5 comments about Outlaws.

1. of this one back in the mid 70's. Every time i got in my car, into the old 8 track it would go. I also had it on vinyl, and now on cd. This is a fine debut album for a very talented group of musicians. "There Goes Another Love Song" was the original hit from this disc. Other good tunes here--"Song In the Breeze", "Song For You", "Knoxville Girl" and "It Follows From Your Heart".The signature song of this band is of course the great "Green Grass and High Tides"--the Outlaws "Freebird" as it were. I saw these guys as the opening act for Skynyrd back in '75 or '76(can't remember exactly--too many brain cells ago)and they put on a hell of a show, and then at the end of Skynyrd's set, they came out again and they all jammed out to "T For Texas". Classic. One of the finest acts to come out of the Southern Rock movement, without a doubt.



2. One of the best Outlaws CDs if not THE best. Ranks in all time top ten albums of all time in my opinion.



3. this, without a shadow of a doubt, is not only the outlaws best album by a long way ,but probably the best "southern rock" album ever,eclipsing my other favourites skynyrd---just.they had the right mix of country and rock n roll on this- their first release,thanks to henry pauls songwriting and the brilliant guitars of hughie and the sadly missed billy jones its still so powerful 31 years later --im listening to it as i write this review-- shame i never got to see them over here in the uk. lets hope the outlaws 2006 band at least spawns a dvd



4. I had been a fan of the Outlaws since this album was released in 1975 but it wasn't until I saw them in concert at the St. Petersburg Bayfront Center on New Years eve in 1977-8 (I still have the ticket stub) that I became rabid. They never received the same airplay that Lynyrd Skynrd and Marshall Tucker enjoyed except perhaps here in the Tampa Bay area. This was truly a shame as this is quite simply the some of the best music of the genre. The vocal harmonies comparison to the Eagles is inevitable but this too, is not a logical comparison. The music is just too different to compare.
   
   From the opening licks on There Goes Another Love Song until the last chords of GG&HT Forever, the beat is non-stop and the guitar playing is quite simply, and there's no other way to put it, AWESOME. Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones (RIP), and Henry Paul have a way of making you pull out your air guitar and jamming along side them, or wishing you actually knew how to play. The softer sounds of It Follows From Your Heart and Song in the Breeze compliment the harder edge signature songs and no one is immune from toe tapping to Waterhole and Knoxville Girl. I have listened to this album as much or more than any other in my significant collection and I never tire of it. If you've never heard the music, listen to the Amazon clips but they certainly don't do the music justice.
   
   If you only buy one Outlaws album, this should be it.



5. Having just passed my 51st birthday, as a present to myself I downloaded some Marshall Tucker music. Noticing the "Related Music" sidebar, there I saw "Outlaws". In your best Valley Girl voice can you say "Oh muh Gawd"! I bought this album when it first hit the racks and wore the grooves off of it. It's been in my closet for years with the rest of my LPs after I decommissioned my turntable. I immediately downloaded my favorite tunes, burned them to a CD and have been in hog heaven since. I practically blew out my speakers playing GG&HT. What a masterpiece. Wow, talk about bringing back some good old memories. What an album, what a group. Long live Southern Rock and long live the "Outlaws"!

5 comments about Stand Back: The Anthology.

1. I never "studied" the Allmans. You know, like Goober studied Cary Grant. But after attending one of their concerts recently, I decided to buy this CD. It is good.



2. If you're looking for an introduction to the group, start here! Two discs, and unlike a certain OTHER compilation one isn't a straight-up reissue of Enlightened Rogues (though you get close to a straight-up reissue of the debut: that would've been cool if they threw on Every Hungry Woman and did that, since they were quite close). This collects all the group's big hits and radio staples: Dreams, Whippin' Post, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (the live version, too!), Midnight Rider, Revival, Statesboro Blues, One Way Out, Ain't Wastin' Time No More, Melissa, Blue Sky, Little Martha, Wasted Words, Ramblin' Man, Southbound, Jessica (though unfortunately it's the single edit, not the essential full version) and Crazy Love; mixes in lesser known fan favorites like It's Not My Cross to Bear, Stand Back, Come and Go Blues (well I'm a fan and it's one of my favorites, at least), and mixes in a few of their comeback hits (Seven Turns, Good Clean Fun, End of the Line, No One to Run With, High Cost of Low Livin'). That's really the only area this album needed improvement in. I mean, who needs the Arista songs? (Hell and High Water and Never Knew How Much I Needed You, that is). I'd rather hear Get On With Your Life, Back Where It All Begins, True Gravity or Old Before My Time (though I think this came out a year before Hittin' the Note, which explains the sinlge edit of High Cost of Low Livin'). Still, Stand Back is a perfect premeire for the Brothers, even if it misses a couple good songs here and there, mostly from Idlewild South (Don't Keep Me Wonderin', Please Call Home), wouldn't that just defeat the purpose of buying the album?
   I would like to lament the lack of the Fillmore East Stormy Monday, though. Even pathetic, budget-priced compilations such as Legendary Hits and Essential (AKA half partially essential, half Enlightened Rogues) find room for it.



3. A very nice gathering of Allman Brothers' songs with their timeless Southern rock/blues....for those who are die hard Allman Brothers fans...and even for those who aren't....you will simply LOVE this CD....a huge "thumbs up"



4. This 2 disc comp is an excellent way to listen to a very talented band. From early classics like "Statesboro Blues", "Melissa", "Jessica" and "Rambling Man" to ther newer material like "Seven Turns", "End of the Line" and "No One to Run With anymore". It's all good. They also have a 2-disc set called GOLD that focuses primarily on their seventies output, so if you prefer that to their later stuff then check that out too. Two thumbs up!



5. I love this Allman Brother's compilation, it's got so many great, essential songs from their career, plus excellent linear notes! I think the Allman Brothers were underrated, as part of rock history and this anthology gives them the credit they so rightfully deserve. It's the definitive Allman Brothers and has excellent sound. You won't be disappointed!

5 comments about Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970.

1. excellent live album. ranks a close second to fillmore east, mountain jam on the second disk really smokes. actually like it better than the fillmore version.



2. A no brainer. If you like the Allmans, buy this disc. You won't be sorry.



3. Had heard portions of a far lower quality version many years ago (and even that sounded pretty intense). This release is the BEST of the early ABB live recordings...and yes I've heard Ludlow Garage (much overated).
   I particularly enjoyed the 5th's set, but both are great examples of ABB completely at home in their element. You can't help but rock out to the entire recording - play it loud on a good system and invite some friends over for a cold one.
   The sound quality is excellent and the recording captures the band in their absolute hard-driving best. If you consider yourself a lovero of American blues, rock and roll or just plain good music this is a must-have recording. A collection of ABB is certainly incomplete without it.



4. I went to this festival. The Allman Brothers were smokin' - as you might have guessed. Then, so was everyone else. Whipping Post was like a nuclear bomb pressure wave in the face.
   
   Think I'll get this....fun for me - and my six year old son. He rocks hard.



5. EXISTEN MUCHAS COMPILACIONES DE LOS ALLMAN, GRABACIONES EN VIVO, RECITALES POR AQUI, POR ALLA....REPRESENTANDO UN CUERPO DE TRABAJO QUE SE BASA EN NO MAS DE 10 CANCIONES PRINCIPALES.....SI....PARA CUALQUIER OTRA BANDA PODRIA SONAR A REITERATIVO, CARENCIA DE IDEAS O HOLGAZANERIA..CREANME..CON ESTA BANDA NO!!!!!!!! PODRAN ESTAR LAS CANCIONES DE SIEMPRE, PERO EL PODER DE IMPROVISACION, LA LIBERTAD Y LA FIEREZA, LA ORIGINALIDAD Y EL DESPARPAJO DE ESTOS MUSICOS ATRAVIESAN LA MONOTONIA, ILUMINANDO NUEVOS CAMINOS CADA VEZ QUE ESE MARAVILLOSO SLIDE DESPERTABA.....ESTA EDICION REPRESENTA ESO..QUIEN NO ESCUCHO YA LAS CANCIONES AQUI CAPTURADAS?...PERO REALMENTE AQUI SUENAN FRESCAS,VIVAS, HUMEDAS Y LATEN, LATEN MAS FUERTE EN CADA ESCUCHA.... CREANME POR FAVOR, ESTO SOLO PASA CON LOS ALLMAN BROTHERS!

5 comments about The Best of Atlanta Rhythm Section.

1. Got this ARS compilation back in 1991... It still ROCKS HARD for me!
   
   Almost all of the greatest hits of this (WHY?) underrated but excellent band are here... The beautiful mellow hits "Imaginary Lover" and "Do It Or Die", a refreshing cover version of "Spooky", also "So Into You" (what a song to be good, dude!) and an excellent tune, perhaps one of ARS's best: "I'm Not Gonna Let Them Bother Me Tonight".
   
   This CD is surely a must-have for any serious American Rock collector. Get it if you don't have it!



2. A spinoff of the old ClassicsIV with Dennis Yost. I was thrilled to see it was still available as an album. This group made some of the best sounds of the late 70's and early 80's.



3. I bought this cd for a few well known tracks, but the lesser known and even unknown tracks were a very pleasant surprise. I would recommend this cd to anyone who likes good sounding 70' tunes.



4. Other reviewers talk about lone hits for ARS so that must make me an anomaly. I never owned an ARS album growing up but I know and jam (in my head) to just about every song on this CD as most of them could be heard on radio stations through out the south back in the day. ARS has a jazzy feel that is still Southern Rock in its roots. Champagne Jam and Spooky are excellent songs but my favorite has always been "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight". Long title, but excellent song. Their 'hit' is a good song too but they had depth that is worth going after. Their sound holds up even today.



5. This CD offers a mere smattering of what the Atlanta Rythmn Section was all about. It does give you what the casual listener might have heard on the radio at the bands peak of popularity, which to be fair was short lived. But radio play popularity doesn't matter when it comes to bands like this. ARS, like many 70s bands, and particularly southern rock types, weren't popular because of their radio hits. Their appeal to those who first heard their crossover hits on the radio was the cherry on the sundae. What made them great were solid, beginning to end CDs like their first 2 breakthroughs- "A Rock and Roll Alternative," and "Champagne Jam," both of which are inadequately represented here, albeit not unfairly represented. After all, this is a "Greatest Hits" collection. But if you want to get a truer, more representive measure of what made this band great and got them radio play in the first place, I say skip this CD and buy the 2 aforementioned CDs, which would have necessities like, "Hitchhikers Hero, Outside Women Blues, Everybody Gotta Go Sometime, Don't Miss the Message, Evil Eve," and "Large Time," just to name a mere few. To get to this CD, it does take the most popular tracks from those CDs, but the songs selected from those and subsequent CDs to follow are disproportionate. Add to that there are a few songs on this CD that don't even belong there, but are there merely because of an apparent need to put something on the CD from the entire span of the bands existence, even though their latter CDs were a shadow of their best two. If memory serves, the band in its latter stages was also a mere shadow of their best, early period as well. But to be fair, of all the ARS "hits" collections this one is probably more complete than the others, which isn't saying much. This group deserves an anthology. Lesser bands have that much. I'm not going to say they're deserved of a box set. As much as I loved this band, the breadth of their musical lifespan isn't worthy of that much. But if lesser bands- take your pick: the hair bands of the 80s, the few hit wonders of the 60s and 70s, the bands who got one or two of their songs made popular in dance clubs- are worthy of a minimal of an anthology, surely The Atlanta Rythmn Section can get that much.

5 comments about The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters.

1. If you're an Elvis Presley fan there is no need to go into the details of the music that gave birth to R&R - it's all here. Everything he recorded in the 1950s. If you were born in 1977 or later and only know of The King from hearsay, this box-set is a musical history lesson.
   
   Adding to the lustre of this wonderful collection from RCA Victor is the multi-page book containing numerous photographs, record label reproductions, including the Sun 78 rpm issues, all his LP/EP covers, poster reproductions, a complete 1950s discography, and reams of fascinating liner notes by Peter Guralnick.
   
   There is also an advertisement giving you a compete listing of Elvis videos, along with a sheet of 36 "collectable" stamps depicting his album covers.
   
   All in all, a marvelous collection which truly lives up to the adjective "essential" like no other.



2. This is the definitive early Elvis recordings collection to own as well as begin one's journey when understanding where the roots of rock and roll began and forever changed the face of popular music. It is appropriately titled, ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS. These are master recordings that cover the years 1953-1959, and includes all of his legendary and classic hits, such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel." Once one hears the somewhat haunting opening track, "My Happiness," a song made famous by Connie Francis, and subsequent unreleased tracks within the five CDs that have not been heard before, there is no doubt that Elvis had indeed an immaculate voice where he crossed musical genres and boundaries: blues, country, soul, gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly; undoubtedly he said it all during a Sun recording session, " I don't sound like nobody."
   
   RCA and BMG music exceptionally and lovingly compiled this box set. Besides the five CDs, there also includes a beautifully presented souvenir book that provides a detailed chronology of Elvis's recordings, which includes his Sun and RCA records session dates as well as soundtrack sessions, catalog numbers of each US and UK album release, and most importantly, the book illustrates the excitement of Elvis mania with the display of photographs, singles, album covers, and short anecdotes and reminiscences of various sessions as noted by Peter Guralnick.
   
   ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL box set will leave one breathless. Elvis Presley was one of a kind, and continues to be emulated by fans and new generations alike as they discover and rediscover his music. Indeed, Elvis is still everywhere.



3. Do yourself a favor and order this collection along with the 60's & 70's. There are songs you won't find on other CD's, and hear Elvis as a regular "guy" just makes you love him more.



4. THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS is a four-CD set, with a bonus disc containing alternate studio takes, and a lot of "live" Elvis recordings-- MGM Grand stuff, mostly. Except for the acetate of "That's When Your Heartaches Begins" and the few alternates, DISC 5 is fluff.
   
   The other four CDs however are a treasure trove of the music that defined "The King." From his one-of-a-kind 1953 recording booth acetate of "My Happiness" to the 1958 fast version of "Ain't That Loving You Baby," this set documents Presley's recording career in chronological order and without gaps.
   
   The 102-page long box-sized book includes sessionography, discography, color photos of all LP, EP and 45 picture sleeves, an excellent bio in easy to read print, and lots of other color and B&W photos. Sound quality is excellent. This one gets five stars for the biggest star of all!
   
   TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
   DISC ONE -- 71:22
   DISC TWO -- 70:40
   DISC THREE -- 71:49
   DISC FOUR -- 62:39
   DISC FIVE (Rare And Rockin')-- 61:31



5. The songs are great, but they're not listed on the CD itself-only on the case. It's frustrating to put the disks in a multi-disk changer and not know what songs are on the disk.

5 comments about The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.

1. This cd has some of my favorite Crowes tunes on it. I love sometimes salvation. I love the guitar work on this album.



2. When The Crowes hired guitarist Marc Ford just before this albulm was recorded, they gave him something like 30 songs to learn, but when he showed up for the first day of sessions, lo and behold, he found that Chris and Rich had scrapped all those songs an had rewritten the whole album in two weekends. They proceeded to record the entire deal in eight days, and after some aggrivating attempts at mixing, Chris took the album home and "hot mixed" it in one night.
   
   Four days writing, eight days recording, and one all night mix. THIS is what rock is all about. The finished product is a masterpiece, and all in a fortnight.
   
   Rather than rehashing which songs are which, it is better to point out the fact that this is a heavily themed album. There are stings, thorns, illness and bad luck, but there are also remedies, harmony and salvation. This album cuts to the core of life, where everything can seem to be right, yet still falls apart, and where perspective is maintained and salvation is found. As they quote Bob M, "Think you're in Heaven, but you're livin' in Hell"
   
   When baby bands come out with their sophmore effort, it often falls flat (to put it mildly), but the Crowes were in their finest form on this one, proving that the "Stones Clones" can in fact forge their own way. Although I am a massive fan of the '67-72 Stones, I challange anyone to find Mick singing the blues better than Chris on "Bad Luck, Blue Eyes Goodbye", or injecting more venom than is on "No Speak No Slave". Well, Mick's venom is pretty thick on "Turd On The Run" I'll admit. But I digress...
   
   This gospel tinged diamond of rock and roll has lived up to its name better than any other album in my life. In the last twelve years it has certainly been by best 'companion'.
   Do yourself a favor and get yourself a new best friend with "Harmony". If you have a soul, "My Morning Song" will change your life.
   
   If I could give it six stars, I wouldn't hesitate.



3. For those who love pure rock 'n roll, this album is for them; and for Black Crowes fans. Our cult following understands true rock. We can hear it; why can't you?
   
   This, along with "By Your Side," is their greatest album. "Three Charms and One Snake" comes in second. Their debut album, "Shake Your Money Maker" comes in third (though, of course, when Black Crowes were popular fans would rate this album as number 1, which it is not)."Amorica" comes next, followed by "Lions". The new album "Warpaint" has yet to be placed by me, as I am awaiting it to take hold of me. It is not nearly as heavy as other Crowes' albums.
   
   Likely the best group around today or any past day.
   
   Randy



4. Much is made of the so-called "sophomore slump," even in music. So many bands that burst on the scene with attention-grabbing debut albums seemingly fall on their faces the second time 'round.
   
   The Black Crowes, however, gave us one of the best rock n' roll albums of all time with in their second offering, The Southern Harmon & Musical Companion. I will say it again: it is one of the best rock n' roll albums of all time.
   
   When an album is this good, it isn't really necessary to do a song-by-song breakdown. Just take these words to heart: this is a must-have album for rock n' roll fans. Period.



5. With their second album, THE SOUTHERN HARMONY AND MUSICAL COMPANION, the Black Crowes not only avoid the sophmore jinx, but improve on their stellar debut, SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER. With a hot new guitarist, Marc Ford, replacing the bare-bones Jeff Cease, the band sounds at times to be blending the jam-oriented bluesy country-rock of the Allman Brothers Band and the Outlaws with the ramshackle pub sound of the Faces and other like-minded British bands. This CD is a smorgasbord of rich, spicy guitar tones, raw lead vocals, gospel-influenced female vocal backup, and lyrics that would have been perfectly at home in a Southern Gothic novel of the kind I had to read in school in order to get on the honor roll. This CD is a must-own for anyone who thinks Southern rock's last great moment was the Outlaws' GHOST RIDERS album.

5 comments about The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

1. This debut album sets the tone for the Ozark's next three or four succeeding albums. The down home style blend of mountain music with a rock emphasis is very pleasing to the ear. The Ozarks brought a fresh perspective to the music scene, not really seemin to care if the songs had mass market appeal. Of course this was the early 1970s before music became just another big business concerned only with bottom lines. This music is fun to listen to. Classic rock radio stations still give "If You Want to get to Heaven" some airplay, but that one song does not really define who the Ozarks are (or were as they are mainly retired from the music business now). Those songs with the fiddle or the slow, steady beat are more the Ozark's standards.
   
   If you like this kind of off-beat music then this will be worth your time. If you are more in tune with modern music then this will sound like it came from a completely bygone era. I for one fall into the former catagory and enjoy this album time and again.



2. I think this is representative of OMD's best. I like many types of music and this has always been one of my all time favorites. It has songs that are fun and crazy like Chicken Train, and melodic, reflective tunes like Country Girl and Spaceship Orion. I think this really shows the peak of their vocal harmony and songwriting talents. I actually like every song on this. In my opinion, if you are a first time buyer of OMD music, this is the one to get.



3. I believe this self-titled album was the debut album for the country/bluegrass/folk group. Very mellow and easy to listen to.
   
   The country and bluegrass roots are the primary flavoring in this album with some indications of the southern rock overtones showing through at times ("If You Wanna Get To Heaven").
   
   And who couldn't love "Chicken train"? A pure front-porch fun song.
   
   I guess the real beauty of this album is it's simplicity. Nothing complicated or deep in it's lyrics and meanings. Just simple, pure, and beautiful in presentation and performance.



4. I'm not a huge country music fan, but I gotta say this album (from six talented lads outta Springfield, MO) is some of the sweetest music you'll ever hear.
   
   These fellas write incredible acoustic melodies with really, really interesting lyrics (the other-worldly pondering of "Spaceship Orion" or the contemplative humanity of "Within Without")
   
   Musically?
   Yeah, it rocks ("If You Wanna Get To Heaven"), and the guitar solo on "Colorado Song" has heartfelt sonics like I've heard nowhere else. One of my all-time favorite power ballads (i love the closing harmonies--it's like countrified Brian Wilson).
   
   It's also quirky (one of the few discs I own featuring a jaw's-harp---on "Chicken Train" and its offbeat lyrics: "the laser beam / in my dream / i can't tun it on / i can't turn it off")
   
   
   I even like the country-flavored songs of "Country Girl" and "Standin' On A Rock;" the mandolin on "Road To Glory" and the "revival" feel of "Beauty In The River."
   
   This is pure Americana. It crosses from country to pop to rock and every possible hybrid beyond and in between. These gentlemen are OUTSTANDING songwriters and musicians. With GREAT harmonies, too!
   
   Thank you, OMD, for more than 30 years of pure pleasure.



5. I bought this CD for my father for Christmas, and found that I love it just as much as he does. It's really just great music--not strictly rock, but not country, and not quite Southern rock. The tracks are all well produced, particularly "Colorado Song." And of course, "If You Want to Get to Heaven (You Got to Raise a Little Hell)" is tons of fun. The entire album is one of my favorites--a really solid debut from a really talented group.

5 comments about Carolina Dreams: Tour 77.

1. Been a fan of southern rock back to my High School days. 1969-73 They just don't make them like they used to. This is a must own if you like southern rock. Plus get the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam. Both are 5 stars.



2. If you are a long time Tucker fan I recommend buying this for nostalgia if nothing else. Seeing the original members play together is a treat for any fan even if the sound and video quality aren't the best.......and they're not. The cd is an entirely different matter. Shout factory should have left well enough alone. The sound quality on these cds is down right pathetic. Stick to Capricorn recordings if you want really listenable recordings of MTB music.



3. I am a Marshall Tucker Band fan. I bought most of their albums when they were introduced and have purchased much duplicate music on CD's in recent years. I gave this concert disk set 2 stars because of the poor audio quality. Unfortunately the audio quality of the Carolina Dreams Tour '77 disk set is significantly less than that of the audio CD's containing the band's studio recordings from that era. I own a nice audio system and I appreciate good quality sound. If you have a similar opinion regarding audio quality, you will be disappointed with the disk set.



4. Very poor video reproduction. Too dark, even grainy. Music pretty fair except for "24 Hours at a Time", which has no live footage, just a slide show. A much better DVD for my money is MTV's production "Live from the Garden State" recorded in New Jersey in 1980.



5. Stompin Room Only has much better CD sound quality than this one, as does the original live classic Where We All Belong remaster. The DVD is ok but I can't believe they don't have better tapes in the vaults. This may be more for the MTB completist only.

5 comments about Lady Soul.

1. The unedited version of "Chain of Fools" with the haunting blues opening makes this CD worth buying by itself. But wait, there's more. The hits fit well together with the lesser known songs; this CD may end up in my top ten of all time (I may have to drop a Beatles album because of it).



2. A lot of people rank this as Aretha's best album, or at least in her top three. I don't know about that myself; there is a lot of filler on this album, mostly mediocre to bad covers ("Groovin'", which never was that good a song in the first place - to generalize once again, covers of bad songs will probably turn out just as bad, if not worse; "Niki Hoeky" is, um... hokey; "People Get Ready" is turned from moving to schlocky - try to find the Impressions' original instead; no amount of Aretha's belting can redeem "Come Back Baby"). The rest is far better, thank Gitchie Mondou. You get a classic unbridled soul shouter known as "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" - the single song I use to point out why Aretha is the greatest soul singer ever; "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" and "Ain't No Way" are tender, moving ballads; "Chain of Fools" is my favorite Aretha Franklin song, a cup of proto-funk that would make James Brown proud. Speaking of James Brown, she also does a very good cover of his popular "Money Won't Change You". The most underrated of the batch is the slow, gritty blues "Good to Me as I Am to You", with a solid guitar riff from Eric Clapton. It was also written solely by Franklin, proving she could be quite a good songwriter herself: she also co-wrote "Since You've Been Gone" with Teddy White and "Ain't No Way" with her sister Carolyn. If you're addicted to Aretha, this will satisfy.



3. After releasing the mamouth I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You/Including Respect with the big hit "Respect" Aretha was crowned "The Queen Of Soul" and for good reason cause she was an extra-ordinary performer with a magnificient voice. The same year as the success, she came out with another album called Aretha Arrives but it wasn't considered a classic and perhaps she should have waited before releasing another album so soon after. One year after in 1968 however came the worthy successor to "I Never Loved a Man", and it couldn't been better titled then "Lady Soul". This album is simular in many ways and mostly mentioned in the same lines, as a classic 60's soul album with songs about love, faith and hope. Joe South, Bobby Womack, King Floyd and Eric Clapon contributed on diffrent instruments and Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy sang backround vocals. By that you can really understand that Aretha's albums with Atlantic were a project they always put alot of work in, apart from her previous Colombia recordings.
   
   On "Lady Soul" there is once again a variation of newly composed songs and famous covers, in todays standards you could say that she covered too much but back in the day most albums were compiled like this. But what differs Aretha from other singers is that she always made the songs she sings her own and that is typical for a musicial prodigy like I would call her. 3 singles were relased from this album and all made the top 10, while the #2 single "Chain of Fools" became a synonym for Aretha and another female anthem of a woman who's taking alot of pain from her man who's being unfaithful, but in the last verse she confess "One of these mornings the chain is gonna break/ But up until then, yeah, I'm gonna take all I can take", the most famous part of this classic is probably the "chain chain chain" chant that is incredibly catchy. "Money Won't Change You" was a James Brown song and it's much more funky then the usual song here, but rather short. "People Get Ready" was a Curtis Mayfield composed classic from the time with the Impressions about the civil right movement but Artetha still manage to make a good version of it (just like she did on Sam Cooke's (A Change Is Gonna Come), even if it's slightly diffrent then the original in a slower pace. This song is wonderful and the lyrics in the first verse goes like "There's a train a-coming/ You don't need no baggage/ You just get on board/ All you need is faith/ To hear the diesels humming/ Don't need no ticket/ You just thank the Lord". Another brassy song in "Niki Hoeky" where a gifted backround band and gospel choir is helping her out. "(You Make Me Feel like) a Natural Woman" is perhaps the best song of this album together with "Chain of Fools", a typical Aretha classic with strong message of love and self esteem where she find strenght after being loved and respected from a great gentleman. Carole King wrote it with her partner Gerry Goffin, she later released it herself on her album Tapestry a few years later.
   
   "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" reached the #5 on the pop charts and it was actually written by her and her husband Ted White. It's most funky and emotional with backround choirs and horns setting the tone. Bit short though. Aretha continued composing with "Good to Me As I Am to You" a slow ballad with stripped down bluesy arrangements. Next up is the cover of Ray Charles's "Come Back Baby" which is another worhhwile addition to a great album. "Groovin" is a cover of the Young Rascals immense hit from 1967, I actually prefer their original version cause it had better arrangements. "Ain't No Way" was written by Aretha's sister Carolyn and it is the closer. This is a slow love ballad, simular message like "Chain of Fools".
   
   Overall, Another album another classic by one of our greatest female singers to date. This album is a needed brickstone in a devoted music fan's collection. For furhter listening, also check her next album Aretha Now which is almost equally strong.



4. It would be difficult to rate the best of Aretha's work, but this one must be considered. Everything fell into place in this beautiful production. "People Get Ready" was made for Aretha, one of the best of all time, in my opinion.



5. Luckily I was able to experience "Lady Soul" in concert before her rise to fame and fortune around 64 when she sang with a combo at the piano in a small club and this was a life-changing experience...a masterful singer from the beginning, this incredible "Lady Soul" collection happens when it all comes together for this peerless legend...a riveting and magnificent collection of great performances, Aretha Franklin really arrived when she laid down the tracks for "Lady Soul"! "Chain Of Fools" is legend while the funky rhythm driver "Money Won't Change You" show that Aretha has no peer...a sublime "People Get Ready" show that the soul legend goes where few venture...a funky workout "Niki Hoeky" makes use of the repeat mode as this version is infectious...Carole King classic "(You Made Me Feel Like)A Natural Woman" helped put Carole King on the musical map with an engrossing classic reading of her amazing song while the soulful original "Since You've Been Gone" is a stunning Aretha original that cooks & so does the awesome blues classic "Good To Me As I Am To You" which features a brilliant Eric Clapton on guitar. A soulful workout of a Ray Charles original, "Come Back Baby" is riveting while Aretha knew how to get inside of a great Rascals tune and "Groovin" is a fine and soulfully satisfying example! A haunting original is saved for last and "Ain't No Way" is a real Aretha Franklin masterpiece that is haunting and mesmerizing. Bonus tracks are welcomed alternate takes and anything from this session is awesome! Bravo Aretha!!!

5 comments about The Very Best of Solomon Burke.

1. The above title was hung on Solomon when he began preaching and broadcasting from his "Solomon's Temple", founded for him by his grandmother in Philadelphia in 1945. He was all of nine years old and would continue with the program until 1955.
   
   After a brief recording career with Apollo in 1954, he quit to become a mortician. But when he returned to music in the early 1960s with Atlantic he did so with a bang, taking Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) to # 7 R&B, # 6 Adult Contemporary (AC), and # 24 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in October 1961 b/w Be Bop Grandma (not here). If, as they say, R&R is a melding of pop, country & R&B, then Soul was Rock's favourite offspring, and if Solomon Burke isn't the father of Soul then I'd sure like to know who is. I mean, who else could have taken a pure Country song and turned into a Soul standard?
   
   And just to show that that was no fluke, he would find the pop/R&B charts 25 more times between then and 1975, adding another six solely on the R&B charts. Here you get 15 of those two-barreled hits plus Soul Meeting [track 16] which made it to # 34 R&B/# 91 Hot 100 in the summer of 1966 under the billing Soul Clan [Solomon, with Arthur Conley, Ben E. King, Joe Tex, and Don Covay].
   
   My, oh, my can this man sing, expressing longing [Just Out Of Reach], pain [Cry To Me], or sorrow [Down In The Valley] with equal aplomb and in a manner which is clearly understood. Solomon Burke war rightfully (and belatedly) inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 2001.
   
   Recommended most strongly.



2. Not only is every song here great, it's also the only place you can get "Soul Meeting" on CD as far as I know. That alone makes the price of admission cheap beyond belief.
   
   Solomon Burke fans should do themselves a huge favor and also pick up his "Nashville" disc.



3. It was exactly what I had hoped for. Not edited.



4. i have a feeling anyone that really is into Burke's music would love this cd. i dont admit to anyone that im not a big fan becuase i get the usual "oh my god what are you talking about solomon burke is amazing." well sorry im only a casual listener at this point and this cd doesnt really do it for me. i bought it for one track "cry to me" and the sound of the CD is much different then the sound that amazon offers as a clip. i can only imagine people that are really into his music loving this as one of their favorites becuase of the true to life sound the album went out of its way to achieve.



5. The 'Bishop of Soul' serves up a service of pure musical salvation here: from the Country number 'Just Out Of Reach' to the classic 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love' (as covered in the movie 'The Blues Brothers'). These tracks have been lovingly restored from the original single recording sessions, with all their raw power, but also with a good sound balance.
   
   This CD pulses with soul: tight brass, great harmonies, and emotive singing by Burke. If you have Otis, Wilson, James Carr, and Aretha in your collection 'The Very Best of Solomon Burke' is a 'must have'.