Woman to Woman by Shirley Brown first arrived in 1974 on Stax’s Truth label. The single of the same name sold a million copies in its first eight weeks. That’s something to write home about, and Deanie Parker (who provided the original album notes) proclaimed it a “phenomenon”! Shirley was discovered by blues guitarist Albert King when she was only 14 years old. The hit single doesn’t appear on the album until track five, and by that point the listener is so caught up in the spirit of Shirley’s powerful voice, and the solid backing of Al Jackson, Jr. (drums), Bobby Manuel (guitar), Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (bass), Marvell Thomas (piano) and Lester Snell (organ) that ”Woman to Woman” might not have the impact it did on AM radio back in the day. I haven’t even mentioned the Memphis Horns, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Charles Chalmers Singers who also add support. This is Southern soul music at its best. It hasn’t dated at all, retaining its funkiness and Ms. Brown’s earthy vocals reminding at times us of Aretha Franklin. The original album is expanded with five bonus tracks. Potent stuff indeed.
The Dramatics were a vocal group from Detroit who recorded for Stax in an effort to expand Stax’s reach beyond its Memphis home. They had started out as The Sensations while still in high school, and changed their name to the Dramatics for a pair of singles released on the Detroit Wingate label. Session musicians are not listed, but one can guess that many of Stax’s resident groovemasters are present. The band hits a great groove and The Dramatics sing like crazy over it. You can picture the choreography as you listen. You have to love the music from this era. The liner notes from these re-issues are particularly helpful in giving a taste of the times as well as a brief history of the performer[s] in question. Gail Mitchell and Lee Hildebrand provided notes for the Shirley Brown album while Rob Bowman, the author of Soulsville, USA: the Story of Stax Records, wrote the notes for whatcha see is whatcha get. The original eight tracks are more than doubled with the inclusion of A Dramatic Experience and two more bonus tracks making this one a great value.
Last but definitely not least is the re-release of Rufus Thomas’s Do the Funky Chicken. With able support from a variety of Memphis session men, including Michael Toles (guitar), Marvell Thomas and Isaac Hayes (keyboards), Wille Hall (drums) and the great Memphis Horns, this was one slab of funky soul when it first hit the record stores in 1970. It’s still a great listen and with the addition of four singles it’s even better. Booker T & the MGs back Rufus up on the bonus tracks. Highlights include the title track and Thomas’s take on “Hound Dog” called “Bear Cat”! Rob Bowman again gives us informative liner notes, and as is true on all the Stax re-issues the original cover design is used. this careful packaging makes these remastered CDs virtually must-haves.
With the recent soul revival on the part of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Tones among others, it’s wonderful to be able to to listen to improved versions of these historic recordings! Thanks Stax.
(All from Concord/Stax Remasters, 2011)
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