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King of the Blues Guitar (Mono) (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1923, Albert King was a major influence on both blues and rock guitar players. A Mississippi native, he launched his career in Arkansas and performed all over the Midwest, but the guitarist's best recordings were made for the Memphis-based Stax label and feature backing from house band Booker T. & The M.G.'s. THE KING OF THE BLUES GUITAR compilation rounds up the axeman's best '60s sides for Stax, including the classic BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN album (“Laundromat Blues,” “Crosscut Saw”) and six single sides (like the wonderful talking blues “Cold Feet”). If you don't know the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's work, this is the place to start – all hail the King!
The Definitive Studio Album Collection (Album of the Day)
Otis Redding's music career took off in 1962 when he signed a contract with Stax Records in Memphis; with the legendary Stax house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s behind him, the singer would reign as one of soul music's greatest until his untimely 1967 death. The new Rhino boxed set THE DEFINITIVE STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION gives The Big O a package worthy of his rich musical legacy. The vinyl collection brings together all seven of the iconic soul singer's studio albums, each in packaging that meticulously replicates the original, from 1964's PAIN IN MY HEART to 1968's THE DOCK OF THE BAY. The albums are packed with R&B hits: "Mr. Pitiful," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "These Arms Of Mine," "Respect," "Try A Little Tenderness" and many more. Despite his short career, Redding recorded songs that helped define soul in the Sixties and beyond, and they're all here on THE DEFINITIVE STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION.
Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (Album of the Day)
Otis Redding is so closely identified with “Southern soul” that you might expect to see a picture of the singer next to the definition of the term, so it's fitting that his fifth studio album would be entitled COMPLETE AND UNBELIEVABLE ... THE OTIS REDDING DICTIONARY OF SOUL. Cut in the summer of 1966 at Stax Studios in Memphis, TN, with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, pianist Isaac Hayes and the Memphis Horns, the 12-track collection includes such all-time classics as "Try A Little Tenderness" and "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)." The set peaked at #5 on the U.S. R&B charts, and is rightfully considered one of the best examples of modern soul ever recorded. Today we'll reopen THE OTIS REDDING DICTIONARY OF SOUL in honor of Black Music Month.
Soul Dressing (Album of the Day)
If “Green Onions” notified the world that Booker T. & the M.G.'s were among the country's greatest R&B players, then SOUL DRESSING sealed the deal. The 1965 album, produced by Stax Studios co-founder Jim Stewart, was largely a collection of single sides from the preceding two years, but it's a testament to the Memphis group's talents that it all sounds so consistently soulful. Barring a cover of Don Covay's “Mercy Mercy,” the dozen songs here are all original, highlighted by such favorites as “Tic-Tac-Toe,” “Plum Nellie” and the title track. It may be all instrumental, but the simmering Hammond organ of Booker T. Jones and the stinging guitar of Steve Cropper are as distinctive as any vocalist. For a funky good time, pour on the SOUL DRESSING.
Pain in My Heart (Album of the Day)
Otis Redding's debut, PAIN IN MY HEART, promised great things to come from the Georgia-born performer. The 1964 collection was recorded at Stax in Memphis, with studio co-founder Jim Stewart behind the boards and house band Booker T. & The M.G.'s (augmented by keyboardist Isaac Hayes) behind Redding to provide instrumentation that packed a real punch. About half the album consists of covers, and from “You Send Me” to “Lucille,” Otis proves equally at ease singing simmering ballads and uptempo shouters. Originals including the pulsing “Security” and “These Arms of Mine” (Redding's breakthrough hit) show him to be a gifted songwriter as well, and PAIN IN MY HEART will bring joy to the heart of any '60s R&B fan
Pain in My Heart (Album of the Day)
Otis Redding's debut, PAIN IN MY HEART, promised great things to come from the Georgia-born performer. The 1964 collection was recorded at Stax in Memphis, with studio co-founder Jim Stewart behind the boards and house band Booker T. & The M.G.'s (augmented by keyboardist Isaac Hayes) behind Redding to provide instrumentation that packed a real punch. About half the album consists of covers, and from “You Send Me” to “Lucille,” Otis proves equally at ease singing simmering ballads and uptempo shouters. Originals including the pulsing “Security” and “These Arms of Mine” (Redding's breakthrough single) show him to be a gifted songwriter to boot. Released 55 years ago today, PAIN IN MY HEART will bring joy to the heart of any '60s R&B fan
Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (Album of the Day)
Born Under A Bad Sign (Album of the Day)
Back To Back (Live In Paris) (Album of the Day)
If today one travels to festivals like Coachella or Glastonbury to see multi-act concerts, in decades past those shows came to the fans in the form of package tours. In 1967, preeminent Southern soul label Stax/Volt sent some of its top artists to Europe for a series of concerts, including the one immortalized on BACK TO BACK (LIVE IN PARIS). Cut at that city's Olympic Theatre, the album presents sets by Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Mar-Keys, both crack instrumental outfits renowned as backing bands for R&B royalty as well as hitmakers in their own right (“Green Onions,” “Hip Hug-Her” - both heard here). The 10 songs on BACK TO BACK brim with fiery performances, starting with the insistent grooves of M.G.'s bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, who was born on this day in 1941.
Knock on Wood (Album of the Day)
To “knock on wood” has long been been considered good luck, and it certainly was for Eddie Floyd; the Alabama-born singer-songwriter turned the phrase into a No.1 R&B single that's been covered countless times. While that title track to Eddie's 1967 debut album is the most famous song on the collection, it's far from the only highlight. Cut at Memphis' legendary Stax Recording Studios with house band Booker T. & The MG's and Isaac Hayes providing instrumental support, the set features four more fine Floyd co-writes (including minor hit “Raise Your Hand” and “634-5789,” originally penned for Wilson Pickett) along with sizzling performances of Southern soul favorites. We'll KNOCK ON WOOD again now to wish Eddie Floyd a happy birthday.