Stax Greatest Hits
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Most of the tracks on this CD are certainly well known, but I'm not sure it is deserving of the title 'Greatest Hits'. No Otis Redding, no Sam and Dave, no Carla Thomas and only a single offering from Isaac Hayes. This anomaly may be explained by the fact it is a Japanese Import and it may well be that the tunes which made it big over there are different from those in the west. In any event I'm not complaining because I've got the above tracks a dozen times already. 'Private Number', 'I've Been Lonely For So Long', 'Mr Big Stuff', 'Who's Making Love' are all beautifully crafted, but there is a danger that they may steal the limelight from some equally excellent, but lesser known tracks. 'In the Rain' by the Dramatics is a very atmospheric ballad that I haven't heard before and for me is one of the best. 'Hear Say' is also a wonderful offering about a much maligned husband suffering at the hands of a nagging wife. A song about a woman who spends her time re-gurgitating mindless tittle-tattle has the potential to be funny, but the soul children give it a tragic interpretation. Any man who has suffered at the hands of a nagging spouse (not that I have of course) will sympathise. As a great admirer of Johnnie Taylor I was looking forward to the track 'I Could Never be President', fully expecting some social or political comment. Unfortunately Johnnie would rather use the power to get into some woman's knickers. For me this was a good tune but with disappointing content. Personal favourites on this compilation are the classic 'Woman to Woman' by Shirley Brown and Little Milton's 'That's What Love Will Make You Do'. The worst was 'Dedicated to the One I Love' by the Temprees, a slow ballad in the Delphonics tradition. It was given a close run however by 'The Funky Chicken'. If ever there was ammunition for critics to pour scorn on soul then this is it. Track Listing In The Rain - The Dramatics I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers Who's Making Love - Johnnie Taylor Do The Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas Hear Say - The Soul Children Dedicated To The One I Love - The Temprees I Could Never Be President - Johnnie Taylor Woman To Woman - Shirley Brown Good Woman Turning Bad - Hot Sauce Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers I've Been Lonely For So Long - Fredrick Knight Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes Mr Big Stuff - Jean Knight Private Number - Judy Clay & William Bell So I Can Love You - The Emotions Starting All Over Again - Mel & Tim That's What Love Will Make You Do - Little Milton Whatcha See is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics |
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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