Customer Reviews

Beg, Scream & Shout!: The Big Ol' Box Of 60's Soul

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rhino has done it again! The beauty of this collection is that it limits each artist to only one song (not counting collaborative efforts). This means that many lesser known artists share the spotlight with the more established stars. In other words, by purchasing this collection, you get the chance to hear the orginal recordings of "Mustang Sally" (Sir Mack Rice, who also wrote the song), "Piece of My Heart" (Erma Franklin, Aretha's older sister), and Betty Everett's pre-Linda Ronstadt version of "You're No Good." Other rarities of note include Clifford Curry's "She Shot a Hole in My Soul," Toussaint McCall's "Nothing Takes the Place of You," and "Back Up Train" by Al Greene & The Soul Mates. The latter was Al's first hit a few years before he dropped the "e" and embarked on a successful solo career. Of course, the CD collection is also loaded with more familiar cuts like "Soul Finger" (Bar-Kays), "I Was Made to Love Her" (Stevie Wonder), "Dry Your Eyes" (Brenda & the Tabulations), "Stand by Me" (Ben E. King), and "Every Little Bit Hurts" (Brenda Holloway). Avoided are many of the otherwise good, but overplayed tracks on "Oldies" radio like the most popular versions of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye/Gladys Knight & the Pips), and Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect." For fans of those artists don't fret, they are represented in this collection with "Can I Get a Witness" (Marvin Gaye), "Friendship Train" (Gladys Knight & the Pips), and "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" (Aretha Franklin). Of course, by virtue of the fact that you are checking out this collection, you probably already have "Grapevine" (both versions) and "Respect." For fans of the latter track, I suggest you check out Minnie Riperton's psychedelic version with Rotary Connection on her Chess CD. Why doesn't radio play that track (not to mention Otis Redding's original version)? By the way, Otis is represented in the Rhino collection with "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)." Enough said. If you're a serious fan of 1960's R&B, this is the box set for you!

This is one of the best box sets I have ever listened to. It contains hours and hours of premium music. Not the usuall top 40 hits you consistantly hear on the radio. The packing is even top notch, set up like our old 45 carrying cases. The music and packaging takes me back to my youth...which is how I like to relax. The cost was a concern but it is well worth every dollar. Go for it and enjoy!!!

I actually bought this box from Amazon two years ago, but couldn't resist coming here to give it the thumbs up. The nice thing about this box is not that it's comprehensive, which even 6 packed discs cannot be, but that it digs so far beneath the surface of the well-known soul tunes that any self-respecting 60s soul fan has. This collection unearths many gems that I'd never heard. The sound can be somewhat harsh at times but has a very credible consistancy. Also, even though the packaging is hard to store and even a bit of a hassle to access, one has to admire the care and imagination that went into this package. The price should not scare any collector of 60s soul - the price to try to find some of these wonderful singles among other collections (or, shudder, the actaul 45s)would run much, much higher. In fact, this is a very cost efficient way to acquire this music.

In other words, if you love 60s soul and are looking for a really dynomite collection, why are you hesitating. Buy this! Believe me, you will be richly rewarded, as I have been for two years.

I FOUND THIS BOX SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTIONS I HAVE EVER SEEN. I GREW UP IN THE SIXTIES LISTENING TO ALL THE SONGS CONTAINED IN THE SET. SOMETIMES WE ONLY HAD A TRANSISTOR RADIO FOR LISTENING. AND THIS WAS BEFORE FM BECOME THE STANDARD. THIS SET HAS CAPTURED A VERY IMPORTANT TIME IN A LOT OF OUR LIVES. WHILE LISENING TO IT WITH FRIENDS YOU COULD HARDLY HEAR THE SONGS BECAUSE EVERYONE HAD A STORY TO TELL AS IT RELATED TO EACH SONG. BLUE LIGHT IN THE BASEMENT PARTIES. SLOW DANCING TO THE DELLS STAY IN MY CORNER. DOING THE LATEST DANCES LIKE THE JERK, MONKEY AND TWINE TIME. THE MASH POTATOES SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED.BEFORE NOW I COULD ONLY HEAR THESE SONGS WGCI LATE ON SATURDAYS. I WOULD HAVE GAVE THE SET FIVE STARS, BUT THE PRICE WAS TOO HIGH. ALTHOUGH THE PACKING IS CUTE, IT IS NOT VERY PRACTICAL IN TODAY'S MOBILE LISTENING TRENDS. IT IS GREAT FOR COLLECTORS, BUT A NO FRILLS VERSION WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT.

This is the best collection of 60's soul I have ever seen and heard. In England in the 60's this music was heard in clubs frequented by "mods" ie smartly dressed kids who rode Lambretta or Vespa scooters. I was only 14 in '66 and could not afford to buy the original 45's, so when I saw this box I had to buy it. (I had searched the internet for "Sock it to'em JB" by Rex Garvin for a laugh, and up came BEG SCREAM and SHOUT). I am now educating my 14 year old daughter in recognising the sounds of the different lables, you know, tambourines for Tamla etc. This music has to be the most enduring ever. The new Brylcreem ad features Cissy Strut by the Meters. Lets see if they use the Spice Girls or Britney Spears in 2030.

Oh so cute packaging aside, you must own this CD set - whether you know a little or a lot about soul music. Better than Atlantic Rhythm & Blues, better than the Stax/Volt box. I made the mistake of lending mine to a friend, and I'm having terrible trouble getting it back!

This is not only a spectacular assemblage of some of the greatest music ever released, it is arguably the greatest packaging job of all time. While I know some will wonder why there are not specific songs from their favorite artists included, they miss the point. This is a beautiful archive of the greatest musical decade of the rock era. The fact that each artist gets just one track, and there are nearly 150 different artists represented, is mute testimony to the unbelievable wealth of great music released in a mere ten years. Should you also own Star Time, Emporers of Soul, The Master, Otis!, and The Queen of Soul (to name a few and all five star boxes in their own right)? Absolutely. But I have found more undiscovered jems in this set than even the brilliant first volume of Stax/Volt singles. If you have any love at all for the golden age of soul music, get off your wallet and spring for this masterpiece. While your at it, buy one for your soul-loving friend as a Christmas present. You/he/she may never listen to anything else.
As an aside to "music lover" from El Paso. Don't denigrate the overall impression of this collection simply because you are not happy with whatever retailer you were stiffed by. I understand your frustration, but an awful lot of people look to this site (and its star rating system, which I wish they would dispense with) for advice on what music is worth spending their hard earned dollars on. I also hope you eventually get the thing, because you will wish there was a sixth star to give it.

My husband and I purchased this box set after much trepidation and thought. After all, $100.00(shipping and handling included) is a lot of money for a six CD set. All we have to say to anyone considering a purchase is, It is worth every penny! Each CD is unique and offers its' own testament to the 60's sound-listeners will find themselves singing every tune. The packaging alone is worth the price of admission. Trivia cards highlighting each artist are informational as well as enlightening-listeners are able to see what each artist looked like during the 60's era. The packaging for each CD is just downright "cute" mock 45's. The box containing the CD's is unique and reminds one of old boxes used to carry 45's from place to place. There's even a booklet articulating each CD,the artist and a variety of other useful information. What a great buy! My husband listened to the entire collection at one time-a feat in itself as each CD contains at least 20 songs! The music really takes you back-evoking memories of times gone by. Again, this collection is worth every penny!

I got this great selection of 60's soul because it had The Flirtations singing "Nothing But a Heartache". Then I looked at the other great songs from the 60's. What a deal.

I look forward to The Flirtations coming out with some retro 60's type songs.

(BTW, The Flirtations as in the 3 sisters from the 1960's...not the Flirtations of today - gay group)

I have had this set for about 3 years, now, and I still play something from it, practically, on a daily basis. This is the source code, right here. If you could rate something 100 stars, I would rate this set 100 stars. Lots of very cool originals, that you never heard, that were later covered by other artists. For instance, you can imagine Janice Joplin, as a teenager, hearing Garnett Mim's, "Cry Baby", being inspired by it, and then covering it when she got her career going. LOVE this set! NEED a sequel, Rhino!!!