Can't Be Satisfied: XL and the Sounds of Memphis Story [Import]

Various Artists (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Kent Records UK
• ASIN: B000UYND00
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,853 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Can't Be Satisfied - SPENCER WIGGINS

2. Last Mile Of The Way - THE MINITS

3. Plaything (Alt version) - BARBARA AND THE BROWNS

4. Love Just Ain't There - RICHARD AND WALTER

5. You Can Lead Your Woman To The Altar - WILLIAM BOLLINGER

6. Shower Of Tears - ANNE HODGE

7. Take It From Someone Who Knows - THE OVATIONS

8. Thanks To You - DAN GREER

9. Talking About The Love I Have For You - GEORGE JACKSON

10. Still A Part Of Me - THE MINITS

11. Hook Line and Sinker - DAN GREER

12. Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Love - LOU ROBERTS

13. Pity A Fool - BARBARA AND THE BROWNS

14. You're Welcome Back - ANNE HODGE

15. Tell Him Tonight - RUDOLPH TAYLOR

16. Hanging Around Your Doorstep - BILLY CEE AND FREEDOM EXPRESS

17. Let The Moment Last - VISION

18. Best Thing I Ever Had - SPENCER WIGGINS

19. Walking The City Streets - GEORGE JACKSON

20. Don't Break Your Promise - THE OVATIONS

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

In 1965 in Memphis something musical was stirring, the biggest hit from the city that year was not made by Otis or the wicked Pickett but by Sam the Sham for a label run by an ex-Sun Records songwriter and a liquor distributor. 'Wooly Bully' went on to sell 10 million copies worldwide, and set the XL label up for a ten-year exploration of the music of the era. Records were issued on both the XL and Sounds Of Memphis imprints, much of it being up-tempo soul, recorded at a state-of-the-art studio also created by the company. This is the first compilation to take a definitive look at this superb output, following our breathtaking release of Barbara Brown's recordings for the label earlier this year - described by Mojo's Lois Wilson as "truly essential".

Here we feature Barbara Brown's soul classic 'Pity A Fool' and an unreleased alternate of 'Plaything' which sees the backing track stripped back to allow Barbara's voice to shine through. The CD also sees the first reissue of the amazing Spencer Wiggins single 'I Can't Be Satisfied' rated by many to be one of the finest examples of southern soul ever. If you like your soul raw we have plenty more in this vein from Billy Cee (a rare locally released 45), Richard and Walter, Rudolph Taylor and Willie Bollinger. Throughout, the excellent productions of Stan Kesler, Charles Chalmers, and Dan Greer reach a level of intoxicating intensity.

For those looking for rare dance-floor records, we have plenty. Lou Roberts' 'Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Love' was big record at the Blackpool Mecca, while the obscure Ann Hodge 'Your Welcome Back' was also a big Northern record several years later. We also bring an unreleased Hodge record 'Shower Of Tears' which we believe may have beat ballad potential. The Minits' (a three piece girl group) 'Still A Part Of Me' has been selling regularly for three figures in the last year and is another one of Dan Greer's excellent early 70s productions. We have added a couple of Greer solo efforts as well as a couple by the legendary George Jackson, including the previously unreleased 'Walking The City Streets'.

The package benefits from the extensive Sounds Of Memphis photo archive and from sleeve notes that includes interviews with the usually reclusive Stan Kessler, label co-owner Gene Luchessi and Charles Chalmers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars KENT/UK Strikes Again!, November 26, 2010

By 

S. Ahola - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can't Be Satisfied: XL and the Sounds of Memphis Story (Audio CD)

I have never heard an album from KENT/UK that I didn't like. KENT/UK is one of the imprints from ACE/UK and it specializes in Northern Soul and Deep Soul. ACE/UK is like Britain's answer to Bear Family Records in Germany as they both offer high-quality reissues and remasters of rock, soul, blues and other roots music. Enough background.
This album features recordings from the XL and Sounds of Memphis labels from the 60's and early 70's. XL struck gold in 1965 with Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs- supposedly the biggest hit ever to emerge from Memphis. With their share of the profits they were able to build a new studio and pursue the music they loved without worrying about whether it would sell.