It's a dirty, nasty deep fried plate of
soul. Once Booker T. Jones' fingers hit the keys of his overdriven
B-3 with the opening, and appropriate, song “Green Onions” it is
evident that these performances are special. This is heightened by
the lead in from drummer Al Jackson Jr who propels the band to take
off like a rocket ship. A ride held together by Donald “Duck”
Dunn on bass and the riffs of Steve “The Colonel” Cropper. This
is the true sound of the dirty south. A sound that can only come off
the streets of Memphis and delivered live to a crowd wanting more.
The album is a sonic invasion that hit the streets of swinging London
with raw sexuality and swagger. A backing band (Booker T and the MG's
and the Mar-Keys providing horns) that is a force to be reckoned
with. Songs that have stood the test of time and vocal performances
from the royalty of Memphis Soul. “The Stax/Volt Revue, Volume One:
Live in London” is not just a live album but the embodiment of the
Stax/Volt sound.
Each of the performances are amazing
and each of the performers are legends. The soaring horns of the
Mar-Keys. The southern roots of Eddie Floyd. The always great and
incendiary Otis Redding. The sexy and sultry Carla Thomas. The double
dynamite power house that is Sam & Dave. The artists that appears
on this album is a who's who of Memphis Soul. It is a power, fury,
and sexuality that is lacking today in what is called RnB, Neo-Soul,
or Soul music. These are singers, songwriters, and musicians that are
at the top of their game. Bound and determined to give the country
that brought us the Beatles a true lesson in what showmanship,
songwriting, and performance is all about. An excitement and gut
instinct over technical proficiency which has become common place in
music.
“The Stax/Volt Revue, Volume One:
Live in London” is composed of explosive performances that leaves
the listeners on the edges of their seats. You can feel, and hear,
excitement in each track. From The Mar-Keys blasting out “Philly
Dog,” Eddie Floyd's blistering version of “Knock on Wood,”
Carla Thomas making the Beatles classic “Yesterday” into a sultry
soul serenade, Sam & Dave powering their way through “I Take
What I Want,” and Otis Redding stepping it up with his version of
Sam Cooke's “Shake.”
Listening, you can hear Booker T. and
the MG's powering their way through each song. A freight train
barreling down the tracks as if their lives depend on it. Even in the
most delicate of songs, “When Something is Wrong with My Baby”
(Sam & Dave) and “Yesterday” (Carla Thomas,) there is a power
only matched by the singers themselves. In some cases, outmatched.
This album is a juggernaut of soul.
Played how it should be; with style, finesse, and a shoot from the
hip attitude making the music live, breath, dance, and remain alive.
This is the sound of these performers doing what they do best: making
music that makes you move. There is a raw sexuality present in each
performance. It is one thing to have an air of sexuality but it is
another to pull it off on album, a live album none-the-less.
“The Stax/Volt Revue, Volume One:
Live in London” is the sound of Southern Soul. Dirty and Nasty. It
is everything that one envisions of the music that comes from
Memphis. It is soul food in the form of sound. Those in attendance on
those London nights in March were lucky to witness Booker T. and the
MG's, The Mar-Keys, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, and Sam
& Dave in their prime. We are lucky that this is documented and
we can experience the excitement briefly. At least for the 40 minutes
that this music invades our ears and moves our soul.
This album is a testament to everything
that is great about the Stax/Volt sound. A sound Motown was afraid to
explore. The stripped down sound that allows the true essence of
music to come through. It is time to hear this testimonial. Turn this
up. Let the music that comes from your speakers,or headphones, move
your body.
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