Absolutely brilliant numbers from Charlie Rich – one of the greatest and most versative voices ever to come out of the 50s rock & roll and country scenes – his impeccable work for Smash in the 60s, long before he'd hit mainstream country pay dirt (finally) in the mid 70s! Charlie was both blessed and cursed by his gifted vocal chords, in that he could do anything with them – nascent blue-eyed soul, pop, country, rock & roll – which made it all too easy for his labels, producers and handlers to move him onto a new thing if the singles or LPs didn't stick commercially. They couldn't wedge him comfortably into a niche, but damned if he didn't knock everything they threw at him right outta the park. So very highly recommended! 29 tracks in all: "It Ain't Gonna Be That Way", "Party Girl", "I Can't Go On", "So Long", "Just A Bit Of You", "So Long", "Down And Out", "Moonshine Minnie", "Hawg Jaw", "Lonely Weekends", "Tars A Go-Go", "She's A Yum Yum", "Man About Town", "Mohair Sam", "So Long" and many more. CD

(Folk/Country, Rock) CD

Great work from the pre-"Behind Closed Doors" years of Charlie Rich at Epic – with titles that include "Big Boss Man", "Hello Darlin", "I Do My Swingin At Home", "I Can't Even Drink It Away", and "Memphis & Arkansas Bridge". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

Absolutely brilliant numbers from Charlie Rich – one of the greatest and most versative voices ever to come out of the 50s rock & roll and country scenes – his impeccable work for Smash in the 60s, long before he'd hit mainstream country pay dirt (finally) in the mid 70s! Charlie was both blessed and cursed by his gifted vocal chords, in that he could do anything with them – nascent blue-eyed soul, pop, country, rock & roll – which made it all too easy for his labels, producers and handlers to move him onto a new thing if the singles or LPs didn't stick commercially. They couldn't wedge him comfortably into a niche, but damned if he didn't knock everything they threw at him right outta the park. So very highly recommended! 29 tracks in all: "It Ain't Gonna Be That Way", "Party Girl", "I Can't Go On", "So Long", "Just A Bit Of You", "So Long", "Down And Out", "Moonshine Minnie", "Hawg Jaw", "Lonely Weekends", "Tars A Go-Go", "She's A Yum Yum", "Man About Town", "Mohair Sam", "So Long" and many more. CD

Fabulous is right – as the set's a fantastic illustration of the genius of Charlie Rich – still in his more soulful mode here, working with Billy Sherrill production on a set of tracks that really fit the growing sophistication of his sound! (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 36 tracks on 2 CDs. (Folk/Country, Rock) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem by the great Charlie Rich – an album recorded for Hi Records in the years before he broke big on Columbia in the late 60s – but at a level that certainly points the way towards his country fame to come! And yet, as with most of the best music by Rich – like his stunning Smash Records sides – there's a quality here that's quite far from both the mainstream, and conventional modes of expression – as Charlie almost seems to be drawing as much on soul music for inspiration as he is the sounds of Nashville – which might almost put this album in the territory of classic country soul material by singers like Ray Charles or Brook Benton. The whole thing's a perfect setting for that unique combination of talents that makes Rich so wonderful – and most tracks are Hank Williams hits, but redone completely. Titles include "I Can't Help It", "My Heart Would Know", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Your Cheatin Heart", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "Cold Cold Heart", and "Nobody's Lonesome For Me". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

(Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A great look at a really lost legacy in music from Charlie Rich – obscure sides recorded for RCA Records in the early 60s – done after his initial rush of genius on Sun Records, and before his later commercial success on Epic! Charlie's got one of the all-time great voices in pop music – a richness that easily rivals that of Memphis contemporary Elvis Presley, and which never fully got its due at the time – even though labels like RCA and Smash provided Rich with some fantastic material and production! Charlie's work for Smash has been picked up by the cognoscenti in recent years, and we'd honestly put these RCA tracks right up alongside them – with a similar Tennessee blend of soul and rock, rural and urban – all delivered by Charlie's incredibly charming vocal approach, and recorded with a depth that goes way beyond the usual RCA production modes of the time. There's plenty of currents of soul in the mix – even some New York-styled modes, which really work well with Rich – and this 40 track set is the first time this material has ever been pulled together – long-overdue, and a real treat to our ears! Titles include "Like Someone In Love", "Lady Love", "Nice & Easy", "Big Boss Man", "It's All Over Now", "The Grass Is Always Greener", "Now Everybody Knows", "My Mountain Dew", "The Big Build Up", "She Called Me Baby", "Gentleman Jim", "Christmas Greetings", "All Of My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers", "Is Goodbye That Easy To Say", "Tragedy", "Ten Dollars & A Clean White Shirt", "Tomorrow Night", and "No Room To Dance". (Folk/Country, Rock) CD

A two-record superjam from blues rocker Neil Merryweather – one that features contributions from a rich array of guest stars that include Howard Roberts, Steve Miller, Barry Goldberg, and Charlie Musselwhite. The overall groove is blues rock, as you'd expect – but there's also some nice soulful undercurrents to the album, as you might guess with Miller in the picture. Our favorite track is the long instrumental "Mrs Roberts' Son", which features lead fuzz guitar from Howard, and which gets a bit funky at times. Other tracks include "Teach You How To Fly", "Sun Down Lady", "News", "The Hard Times", and "Licked The Spoon". LP, Vinyl record album

Blue-tinged work for those days when your heart is breaking and your soul is aching – a really wonderful batch of tracks that are heavy on those late 60s/early 70s moments when male singers were starting to open up a bit and let their emotions show! The vibe here is very different than Bobby Gillespie's own music – and the set brings together bits of country, roots rock, and soul – really special tracks that have a perfect blend of heartfelt vocals, well-penned lyrics, and the kind of arrangements and production that really send the whole thing over the top! The best thing about the collection is that it brings together songs we never would have thought to combine like this – a masterful set list that includes "I Don't Want To Talk About It" by Crazy Horse, "Wait & See" by Lee Hazlewood, "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" by Thin Lizzy, "The Coldest Days Of My Life" by The Chi-Lites, "Roll Um Easy" by Little Feat, "Magnolia" by JJ Cale, "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by Willie Nelson, "Love Sick" by Bob Dylan, I'll Be Long Gone" by Boz Scaggs, "Strong As Death" by Al Green, "Kind Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Dark End Of The Street" by Ry Cooder, "I Feel Like Goin Home" by Charlie Rich, "When My Mind's Gone" by Mott The Hoople, and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Nick Cave. CD

Blue-tinged work for those days when your heart is breaking and your soul is aching – a really wonderful batch of tracks that are heavy on those late 60s/early 70s moments when male singers were starting to open up a bit and let their emotions show! The vibe here is very different than Bobby Gillespie's own music – and the set brings together bits of country, roots rock, and soul – really special tracks that have a perfect blend of heartfelt vocals, well-penned lyrics, and the kind of arrangements and production that really send the whole thing over the top! The best thing about the collection is that it brings together songs we never would have thought to combine like this – a masterful set list that includes "I Don't Want To Talk About It" by Crazy Horse, "Wait & See" by Lee Hazlewood, "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" by Thin Lizzy, "The Coldest Days Of My Life" by The Chi-Lites, "Roll Um Easy" by Little Feat, "Magnolia" by JJ Cale, "I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" by Willie Nelson, "Love Sick" by Bob Dylan, I'll Be Long Gone" by Boz Scaggs, "Strong As Death" by Al Green, "Kind Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Dark End Of The Street" by Ry Cooder, "I Feel Like Goin Home" by Charlie Rich, "When My Mind's Gone" by Mott The Hoople, and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Nick Cave. LP, Vinyl record album

A fabulous look at a new wave of music that hit the American scene at the end of the 60s – sophisticated songs with a deep sense of narrative that went way beyond the usual – first sprung by the world of country music, but with an influence that went on to touch all other styles too! This set goes right to the core – and brings together cuts from the hippest songwriters of the period, delivered in versions that may well be the best to ever make it on records – including a few tunes that will really come as a surprise if you think you know the artists from their hits! As you'd guess from the title, the world here is very similar to that in "Ode To Billie Joe" – a world that's also given great illumination by the detailed notes within. Titles include "Endless Miles Of Highway" by Jerry Reed, "If Only She Had Stayed" by Chris Gantry, "July 12, 1939" by Charlie Rich, "What Am I Doing In LA" by Nat Stuckey, "The House Song" by Lee Hazlewood, "Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do" by John Hartford, "Widow Wimberley" by Tony Joe White, "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Drivin Nails In The Walls" by Waylon Jennings, "Four Shades Of Love" by Henson Cargill, "The Back Side Of Dallas" by Jeanne C Riley, "Way Before The Time Of Towns" by Hoyt Axton, "Down From Dover" by Dolly Parton, "Fabulous Body & Smile" by Sir Robert Charles Griggs, and "Why Can't I Come Home" by Ed Bruce. (Folk/Country, Rock) CD

A fabulous look at a new wave of music that hit the American scene at the end of the 60s – sophisticated songs with a deep sense of narrative that went way beyond the usual – first sprung by the world of country music, but with an influence that went on to touch all other styles too! This set goes right to the core – and brings together cuts from the hippest songwriters of the period, delivered in versions that may well be the best to ever make it on records – including a few tunes that will really come as a surprise if you think you know the artists from their hits! As you'd guess from the title, the world here is very similar to that in "Ode To Billie Joe" – a world that's also given great illumination by the detailed notes within. Titles include "Endless Miles Of Highway" by Jerry Reed, "If Only She Had Stayed" by Chris Gantry, "July 12, 1939" by Charlie Rich, "What Am I Doing In LA" by Nat Stuckey, "The House Song" by Lee Hazlewood, "Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do" by John Hartford, "Widow Wimberley" by Tony Joe White, "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Drivin Nails In The Walls" by Waylon Jennings, "Four Shades Of Love" by Henson Cargill, "The Back Side Of Dallas" by Jeanne C Riley, "Way Before The Time Of Towns" by Hoyt Axton, "Down From Dover" by Dolly Parton, "Fabulous Body & Smile" by Sir Robert Charles Griggs, and "Why Can't I Come Home" by Ed Bruce. (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection from that great Charly/Sun Records run of reissues in the 80s – and a set that looks at all aspects of the label – including country, rockabilly, blues, and more! Includes cuts by Joe Hill Louis, Warren Smith, Billy Riley, Sonny Burgess, Malcolm Yelvington, Ernie Chaffin, Charlie Feathers, Johnny Cash, Harmonica Frank, Carl Perkins, James Cotton, Doctor Ross, Charlie Rich, Carl Mann, and many others! LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Billy "The Kid" Emerson, Carl Perkins, Billy Lee Riley, Earl Hooker, Ray Harris, Little Milton, Johnny Cash, James Cotton, Howlin' Wolf, Roy Orbison, The Miller Sisters, Rosco Gordon, and Charlie Rich. LP, Vinyl record album

Hits from Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Bill Justis, Sleepy LaBeef, Warren Smith, Tommy Blake, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Carl Mann, Billy Lee Riley, and Ray Smith. CD

That's a young Isaac Hayes on the cover, sitting at the piano next to David Porter – his key songwriting partner at Stax Records in the 60s – at a time before both artists had gone onto their own solo recordings for the label! The Hayes/Porter team gave Stax some of their best songs during the second half of the 60s – often numbers that have a hip, hard-grooving style that really pushed the boundaries of Memphis soul – and as you'll hear here, the duo's work was not just recorded for their main label, but also handled by a wealth of other artists too – mostly soul singers of the late 60s, but also featured here on a few later tracks as well. Those later cuts are ever bit as soulful as the 60s material that makes up most of the collection – and the package also features some unissued numbers too –served up here in a list of 24 titles that include "Can't Trust Your Neighbor" by Freddie King, "60 Minutes Of Your Love" by Homer Banks, "I'll Understand" by Edwin Starr & Blinky, "Left Over Love" by Ruby Johnson, "Hold On I'm Coming" by The Righteous Brothers, "You Got Me Hummin" by The Hassles, "I'm Dedicating My Life" by Danny White, "Love Is After Me" by Charlie Rich, "Your Good Thing" by Mable John, "You Don't Know Like I Know" by Keith Powell & Billie Davis, "Wrap It Up" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Baby" by Rachel Sweet, "As Long As I've Got You" by The Emotions, "I Take What I Want" by The Bishops, "The Sweeter He Is (parts 1 & 2)" by Soul Children, and an unreleased alternate of "Toe Hold" by Johnnie Taylor. (Soul, Rock) CD

Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett certainly have some heavy friends here – a stunning host of guest help on the record, who make the whole thing come together with a sweet blend of southern rock and soul! The duo were always almost more of a soul act than a rock one, and that quality really shows through here – as they tear it up with help from The Memphis Horns, plus Duane Allman on slide guitar, Bobby Whitlock on organ, Charlie Freeman on guitar, and even a bit of guest help from King Curtis on tenor and Little Richard on piano! Tunes include some great originals that show why the Bramlett's were the premier roots rock act of the time – mixed with a few nicely-chosen cuts by other folks – in a lineup that includes "Lay Down My Burden", "God Knows I Love You", "Hard Luck & Troubles", "Soul Shake", "Miss Ann", "Living On The Open Road", "Free The People", "The Love Of My Man", and "Living On The Open Road". CD

Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett certainly have some heavy friends here – a stunning host of guest help on the record, who make the whole thing come together with a sweet blend of southern rock and soul! The duo were always almost more of a soul act than a rock one, and that quality really shows through here – as they tear it up with help from The Memphis Horns, plus Duane Allman on slide guitar, Bobby Whitlock on organ, Charlie Freeman on guitar, and even a bit of guest help from King Curtis on tenor and Little Richard on piano! Tunes include some great originals that show why the Bramlett's were the premier roots rock act of the time – mixed with a few nicely-chosen cuts by other folks – in a lineup that includes "Lay Down My Burden", "God Knows I Love You", "Hard Luck & Troubles", "Soul Shake", "Miss Ann", "Living On The Open Road", "Free The People", "The Love Of My Man", and "Living On The Open Road". LP, Vinyl record album