Search - Various Artists :: Can't Be Satisfied: XL and the Sounds of Memphis Story

In 1965 in Memphis something musical was stirring, the biggest hit from the city that year was not made by Otis or the wicked Pickett but by Sam the Sham for a label run by an ex-Sun Records songwriter and a liquor distributor. 'Wooly Bully' went on to sell 10 million copies worldwide, and set the XL label up for a ten-year exploration of the music of the era. Records were issued on both the XL and Sounds Of Memphis imprints, much of it being up-tempo soul, recorded at a state-of-the-art studio also created by the company. This is the first compilation to take a definitive look at this superb output, following our breathtaking release of Barbara Brown's recordings for the label earlier this year - described by Mojo's Lois Wilson as "truly essential". Here we feature Barbara Brown's soul classic 'Pity A Fool' and an unreleased alternate of 'Plaything' which sees the backing track stripped back to allow Barbara's voice to shine through. The CD also sees the first reissue of the amazing Spencer Wiggins single 'I Can't Be Satisfied' rated by many to be one of the finest examples of southern soul ever. If you like your soul raw we have plenty more in this vein from Billy Cee (a rare locally released 45), Richard and Walter, Rudolph Taylor and Willie Bollinger. Throughout, the excellent productions of Stan Kesler, Charles Chalmers, and Dan Greer reach a level of intoxicating intensity. For those looking for rare dance-floor records, we have plenty. Lou Roberts' 'Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Love' was big record at the Blackpool Mecca, while the obscure Ann Hodge 'Your Welcome Back' was also a big Northern record several years later. We also bring an unreleased Hodge record 'Shower Of Tears' which we believe may have beat ballad potential. The Minits' (a three piece girl group) 'Still A Part Of Me' has been selling regularly for three figures in the last year and is another one of Dan Greer's excellent early 70s productions. We have added a couple of Greer solo efforts as well as a couple by the legendary George Jackson, including the previously unreleased 'Walking The City Streets'. The package benefits from the extensive Sounds Of Memphis photo archive and from sleeve notes that includes interviews with the usually reclusive Stan Kessler, label co-owner Gene Luchessi and Charles Chalmers.