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The Essential James Carr

 
Album Review: The Essential James Carr

  • Artist: James Carr
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: February 21, 1995
  • Total Time: 50:40
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

When the soul era of the mid-'60s was in full bloom, for a period of three years James Carr was the maker of some of its mightiest music. His warm, soulful voice could make the reading of virtually anything he touched (even his version here of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody") a transcendent event. He is also the mystery man of the genre, unlettered and imbued with an almost childlike innocence, disappearing for a decade after these recordings were made with charges of mental instability cropping up whenever his name is mentioned. But music this special doesn't come without a price and certainly Carr paid that price, not unlike the gospel singers who influenced him who sometimes sang themselves to death right on stage. But the music will always win out, because personal problems aside, the music James Carr made is as deep as Southern soul music gets, on an equal par with the best of a Sam Cooke or an Otis Redding. Tracks like "You've Got My Mind Messed Up," "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man" and his masterpiece, "The Dark End of the Street" are all justifiable classics of the genre, and this 20-track collection is where you go to get the big picture on an artist who deserves a much wider hearing. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
You've Got My Mind Messed Up O.B. McClinton James Carr (2:23)
I'm a Fool for You Dolly Greer, Quinton Claunch, Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell, G. Jackson, Earl Cage James Carr (2:00)
You Didn't Know It But You Had Me [*] G. Jackson, Dolly Greer James Carr (2:38)
The Dark End of the Street Chips Moman, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham James Carr (2:33)
Lovable Girl O.B. McClinton James Carr (2:27)
Stronger Than Love Clarence Shields James Carr (2:27)
I Gotta Go [*] James Carr (2:23)
Love Attack Quinton Claunch James Carr (2:53)
You Don't Want Me [*] Roosevelt Jamison James Carr (2:38)
A Man Needs a Woman O.B. McClinton James Carr (2:42)
Come Back to Me Baby G. Jackson James Carr (2:02)
Forgetting You O.B. McClinton James Carr (2:55)
Pouring Water on a Drowning Man D.K. Baker, Dani McCormick, D. McCormick, Drew Baker James Carr (2:40)
These Ain't Raindrops Quinton Claunch James Carr (2:30)
Freedom Train Larry Rogers, Steve Bogard, Lenny Kravitz James Carr (2:19)
What Can I Call My Own? [*] Larry Rogers James Carr (2:41)
I'm Going for Myself Now James Carr (2:24)
Gonna Send You Back to Georgia Hound Dog Taylor, Johnnie Mae Matthews James Carr (2:13)
Let It Happen Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn James Carr (2:23)
To Love Somebody Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb James Carr (3:17)

Credits

Reggie Young (Guitar), The Memphis Horns (Horn), Quinton Claunch (Producer), David Hod (Bass), Roger Hawkins (Drums), Bobby Emmons (Organ), James Carr (Sax (Tenor)), James Carr (Vocals), Gene Chrisman (Drums), Jimmy Johnson (Guitar), Bobby Woods (Keyboards), Colin Escott (Liner Notes), Tommy Cogbill (Bass), Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell (Producer), Stan Kesler (Engineer), Spooner Oldham (Keyboards)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more