![Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 [Box]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002IRS.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg)
Release Date: 15 October, 1991
Audio CD
Tracks
- Lowe Groovin' - Joe Morris
- That Old Black Magic - Tiny Grimes
- Annie Laurie - Tiny Grimes
- Midnight Special - Tiny Grimes
- Applejack - Joe Morris
- Cole Slaw - Frank Culley
- Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee - Stick McGhee
- So Long - Ruth Brown
- I'll Get Along Somehow - Ruth Brown
- Hey Little Girl - Professor Longhair
- Mardi Gras in New Orleans - Professor Longhair
- Tee-Nah-Nah - Harry Van Walls
- Danny Boy - Al Hibbler
- Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere - Joe Morris
- Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown
- One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Stick McGhee
- Don't You Know I Love You - The Clovers
- Shouldn't I Know - The Cardinals
- Chill Is On - Big Joe Turner
- Chains of Love - Big Joe Turner
- Fool, Fool, Fool - The Clovers
- One Mint Julep - The Clovers
- Wheel of Fortune - The Cardinals
- Sweet Sixteen - Big Joe Turner
- 5-10-15 Hours - Ruth Brown
- Gator's Groove - Willis "Gator" Jackson
- Ting-A-Ling - The Clovers
- Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown
- Midnight Hour - Ray Charles
- Beggar for Your Kisses - The Diamonds
- (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown
- Good Lovin' - The Clovers
- Wild, Wild Young Men - Ruth Brown
- Mess Around - Ray Charles
- Honey Hush - Big Joe Turner
- Soul on Fire - LaVern Baker
- Money Honey - The Drifters
- Lovey Dovey - The Clovers
- Such a Night - The Drifters
- Tipitina - Professor Longhair
- White Christmas - The Drifters
- Honey Love - The Drifters
- What' Cha Gonna Do - The Drifters
- Shake, Rattle & Roll - Big Joe Turner
- Sh-Boom - The Chords
- Oh What a Dream - Ruth Brown
- Jam Up - Tommy Ridgley
- After the Lights Go Down Low - Al Hibbler
- Tomorrow Night - LaVern Baker
- Tweedlee Dee - LaVern Baker
- I Got a Woman - Ray Charles
- Greenbacks - Ray Charles
- Door Is Still Open - The Cardinals
- Flip Flop and Fly - Big Joe Turner
- Fool for You - Ray Charles
- This Little Girl of Mine - Ray Charles
- Play It Fair - LaVern Baker
- Adorable - The Drifters
- Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Robins
- Ruby Baby - The Drifters
- In Paradise - The Cookies
- Chicken and the Hawk - Big Joe Turner
- Devil or Angel - The Clovers
- Drown in My Own Tears - Ray Charles
- Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles
- Jim Dandy - LaVern Baker
- Down in Mexico - The Coasters
- Corrine, Corrina - Big Joe Turner
- Treasure of Love - Clyde McPhatter
- Love, Love, Love - The Clovers
- It's Too Late - Chuck Willis
- Lonely Avenue - Ray Charles
- Since I Met You Baby - Ivory Joe Hunter
- Lucky Lips - Ruth Brown
- Without Love (There Is Nothing) - Clyde McPhatter
- Fools Fall in Love - The Drifters
- Midnight Special Train - Big Joe Turner
- Empty Arms - Ivory Joe Hunter
- C.C. Rider - Chuck Willis
- Searchin' - The Coasters
- Young Blood - The Coasters
- Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes
- Long Lonely Nights - Clyde McPhatter
- Betty and Dupree - Chuck Willis
- What Am I Living For? - Chuck Willis
- Hang up My Rock & Roll Shoes - Chuck Willis
- Yakety Yak - The Coasters
- Lover's Question - Clyde McPhatter
- I Cried a Tear - LaVern Baker
- Night Time Is the Right Time - Ray Charles
- Charlie Brown - The Coasters
- What'd I Say, Pts. 1 & 2 - Ray Charles
- There Goes My Baby - The Drifters
- Along Came Jones - The Coasters
- Let the Good Times Roll - Ray Charles
- Poison Ivy - The Coasters
- Dance With Me - The Drifters
- Just for a Thrill - Ray Charles
- This Magic Moment - The Drifters
- Save the Last Dance for Me - The Drifters
- Shoppin' for Clothes - The Coasters
- Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King
- Young Boy Blues - Ben E. King
- Stand by Me - Ben E. King
- Gee Whiz! (Look at His Eyes) - Carla Thomas
- Saved - LaVern Baker
- Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) - Solomon Burke
- Little Egypt - The Coasters
- Amor - Ben E. King
- Last Night - The Mar-Keys
- I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) - The Ikettes
- You Don't Miss Your Water - William Bell
- I Found a Love - The Falcons
- Cry to Me - Solomon Burke
- Don't Play That Song (You Lied) - Ben E. King
- Green Onions - Booker T. & the MG's
- Up on the Roof - The Drifters
- See See Rider - LaVern Baker
- I (Who Have Nothing) - Ben E. King
- If You Need Me - Solomon Burke
- These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding
- Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis
- On Broadway - The Drifters
- Just One Look - Doris Troy
- Mashed Potatoes - The Swans
- Land of 1000 Dances - Chris Kenner
- Walking the Dog - Rufus Thomas
- Release Me - Esther Phillips
- Mercy Mercy - Don Covay
- Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters
- And I Love Him - Esther Phillips
- Hold What You've Got - Joe Tex
- Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
- Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis
- Teasin' You - Willie Tee
- Got to Get You off My Mind - Solomon Burke
- I Want to (Do Everything for You) - Joe Tex
- I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
- Sweet Woman Like You - Joe Tex
- In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
- See Saw - Don Covay
- Respect - Otis Redding
- You Don't Know Like I Know - Sam & Dave
- When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
- 634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.) - Wilson Pickett
- Hold On! I'm Comin' - Sam & Dave
- Cool Jerk - The Capitols
- Neighbor, Neighbor - Jimmy Hughes
- Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
- Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd
- Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
- Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
- When Something Is Wrong With My Baby - Sam & Dave
- Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
- I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) - Aretha Franklin
- Do Right Woman, Do Right Man - Aretha Franklin
- Show Me - Joe Tex
- Tramp - Otis Redding
- Funky Broadway - Wilson Pickett
- Hip Hug-Her - Booker T. & the MG's
- Soul Man - Sam & Dave
- Respect - Aretha Franklin
- (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
- Soul Finger - The Bar-Kays
- Baby I Love You - Aretha Franklin
- Skinny Legs and All - Joe Tex
- Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
- I'm in Love - Wilson Pickett
- Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis
- Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) - Aretha Franklin
- (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
- Tighten Up - Archie Bell & the Drells
- Slip Away - Clarence Carter
- Think - Aretha Franklin
- Too Weak to Fight - Clarence Carter
- Can I Change My Mind - Tyrone Davis
- First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
- Take a Letter, Maria - R.B. Greaves
- Rainy Night in Georgia - Brook Benton
- Ghetto - Donny Hathaway
- Turn Back the Hands of Time - Tyrone Davis
- Compared to What - Eddie Harris
- Call Me - Aretha Franklin
- Don't Play That Song - Aretha Franklin
- Precious, Precious - Jackie Moore
- Groove Me - King Floyd
- Patches - Clarence Carter
- Don't Knock My Love, Pt. 1 - Wilson Pickett
- Funky Nassau, Pt. 1 & 2 - The Beginning of the End
- Thin Line Between Love and Hate - The Persuaders
- Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
- Day Dreaming - Aretha Franklin
- You've Got a Friend - Roberta Flack
- Clean up Woman - Betty Wright
- Could It Be I'm Falling in Love - The Spinners
- Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
- Where Is the Love? - Roberta Flack
- I'll Be Around - The Spinners
- Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
- One of a Kind (Love Affair) - The Spinners
- Sideshow - Blue Magic
- Mighty Love - The Spinners
- Love Won't Let Me Wait - Major Harris
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Rating 4.5
"Atlantic leads the field in rhythm & blues."So it says on a 1950s-era paper sleeve for an Atlantic Records single. When you think about it from what you heard, what you saw, and what is in the stats, it's not just a simple promotional phrase. Rhythm and blues was increasingly making its mark on music at the close of the `40s and into the '50s. This kind of music was being marketed by small independent labels that
came out by the dozen starting in the few short years after World War II. When you take a couple of all around great guys who absolutely love music, a musical trend that was just waiting to grow from its tiny seed to something no one at the time knew it would grow into a monster, a $10,000 loan from a dentist, lo and behold you got a label that smells of success. From that, in
October 1947, Atlantic was born. This mammoth box set practically takes you on a dazzling musical journey of the label's roots in R&B and flows through the years showing how it progressed. Chronicling 27 golden years, the 203 selections presented indicate the immeasurable impact R&B from
Atlantic made on 20th century American music.
Disc One (1947-1952) features some of the first historic cuts that weren't exactly fully jazz or fully bop but something totally new with a great, fresh tinge with artists like Joe Morris, Stick McGhee, Ruth Brown, The Clovers and some early Joe Turner. Disc Two (1952-1954) continues on and features
this new sound becoming hot and ever growing into something too big to ignore among disc jockeys and R&B jukeboxes. Artists include Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, and Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters. Discs Three (1955-1957) and Four (1957-1960) shows how R&B made the crossover to white audiences and these records were selling fast. We see Ray Charles thrive as "the genius" along with Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker, a fun-loving group called the Coasters, the "new" Drifters, Chuck Willis and
more. Disc Five (1961-1965) sees R&B getting a bit pop tinged on Ben E. King's and the Drifters' recordings. However there's still plenty of raw, gritty R&B being pumped out as we hear the sound of southern R&B courtesy of the new partnership with Stax/Volt Records featuring the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the M.G.s and Otis Redding. Disc Six (1965-1967) is arguably the best
disc in the whole set. Reason being is with the help of Stax/Volt, with many famous cuts from them, R&B turned into soul. Among the Stax/Volt greats are Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, and Booker T. and the M.G.s. Also there are the big smashes of Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Arthur Conley, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex and more. It's probably the most excitable disc, no doubt. Discs Seven (1967-1969) and Eight (1970-1974)
display the continuation of gritty `60s soul, with the thriving of Aretha, the Bar-Kays, Clarence Carter, Archie Bell, Tyrone Davis and more, to the closing of an era glistened with some `70s funk and smooth soul from King Floyd, Betty Wright, Roberta Flack, the Persuaders, the Spinners and more.
There is so much to be said about this marvelous box set. Each CD has more than 20 songs, most have more than 25 and clock in with more than 70 minutes of music on each disc. It goes pretty fast once you start getting into the music and you absolutely can. It will make you dance like wild, bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, make you laugh, sing along, reminisce, think, and dream. This is music; this was it was lived, breathed, ate, drank and slept. The influence of rhythm and blues on American music can not be measured for without it, what would music be, and without Ahmet and his founding Atlantic, how could music have thrived in this country? The answer, in my opinion: it would never, ever, EVER have been the same. Every single song on here is a masterpiece in its own way. Together this whole box set DOES reflect every human emotion ever known from celebrating life, finding love then losing it, happy, sad, dancing, etc. You name it; it's got it. I have never seen a box set so comprehensive; it puts other box sets, with the exception of "Stax/Volt Singles, Vol. 1", to absolute shame! Again, these songs reflect what we experience every day. Too numerous to mention, though. This box set is as all-American as the 4th of July, apple pie, hot dogs, a great old movie, cruising in a hot rod, ice cream cones, walks in the park, the joys of summer, young love, and just plain being alive. This is also practically a crash course on the history of 20th century American music, not just R&B. In fact, I highly recommend schools and colleges purchase this box set to offer as examples in music courses and in music research projects. If they were to construct a time capsule filled with items representing all the major events of the 20th century, this box set would definetly be in there. What's not to love about it? There's a 30-page booklet included with stories about all the artists and the songs, photographs plus the entire song list featuring who played on what song and where and when the songs were recorded. The inserts for the discs (individual cover art) shows very colorful picture collages. The cover art of the box itself is the most obvious, but the most ingenious. At first glance, it looks like it should be "The Atlantic Records Story" and, in a way, it's true. That giant Atlantic label is like a big invitation to a musical journey that will leave you speechless at the end. Even if you're not an R&B fan, this will change the way you feel about it for not only did these people play and sing from the heart but most essentially the soul. Take this music to a party and tell your friends about this musical treasure chest. If you had to purchase one CD box set in your lifetime, this is the quintessential pick, hands down! It's a rare worthwhile investement and something you'll want to keep forever! This did get a Grammy when initially released in 1985 for Best Historical Album. The sound quality is quite excellent for 1991 remastering. It can sound best on a system with much bass boost. Truly for the collector! It's a celebration of every aspect, genre and sub-genre of R&B, a celebration of music, musical history, life, Ahmet Ertegun (on my list of all-time musical geniuses), and arguably the greatest name in rhythm & blues and the record business: ATLANTIC.This Is THE REAL DEAL. Now one of my favorite box setsAs the title suggests, the tracks are spread out over the 8 discs in chronological order and I am equally impressed with the early cuts as I am with the smattering of 60s Soul artists that comprise several volumes(namely Vols. 5,6 & 7). You will find some duplication of tracks if you own THE COMPLETE STAX/VOLT SINGLES: 1959-1968. However, don't despair,even with some Stax representation; Atlantic's early gems from the likes of Joe Turner, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Ben E. King & Solomon Burke(to name a few)make this set is a labor of love that ebbs & flows with great jump blues, ballads, street corner harmony & tear the roof off soul scorchers. All the major artists are represented along with some great 1 hit wonders like Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" King Floyd's "Groove Me" or how 'bout Archie Bell & The Drells "Tighten Up" The point I'm trying to convey is the stylistic depth of this collection is enourmous yet the transition between discs isn't spotty. It's a connect the dots lesson in Black music from The Clovers to The Spinners. This is some of the greatest music ever recorded in the 20th century, period. Essential Listening for any Classic R&B fanI've had this set over a decade now and I still love it. For anyone interested in the history of great R&B, this is an excellent starting point. While some folks will want more tracks by the big stars (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Drifters), this box set serves as an overview of the very best R&B/soul label in history (sorry, Motown, I love ya, but this stuff is just too good). It also demonstrates how the R&B sound developed from the late 1940's and early 1950's (Ruth Brown, Joe Morris, Joe Turner) all the way into the progressive soul of the 1970's (especially Donnie Hathaway's amazing "The Ghetto"). If you love classic R&B--buy this box! |
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