The Original Chicken Soul For The Soul

Rufus Thomas' first album following Stax's break from the Atlantic had "Do the Funky Chicken" as its centerpiece, so the emphasis upon good-humored dance tunes was unsurprising. There were some weird moments, particularly the down-and-bestial seven-minute update of "Sixty Minute Man" (on which Rufus sounds like he's singing in tongues), a remake of "Bear Cat," and a two-part version of "Old McDonald Had a Farm." Still, the slightly goofy uptempo arrangements can get a little tiresome, and since his best hits from the period are better than the album-only tracks, almost everyone should just stick with a compilation.

Various Artists - The Sue Records Story: New York City - The Sound of Soul (1957-1966) {4CD Box Set EMI Records rel 1994}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 820 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 540 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 130 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957-66, 1994 Sue Records / EMI Records | 7243 8 28093 2 6
Rhythm & Blues / Soul / Jazz / Early R&B / Soul Jazz

This four-CD, 100-song set is the best representative body of work ever assembled (or ever likely to be assembled) of the R&B and soul releases from Henry "Juggy Murray" Jones' Sue Records. The range of sounds runs the gamut from ex-Drifter Bobby Hendricks' first hit for the company ("Itchy Twitchy Feeling") in 1959, through the string of hits by Ike & Tina Turner, to the company's last hits some seven years later. Not only is every chart single that the label ever had represented, but so are club hits from the mid-'60s and solo sides by uniquely New York-associated figures. The contents of the box are almost ideal, along with their arrangement – in contrast some other box sets, this one follows strict release order, which is a great way to follow the history of the label (though not ideal for anyone, apart from owners of multi-disc players, who simply wants to hear the label's best-known tracks in one sitting).