VA – Goldwax Records: Memphis Soul Rarities 1964-1969 – Kent UK 7×7″ Box

The renowned Memphis 60s soul label Goldwax was a medium-sized operation with just short of a hundred releases. Though it ran a tight ship, inevitably some of their recordings fell by the wayside.

The label is revered by fans of the classic age of soul music around the world. In the late 70s the Japanese Vivid Sound label contacted Goldwax owner, Quinton Claunch and accessed his tapes. They found a dozen excellent, previously unheard, tracks and issued them, along with Goldwax favourites on a short series of LPs in 1977. In 2000 Ace Records purchased the label from Claunch and his partners gaining full ownership of the tapes, which lead to more musical discoveries.

Releases on Ace and Kent over the past twenty plus years have seen most of these recordings featured, primarily on CD – the medium of the early years of the 21st century. More recently the renewed demand for vinyl has led to new 12” compilations and to augment those Ace have come up with a neat, boxed collection of seven singles that will appeal to the soul collectors who live for this format.

Of the 14 tracks, only three have been singles before – the sublime harmony vocals of the Vel-Tones and the Lyrics with their mid-60s Goldwax releases and Barbara Perry’s R&B explosion ‘A Man Is A Mean Thing’ first released on Kent but now long gone and craved for.

Goldwax’s star James Carr kicks us off with ‘Your Love Made A U-Turn’, a funk groove from 1969. This would surely have prolonged his and the label’s lifespans had it been issued at the time. The flip however would have needed to be an underground hit; it is doubtful that any radio station would have entertained such smutty lyrics in the 60s.

Connoisseurs of the mid-60s Detroit soul sound will be thrilled to have the Ovations ‘I Miss You’ on a 45 at last; it really has all the ingredients of a Motor City classic. ‘What Did I Do Wrong’ makes a great stomping B side – complete with virtuoso harmonica.

The label was known for its gritty southern sound, so ‘To Me It’s Storming’ is an atypical, softly melodic, mid-tempo song sung by, but oddly not penned by, George Jackson and Dan Greer. George does get to sing his own, tougher, composition ‘Let The Best Man Win’ on the flip.

Apart from her aforementioned New Breed classic, Barbara Perry’s 45 features the charming, country-soul beat ballad ‘Welcome Home Baby’, which is a real grower.

There’s one exclusive debutant with Willie Walker’s original take on the Homer Banks written ‘Lucky Loser’. This version is in the classic Goldwax southern sound and groove, recorded two years before his funked-up version was released on Chess. James Carr’s rendition of this song was recorded at the same session but did not have the splendid brass section Willie’s boasts. The flip is a southern rave-up from Chicagoan Lee “Shot” Williams who regularly visited Memphis and was given a two-song contract and recording session which didn’t earn a release until Ace Records belatedly found the tape.

The Lyrics/Vel-Tones original releases make the our sixth disc.

The “ender” is a dramatic big city-style ballad from Phillip & The Faithfuls, which was clearly inspired by the Righteous Brothers. It is coupled with a beguiling oddity from an unknown artist. ‘It’s Really Alright’ is as catchy as they come and despite its limited orchestration makes a wonderful 45 and a mystery to be solved.

tracklist:

Single 1
A01 James Carr – Your Love Made A U-Turn
B01 James Carr – Who’s Been Warming My Oven?

Single 2
C01 The Ovations feat Louis Williams – I Miss You
D01 The Ovations feat Louis Williams – What Did I Do Wrong

Single 3
E01 George & Greer – To Me It’s Storming
F01 George Jackson – Let The Best Man Win

Single 4
G01 Barbara Perry – Welcome Home Baby
H01 Barbara Perry – A Man Is A Mean Thing

Single 5
I01 Willie Walker – A Lucky Loser
J01 Lee “Shot” Williams – You Gotta Have Soul

Single 6
K01 The Lyrics with The Top Notes – So Hard To Get Along
L01 The Vel Tones – I Do

Single 7
M01 Phillip & The Faithfuls – If You Love Her
N01 Unknown Artist – It’s Really Alright