Four incredible albums from Jerry Butler – three of which appear here on CD for the first time ever! First up is Soul Artistry – a real moment of 60s genius from the great Jerry Butler – a set
that helps Jerry step even further up the steps of soul music from his earlier years at Vee Jay Records – to a point where his work on the album is a key bridge between so many different styles of adult music at the time! This isn't throwaway pop, or jukebox/
radio soul – and instead, Butler's a master crooner with a fantastic approach – emotive, but never over the top – and set up here with sublime production from Jerry Ross and arrangements from Jo Renzetti and Jimmy Wisner. Titles include "You Walked Into My Life", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", "Some Kind Of Magic", "The Way Of Love", and "Why Did I Lose You". Next is Mr Dream Merchant – sublime soul from Jerry Butler – material recorded during his post-Vee Jay years, when he was really transforming his sound in ways
that still made him one of the dominant male voices in sophisticated soul! There's a great balance between poise and emotion in the cuts – and the set features a bit of excellent help from the young Gamble & Huff duo too! Titles include the great title cut "Mr Dream Merchant" – plus other gems
that include "Lost", "Beside You", "The Way I Love You", "To Make A Big Man Cry", "Mr Dee Jay", and "I Come To You". Soul Goes On is a great record, and one
that's more of a deeper soul effort than some of his other Mercury sessions! Jerry's back recording in Chicago, and the album has arrangements by Arthur Wright, and production by Cal Carter for the Fountain Productions imprint
that would grace Jerry and Billy Butler's efforts over the next few years. The LP includes Jerry's fantastic hit "Never Give You Up", plus deep soul versions of a lot of earlier soul classics by
Sam Cooke, Jesse Belvin, and Otis Redding – like "Respect", "
Ain't
That Good News", "
Goodnight My Love", "Guess Who", "These Arms Of Mine", and "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Also features "Yes, My
Goodness, Yes" – a nice tune
that Jerry wrote with Bobby Womack! A nice groovy update of some legendary soul compositions, and a real treat from Jerry! Last up is Ice Man Cometh – amazing soul from one of the greats of the 60s! This album is one of the biggest
that Jerry cut for Mercury – where he'd begun working with the young team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to completely rework the earlier sound he'd forged at Vee Jay Records. The album's still got Jerry singing in his wonderfully rich deep voice – hence the "iceman" in the title – but the songs have a bit more of a groove to them, with a soaring soul style
that really lifts Jerry up, and pushes him onto a whole new generation of soul fans. The best proof of this are the hits "Hey Western Union Man" and "Never Give You Up" – but the whole album's great, and like most of Jerry's LPs, it's got many wonderful tunes hiding underneath the hits. Titles include "How Can I Get In Touch With You", "Can't Forget About You Baby", "Are You Happy", and "Go Away Find Yourself" – as well as other hits like "Lost" and "Only The Strong Survive".