Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios

by N/A

Overview

Though it doesn't quite have the reputation or mystique of the studios for Sun Records and Stax Records, American Studios was also a major generator of rock and soul hits in Memphis. Produced as a soundtrack/companion to Roben James' book of the same name, Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios has a couple dozen hits and other noteworthy tracks recorded at the facility between 1966 and 1970. Indeed, it's more oriented toward familiar hit records than the usual Ace compilation. When a studio cut distinctive, richly arranged soul and rock hits of such quality, however, that's nothing to complain about. And there are plenty of classic smashes here: the Box Tops' "The Letter," Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man," Merrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning," the Gentrys' "Keep on Dancing," Sandy Posey's "Born a Woman,' Wilson Pickett's "I'm in Love," Joe Tex's "Skinny Legs and All," James & Bobby Purify's 'Shake a Tail Feather," and Danny O'Keefe's "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues," to name some. For those looking for something a little or a lot less famous, there are Southern soul sides by the likes of Bobby Womack, Spencer Wiggins, Clay Hammond, Percy Milem, and L.C. Cooke (brother of Sam Cooke). Elvis Presley is represented by a cover of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On," and while Mark James' original version of "Suspicious Minds" (a number one hit for Elvis in 1969) has been reissued before, its inclusion guarantees it will be heard by quite a few appreciative listeners who might have been previously unaware of its existence. Expert annotation (including a track-by-track rundown) and Ace's typically ace vintage graphics/photos complement a collection that makes you eager to read the much lengthier book that inspired it. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	03/06/2012
Label:	Ace / Ace Uk
UPC:	0029667048828
Rank:	92187

Tracks

1. Memphis Soul Stew  - Tommy Cogbill  - Tom Dowd  -  King Curtis  - Curtis Ousley
2. Son of a Preacher Man  - Tom Dowd  - John Hurley  - Arif Mardin  - Dusty Springfield  - Jerry Wexler  - Ronnie Wilkins
3. Shake a Tail Feather  - Gene Chrisman  - Tommy Cogbill  - Bobby Emmons  - Otis Hayes  - Bobby Purify  - James Purify  - Verlie Rice  - Papa Don Schroeder  - Andre Williams  - Reggie Young
4. The Letter  -  Box Tops  - Wayne Carson  - Dan Penn
5. Born a Woman  - Chips Moman  - Sandy Posey  - Martha Sharp
6. You've Got My Mind Messed Up  - James Carr  - Quinton Claunch  - Osbie Burnett McClinton  - Rudolph Russell
7. Keep on Dancing  -  Gentrys  - Allen Jones  - Andrew Love  - Chips Moman  - Richard Shann
8. Nine Pound Steel  - Wayne Carson  -  J R Enterprises  - Chips Moman  - Dan Penn  - Joe Simon
9. Angel of the Morning  - Tommy Cogbill  - Chips Moman  - Merrillee Rush  - Chip Taylor
10. I'm in Love  - Tommy Cogbill  - Tom Dowd  - Wilson Pickett  - Bobby Womack
11. Suspicious Minds  - Mark James  - Chips Moman
12. I've Been Down That Road Before  - Mark James  - Chips Moman  - Spooner Oldham  - Dan Penn  - B.J. Thomas
13. Funky Street  - Arthur Conley  - Tom Dowd  - Earl Simms
14. For Your Precious Love  - Arthur Brooks  - Richard Brooks  - Jerry Butler  - Gene Chrisman  - Tommy Cogbill  - Bobby Emmons  - Papa Don Schroeder  - Oscar Jr. Toney  - Reggie Young
15. Shame on Me  - Don Bryant  - Solomon Burke  - Tom Dowd  - Willie Mitchell  - Jerry Wexler
16. The Dark End of the Street  -  Glories  - Chips Moman  - Dan Penn
17. Skinny Legs and All  - Buddy Killen  - Joe Tex
18. The Power of a Woman  - Quinton Claunch  - Rudolph Russell  - Spencer Wiggins
19. More Than I Can Stand  - Darryl Carter  - Mike Leech  - Chips Moman  - Glen Spreen  - Bobby Womack
20. Let's Do It Over  - Quinton Claunch  - L.C. Cooke  - Chips Moman  - Spooner Oldham  - Dan Penn  - Rudolph Russell
21. Suzy Do It Better Than You  - Freddy DeMann  - Clay Hammond
22. I Don't Know What You Got (But It's Got Me)  - Quinton Claunch  - Don Covay  - Percy Milem  - Rudolph Russell
23. Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues  - Arif Mardin  - Daniel O'Keefe  - Danny O'Keefe
24. I'm Movin' On  - Felton Jarvis  - Elvis Presley  - Hank Snow

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Danny O'Keefe   Primary Artist
Oscar Toney, Jr.   Primary Artist
The Glories   Primary Artist
Merrillee Rush   Primary Artist
Solomon Burke   Primary Artist
B.J. Thomas   Primary Artist
Bobby Womack   Primary Artist
The Gentrys   Primary Artist
King Curtis   Primary Artist
L.C. Cooke   Primary Artist
James Carr   Primary Artist
Clay Hammond   Primary Artist
Dusty Springfield   Primary Artist
Elvis Presley   Primary Artist
Joe Tex   Primary Artist
Mark James   Primary Artist
Sandy Posey   Primary Artist
Percy Milem   Primary Artist
The Box Tops   Primary Artist
Wilson Pickett   Primary Artist
Arthur Conley   Primary Artist
Spencer Wiggins   Primary Artist
Joe Simon   Primary Artist
Bobby Purify   Primary Artist
James Purify   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Tom Dowd   Supervisor,Producer
Freddy DeMann   Producer
Martha Sharp   Composer
Richard Brooks   Composer
Verlie Rice   Composer
Papa Don Schroeder   Producer
Otis Hayes   Composer
Allen Jones   Composer
Rudolph Russell   Producer
Osbie Burnett McClinton   Composer
Daniel O'Keefe   Composer
Eric Crews   Cover Photo
J R Enterprises, Inc.   Producer
Richard Shann   Composer
Roben Jones   Liner Notes
Don Covay   Composer
Andre Williams   Composer
Andrew Love   Composer
Bobby Womack   Arranger,Composer
Clay Hammond   Composer
Felton Jarvis   Producer
Don Bryant   Composer
Earl Simms   Composer
Spooner Oldham   Composer
Tony Rounce   Liner Notes
John Broven   Liner Notes
John Hurley   Composer
Gene Chrisman   Producer
Wayne Carson   Composer
Joe Tex   Composer
Mark James   Composer
Jerry Butler   Composer
Tommy Cogbill   Producer,Supervisor
Buddy Killen   Producer
Glen Spreen   Arranger
Hank Snow   Composer
Dan Penn   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Darryl Carter   Composer
Willie Mitchell   Composer
Ronnie Wilkins   Composer
Jerry Wexler   Producer
Quinton Claunch   Composer,Producer
Mike Leech   Arranger
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Arif Mardin   Producer
Arthur Conley   Composer
Arthur Brooks   Composer
Bobby Emmons   Producer
Chips Moman   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Chip Taylor   Composer
Curtis Ousley   Composer
Reggie Young   Producer