5 comments about The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968.

1. More than 30 years after Stax-Volt last published, at last I have my hands on all three volumes of 'The Complete...'. The individual volumes have some great music, not all of which found its way around the world. Hearing great music for the first time long after the label's demise is a mixture of elation tinged with regret. Yet the breadth of the three volumes is astonishing and encompasses a range of talent, unique yet all related through the label (of course) and mostly through the session/backing musicians. If you can, buy all three volumes of this amazing collection and then turn the music up. And see how quickly your smile turns to a broad and happy grin. Enjoy.



2. It's impossible to give this less than 5 stars, this is what music
   is all about, timeless pieces of music, and while listen to this
   I go through memory lane time and time again



3. Along with Motown, Stax was home to the legends of soul. Sure the sets get weaker with volumes 2 and 3 , but how could you own one without the others. Even some of the worst tracks from Stax are 90 % better than what was played on the radio at the time.



4. If you're reading this, you probably don't need me to tell you about how great the music was that came out of Stax records in the 60s. What you probably do want to know is if you should plunk down $100 of your hard-earned money for this box set.
   
   If you're not already a fan of Stax or 60s soul, this probably isn't the best place to start. Check out the 4-disc Stax Story, which includes 3 discs of primo Memphis soul and a disc of killer live tracks. If you're left wanting more, this singles collection is the next step.
   
   Next, you should know that you're not getting nine discs of solid gold. There is some filler, but amazingly little. If you enjoy discovering obscure or hidden nuggets, there's a whole gold mine waiting for you here. During the years covered here, the quality control at Stax seems to have been set at an incredibly high level.
   
   Finally, note the dates in the title. This set ends in 1968, when Stax records dissolved its partnership with Atlantic. This box is released by Atlantic, so it also ends in 1968, although Stax continued releasing music into the mid-70s. This is something that will drive completists crazy, although it's not a deal-breaker, at least in my opinion. Following Otis Redding's death in 1968, the music coming out of Stax gradually became smoother and more orchestrated, so the music collected here is mostly the grittier, hard-grooving Stax. That said, though, this set won't get you the gems that did come out of late period Stax, so if you're looking for classics like the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself" or "I'll Take You There," Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft," or Linda Lydell's "What a Man"--all classic, well known songs--you won't find them here.



5. "Knock On Wood", "Soul Man", "Gee Whiz", "Green Onions,"
   "Last Night", "Hold On I'm Comin'", "Walkin' The Dog" and
   "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." What do all these songs have in common? Sure, they're great soul and rhythm & blues tunes, but something more. What do Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding and Albert King have in common? Rhythm & blues and soul superstars, yes, but that same something is also true. These songs and these artists all recorded for the "little label that could": STAX. In the '60s, Stax became a local R&B music giant in Memphis. The company was founded and ran by Jim Stewart, a country fiddle player and former banker, who was first exposed to R&B when he recorded a local doo-wop group called the Veltones with their song, "Fool In Love." As Rufus Thomas a local disc jockey heard the song, he and daughter Carla cut "Cause I Love You", a great R&B gem for Jim. When the record got out, Atlantic Records heard this fresh new sound and got in on the distribution deal with Stax that would exist as a handshake deal to a documented deal up until May 1968. What also happened during that time? Musical history.
   
   At nine CDs, this set offers the complete history of what made Stax absolutely phenomenal. As you listen all the way
   through, hopefully not all in one sitting since it's quite exhaustive unless you end up loving it that much, you'll notice as you start from disc one the experimental stages at trying to find and develop a distinct sound and progressing towards it. Some of the songs on disc four display it and from there on all the way to disc nine, it's there and ever-driving as can be. This is the ultimate example at what a box set is all about: covering as much material as possible. That doesn't even begin to describe what's presented here; it's too good because it is what it is: complete. There are 244 tracks in all and each CD has 25+ tracks clocking in with 70+ minutes of music on each.
   It's complete all right for it features every A-side released by Stax and the subsidiary Volt along with a few well-known B-sides. That means every Stax or Volt record released by the stars like Rufus Thomas, ("Walkin' The Dog", "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog", "Jump Back", "Sophisticated Sissy", etc.), Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz", "B-A-B-Y", "Stop! Look What You're Doin'", "Pick Up The Pieces", etc.), Otis Redding ("These Arms of Mine", "Mr. Pitiful", "Respect", "Try a Little Tenderness", etc.), Booker T. & the MGs ("Green Onions", "Jelly Bread", "My Sweet Potato", "Hip-Hug Her", etc.), Sam & Dave ("You Don't Know Like I Know", "Hold On! I'm Comin', "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", "Soul Man", etc.), Eddie Floyd ("Things Get Better", "Knock On Wood", "Raise Your Hand", "Big Bird", etc.), William Bell ("You Don't Miss Your Water", "Never Like This Before", "Share What You Got", "Eloise Hang On In There", etc.), Albert King ("Laundromat Blues", "Crosscut Saw", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Cold Feet", etc.) plus so many, many more. So if you know that those artists who were very consistent at Stax, there's pratically a full CD's worth of their songs here spread throughout the nine discs. Whether they were hits or not, everything is here including some unusual numbers that seem to break the normal Stax scheme like Macy Skipper's "Goofin' Off" which is humorous dee-jay kind of track, Cheryl and Pam Johnson's "That's My Guy", which sounds like a show-bizzy, TV commercial kind of tune, Nick Charles' "Sunday Jealous" and "The Three Dogwoods" which sound like soft, dry pop songs of that era,
   and the Del-Rays' "Don't Let Her Be Your Baby" which tries to emulate the Beatles or the Dave Clark Five. This has got everything, so calling all collectors! It comes with a little 80-page book that could be worth about $15 separately so getting this with music is a bargain. The book has liner notes about the artits, the music, some real nice photos of the stars plus a track by track listing including the original catalog number and chart position (for those applicable) for each song.
   
   Is it worth it? Absoultely. Pricey, but worth it. Finding this kind of music is getting rarer and rarer. Especially considering that about less than of these tracks didn't chart at all. Sure, the well-known hits can be found on smaller collections. This is the only collection that I know that has all the other stuff with it. Don't worry about parting with that kind of money. Being a musician and music fan, I can't think of a better investment, and if it's something you really enjoy, that makes it even more worthwhile. Here they are preserved on CD forever.
   
   It's more than music to listen to. It's music you can dance to and groove to. Just listen to the sizzlin' guitars, the deep, pumping bass, the tight drums, the soulfulness of the vocalists and just the whole formula of each song. The sound quality is not good...it's perfect! Though everything is in big fat mono, since these were from the master tapes used on the original 45s (hence "singles" in the name), the sound is crisp and crystal clear. It sounds amazing on a system with adjustable bass output. Just crank that bass up, baby; it's practically what makes R&B. Every song is worth listening to for they help tell the story of Stax. They are all little gems. If a record didn't chart at all or it charted very low, so what? These people made music at leisurely paces and were great improvisers and just wanted to get out there, jam and do their own thing. If it sold and it was a hit, fantastic. If not, well, it was worth a shot. There is a good balance of the fast songs as well as the slow ballads. These are practically the unsung heroes of soul music; absoultely raw, gritty, rock-solid, vital and energetic they were. It was the opposite of Motown, their seemingly unbeatable giant of a competitor that was more slick and stylized in soul music. What's important lies in the musicality of the musicians and singers. Truly, this is what soul music is all about; it tells a story and expresses every human being's innermost and outermost feelings. Musicians can learn so much from this, for everyone involved here shows true musicianship. The thing was to make people appreciate and, yes, make them move to it. You can laugh with it, cry with it, and feel absolutely "soulified." It could make everyone, young and old, black and white, get up and dance and throw their cares away. It didn't matter what they were singing like Rufus Thomas on songs that have silly-sounding titles or lyrics like "Somebody Stole My Dog", or "I Think I Made A Boo Boo", you can just get up and let the driving music move you. You can laugh, but you'll find that you're laughing because it makes you feel good. So, they weren't Dylan or Lennon & McCartney. One listen to this entire set is all it takes, and you're hooked. Give this to a six year old and he or she will be a fan for life. Really, you'll never get tired of this music. The '60s were a time of social change and civil rights awareness. If only this music could have been more well-known and all these songs could have been hits, this would have brought everyone together to dance the day and night away. There's nothing like soul music. What more is there to say except that if you would like to have just one box set for your music collection, you just found a gold mine. That being said, if American music was the equivalent of a jewelry collection, all these songs would be the rare, precious and priceless gems.
   So, to quote from a Mar-Keys' song, "grab this thing" because you'll want to keep it forever. It is thee essential and complete relevance of why Stax was the "little label that could"...and did!

1 comments about The Ultimate Collection.

1. One of the Baddest Musicians Ever. the Brother started Writing&Playing as a Kid&Just enhanced His work. string work over the years were timeless when He had Gene Page working with Him. Barry White knew how to work out a Groove&make it stick. He was very Soulful&Understood finding a balance of speaking His mind&also bringing so many folks together with His Work.strong Production,arrangements&His voice all make this is a Must have collection.

5 comments about King R&B Box Set.

1. You get a lot with this box set, with certain obvious and unavoidable omissions (no JB of course)...
   
   But it seems surprising to me that certain artists are missing from this box set. For one, Joe Tex, who's Right Back To My Arms would be a perfectly respectable addition to the King story told here. AS to whether he was important to the label, it it probably important to include him in the sense that it was there that Joe learned the tough lessons of the music business, worked as a songwriter, had his first recording break, and also there that he wrote Little Willie John's 'Fever', a big hit for King, which he was forced to give away to cover a debt.



2. Read the other reviews....most are right on.

   What I want to add is Syd Nathan's 3 recorded talks are a cool insider look at a company of such musical importance, yet hardly anything is written about the inside workings of the company. Nathan is not a tyrant; he was a tough business man who had more taste than some of the other post-war record company owners. Compared to Lubinsky (Savoy) and Weiss (Old Town) and Blane (Jubilee), this guy was a pussycat!

   Of course, there's almost no James Brown - his sides are not the property of the current King owners.

   As far as one complaint about Joe Tex not on the box, hell, he cut a handful of early medicore sides for King....hardly a part of their history!

   What is missing, though (and this is what the 5th disc should've included) is the early sides by artists who made a splash on other labels (Joe Tex, Syl Johnson, etc.)

   But, ultimately, when you look over the history of King's R&B recordings, most of the really endearing favorites are here and sound great.




3. I'm giving this Box Set 3 stars only as a nod to the fabulous artists who appear here, most of whom never received the recognition they deserve. Some of my favorites include The "5" Royales, Hank Ballard, Little Willie John, and that nasty Wynonie Harris. Fortunately, as another reviewer suggests, you can buy decent CD collections by many of the individual artists presented in this incomplete box set.
   However, 2 stars glaringly missing belong to the late, great Joe Tex, and to the Godfather himself--James Brown--with only 1 (!) song!!
   Where are those spectacular recordings from Joe Tex's King days anyway?? Tunes like 'Get Way Back', 'Pnuemonia', (the seriously rockin')'Right Back in My Arms', Another Woman's Man...It's criminal he's not included here! And James Brown...He personifies the King label!!
   My advice is put together your OWN King collection.
   Buy vinyl. Call Rhino.



4. Rhythm and Blues is some of the toughest music available. This set focuses on the King label. Based out of Cincinnati, King gave artist like James Brown a chance. Hank Ballard also recorded at King records. Work With Me Annie is one of the best songs never played on oldies radio. The booklet is very imformative and the pictures are also nice. Many of the songs on this disc have been forgotten, but thanks to this collection, they just might make it back.



5. A great collection of songs from that infamous label run by Syd Nathan. Beside the scholarly enjoyment you can get out of so many songs in their seminal nature (Train Kept-Rollin, Big Ten-Inch Record, I'm Tore Down, I'll Drown In My Tears, K.C. Loving (aka Kansas City), The Twist, and many many more) the MUSIC is fantastic. Dive in anywhere and enjoy. The only caveat is the booklet is poorly written - - focusing too much on Syd Nathan and giving very incomplete information on the artists themselves - PLUS, there are no songwriting credits! Which is a crime of high order. The only other thing to watch out for is the 4th CD is pretty much tapes of Syd Nathan talking for a half an hour. But otherwise it is a must to own and share.

3 comments about Rounder Records 25th Anniversary.

1. Soundscape of incomparable depth and breadth - miles of music - full of suprises - used it as the soundtrack for my big L party - no one went away dissapointed - listen to it again and again and find some new delight every time - the booklet was missing on my copy but them lovely folks at Rounder sent me one through the post after I told them about it.



2. Rounder Records has done at least four "25th Anniversary" sets, and this box set includes four of the sets. I first discovered the Rounder sets when I bought "Hand-Picked 25 Years of Bluegrass on Rounder Records." I've given that set to several people as an introduction to Bluegrass.
   
   This box set includes the following CDs that are also available on Amazon.
   
   Hills of Home: 25 Years of Folk Music
   Louisiana Spice: 25 Years of Louisiana Music
   Deep Blue: 25 Years of Blues on Rounder Records
   Hand-Picked: 25 Years of Bluegrass on Rounder Records
   
   This set is a good value and a great selection of american music.



3. This is eight CD's (plus bonus if you have what I have) of great American folk/blues/bluegrass/zydeco. Rounder has done it year in and year out better than any. Let them choose the songs. There are many favorites here for me: When God Dips his Pen of Love into my Heart, Never Will Give Up, We Believe in Happy Endings, and I Ain't Broke (But I'm Badly Bent). I heartily recommend this set. Every CD is worth a listen and will contain a treasure. Depending on your taste, several will be listened to whole again and again. Way to go Rounder!!

No comments about The Collection: Piano Man/52nd Street/Kohuept: Live in Leningrad.

3 comments about Masters at Work Part two 1996-2000.

1. MATERS AT WORK: The Tenth Anniversary Collection
   PART ONE: 1990-1995 (4 cd's) `silver box'
   PART TWO: 1996-2000 (4 cd's) `gold box'
   The Definitive Remixes and Original Productions.

   If you love the "Sweet-House" you must have this collection. It's a "PRECIOUS" work. This box is a treasure that I keep in my heart and my ears too. Solid gold. Sober gold and silver finishes for a collection of gems with the stamp of two heavyweights of New York's house scene: Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez and 'Little' Louie Vega, i.e. Masters At Work. Two lusciously presented box sets, which each contain jewels for the enjoyment of modern music lovers. In this exhaustive tenth anniversary recompilation a large part of their work is brought together, both their own compositions and their remixes 'to order'. The first box features their work under the alias Nuyorican Soul, one of the outstanding examples of the fusion of jazz, Latin sounds and House, with classics such as 'The Nervous Track'. With regard to their work as remixers, the list of artists favoured with the MAW touch has no end. Highlights include their reworks for Daft Punk, Chic, Roni Size Reprazent, Karen Ramirez, Ultra Nate, Jerald Daemyon, Tony Touch, Mel B. and many more... Real House, Latin Style, Jazz and other delights. The amazing track "Dancing in Outer space - Atmosfear" it's a great remix and the beautiful "Runaway - Nuyorican Soul feat. India" and "MAW Expensive - Masters At Work" is incredible the most excellent track. This collection (Part One & Part Two) contains the essential house music that makes you relax and dance. Masters At Work are "SOLID GOLD".

   The Masters also deserve to be compared with Larry Levan, the most influential dance music practitioner of the eighties. Vega's four-and-a-half year residency at the Sound Factory Bar provided the dance music underground with a crucial lifeline given that the Shelter was about to close and Body & Soul had yet to open. And in terms of remixing and production, MAW's efforts in the nineties have surpassed those of Levan in the eighties. Like Levan, they have survived the cutthroat climate of the studio for a long ten years. Like Levan, they have moved from the world of remixing to the universe of production. And like Levan, they have revolutionized the way people listen to music, introducing a series of sounds that have become so entrenched in the dance psyche that it's hard to remember that night-world didn't always sound like this.

   Most importantly, 'Little Louie 'Vega and Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez have maintained an elaborate and unswerving eclecticism at the heart of their work. As with Levan, this hybridity has nothing in common with the superficial skimming of multicultural tourists, whose level of engagement begins and ends with the casual flick of a download button. No, MAW's diversity is grounded in a set of serious musical roots, and it has evolved in conjunction with the kaleidoscopic populations of New York's night network. The Loft, The Gallery, The Paradise Garage, The Shelter, The Sound Factory Bar, Body & Soul and Dance Ritual lie at the heart of this practice, and, more than any other remixing and production team, Masters at Work have provided this creative cultural community with a relentlessly varied soundtrack. Kenny and Louie have demonstrated that we can still dance together, even if today's increasingly factional market demands otherwise, and the wonderful music on this compilation embodies that vision. The first ten years have been `extra`MAW'dinary', and we look forward to the next ten with huge anticipation.




2. There are many fine compilations out there that are a pleasure to listen to. But there aren't many that will stand the test of time. This is one that will. This collection testifies to the mystery of ART and artworks whose life-span is determined by the aura of that which has no name. Some call it 'orginality'. Some call it 'authenticity'. Some call it 'a voice'. Whatever. Kenny and Lil Louie must love, I mean LOVE, what they do to a level not matched by others in the business. The collection packaged here is more than a sampler of what-has-been. In their inimitable way, K and L have bent time to bring back that which never left. Who'd have thunk of doing a George Benson to House without any of that trademark Housebeat, nice tho' that is, and still make great Housemuzik? It is the mark of a great artist, made great by the love he has for his medium, to throw in the unexpected and make it sound like it was the most natural thing in the world. (It is only the lesser ones who are obsessed with "experimentation" and end up botching what would have been a passably palatable product.) It is somewhat ironic that the art that is most democratic in form and appeal should be given an aspect of perfection by two artists who are so thoroughly ARISTOCRATIC in taste. Taste is, in the end, everything.



3. For those who hasnt experienced these two puerto ricans.. you are making a big mistake. MAW consists of Little Louie Vega and Kenny"dope"Gonzales. For the house genre, MAW has ment alot, and they have kept The "nostalgic" house alive by remixing pop and other house music to their and our deliberate taste. They have worked with many many artist from the old times like George Benson and the great timbal percussionist Tito puente (R.I.P) and many others. People who has house genre as fave should not miss MAW. theire essential for house! These cd`s delivers pure nostalgic house. By listening to it, it reminds you of the old era of soul music, with new generation music like daft punk, mel-B and Eternal. It also contain lots of music from Little Louie`s own Nyorican Soul project that some of you may have bumped in to. so this is pure house running with rythmic elements of acoustic sound. House lover must fetch this essential reproduction and remixes. Its allready a milestone for my world of music! Its MAW, and its The best house ever remixed! All respect to little louie and Kenny Dope. you take house seriously and make it real!

5 comments about The Sun Records Collection.

1. The Sun Records Collection
   
   All in all, an enjoyable 3 disc set for those who like classic rockabilly, blues, country and early rock and roll. I will say that the remastering is not flawless, and a lot of the hissing, clicks and pops from the old tapes are still there. It adds character to the recording, yes, but it also sounds like ass on a good stereo. However, that is not true of every track and overall the remastered versions are cleaner. The breakdown disc by disc is as follows.
   
   Disc 1 is mostly a blues disc with some spirituals and boogie woogie piano numbers. Notable artists are Howlin Wolf, BB King and Rufus Thomas. Fairly enjoyable if you dig on that sound. The gospel songs really stand out, especially "There's a Man in Jerusalem" by the Southern Jubilee Singers. This a capella song has outstanding harmony and the remastering brings out the bass vocals nicely. Blues highlights are "I'm Gonna Murder My Baby" by Pat Hare mainly because it's a pretty disturbing tune. Also, "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston is a hot song, bridging the gap between blues and early rock and roll.
   
   The second disc kicks off the rock era, with Elvis' first song "That's All Right" starting things right. This disc is from the golden era of Sun, with songs from Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Some highlight tunes are "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" by Malcolm Yelvington, which I like because it is an odd rockabilly tune that reminds me of Screaming Jay Hawkins. Also, "Red Hot" by Billy "The Kid" Emerson is worth a mention because it's a decent little song that is covered by another Sun artist on the 3rd disc, and this version is about 8000% better than the cover by Billy Lee Riley. Other notable songs are Johnny Cash's first hit, "Cry Cry Cry," as well as his additional hits with the Tennessee Two "I Walk The Line" and Folsom Prison Blues." However, the show stopper on this album is the original "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins.
   
   Three starts out with another Sun superstar, Jerry Lee Lewis. Honestly, Jerry owns this disc with 8 tracks out of 26. Notables are his hits "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Breathless" and "Great Balls of Fire," the last being close to a theme song for Jerry. One of the more interesting tracks is the gospel song "Down By The Riverside" as it is performed by the "Million Dollar Quartet" of Carl Perkins, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. There are some interesting articles out there on the irony of that myth. Also interesting is Jerry Lee Lewis' cover of Hank Williams' "You Win Again." Its follows the lines of the original, but has some added vocals and such that make it a rock ballad. It also has the creepiest song in the world, "Right Behind You Baby" by Ray Smith, which is also apparently the first recorded song about stalking a woman.



2. This is Music that wasn't motivated by fame and fortune. This cd collection features your early Elvis Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins,Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Howlin Wolf BB King and many others. It features your first rock song Rocket 88. The songs on the collection would go on to influence bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton as well as many others. I would recommend this collection to a true music fan.



3. This superb Rhino box set collects the best of the enormous treasure trove of music recorded during the heyday of Sam Phillips' Sun Record Studio in Memphis. There is a wealth of material to pick from, but this release by Rhino is by far the finest, most informative, and affordable representation of the Sun legacy released to date. There is little marginal material included here. The story begins with "Rocket 88," believed by many to be the first rock and roll recording, and segues into haunting sides recorded by BB King, Joe Hill Louis, and Howlin' Wolf. The best of Elvis Presley's early Sun sides are here (including "That's Allright, Mama," and "Mystery Train," perhaps the most exciting 2 minutes of music ever waxed), as are the best output of Jerry Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Charlie Rich. The legacy continues into the early 60's with the country-flavored sides of Warren Smith and Billy Lee Riley. An extremely informative, well-researched booklet and discography penned by reknowned expert Colin Escott accompanies this flawless 3-CD survey of the most important record company in the history of recorded music.



4. Elvis hadn't succumbed to Col. Tom Parker and stuck to this material ("That's All Right,'' "Mystery Train''). He wouldn't have made as much money, but he probably would have lived longer and produced more rewarding work.

   Beyond that, this is a wonderful set. Look at the material recorded in a relatively short period in 1954 and 1955 that still lives. From Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison'' and "I Walk the Line"); Carl Perkins ("Blue Suede Shoes'') Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and on and on through Howlin Wolf, B.B. King, et. al. An interesting note in the booklet _ "Blue Suede Shoes'' was No. 2 on the pop and R%B charts, No. 1 in country. That's something that's rarely happened since in a comparmentalized market.

   Interesting. Phillilps and Sun were clearly color blind before their time. So much so that they also produced "Ubangi Blues,'' a blatantly racist track that includes the "n'' word. It didn't offend me as much as it reflected how much society has changed in the last half-century.

   This is worth of for Elvis.
   But it's worth it for the others, too.




5. Great collection of music from many artists who went on to be legends. I am always partial to the early works of people who went on to be great stars - the days before their heads and their producer's bank accounts swelled.

5 comments about Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience.

1. Let me just start by saying this is quite simply the greatest
   compilation ever unleashed on man or beast. This is the most deluxe boxed set I have seen- 6 discs in an 8 track carrying case
   style package. This will take you back to the days of shag carpets,lava lamps and monster size afro hairstyles. Classic 70's Soul is my favorite genre of music and to find such a lovingly compiled set just blew my mind. 136 of the very best cuts of this era including the obvious smash hits like "Cruising","Let's Stay Together", Mr. Big Stuff", I Wanna get Next to You" alongside lesser known or forgotten tracks like "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Golden Touch" by Rose Royce.and "Why can't We Live Together" by Timmy Thomas.The set also comes with a beutiful 76 page booklet packed with photos, track by track commentary and artist bios. Obviously a package like this will set you back a bit financially but the fact that you will never stop playing this for the rest of your life makes it worth every penny.



2. This is a nice collection of some of the best R&B songs of the 70's. My cousin used to always watch "Soul Train" when we were growing up so these songs pleasantly remind me of my childhood and visiting with my beloved grandparents at the holidays.

   The box the discs come in is also cleverly designed to look like it's filled with 8-track tapes. This would make a great gift for anyone who loves 70's soul.




3. I love this cd box set, and I love the way it looks! Rhino has done a good job of capturing the look, sound, and feel of 70's soul music with this attractive six cd collection. I love how they made the outside of the box look like an old 8 track tape rack! And it's great to hear songs like Betcha By Golly Wow, I'll Be There, Rainy Night in Georgia, War, Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time, Family Affair, Let's Stay Together, and so many others once again. I felt like it was 1973 all over again!

   I do have one minor complaint: Over 20 of these songs are on another Rhino Box set that I have called "Have a Nice Decade." I felt a little cheated, that Rhino could have sampled some other songs. Moreover, there were some great soul artists that didn't have songs represented on this collection at all: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and a few others.

   But this is still an excellent collection, and if you love 70's soul music, you might want to splurge and buy it.




4. One of the very best, top of the line soul/r&b collections you could possibly own! Man oh man, do these classic tunes bring back so many fine memories! This type of talent as far as singing & songwriting is sorely lacking in today's music world. Today's youth should try giving this set a listen to hear what real talent was actually like. If you are a major fan of 70s soul/r&b like I am, then this is a MUST-HAVE collection. Very highly recommended.



5. Recommended listening. Sandwiched in time between the Motown of the 60s and the emergence of rap in the 80s is the forgotten cool of 70s soul. I remember these songs from watching Soul Train after American Bandstand and Casey Casem's Top 10, and was delighted with the richness of the sound and song. Makes me almost embarrassed by what I listened to as a teenager in the 80s, it doesn't hold up as well as the songs in this collection.

   Even if you don't like soul, R&B, get it anyway if you can. It will broaden you horizons. Added bonus is the booklet that accompanies the grammy-nominated packaging - you will enjoy every aspect of this set.

1 comments about Red Bird Story.

1. The best thing about hearing label collections such as this is in the discovery of tracks one had not been previously exposed to. A lot of material to digest , especially for those unfamiliar with the label's releases , but what an enjoyable time you will have ! Quantity AND Quality at 33 pennies a track!

No comments about The Look of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection.