
If you’re looking for a lovely little stocking filler for the soul lover in your life then you could do worse than check out a fabulous new budget compilation from Rhino/Warner Records. It’s unimaginatively titled ‘Soul – The Collection’ – but with the music it contains it doesn’t really need much more embellishment than that. The album is a 3CD, 60 tracker – with most of the music taken from the Atlantic (and Atlantic-licensed Stax) catalogue. All the big, big tunes are in there – ARETHA’S ‘Respect, SAM AND DAVE’S ‘Hold On I’m Coming’, BEN E KING’S ‘Stand By Me’ and OTIS REDDING’S ‘Dock Of The Bay’ and so on but what makes this such a fetching ensemble is the inclusion of lots of lesser known gems like MARY WELLS’ ‘Dear Lover’, THE ASTORS’ ‘Candy’, THE CHARMELS’ ‘As Long As I Got You’ and BETTY LAVETTE’S ‘Your Turn To Cry .. soul anoraks and purists surely can’t complain especially when they realize that the whole thing retails for around a fiver!