Concord Music Group are currently doing a wonderful job with their stewardship of the mighty Stax back catalogue and they’ve just reissued three classic albums as part of their Stax Remasters Series.
First there’s ‘Watcha See Is Watcha Get’ from THE DRAMATICS. The 1971 LP was a watershed in Stax’s history – with TONY HESTER and DON DAVIS crafting a sublime uptown sound for the great Motor City vocal group. The album yielded 2 R&B number 1’s with the title track and the classic ‘In The Rain’. This new reissue features the full 8 LP tracks along with 10 bonus cuts including the lovely ‘Fell For You’.
The second new Stax reissue is SHIRLEY BROWN’S ‘Woman To Woman’. The original 1974 LP was another blockbuster and though it’s been reissued many times in the past, this new edition contains five bonuses tracks including a smouldering version of ‘Ain’t No Way’ … written, of course, by CAROLYN FRANKLIN for her sister ARETHA.
The third new reissue is maybe a little less of a milestone – but, nevertheless, still important. RUFUS THOMAS was a Memphis veteran when, in 1970, he exhorted us all to ‘Do The Funky Chicken’. The self-penned number reignited his career and the album of the same name became a steady seller. Here Concord offer the album’s full 11 tracks along with 8 bonuses including the wonderful EDDIE FLOYD song ‘Funky Mississippi’ which – like most on the music on the set – features the full Stax crew.
Full reviews on all these albums here @SJF very soon.
