul

Mod, New Breed, Funk, Rare Grooves

Atlantic, Chess, Motown, Stax Labels and many more...

 

Your Guide To The Best CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

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"...Deep Down Inside..."

Having bought, loved and reviewed in-depth the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Brick Block Reissue Versions of Volumes 1 to 3 in this extraordinary Stax Records Singles Series (originally issued in 12" x 12" Boxes in 1991, 1993 and 1994) - it's taken some time for my rotund tum-tum to get its wriggle-lines around this latest additional tome from Craft Recordings - "Stax Singles Volume 4" - issued February 2017.

Offering die-hard punters 145 Tracks beautifully Remastered by JOE TARANTINO and ROGER ARMSTRONG onto 6CDs (also in a Brick Block Box Set) – it comes accompanied by an 80-page booklet with 4 new essays from compilation producers and Soul aficionados BILL BELMONT, ROB BOWMAN and ALEC PALAO. The music hits many genres outside of the straight-up Stax Soul contained in the first three volumes. Now we get Country, Blues, Rock, Pop, Easy Listening, Gospel and of course liberal doses of 60ts and 70ts R&B, Funk, Rare Groove and Deep Soul. The awful Disc 4 which concentrates on the 'Enterprise' label offshoot lets the side down terribly - coming over like some poor man's Burt Bacharach rejects listen - track after track of saccharine pap with only three or four uplifters.

Info: although the 80-page mini booklet is chock-full of info, photos of those gorgeous American 7" single labels and period memorabilia - the track-lists from Page 5 onwards take the lazy way out and don't actually tell you what the singles are B-sides to? So for collectors I've provided that info in this review for the first time. There's a ton of sexiness (and some clunkers) to wade through, so let's have at those 45 details...

US released 7 February 2017 - "Stax Singles Volume 4: Rarities & The Best Of The Rest" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Craft Recordings/Stax CR00043 (Barcode 888072029712) is a 6CD Brick Block Box Set with 145-Tracks. All catalogue numbers and release dates listed below are for US 7" singles on Stax Records and its label offshoots – Ardent, Chalice, Enterprise, The Gospel Truth, H.I.P., Satellite, Truth, Volt and We Produce and it plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - 29 Tracks from 1960 to 1968 (72:09 minutes):

1. Deep Down Inside - CARLA & RUFUS (August 1960 on Satellite 102, B-side to "Cause I Love You")

2. Yeah, Yea-ah - RUFUS and FRIEND (June 1961 on Atco 45-6199, B-side to "I Didn't Believe")

3. All The Way - PRINCE CONLEY (July 1961 on Satellite S-108, B-side to "I'm Going Home")

4. I'll Never Give Her Up (My Friend) - THE CANES (April 1962 on Stax S-123, B-side to "Why Should I Suffer With The Blues")

5. Just Enough To Hurt Me - THE ASTORS (July 1963 on Stax S-139, B-side to "What Can It Be")

6. I Found A Brand New Love - EDDIE KIRK (September 1963 on Volt 111, B-side to "Them Bones")

7. Fine And Mellow - RUFUS THOMAS (September 1963 on Stax S-140, B-side to "Walking The Dog")

8. Fannie Mae - BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (December 1963 on Stax S-142, B-side to "Mo' Onions")

9. Sassy - FLOYD NEWMAN (December 1963 on Stax S-143, B-side to "Frog Stomp")

10. I Want To Get Married - RUFUS THOMAS (January 1964 on Stax S-144, B-side to "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog")

11. That's The Way That It Goes - BOBBY MARCHAN (January 1964 on Volt 45-113, B-side to "You Won't Do Right")

12. Shake Up - THE COBRAS (March 1964 on Stax S-148, B-side to "Restless")

13. You Belong To Her - BARBARA AND THE BROWNS (March 1964 on Stax S-150, B-side to "Big Party")

14. Watchdog - DOROTHY WILLIAMS (June 1964 on Volt 45-118, B-side to "Closer To My Baby")

15. Free For All - BARACUDAS (December 1964 on Volt 123, B-side to "Yank Me (Doodle)") - Both sides are instrumentals

16. I Don't Want Trouble - BARBARA AND THE BROWNS (January 1965 on Stax S-164, B-side to "My Lover")

17. Sweet Thing - GORGEOUS GEORGE (February 1965 on Stax S-165, B-side to "Biggest Fool In Town")

18. I Found Out - THE ASTORS (May 1965 on Stax S-170, B-side to "Candy")

19. We're Tight - RUFUS & CARLA THOMAS (August 1965 on Stax S-176, B-side to "When You Move You Lose")

20. Chicken Scratch - RUFUS THOMAS (September 1965 on Stax S-178, B-side to "The World Is Round")

21. Weak Spot - RUBY JOHNSON (March 1966 on Volt V-133, B-side to "I'll Run Your Hurt Away")

22. Talkin' Bout True Love - RUFUS THOMAS (September 1966 on Stax 45-200, B-side to "Sister's Got A Boyfriend")

23. If You Give Up What You Got (You'll See What You Lost) - MABLE JOHN (November 1966 on Stax S-205, B-side to "You're Taking Up Another Man's Place")

24. A Small Portion Of Your Love - SAM and DAVE (January 1967 on Stax S-210, B-side to "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby")

25. Keep On Keeping On - RUBY JOHNSON (April 1967 on Volt 45-147, B-side to "If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now)")

26. Greasy Spoon - RUFUS THOMAS (June 1967 on Stax S-221, B-side to "Sophisticated Sissy")

27. Left Over Love - MABLE JOHN (September 1967 on Stax S-234, B-side to "Don't Hit Me No More")

28. Girl, You Have My Heart Singing - OLLIE & THE NIGHTINGALES (February 1968 on Stax S-245, B-side to "I Got A Sure Thing")

29. Don't Get Caught - MABLE JOHN (March 1968 on Stax 45-249, B-side to "Able Mable")

Disc 2 - 25 Tracks from 1968 to 1971 (75:22 minutes):

1. I'm So Glad You're Back - SHIRLEY WALTON (January 1968 on Enterprise 45-001, B-side to "I Was Born To Love You")

2. We've Just Been Feeling Bad - DELANEY & BONNIE [Bramlett] (May 1969 on Stax STA 0003, B-side to "It's Been A Long Time Coming")

3. I Don't Know - LINDA LYNDELL (June 1968 on Volt VOA-4001, B-side to "What A Man")

4. Love-Eye-Tis - JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL (July 1968 on Stax STA-0005, B-side to "Private Number")

5. Remove These Clouds - JUDY CLAY (September 1968 on Stax STA-0006, B-side to "Bed Of Roses")

6. Stay With Us - THE STAPLE SINGERS (August 1968 on Stax STA-0007, B-side to "Long Walk To D.C.")

7. So Hard To Get Along With - RUFUS THOMAS (August 1968 on Stax STA-0010, B-side to "Funky Mississippi")

8. I Like What You're Doing To Me - JEANNE AND THE DARLINGS (September 1968 on Volt VOA-4005, B-side to "It's Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul)")

9. Over Easy - BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (October 1968 on Stax STA-0013, B-side to "Hang 'Em High")

10. Shouldn't I Love Him - MABLE JOHN (November 1968 on Stax STA-0016, B-side to "Running Out")

11. Left Over Love - WILLIAM BELL & JUDY CLAY (November 1968 on Stax STA-0017, B-side to "My Baby Specializes")

12. Sweet Things You Do - JIMMY HUGHES (January 1969 on Volt VOA-4008, B-side to "Let 'Em Down Baby")

13. Grab A Handful - ART JERRY MILLER (March 1969 on Enterprise ENA-9002, B-side to "Finger Lickin' Good")

14. Consider Me - EDDIE FLOYD (May 1969 on Stax STA-0036, B-side to "Don't Tell Your Mama (Where You've Been)")

15. Soul Clap '69 - BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (May 1969 on Stax STA-0037, B-side to "Mrs. Robinson")

16. Standing In The Need Of Your Love - JEANNIE AND THE DARLINGS (June 1969 on Volt VOA-4015, B-side to "It's Time To Pay For The Fun (We've Had)")

17. I Thank You - THE BAR-KAYS (February 1970 on Volt VOA-4033, B-side to "Song And Dance")

18. Make It Good - THE SOUL CHILDREN (February 1970 on Stax STA-0062, B-side to "Hold On, I'm Coming")

19. I'll Be Your Anything - OLLIE AND THE NIGHTINGALES (March 1970 on Stax STA-0065, B-side to "Bracing Myself For The Fall")

20. Let Me Ride - WILLIAM BELL (July 1970 on Stax STA-0070, B-side to "Lonely Soldier")

21. Sunday Sermon - BOOKER T. & THE MG'S (May 1070 on Stax STA-0073, B-side to "Something")

22. Hi De Ho (That Old Sweet Roll) - CARLA THOMAS (September 1970 on Stax STA-0080, B-side to "I Loved You Like I Love My Very Life")

23. A Love Affair That Bears No Pain - SHACK [William] (November 1970 on Volt VOA-4051, B-side to "Too Many Lovers")

24. Just A Little Overcome - THE NIGHTINGALES (May 1971 on Stax STA-0091, B-side to "I Don't Want To Be Like My Daddy")

25. Mannish Boy - THE NEWCOMERS (July 1971 on Stax STA-0099, B-side to "Pin The Tail On The Donkey")

Disc 3 - 21 Tracks from 1971 to 1975 (74:59 minutes):

1. Let Love Fill Your Heart - ILANA (August 1971 on Volt VOA-4064, B-side to "Where Would You Be Today")

2. Ridin' On Love's Merry-Go-Round - THE SOUL CHILDREN (August 1971 on Stax STA-0102, B-side to "Got To Get Away From It All")

3. I Can't Win For Losing - HOT SAUCE [Lead Vocals Rhonda Washington] (September 1971 on Volt VOA-4067, B-side to "I'll Kick A Brick (About My Man)")

4. Ain't Nobody Like My Baby - LEE SAIN (March 1972 on We Produce XPA-1806, B-side to "She's My Old Lady Too") - miscredited in booklet as

 1086

5. Echoes From The Past - HOT SAUCE (March 1972 on Volt VOA-4076, B-side to "Bring It Home (And Give It To Me)")

6. Did My Baby Call - THE MAD LADS (March 1972 on Volt VOA-4080, B-side to "Let Me Repair Your Heart")

7. Baby I'm-A Want You - ISAAC HAYES and DAVID PORTER (April 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9049, B-side to "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)")

8. Pick Up The Pieces - JEAN KNIGHT (July 1972 on Stax STA-0136, B-side to "Helping Man")

9. Stop Teasing Me - JOHNNIE TAYLOR (August 1972 on Stax STA-0142, B-side to "Stop Doggin' Me")

10. Type Thang - ISAAC HAYES (September 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9058, B-side to "Theme From The Men (instrumental)")

11. In Love With You - JOHN GARY WILLIAMS (September 1972 on Stax STA-0146, B-side of "My Sweet Love")

12. Since I Lost My Baby's Love - MAJOR LANCE (December 1972 on Volt VOA-4085, B-side to "Ain't No Sweat")

13. Mama's Baby (Daddy's Maybe) - HOT SAUCE (February 1973 on Volt VOA-4089, B-side to "What Do You See In Her?")

14. Poem On The School House Wall - THE SOUL CHILDREN (June 1973 on Stax STA-0170, B-side to "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing")

15. That Makes Christmas Day - RUFUS THOMAS (December 1973 on Stax STA-0187, B-side to "I'll Be Your Santa Baby")

16. What's Your Thing - THE STAPLE SINGERS (April 1974 on Stax STA-0213, B-side to "Whicha Way Did It Go" by Pops Staples)

17. Yes Sir Brother - SHIRLEY BROWN (August 1974 on Truth TRA-3206, B-side to "Woman To Woman")

18. Funny - HOT SAUCE (January 1975 on Volt VON-4114, B-side to "I Can't Let You Go")

19. Let's Make A Deal - FREDERICK KNIGHT (January 1975 on Truth TRA-3216, B-side to "I Betcha Didn't Know That")

20. Can't Give You Up (I Love You Too Much) - THE GREEN BROTHERS (January 1975 on Truth TRA-3219, B-side to "Dy-No-Mite (Did You Say My Name)")

21. Just Ain't No Love (Without You Here) - JOHN GARY WILLIAMS (May 1975 on Truth TRA-3227, B-side to "Come What May")

Disc 4 - 22 Tracks from 1969 to 1975 (70:10 minutes):

1. The Ballad Of Otis B. Watson - SID SELVIDGE (September 1969 on Enterprise ENA-9005, A-side, written by Don Nix)

2. Black Hands White Cotton - THE CABOOSE (May 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9015, A-side, No. 79 on Pop Charts)

3. Love's Not Hard To Find - DALLAS COUNTRY (July 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9016, B-side to "Small Vacation", written by Don Nix and Ramsey Horton)

4. April - CASPER PETERS (August 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9018, B-side to "Find My Way", written by Don Nix)

5. Reaching For A Rainbow - CLARK SULLIVAN (September 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9022, A-side)

6. I Wanna Be Your Baby - BILLY ECKSTINE (September 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9025, B-side to "Name Of Your Sorrow", written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter)

7. Why Did It Take So Long - CHUCK BORIS (August 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9023, A-side)

8. Why Did It Take So Long - BARBARA LEWIS (November 1970 on Enterprise ENA-9027, B-side to "Ask The Lonely")

9. Gypsy - FINLEY BROWN (August 1971 on Enterprise ENA-9035, A-side)

10. Slip Away - O.B. McCLINTON (February 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9044, A-side)

11. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - BILLY ECKSTINE (March 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9046, A-side)

12. Good Times Are Coming - BEN ATKINS (April 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9048, B-side to "Day By Day")

13. Some Other Man - RIVER CITY STREET BAND (June 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9052, A-side)

14. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You - O.B. McCLINTON (September 1972 on Enterprise ENA-9059, A-side - No. 37 on the Country charts)

15. Would I Be Better Gone? - BIG BEN (February 1973 on Enterprise ENA-9061, A-side)

16. Black Cat Moan - DON NIX (April 1973 on Enterprise ENA-9067, A-side - a Don Nix song)

17. She's A Friend Of Mine - DON NIX (October 1973 on Enterprise ENA-9083, A-side- a Don Nix song)

18. Rock N' Roll Warning - LARRY RASPBERRY And THE HIGHSTEPPERS (April 1974 on Enterprise ENA-9099, A-side)

19. Conquistadores '74 - CHICO HAMILTON (June 1974 on Enterprise ENA-9102, A-side - a Chico Hamilton song)

20. The Way I'm Needing You - CLIFF COCHRAN (June 1974 on Enterprise ENA-9103, A-side)

21. Let's Get Together - CONNIE EATON (July 1974 on Enterprise ENA-9105, A-side)

22. The Way I'm Needing You - KAREN CASEY (April 1975 on Enterprise ENA-9111, A-side - Produced by Donald 'Duck' Dunn of Booker T. & The MG's)

Disc 5 - 26 Tracks from 1966 to 1974 (72:01 minutes):

1. Stop, Quit It - THE POOR LITTLE RICH KIDS (December 1966 on H.I.P H-102, B-side to "She's The Best Girl In Town")

2. Cigarettes - LONNIE DUVALL (April 1967 on H.I.P. Records H-104, A-side)

3. It's Mighty Clear - THE POOR LITTLE RICH KIDS (Cancelled December 1966 US 45 on H.I.P. H-105, intended B-side to "I Who Have Nothing")

4. Warm City Baby - THE HONEY JUG (June 1967 on H.I.P. H-106, A-side)

5. For A Little While - THE GOODIES (August 1967 on H.I.P. H-109, A-side)

6. For Your Love - THE HONEY JUG (August 1967 on H.I.P. H-110, A-side)

7. Groovy Day - KANGAROO'S (1968 on H.I.P. H-113, A-side)

8. And I Love You - BOBBY WHITLOCK (June 1968 on H.I.P. HIA-8001, B-side to "Raspberry Jug")

9. Smell Of Incense - SOUTHWEST F.O.B. (September 1968 on H.I.P. HIA-8002, A-side, No. 56 on the Pop Charts)

10. Condition Red - THE GOODIES (November 1968 on H.I.P. HIA-8005, A-side, No. 46 on the Pop Charts)

11. Family Portrait - BILLY LEE RILEY (October 1968 on H.I.P. HIA-8006, A-side)

12. The Children Have Your Tongue - THIS GENERATION (December 1968 on H.I.P. HIA-8007, A-side)

13. Show Me Your Soul - BILLY LEE RILEY (February 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8011, A-side)

14. Day In And Out - THE WATERS (March 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8012, A-side)

15. Hey Jack (Don't Hijack My Plane) - THE VILLAGE SOUND (March 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8013, A-side)

16. Cool My Desire - THE CHEQUES (April 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8014, A-side)

17. Goodies - THE GOODIES (June 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8016, A-side)

18. Miss Rita Famous - PARIS PILOT (October 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8017, A-side)

19. Someone Something - THE KNOWBODY ELSE (October 1969 on H.I.P. HIA-8020, B-side to "Let Us Pray")

20. Feel Alright - CARGOE (July 1972 on Ardent ADA-2901, A-side)

21. In The Street - BIG STAR (August 1972 on Ardent ADA-2902, B-side to "When My Baby's Beside Me")

22. I Love You Anyway - CARGOE (January 1973 on Ardent ADA-2903, A-side)

23. Say What you Mean - THE HOT DOGS (October 1973 on Ardent ADA-2906, A-side)

24. O My Soul - BIG STAR (April 1974 on Ardent ADA-2909, A-side)

25. I Walk The Line - THE HOT DOGS (May 1974 on Ardent ADA-2910, A-side, a Johnny Cash cover)

26. September Gurls - BIG STAR (May 1974 on Ardent ADA-2912, A-side)

Disc 6 - 22 Tracks from 1965 to 1974 (74:09 minutes):

1. Assassination - DIXIE NIGHTINGALES (November 1965 on Chalice 102, A-side)

2. Hush Hush - DIXIE NIGHTINGALES (November 1965 on Chalice 102, B-side to "Assassination")

3. I Don't Know - DIXIE NIGHTINGALES (1966 on Chalice 103, A-side)

4. Wade In The Water - THE STARS OF VIRGINIA (1966 on Chalice 104, A-side)

5. Forgive These Fools - DIXIE NIGHTINGALES (1966 on Chalice 105, A-side)

6. Our Freedom Song (Free At Last) - THE JUBILEE HUMMINGBIRDS (1966 on Chalice 106, A-side)

7. Press My Dying Pillow - THE JUBILEE HUMMINGBIRDS (1966 on Chalice 106, B-side to "Our Freedom Song (Free At Last)")

8. God's Promise - THE PATTERSONAIRES (1966 on Chalice 107, A-side)

9. Hello Sunshine - REV. MACEO WOODS and THE CHRISTIAN TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR (October 1969 on Volt VOA-4025, A-side, No. 28 on the R&B Charts)

10. Tryin' Times - ROEBUCK "POP" STAPLES (March 1970 on Stax STA-0064, B-side of "Black Boy")

11. His Love Will Always Be - TERRY LYNN COMMUNITY CHOIR (May 1972 on The Gospel Truth GTA-1020, A-side)

12. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You (Don't Let The Devil Fool You) - REVEREND W. BERNARD AVANT JR., and THE ST. JAMES GOSPEL CHOIR (May 1972 on The Gospel Truth GTA-1203, A-side)

13. There's Gonna Be A Showdown - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (June 1972 on The Gospel Truth GTA-1204, A-side)

14. That Will Be Good Enough For Me - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (June 1972 on The Gospel Truth GTA-1204, B-side to "There's Gonna Be A Showdown")

15. The Magnificent Sanctuary Band (Marching For The Man) - REVEREND MACEO WOODS and THE CHRISTIAN TABERNACLE CONCERT CHOIR (March 1972 on The Gospel Truth GTA-1205, A-side)

16. Better Get A Move On - LOUISE McCORD (July 1972 on Gospel Truth GM-01030-PL, A-side, Promo-Only)

17. Satisfied - CHARLES MAY & ANNETTE MAY THOMAS (January 1973 on Gospel Truth GTA-1206, A-side)

18. I Got To Be Myself - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (March 1973 on Gospel Truth GTA-1208, A-side, No. 31 on the R&B charts)

19. He Included Me - THE PEOPLE'S CHOIR OF OPERATION PUSH UNDER THE DIRECTION OF REVEREND MARVIN YANCY (September 1973 on Gospel Truth GTA-1210, A-side)

20. We're The Salt Of The Earth - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (May 1974 on Gospel Truth GTA-1216, A-side)

21. Reflections - LOUISE McCORD (October 1974 on Gospel Truth GTA-1217, A-side)

22. Ain't No Need Of Crying - THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP (October 1974 on Truth TRA-3210, A-side, No. 61 on the R&B charts)

Content: the usual big Stax Soul names are all here - Booker T. & The MG's, Rufus Thomas, William Bell and Judy Clay, Mable John, Ollie And The Nightingales, The Staple Singers, Jimmy Hughes, Eddie Floyd, Isaac Hayes (and David Porter), Johnnie Taylor, The Bar-Kays, Barbara Lewis, Major Lance, Jean Knight, The Mad Lads, The Soul Children and many more. But it comes as a shock to see Rock acts like Big Star, Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby Whitlock and Don Nix nestling alongside white obscuro Pop acts like The Caboose, The Knowbody Else and The Cheques. There's Jazz with Art Jerry Miller and Chico Hamilton while crooner Billy Eckstine and Rock ‘n’ Roller Billy Lee Riley addle up to rarely seen Deep Soul types like William Shack, Shirley Walton, The Newcomers and the funky-funky Gospel grooves of The Rance Allen Group.

Between their debut 45 in 1959 and final releases towards the end of 1975 – Stax Records and its subsidiary labels issued over 600 sevens – enough to full 30CDs full of flipsides. So compiler and Stax scholar Rob Bowman has chosen just 75 for Discs 1 to 3 – agony he tells us in the liner notes – but also justified choices because he maintains they're comparable to any other company's A's – and he'd be right. Every disc here is a revelation. Part of the joy too is of course the 'dip in and find out what's cooking' element. So much of this music is obscure and forgotten when it absolutely shouldn't be. That's the good news. The bad is that Disc 4 has some truly awful stuff on it and Disc 5 goes so off-kilter that some may find the listen a tad underwhelming and out of sorts. Disc 4's 22-Tracks of A's and B's are dedicated entirely to the 'Enterprise' label offshoot that began in 1968 and took its name from the popular Star Trek TV Series and its Starship Enterprise (to boldly go where no other label had gone before etc - most of its output didn't go anywhere). Disc 5 goes into the Rock, Rock 'n' Roll and Country oddities that turned up on more offshoots – the H.I.P. and Ardent labels - while Disc 6 gives us a 22-track exploration of the label's deep Gospel leanings – tracks that appeared on the Chalice, The Gospel Truth and Truth labels (as well as one or two on Stax and Volt). It's an amazing haul whatever way you look at it.

Specifics: to see B-sides like Judy Clay & William Bell's "Love-Eye-Tis", The Staple Singers' "Stay With Us" and the Love, Freedom and Peace of "What's Your Thing" (written by Mack Rice), Ilana's Northern Soul heartache-filled monster "Let Love Fill Your Heart" (as amazing as the grooving A-side "Where Would You Be Today"), the Pops Roebuck Staples cover of Donny Hathaway's "Tryin' Times" and even something as ordinary as Isaac Hayes' "Type Thang" (from 1972) finally get centre stage on CD is a thrill (I've been after these elusive buggers for digital decades).

But what also impresses more than the sheer scale of music on offer here (Discs 1 to 3) is the quality of it. It seems that when it came to Atlantic, Motown and Stax Records - the flip sides were just as nasty/cool as the plug-sides. Take Lee Sain's fabulous torch-ballad "Ain't Nobody Like My Baby" as he reliably informs us that ordinary words can't describe his woman or Jean Knight's funky "Pick Up The Pieces" sounding like a solid follow-up to "Mr. Big Stuff" or Major Lance's joyful buckets-of-tears dancer "Since I Lost My Baby's Love" – all fabarooney. Stunning songwriter Bettye Crutcher provides "Mama's Baby (Daddy's Maybe)" for Rhonda Washington as Lead Singer with Hot Sauce - a great keyboard/brass funky dancer (keep your woman sweet). She excels again on the gorgeous ballad of "Funny" - an “I'm over you baby” smoocher that will burrow its way into your heart. Genuine sensations come with not one but two barnstormers from The Soul Children featuring the staggering guttural vocals of John Colbert (known as J. Blackfoot) and Anita Louis on "Ridin' On Love's Merry-Go-Round" and the fantastic "Poem On The School House Door" - Rob Bowman describing their output as something that '...ranks with the greatest deep soul records ever released.'

After the sheer Soul high of Discs 1 to 3 - the fourth CD comes as a massive disappointment - an array of truly awful Pop cack. It opens with "The Ballad Of Otis B. Watson" from Sid Selvidge - a sort of Terry Jacks and Jimmy Webb schmaltz tune about someone's relative dying. The white-boy Rock-Funk band The Caboose and their right-on glory-glory hallelujah "Black Hands White Cotton" actually made No 79 on the US Pop charts - but its live audience overdub and fay earnestness sounds cringing and false now. Unfortunately the Don Nix connection to both the Dallas County and Casper Peters tracks does little to rescue them from their awful saccharine nature. Poor old Billy Eckstine has a set of backing singers inflicted on his "I Wanna Be Your Baby" as he tries to croon sincerely through a rare miss by the duo of Isaac Hayes and David Porter. A moment's respite comes in the Three Dog Night/Steppenwolf Rock of Finley's Brown's heavy-heavy "Gypsy" but again it feels like black people trying to do Led Zeppelin three years after the event and not really knowing how. But Country boy O.B. McClinton and his ludicrously bad cover of Clarence Carter's "Slip Away" comes dangerously close to ending up on a Kenny Everett LP for 'worst records ever made'.

Disc 5 first concentrates on the H.I.P. Records implant for its first 19-tracks - the Memphis Sound of Stax blatantly going after the British Invasion audience with Pop, Bubblegum, Girl Groups and even some Freakbeat. Tracks 20 to 26 wrap up Disc 5 with the Ardent Label featuring the mighty Big Star. Back to HIP - Lonnie Duvall's "Cigarettes" is excellent 60ts Pop but the unreleased "It's Mighty Clear" by The Poor Little Rich Kids is a sub-Byrds knock-off. Better is the great harmonies in "Warm City Baby" by The Honey Jug and the label's bestsellers - the girl group The Goodies and their very Motown shuffler "For A Little While". Psych and Freakbeat fans will dig the out-there take by The Honey Jug on Graham Gouldman's Yardbirds gift "For Your Love" - a guitar and organ swirl that is a million miles removed from everything Stax was about. Even cooler is a cover of The West Coast Pop Art Ensemble tune "Smell Of Incense" by Southwest F.O.B. that actually went to No. 56 on the US Pop charts in September 1968. Motorbike take-me-with-you Girl Group drama comes roaring in with "For Your Love" where some hipster crashes his chopper before our sweet-gal can jump on the rear. The flying saucer Rock ‘n’ Roller Billy Lee Riley finally gets a half decent tune with "Family Portrait" where he comes across as a snarling Leon Russell moaning about marital chicanery. Other winners include This Generation getting their teeth into a good groove and message with "The Children Have Your Tongue" - fuzz-guitars and Pop colliding on "Day In And Out" by The Waters while The Cheques need some aqua chucked over their warbling Hammonds on the groovy "Cool My Desire" (only you can put out the fire). The Knowbody Else cut an impressive dash with their busy "Someone Something" - a sort of combo between and Northern Soul and Freakbeat Fuzz - while Cargoe give it some cool Who-driven Power Pop with "Feel Alright" and gorgeous harmonies on "I Love You Anyway". The three Big Star cuts only add candy to a particularly tasty musical cake.

Disc 6 is exclusively Gospel, Freedom songs and Deep Soul often with a slow Bluesy feel (yum yum). It opens with "Assassination" - a deeply felt funereal recounting by The Dixie Nightingales of Bobby Kennedy's horrible murder. The boys then get all marching Staple Singers with the B-side "Hush Hush" too (great female/male split vocals). The Stars Of Virginia insert some superb R&B Swing into the traditional "Wade In The Water" imbibing their rendition with a very Blind Boys Of Alabama soulfulness. Simple and beautiful "Our Freedom Song (Free At Last)" by The Jubilee Hummingbirds is as heartfelt as anything you've ever heard about MLK and buses in Alabama - justice and equality for all. In fact most of the Chalice label stuff is so rare - I don't think I've heard any of this - and Tarantino has done a great mastering job on tapes that have to be showing their age. By the time I get to Pops Staples magnificent cover of Donny Hathaway's "Tryin' Times" - a criminally forgotten solo-single B-side to "Black Boy" from March 1970 - and the gorgeous "His Love Will Always Be" with Terry Lynn giving it some staggering Soul - I'm (forgive the pun) in Seventh Heaven. That Louise McCord winner "Better Get A Move On" is so good that it was reissued by Ace's BGP Records in 2003 on a split UK 7" single with Otis and Carla on the A (BGPS 019).

To sum up - for sure Disc 4 covering Enterprise Records lets the whole magnificent enterprise down terribly (docked a star for that). But the rest of it is the very stuff of 'Reissue Of The Year' par excellence. I got my copy for just under fifty quid and I'm only smarting that Discs 1 to 3 were not extended by three more!

Dig in Soul lovers everywhere and celebrate Stax Records and The Gospel Truth (yet again). Huge kudos to all involved...and another winner from Craft Recordings

"Planet Mod: Brit Soul, R&B & Freakbeat From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" by SHEL TALMY [Various Artists] (April 2018 Ace/Big Beat CD Compilation - Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Almost 300 Others Is Available In My

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"...Going Out Tonight..."

Tempted by the fruits of the Various Artists CD compilation "Making Time: A Shel Talmy Production" released a year earlier by Ace/Big Beat Records in April 2017 (see my review) - I lunged slippers-first in my New Breed duds at this April 2018 Big Beat follow-up CD. This time Ace focus 24-Tracks on Shel Talmy's Production credits for the hugely collectable but short-lived British label 'Planet Records' (almost all tracks are from 1966 to be specific).

All the right names and slants are here - compiled by ALEC PALAO with his usual plethora of fantastically detailed liner notes (cool period photos and memorabilia etc) - Nick Robbins mastering, mega rarities making their digital debut and a whopping 15 of the 24-track haul 'Previously Unreleased'. And as you see from the wildly eclectic artist-list provided below by yours truly - there's a world of cool 60ts music to get through and much to discuss. So once more my mod-dancing pasty-faced groovalicious Banditos unto the Daddy Longlegs and Gamma Goochie (if you catch my drift)...

UK released Friday, 27 April 2018 - "Planet Mod: Brit Soul, R&B And Freakbeat From The SHEL TALMY Vaults" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 336 (Barcode 029667085120) is a 24-Track Mono CD Compilation that plays out as follows (60:11 minutes):

1. Daddy Longlegs (Alternate Version) - THE UNTAMED (first issued on the 2000 CD compilation "The Best Of Planet Records: A Shel Talmy Production" on RPM Records RPM 215)

2. Unto Us (Demo Version) - THE NEW BREED (2018, Previously Unreleased)

3. Searching - THE SOUL BROTHERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

4. Mai Lee - JOHN LEE HOOKER (May 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 114, A-side)

5. Call Me Girl - THE THOUGHTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

6. Take My Tip (Alternate Take) - KENNY MILLER (2018, Previously Unreleased)

7. I'll Never Fall In Love Again - JOHN LEE'S GROUNDHOGS (January 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 104, A-side)

8. Don't Let It Be - THE TRIBE (2018, Previously Unreleased)

9. Why Do You Stand In My Way - THE PROS & CONS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

10. Have You Ever Had The Blues (Alternate Take) - RAY GATES (2018, Previously Unreleased)

11. I'm Leaving - THE UNTAMED (2018, Previously Unreleased)

12. Too Much Of A Woman - THE CORDUROYS (December 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 122, B-side of "Tick Tock")

13. Goodbye Girl - THE PREACHERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

14. The Skip (Alternative Version) - GOLDIE & THE GINGERBREADS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

15. Pretty Girl - THE THOUGHTS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

16. Stone Crazy - SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS (First issued on the January 2017 CD compilation "The Planet Sessions" on Ace Records CDCHD 1493)

17. Over You Baby - JOHN LEE'S GROUNDHOGS (January 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 104, B-side of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again")

18. Life's Too Good To Waste - TONY CHRISTIE AND THE TRACKERS (1966 UK 7" single on CBS Records 202097, A-side, A Barbara Ruskin song)

19. The Gamma Goochie - THE TRIBE (February 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 108, A-side)

20. Broken Truth - A WILD UNCERTAINTY (October 1966 UK 7" single on Planet Records PLF 120, B-side of "A Man With Money")

21. Mary Ann - THE PROS & CONS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

22. Think - THE TOTAL (2018, Previously Unreleased)

23. I'm Going Out Tonight - THE UNTAMED (First appeared on the 2001 CD compilation "Gimme Gimme" on RPM Records RPM 223)

24. Goodbye So Long - THE SOUL BROTHERS (2018, Previously Unreleased)

All tracks are in MONO

Fifteen tracks are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - they are Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 24

JOHN LEE'S GROUNDHOGS featured TONY McPHEE on Guitar, PETE CRUICKSHANK on Bass and KEN PUSTELNIK on Drums

Who would become 60ts and 70ts Blues-Rock band THE GROUNDHOGS

The 20-page booklet is a typically splendiferous affair - pictured are uber rare release-sheets for The Tribe's single "The Gamma Goochie" (4 Feb 1966), John Lee's Groundhogs and their version of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" (21 Jan 1966), an I.B.C Studios Acetate for The Pros & Cons unreleased "Mary Ann", a gorgeous colour picture sleeve from Germany on Hit-Ton Records for John Lee Hooker's "Mai Lee", Planet Records publicity calling cards for The Thought, A Wild Uncertainty and The Untamed, an outtake photo of Screamin' Jay Hawkins with his wife Ginny, a snap of the mighty Hook with his guitar backstage at The Twisted Wheel in 1964, and a mastertape from a November 1966 session.

Paulo is the kind of geezer who has way too much knowledge but thankfully his enthusiasm and love for this music never abates. Who else would know that Danny Alexander joined Liverpool's 'The Thought' for their European Tour in 1967 and is this fellow Scouser who sings lead on "Call Me Girl" and a roaring version of The Easybeats "Pretty Girl" - both tracks unreleased (slated as the follow-up to the hugely collectable "All Night Stand" single).

NICK ROBBINS has mastered the compilation and considering the vintage - it's a bang-up Mono job. Most of these cuts are dripping with that hard-hitting Kinks garage sound – groovers and boppers – and some like the unreleased "Searching" by The Soul Brothers would have been hit-record material in 1966. OK – this CD doesn’t contain those mythical darlings of Mod – The Creation – and not everything on here (strictly speaking) has Talmy’s involvement (they admit this). But as Paulo’s notes point out – his fingers and choices are all over every cut. Frankly though – when I’m grooving to the fabulous bopper-cool Alternate Take of "Take My Tip" (dig those brass jabs) by Kenny Miller or the Hammond sexy Boogaloo instrumental "The Skip" by Goldie & The Gingerbreads (another Previously Unreleased Alternate) – I don’t care about strict rules – this stuff is wickedly good.

Tony McPhee and Groundhogs fans now get both the A&B-sides of their second UK 45 on Planet PLF 104 from January 1966 – a £100-plus R&B rarity that often sells for way more (if you can find a copy). The Pros & Cons get two unreleased poppers - "Why Do You Stand In My Way" and "Mary Ann" – the first being a rather weedy Beatles copy with the second being better. Far better is "Have You Ever Had The Blues" – Ray Gates wrapping his Chris Farlowe/Jackie Wilson vocals around a great cover of a Lloyd Price song. The Untamed catch the Southbound train on "I'm Leaving" whilst getting piano-rowdy on the dancer "I'm Going Out Tonight" – our hero telling his baby that he’s going to have a drink or two and call up some girls he knows (that’ll show lad for sure). I can't get over how good the unreleased Soul Brothers finisher is - "Goodbye So Long" - a 'hey hey hey' shuffle that will have Mod dancers wishing it was on a 45 they could hunt down and salivate over.

"...You're Too Much Of A Woman! Hey Now! Oh Lord!" - The Corduroys tell us earnestly on "Too Much Of A Woman" - testifying their groovy passion. 

A rather fantastic little compilation in my books - well done to all involved...