VA - Memphis 60 - Soul, R&B And Proto Funk From Soul City USA (2009)

Yet another fantastic collection of obscure soul tunes, compiled by Dean Rudland for the BGP label. If you have the "companion" CD, "Memphs 70", rest assured that this one is dynamite too.

I love the mixture of original material and cool covers (soulful remakes of the Beatles' "Ticket To Ride", the Sir Douglas Quintet's "She's About a Mover", and Lowell Fulsom's "Tramp" (performed here by young Junior Kimball, who later gained renown in blues circles as Junior Kimbrough). There is also an early Isaac Hayes track (recording as Sir Isaac & the Do-Dads) and a wicked instrumental by the Cobras, a 1964 track with Steve Cropper and his mighty guitar.

But the goodies don't stop there. We are also treated to more fine soul by the likes of Willie Bollinger, Prince Conley, Barbara & the Browns, the Dixie Nightingales, Eddie Purrell, and much more. Honestly, this is astonishingly great soul music.