Various Artists - Memphis Soul Æ66

Fakta Memphis has long been a key city for African-American music. Pre-war musicians played the blues not just to local citizens but also to the large transient population drawn to the port city. The post-war blues boom led by the likes of Little Milton, Rufus Thomas, BB King and Howling Wolf also found a ready audience for their music, especially after Sam Phillips opened his legendary Sun studios. Into the 60s and more music was recorded in Memphis than ever before. New studios opened their doors as did an ever larger number of labels, all looking for that elusive hit. By 1966, the Soul revolution was in full swing. Stax was into powerhouse mode scoring twenty top 30 R&B hits in the year, including 45s cut at the studio by Atlantic artists such as Wilson Pickett and Sam and Dave. Goldwax was well into its stride too with excellent releases from stalwarts like James Carr and Spencer Wiggins to the fore. And almost half of the tracks on this album owe their place here to Willie Mitchell's increasing influence as the producer of the "Hi Sound".