Atlantic Soul: 1959-1975

Various Artists

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Atlantic Soul: 1959-1975 Review

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Way back in 1985, before the CD revolution truly kicked in, Atlantic released the monumental archival project Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-1974, a seven-volume set of double-albums chronicling the label's crucial role in the development of R&B and soul. Over the course of that set (later condensed to eight CDs) it was possible to hear the music develop from blues into a soul -- an impressive feat as a sheer compilation, one that is even more stunning when it's considered that it all came from one label and its subsidiaries. Atlantic Rhythm & Blues did the job so well that the 2007s set Atlantic Soul: 1959-1975 can't help but pale a little in comparison, as it lacks both the scope and historical heft of its predecessor. Then again, Atlantic Soul doesn't try to supplant Atlantic Rhythm & Blues -- as produced and compiled by Billy Vera, it's intended as a supplement, a way to expand upon the story, fill in a few holes, explore hidden byways left behind by the first set. It's for collectors and fanatics, which should be evident by the very fact that it's released as a limited edition on Rhino Handmade, not a full-fledged release from the boutique imprint's parent label. That very audience should find Atlantic Soul enormously satisfying, although they may still have a few quibbles with some of the details. Some might find the opening triptych from Ray Charles, LaVern Baker & Jimmy Ricks, and Ben E. King to be a shade too heavy on strings, jazz and big bands -- music that sets the stage for '60s soul, yet not quite belonging to it -- some might find this too heavy on covers (albeit good, interesting ones) of pop hits by soul bands, but most will likely wonder why such staples as Otis' "Hard to Handle" and Aretha's "I Say a Little Prayer," King Floyd's "Groove Me," and the Persuaders' "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" are here, as they don't quite fit among the obscure gems that comprise the heart of this set. Such complaints are valid but they're hard to level against a set that offers so much wonderful music, so much of it unfamiliar even to dedicated soul fans. Of course, there are familiar names here -- the Isley Brothers, Don Covay, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, Solomon Burke, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles all pop up, often repeatedly -- but Vera picks some of the best unheard sides, pairs them with them cult classics (Mack Rice, Willie Tee, Tommy Hunt, James Carr, Howard Tate), plus some complete unknowns (The Valentinos, C & the Shells, the Ohio Untouchables) and has the generosity to rightly bring in Hall & Oates' "She's Gone" as one of the great soul singles of the '70s. It all adds up to a thoroughly entertaining, enlightening set that may not be as essential to a wide audience as Atlantic Rhythm & Blues, but for anybody who's mesmorized that set, this is a welcome belated sequel.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Ray Charles 02:38 SpotifyAmazon
2 LaVern Baker / Jimmy Ricks 02:19 SpotifyAmazon
3 Ben E. King 02:18 SpotifyAmazon
4 The Isley Brothers 02:10 SpotifyAmazon
5 The Ikettes 02:32 SpotifyAmazon
6 Jimmy Ricks & The Ravens 02:19 SpotifyAmazon
7 The Falcons 02:38 SpotifyAmazon
8 Solomon Burke 01:58 SpotifyAmazon
9 Bettye LaVette 02:43 SpotifyAmazon
10 The Falcons 02:16 SpotifyAmazon
11 Doris Payne 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
12
Ohio Untouchables 02:26 SpotifyAmazon
13 Nat Kendrick & The Swans 01:47 SpotifyAmazon
14 Solomon Burke 03:22 SpotifyAmazon
15 The Vibrations 02:54 SpotifyAmazon
16 Ohio Untouchables 02:33 SpotifyAmazon
17 Esther Phillips 02:25 SpotifyAmazon
18 Sir Mack Rice 02:13 SpotifyAmazon
19 Wilson Pickett 02:19 SpotifyAmazon
20 Carla Thomas 02:58 SpotifyAmazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Don Covay 03:24 SpotifyAmazon
2
Jo Ann & Troy 02:41 SpotifyAmazon
3 Tami Lynn 02:50 SpotifyAmazon
4 Esther Phillips 02:27 SpotifyAmazon
5 Tommy Hunt 02:57 SpotifyAmazon
6 Willie Tee 02:44 SpotifyAmazon
7 The Coasters 02:58 SpotifyAmazon
8 Esther Phillips 02:21 SpotifyAmazon
9 The Isley Brothers 03:07 SpotifyAmazon
10 Patti Labelle & the Bluebelles 02:13 SpotifyAmazon
11 Mary Wells 02:12 SpotifyAmazon
12 Don Covay 02:30 SpotifyAmazon
13 Patti Labelle & the Bluebelles 02:55 SpotifyAmazon
14 Ben E. King 02:24 SpotifyAmazon
15 Don Covay & the Goodtimers 02:12 SpotifyAmazon
16 Barbara Lewis 02:21 SpotifyAmazon
17 Soul Brothers Six 02:45 SpotifyAmazon
18 The Sweet Inspirations 02:50 SpotifyAmazon
19 Billy Vera & Judy Clay / Judy Clay / Billy Vera 03:04 SpotifyAmazon
20
Jimmy Hughes 02:15 SpotifyAmazon
21 Aretha Franklin 04:17 SpotifyAmazon

Track Listing - Disc 3

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds 02:52 SpotifyAmazon
2 Clarence Carter 02:17 SpotifyAmazon
3
Soul Brothers Six 03:02 SpotifyAmazon
4 Alvin Robinson 02:22 SpotifyAmazon
5
Wilson Pickett 02:24 SpotifyAmazon
6 Solomon Burke 03:00 SpotifyAmazon
7
Wilson Pickett 03:10 SpotifyAmazon
8
Aretha Franklin 03:33 SpotifyAmazon
9 Otis Redding 02:21 SpotifyAmazon
10 Aretha Franklin 02:45 SpotifyAmazon
11 Clarence Carter 02:25 SpotifyAmazon
12 Sam & Dave 02:30 SpotifyAmazon
13 The Dynamics 03:18 SpotifyAmazon
14
C & The Shells 03:02 SpotifyAmazon
15 The Sweet Inspirations 02:29 SpotifyAmazon
16 Percy Sledge 03:55 SpotifyAmazon
17
Baby Washington 02:54 SpotifyAmazon
18 Judy Clay / Billy Vera 03:04 SpotifyAmazon
19
Walter Jackson 04:09 SpotifyAmazon
20 Judy Clay 02:38 SpotifyAmazon
21 Baby Washington 02:40 SpotifyAmazon

Track Listing - Disc 4

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Judy Clay 02:27 SpotifyAmazon
2 Baby Washington 03:11 SpotifyAmazon
3 The Sweet Inspirations 02:22 SpotifyAmazon
4 Interdenominational Youth Choir of Washington D.C. & Maryland 05:01 SpotifyAmazon
5 The Sweet Inspirations 03:31 SpotifyAmazon
6 Jackie Moore 03:28 SpotifyAmazon
7 King Floyd 02:55 SpotifyAmazon
8 Garland Green 03:29 SpotifyAmazon
9 James Carr 02:59 SpotifyAmazon
10 The Persuaders 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
11 Donny Hathaway 05:29 SpotifyAmazon
12
Howard Tate 02:41 SpotifyAmazon
13 Bettye Swann 03:01 SpotifyAmazon
14
Howard Tate 03:14 SpotifyAmazon
15 Donny Hathaway 06:23 SpotifyAmazon
16 The Spinners 03:49 SpotifyAmazon
17
The Valentinos 03:58 SpotifyAmazon
18 The Persuaders 03:32 SpotifyAmazon
19 Daryl Hall & John Oates 03:28 SpotifyAmazon
20 The Trammps 02:57 SpotifyAmazon
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