The Complete Fame Singles. Vol 1 -
1964-1967
Three
words synonymous with Southern Soul are Muscle Shoals and Fame. Florence
Alabama Music Enterprises or simply FAME to all its fans, was founded by Rick
Hall, Billy Sherrill and Tom Stafford in Florence, Alabama before moving to
where it still stands in the small backwater town of Muscle Shoals when Hall
split from the others. It went on to record many hits by many R&B, Rock and
Pop superstars for many labels as well as it’s own.
For the
last few years Ace/Kent Records have been delving deep into the archives of
FAME to bring some fantastic compilations covering Southern Soul great such as
George Jackson, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Hughes and there, many unreleased tracks
have also been unearthed and included on the various compilations.
Now we
have the first installment of The Complete Fame Singles with volume one
covering the years 1964-7, both A & B sides are featured, that’s 26
releases, 52 tracks, over two CD’s.
Jimmy
Hughes kicks of the compilation with the Southern Soul great “Steal Away” and
is by far the most prolific during the years covered by this release with no
less than eleven 45’s featured. Other favourites of Hughes, especially for UK
collectors would be Neighbor, Neighbor and I’m A Man Of Action. Other stand out
Hughes tracks for me are “Goodbye Mr Lover Goodbye”, “You Can’t Believe
Everything” & “Time Will Bring You Back”.
Other
tracks that appeal to UK collectors and in particular the club scene are James
Barnett “Keep On Talking”, Art Freeman’s “Slippin' Around With You” and June
Conquest’s “Almost Persuaded” with all three becoming classics on the UK
Northern Soul scene over the years.
Southern
Soul lovers though are treated to some gems. Clarence Carter with “I Stayed
Away Too Long” & “Don’t Make My Baby Cry” my picks of the six sides on
offer. Arthur Conley has two 45’s featured with “I’m Gonna Forget About You”
being the pick for me.
Whilst
James Barnett’s “Keep On Talking” is probably the most sought after release
from this compilation due to it’s success on the underground UK Northern Soul
scene the flip “Take A Good Look” is an often overlooked slice of Southern Soul.
Dan Penn as well as his contribution to Fame through his songwriting chips in
with two 345’s of his own with “Let Them Talk” being my favourite off the four
sides on offer.
Spooner
Oldham, Dan Penn’s song writing partner and a huge part of the Fame Story has
one release featured here and is in all fairness probably doesn’t appeal to
Southern Soul lovers along with the likes of The Villagers (one release) and
Terry Woodford (two releases), but then again that is
to be expected with any label let alone one that is still finding its way as a
label in its own right.
Overall
the compilation is a must for lovers of Southern Soul, The Fame Label and
Studio has played (and continues to play) a significant part in the history of
Southern Soul music and is getting the recognition it deserves via the releases
from Kent and the recent Film Documentary “Muscle Shoals” from director Greg
'Freddy' Camalier.
As usual
you get the usual superb information packed sleeve notes from Dean Rudland and
Tony Rounce, worth the price alone.
Disc 1: -
1. Steal
Away- Jimmy Hughes
2.
Lollypops, Lace And Lipstick - Jimmy Hughes
3. Close
To Me - Dan Penn
4. Let
Them Talk - Dan Penn
5. Try
Me - Jimmy Hughes
6.
Lovely Ladies - Jimmy Hughes
7. I'm
Getting Better - Jimmy Hughes
8. I
Want Justice - Jimmy Hughes
9. Hey,
Do You Wanna Marry - Spooner And The Spoons
10. Wish
You Didn't Have To Go - Spooner And The Spoons
11.
Almost Persuaded - June Conquest
12.
Party Talk - June Conquest
13.
Goodbye My Lover Goodbye - Jimmy Hughes
14. It
Was Nice - Jimmy Hughes
15. Take
Me (Just As I Am) - Dan Penn
16.
Diamonds - Dan Penn
17. You
Really Know How To Hurt A Guy - Jimmy Hughes
18. The
Loving Physician - Jimmy Hughes
19.
Midnight Affair - Jimmy Hughes
20. When
It Comes To Dancing - Jimmy Hughes
21. Keep
On Talking - James Barnett
22. Take
A Good Look - James Barnett
23.
Gonna Make You Say Yeah - Terry Woodford
24. Hit
The Ground - Terry Woodford
25.
Neighbor, Neighbor - Jimmy Hughes
26. It's
A Good Thing - Jimmy Hughes
Disc 2: -
1. His
Town - Terry Woodford
2. She
Wants What She Can't Have - Terry Woodford
3. Laugh
It Off - The Villagers
4.
You're Gonna Lose That Girl - The Villagers
5. I
Worship The Ground You Walk On - Jimmy Hughes
6. A
Shot Of Rhythm And Blues - Jimmy Hughes
7. In
The Same Old Way - Arthur Conley
8. I
Can't Stop (No, No No)- Arthur Conley
9. I
Can't Get You Out Of My Mind - Art Freeman
10.
Slippin Around With You - Art Freeman
11. I'm
Gonna Forget About You - Arthur Conley
12. Take
Me (Just As I Am) - Arthur Conley
13. I
Stayed Away Too Long - Clarence Carter
14. Tell
Daddy - Clarence Carter
15. Why
Not Tonight - Jimmy Hughes
16. I'm
A Man Of Action - Jimmy Hughes
17.
Everybody's Got To Cry Sometime - Art Freeman
18. A
Piece Of My Heart - Art Freeman
19.
Thread The Needle - Clarence Carter
20.
Don't Make My Baby Cry - Clarence Carter
21.
Don't Lose Your Good Thing - Jimmy Hughes
22. You
Can't Believe Everything- Jimmy Hughes
23. Hi
Heel Sneakers - Jimmy Hughes
24. Time
Will Bring You Back - Jimmy Hughes
25. She
Ain't Gonna Do Right - Clarence Carter
26. The
Road Of Love - Clarence Carter
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