Straight soul singers were Stax's bread and butter, but during the late '60s and early '70s, they also recorded a few blues singers. These were often granted Stax's Southern soul production, and the label had some success with this approach, particularly with Albert King. This 13-song compilation has tracks by King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy McCracklin, Little Milton, Mighty Joe Hicks, and Little Sonny, as well as a couple of singers (Pop Staples and Johnnie Taylor) more identified with soul styles than blues ones. Stax was ...
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Straight soul singers were Stax's bread and butter, but during the late '60s and early '70s, they also recorded a few blues singers. These were often granted Stax's Southern soul production, and the label had some success with this approach, particularly with Albert King. This 13-song compilation has tracks by King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy McCracklin, Little Milton, Mighty Joe Hicks, and Little Sonny, as well as a couple of singers (Pop Staples and Johnnie Taylor) more identified with soul styles than blues ones. Stax was better at straight soul than blues (or soul-blues), and this anthology doesn't contain the best work of these artists. But it's okay, the prize item being Albert King's smoking instrumental version of James Brown's "Cold Sweat." ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi
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