Customer Reviews

Soul Dressing

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

 

 

This album is like one terrifically funky soundtrack to a great movie. If you want a dose of early MGs, this their second album, is the place to go. Their first album came about after they had an unplanned number one smash, the immortal "Green Onions". This really is their first cohesive release as a band. Because this was released in 1964, it is a collection of tracks recorded over a two-year period. This was before their fellow Stax Records studio rat Isaac Hayes would become a solo star and revolutionize the album market.
Every track, save one, here is an original, and you have surely heard some of these gems in movies, including the home grown sounds of "Home Grown", the very memorable "Chinese Checkers", and "Can't Be Still" (probably original bassist Lewie Steinberg's finest moment).
The title cut is one of my favorite MGs songs ever. If I could point to the one song that made me fall in love with drumming of Al Jackson, this is it. This is the man who would later co-write and light the fire under such Al Green classics as "I'm Still In Love With You" and "You Ought to Be With Me". There are lots of people in a variety of fields and walks of life that I respect, but I don't know if there's anyone I have such an admiration and affinity for as the late Al Jackson. "Soul Dressing" appeared on the soundtrack to Billy Bob Thornton's critically acclaimed 1996 film Sling Blade.
Prime time MGs bassist Duck Dunn is listed in the liner notes as playing, but they don't specify which tracks, and Steinberg is listed as a co-writer on all the originals; including "Outrage", which features fancy organistics by late Memphis area musician William Allan in place of Booker T. Jones. This was actually released as the B-side to a song called "Boot-Leg", which was the first MGs single co-written by Dunn and actually had Isaac Hayes in Jones's chair.
The album's tone is largely set by the young Steve Cropper, whose guitar is a blazin' throughout. Especially on the title track, the "Green Onions" rework "Jellybread", and the fabulous "Plum Nellie", which is also highlighted by great organ and trombone work by the multi-talented Jones.
This album isn't as timeless as their later work, but it is a great trip back to a more soulful time.

"Soul Dressing" was album that followed "Green Onions," the MG's debut. It's a much better album than "Green Onions" was. This was one of the few MG's records--the others were "Melting Pot" and the "Up Tight" soundtrack--that featured only original material. But, unlike those albums, the original material on "Soul Dressing" is all top-notch. This is where the MG's began to make good on the promise of the "Green Onions" single. Nearly ever song cooks along in the same edgy, funky manner. Lewie Steinberg was still the bassist in the band and these are his finest moments with the MG's.

Sophomore effort from the Stax records house band, Booker T & the MGs, 1965's Soul Dressing. A tight, rhythmic & groovy sound had developed by this point, one might call it proto-funk. Fabulous musicianship, inspired performance, & slinky grooves make this LP a five (5) star rarity, no doubt about it.

Why then are we music buyers repeatedly abused by this inflated cost? Traditionally, rare & obscure gems in our collective musical past are very expensive for the collector. At this point in our technological advance, however (not to mention the decay of the industry's profits in the last two decades), we must Demand the digitization, remastering, & extensive restoration of our favorite artists' oeuvre in a Low Cost Package. There is No viable excuse for this title & other such 'rarities' to continue to be held back from low cost editions & restorations in order to keep issues rare & prices high. This is an Abomination, and an Insult to all customers. They are gouging us. Don't buy this! I would strongly suggest searching this and other websites that sell used items, taking your time and wait for a steal... You'll save money & Dignity!

I own this album on vinyl. The cd sounds better and should last forever with care. This album is timeless.

You've probably heard some of their songs on commercials or in films at some point & this is one of thier best albums in my opinion. The title track is a killer. One of the sexiest songs ever recorded.

New Orleans in the late `60s, near midnight, dead of summer. Alone, far from home, you wander through the tourist traps and clatter, garish vacation costumery, hurricane glasses and neon signs, obnoxious weaving drunkenness of amateurs having too much forced fun. Exotic voodoo for a young man. Thoughtlessly you veer off onto a quiet street offering relief and it hits you, softly at first, but beyond all debate, lasciviously undulating rhythm. It's a siren's call, even you know that, but there's no denying the lure, so you follow it like a trail of perfume until it leads to an open door. Inside an ungodly blue light glows and smoke swirls about like spirits dancing in slow motion.

It's not much of a room, really, big and square. Long bar, pool table, jukebox, cigarette machine, mirrored ceiling, brass pole. Neither full nor empty, patrons silent. The music pumps out of big speakers and bounces off empty walls - no vocals - only organ, drums, bass, guitar - grinding a patient, sturdy groove marked out in 4/4 time solid enough to build a house on (just what Stax did). Every eye trained intently on the stripper, and all you call say is - Ride Sally Ride. Now you understand why it's always worth going off the beaten track. This is the real deal - this is the source - the foundation - this is not funk(y) - this is not funk-ish - this is funkamental - this is the whosever what why and how of funk. Maybe Sam & Dave are in the kitchen, but right here, this is the basement.

Plum Nellie, once you got your hooks on me, there was no pretending I could ever turn back.