In the private sector, since early autumn, I have been primarily focused on REDUX'd collections ... improving quality, format (when possible) and presentation. And when it applies, the addition of an accompanying songbook collection. Just last week, I finally got around to the incredible George Jackson, who was arguably one of the greatest soul songwriters of all time. I could have easily crafted a four or five part songbook anthology, but kept it to a tight and delightful two-part collection, enjoy.
If there is in fact magic down in Muscle Shoals, then George Jackson was easily one of its greatest practitioners. His pen was his wand and with it, he wielded a mighty power. Through his two stays in the rural Alabama-based hit making haven, Jackson penned well over a thousand songs, a number of which became hit records for a wide array of popular artists. First at Rick Hall's FAME studio in the late 60s to early 70s and then again in the late 70s to early 80s, at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, founded by a handful of former FAME musicians. Prior to this and in between these stints, Jackson spent considerable time in the musically rich city of Memphis, TN. There he was briefly under contract with Quinton Claunch and Doc Russell's Goldwax label between 1966 and 1967 and Sounds Of Memphis studios from 1973 to 1975, where at both of which, he worked closely with the talented Dan Greer. Additionally, he was constantly on Willie Mitchell's radar and subsequently had a few recording and writing endeavors by way of Mitchell's Memphis-based Hi Records. Jackson had a couple minor R&B hits, yet ultimately it was his ability to craft provocative works that could be easily interpreted and reinterpreted, that earned him some modest success and recognition. Jackson spent nearly two decades with Malaco Records exclusively as a songwriter during the company's most prominent period, penning material for some of the best in the business. In his near 40 yearlong career, Jackson was behind such hits as Wilson Pickett's "A Man And A Half", Clarence Carter's "Messin' With My Mind", Candi Staton's "Evidence", Otis Clay's "The Only Way Is Up", Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock n Roll", ZZ Hill's "Down Home Blues", Little Milton's "Struggling Lady" and many many more. At this point you've all likely come to realize that I rarely rely on the so-called hits and as such, none of these versions are included here. Furthermore, I certainly wasn't going to let The Osmonds' #1 hit, "One Bad Apple", spoil the bunch. Hope you dig what I've dug up for this ...
VA - Sweet Thing (Selections From The Songbook Of George Jackson)
PART 1:
101 - Wilson Pickett - 1969 - Back In Your Arms (Atlantic LP SD-8215)
102 - Ike & Tina Turner - 1970 - (As Long As I Can) Get You When I Want You (Liberty LP LST-7650)
103 - Clarence Carter - 1969 - I Can't Do Without You (Atlantic LP SD-8238)
104 - Doris Duke - 1970 - The Feeling Is Right (Canyon Records LP 7704) (Canyon 54)
105 - Odia Coates - 1975 - Thief (In The Night) (United Artists LP UA-LA228-G-0698)
106 - Spencer Wiggins - 197? - Hit And Run (Unissued FAME)
107 - Uncle Tom - 1974 - Welcome Back (United Artists UA-XW418-W)
108 - Ann Peebles - 1978 - Livin' In, Lovin' Out (Hi HLP 6007)
109 - The Staples - 1978 - Unlock Your Mind (Warner Bros. LP BSK-3192)
110 - Z.Z. Hill - 1982 - Help Me, I'm In Need (Malaco MLP 7411)
111 - Johnnie Taylor - 1986 - Don't Make Me Late (Malaco MCD 7440)
112 - Barbara Carr - 1988 - Messing With My Mind (Bar-Car 002)
113 - The Meadows - 1981 - What A Day This Has Been (Radio LP RR-19305)
114 - Otis Clay - 1982 - If I Could Open Up My Heart (Victor [Japan] LP VIP-6819)
115 - Facts Of Life - 1977 - What Would Your Mama Say? (Kayvette LPK-802)
116 - Clarence Carter - 1976 - I Thought It Was Over (ABC LP ABCD-943)
117 - Candi Staton - 1974 - A Little Taste Of Love (Warner Bros. LP BS-2830)
118 - Veda Brown - 1972 - Take It Off Her (And Put It On Me) (Stax 0123)
119 - Brothers Unlimited - 1970 - Take Me Back (Capitol LP ST-600)
120 - Little Milton Campbell - 1970 - Somebody's Changin' My Sweet Baby's Mind (Checker 1231) [mono]
121 - Marjorie Ingram - 1969 - A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Bennett 100) [mono]
122 - Bobby Patterson - 1970 - I'm In Love With You (Jetstar 121) [mono]
123 - James Govan - 19?? - I Bit Off More Than I Can Chew (Unissued FAME) [mono]
124 - Willie Hightower - 1970 - I Can't Love Without You (FAME 1474) [mono]
125 - Bettye Swann - 1971 - I'm Just Living A Lie (FAME 1479) [mono]
PART 2:
201 - Clarence Carter - 1970 - It's All In Your Mind (Atlantic 2774) [mono]
202 - Bobby Boseman - 1970 - Another Man's Woman (Evejim 1941) [mono]
203 - Patrice Holloway - 1971 - Evidence (Capitol 3176) [mono]
204 - Ann Peebles - 1971 - Slipped, Tripped, And Fell In Love (Hi LP SHL-32065)
205 - Spencer Wiggins - 1966 - Old Friend (Goldwax 312)
206 - Wilson Pickett - 1969 - Search Your Heart (Atlantic LP SD-8215)
207 - The Ovations - 1967 - Ride My Trouble And Blues Away (Goldwax 322)
208 - Otis Clay - 1972 - Holding On To A Dying Love (Hi LP XSHL-32075)
209 - Alder Ray Black - 1972 - Just Because The Package's Been Unwrapped (Sound Plus 2102)
210 - High Voltage - 1973 - Save Me (Columbia LP KC-31376)
211 - Bettye Swann - 1972 - Victim Of A Foolish Heart (Atlantic 2869)
212 - The Patterson Twins - 1973 - Back In Love Again (King 6422)
213 - O.V. Wright - 1978 - The Bottom Line (Hi HLP 6008)
214 - Johnnie Taylor - 1979 - Play Something Pretty (Columbia 1-11084)
215 - Bobby Bland - 1985 - Heart, Open Up Again (Malaco MCD 7429)
216 - Z.Z. Hill - 1982 - Cheatin' In The Next Room (Malaco MLP 7406)
217 - Ruby Wilson - 1981 - Seeing You Again (Malaco MLP 7404)
218 - Otis Clay - 1977 - All Because Of Your Love (Kayvette 5130)
219 - The Ovations Featuring Louis Williams - 1978 - Sweet Thing (XL 120)
220 - Johnny Robinson - 1976 - Nothing Can Touch This Love (Epic LP BN-26528)
221 - Odia Coates - 1975 - Heaven And Hell (United Artists LP UA-LA228-G-0698)
222 - Wilson Pickett - 1974 - Iron It Out (RCA Victor LP APL1-0495)
223 - Candi Staton - 1971 - Too Hurt To Cry (Fame LP ST-4202) (FAME 1478)
224 - Clarence Carter - 197? - Love's Trying To Come To You (Unissued FAME)
225 - Spencer Wiggins - 19?? - This Love Is Gonna Be True (Unissued FAME)
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