Pride Ibii

To call David Axelrod an auteur is putting it mildly. Although finally revered the world over by hip-hoppers and lovers of his 60s and 70s cinematic instrumentals (and an excellent eponymous solo offering on the Mo’ Wax label from 2001), Axelrod’s earliest recordings from 1967-70 have remained shrouded in mystery.

Charley Pride - Four Charley Pride Albums (1968-1970) {2CD Set BGO Records BGOCD1181 rel 2015}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 798 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 297 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 36 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968-70, 2015 BGO Records / RCA Victor / Sony Music | BGOCD1181
Country / Country Pop / Nashville Sound

BGO's 2015 release groups Charley Pride's second four albums onto two CDs: 1968's Songs of Pride…Charley, That Is; In Person and The Sensational Charley Pride, both from 1969; and 1970's Just Plain Charley. By this point, Pride established himself as a star and so RCA was willing to take some chances. Songs of Pride doesn't rely on well-known tunes but rather contains a bunch of new songs, largely written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice, songs that helped align Charley closer to the modern sound of country in 1968, while In Person demonstrates his in-concert charm and skill. Sensational and Just Plain Charley pick up on Songs of Pride and they're both excellent examples of walking the line between modern sounds – the Bakersfield of Merle Haggard and the proto-outlaw of Kris Kristofferson – and the Music City machine, records that are enough of their time to evoke their era but classic enough to transcend it. This is Charley's peak in many ways and it's a pleasure to have them so easily available on this set.

Charley Pride - Four More Charley Pride Albums (1970-1971) {2CD Set BGO Records BGOCD1201 rel 2015}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 689 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 252 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 47 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1970-71, 2015 BGO Records / RCA Victor / Sony Music | BGOCD1201
Country / Country Pop / Nashville Sound

Four albums from Sledge, Mississippi-born Charley Pride taken from a purple patch (1970-1971) in his long and illustrious career are squeezed onto this twin cd set (it is as if BGO are trying to make up for lost time such the succession of releases coming out). Pride possessed one of the finest singing voices to ever grace a country, or otherwise stage; up there with velvet tones of Jim Reeves and from more recent times Vince Gill. He was that good, and if you don’t believe just go and check out the manner in which he effortlessly eases through the likes of such classic fare as “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone”.

Charley Pride - Country Charley Pride (1966) + Pride Of Country Music (1967) {2013 Music City Records Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 388 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 154 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 22 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1966, 2013 RCA / Music City Records / Sony Music | 05310
Country / Country Pop / Nashville Sound

A few months back, in the British magazine Country Music People, someone asked why RCA now Sony did not do a complete albums set for Waylon Jennings and Charley Pride, just as has been done for Johnny Cash and John Denver. Waylon and Charley each recorded some 3 dozen original albums for RCA but whereas Waylon has had all but a half dozen or so reissued on CD, exactly the opposite is true for Charley and of the handful of albums reissued 3 were on the now defunct Koch label and are generally unavailable. This release of his first two albums from 1966 and 1967 is therefore immensely welcome. These were fantastic mid 60s period country albums, yes quite a few covers but great renditions of songs from great writers: Harlan Howard, Cindy Walker and Mel Tillis wrote the first 3 tracks. Co-producers were Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson and Jack Clement who sadly passed away earlier this year. The latter wrote or co-wrote 7 of the songs.

After two LPs with little or no energy, Sade demonstrated some intensity and fire on her third release. Whether that was just an attempt to change the pace a bit or a genuine new direction, she had more animation in her delivery on such songs as "Haunt Me," "Give It Up," and the hit "Paradise." Not that she was suddenly singing in a soulful or bluesy manner; rather, Sade's dry and introspective tone now had a little more edge, and the lyrics were ironic as well as reflective. This was her third consecutive multi-platinum album, and it matched the two-million-plus sales level of her debut.