Customer Reviews

Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While a cursory glance at the track listing on this package would indicate to a died in the wool soul music fan that this is just another compilation - a closer look would indicate that the care and attention and sound quality are nothing short of a revelation. Ace with their usual fastidious approach have even surpassed themselves. The previously unreleased take of "Try A Little Tenderness" by Otis is worth the cost of this set by itself. And the packaging is outstanding - far surpassing the Bear Family Sweet Soul Music series from earlier this year which are drab by comparison and a lot more expensive.
So as a sop to today's economic woes treat yourself to a milestone in soul music history and hope that we can all convince Tony Rounce and the folks at Ace/Kent that a second volume is mandatory.

I am knocked sideways by this release. 75 stonkers, beautifully remastered, presented in a book format, with hard cover, lashings of color photos, in-depth notes, track by track comentary and discographical information.

Ace have enjoyed a wonderful reputation for years of Getting It Right, but this is beyond my expectations. If you love Southern Soul already, buy it because there'll be things here you'll never have heard (unless you were one of the compilers). If you want to leap into the genre for the first time, just get this - you wont find a better starting place.

25 stars!!

I echo the sentiments of the previous reviewer, and too, give this set 10 stars. Heck, 15... 20... it's that good!! Any meager words I come up with cannot do any justice to what's contained in this handsome package, so you'll just have to get your own copy. Ace has really outdone themselves with this one: from the booklet-styled holder to the notes and photos to the music itself... I am rendered mute!! Guys, it's gonna be hard to match this one, but a second volume wouldn't be too much to ask for please, would it??This set is by far my favorite box set released this year, and as anyone who has read any of my posts or reviews before knows, I am wallowing in box sets!! Get this now!! What are you waiting for??

If you love Southern Soul music, this is a must. Well known songs and rare ones play side by side. Don't miss this!

In todays' world of Mp3 downloads, free sitest, etc, rarely am I as impressed by the text,the pictures, and the entire format, as I am by the music itself. "Take Me To The River, River" is a prime exception to that rule.
This is one of the best sets of popular music ever produced, period.

With the exception of one cut,and it is mind bending, this not a collection of outtatkes and alt. versions of hits. It took some nerve, and a lot of love, to put this set out; there are a few pedestrian cuts, but there are also so many "One Hit" and even, "No Hit" wonders, your average listener might hesitate plunking down the cash in these hard times. Too bad, because this set finally reclaims Southern Soul music from the those who have marginalized, trivialized, and exploited it for their own profit over the years.

..."Hossman" Allen was a real good friend of mine, and trust me, he would have loved this collection.
This is a masterpiece, don't miss it.
Rev. Biily C. Wirtz

Agree with all the other reviewers. This is great music. I have had several tracks on vinyl albums since their release in the early 70's.

To find Bobby Womack, Doris Duke, Sam Dees, Al Green and Freddie North on one collection is wonderful!

The best thing is the tracks I didn't know. The truly amazing horn section in Marcell Strongs 'Mumble in my Ear'. George Jackson's devine 'How Can I Get Next To You, to name but two.

There is not a single dud track out of the 75!

Agree with other reviewers too. The packaging is exemplary. A well made book with information of every track.
The guys who put this together at Kent/Ace records in the UK really know their soul music.

This is the compilation I would've put together if I could've. I don't know all of the songs but that's a bonus too. There are some obscure classics that deserve another listen here alongside huge hits like Aretha's "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine." Love William Bell's "You Don't Miss Your Water Til Your Well Runs Dry." Only song I would've added would be another water song, "Like Pouring Water On A Drowning Man" by James Carr. But Carr's well represented on this compilation with his beautiful version of the Oldham-Penn classic, "Dark End Of The Street." I never knew songs like "My Adorable One" by Joe Simon before and now I do. Well done and well worth the dough.

The is an overwhelming amount of great performances here. It is briliant, as is alot of the Kent releases. I would recomend this to anyone of any age.
My favorite Kent release is "Our turn to Cry" but this is way up there.