"ATLANTIC RHYTHM & BLUES" 1947-1974 BOX SET - Volume 5: 1961-1965 + Volume 6: 1966-1969

This eight-CD set should be a part of any collection that presumes to take American music -- not just rock & roll or rhythm & blues -- seriously. Atlantic Records was one of dozens of independent labels started up after the war by neophyte executives and producers, but it was different from most of the others in that the guys who ran it were honest and genuinely loved music. Coupled with a lot of luck and some good judgment, the results trace a good chunk of the history of American music and popular culture. Disc one opens with cuts which slot in somewhere midway between jazz, bop, and "race" music (as the term was used then). Disc two is pure, distilled R&B, the stuff filling the airwaves of black radio and the jukeboxes in the "wrong" parts of town in 1952-54. Surprisingly, the material on Disc three, covering 1955-57, isn't very different in content or character from Disc two, despite the fact that it covers the period when white teenagers were starting to listen to and buy these records in large numbers. It's only with Disc four that one sees the consequences of the late '50s -- Ray Charles in his final days with the label, juxtaposed with the Drifters in their post-1958 incarnation and the start of the company's relationship with Stax/Volt Records. Disc six (1965-67) is practically a mini-tribute to Stax/Volt, filled with the best-known sides of Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T. & the MG's. Discs seven and eight run from the late '60s and the heyday of Aretha Franklin to some great early-'70s soul, including Roberta Flack and the Spinners. The booklet, with a full sessionography and biographical notes on each artist, would be worth 20 bucks on its own. (Bruce Eder, Allmusic)trax Vol 5:
1. Little Egypt - The Coasters 2. Amor - Ben E. King 3. Last Night - The Mar-Keys 4. I'm Blue - The Ikettes 5. You Don't Miss Your Water - William Bell 6. I Found A Love - The Falcons 7. Cry To Me - Solomon Burke 8. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) - Ben E. King 9. Green Onions - Booker T. & The MG's 10. Up On The Roof - The Drifters 11. See See Rider - LaVern Baker 12. I (Who Have Nothing) - Ben E. King 13. If You Need Me - Solomon Burke 14. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding 15. Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis 16. On Broadway - The Drifters 17. Just One Look - Doris Troy 18. Mashed Potatoes - Nat Kendricks & The Swans 19. Land Of A 1000 Dances - Chris Kenner 20. Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas 21. Release Me - Esther Phillips 22. Mercy, Mercy - Don Covay 23. Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters 24. And I Love Him - Esther Phillips 25. Hold What You've Got - Joe Tex 26. Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding 27. Baby, I'm Yours - Barbara Lewistrax Vol 6:

1. Land Of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett 2. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd 3. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding 4. Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett 5. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave 6. Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley 7. Soul Man - Sam & Dave 8. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - Aretha Franklin 9. Do Right Woman - Do Right Man - Aretha Franklin 10. Show Me - Joe Tex 11. Funky Broadway - Wilson Pickett 12. Respect - Aretha Franklin 13. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin 14. Baby I Love You - Aretha Franklin 15. Skinny Legs And All - Joe Tex 16. Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin 17. I'm In Love - Wilson Pickett 18. Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis 19. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding 20. Tighten Up - Archie Bell & The Drells 21. Slip Away - Clarence Carter 22. Think - Aretha Franklin 23. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack 24. Take A Letter, Maria - R.B. Greaves 25. Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton

...served by Gyro1966...