LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The second volume of the “Complete Goldwax Singles” sees us hit the label’s golden period, where classic southern soul 45s pour out at a rate of knots. James Carr cements his place in the pantheon of great soul singers with a series of simply jaw-dropping singles. On this volume we have ‘You Got My Mind Messed Up’, ‘Love Attack’ and ‘Pouring Water On A Drowning Man’ before we get to ‘Dark End Of The Street’, the song that not only defined him, but quite possibly the whole southern soul genre.

Volume Two is not just James Carr: the Ovations made amazing 45s at this period of the label’s history, as did soul man Spencer Wiggins, who serves up the sublime ‘Uptight Good Woman’, among others. Other brilliant slices of southern soul featured are from Percy Millem, Eddie Jefferson, George (Jackson) and (Dan) Greer and Barbara Perry.

As with Volume One, part of the fun of a complete singles compilation are the oddities and one-offs. Here are R&B dancers by Oboe, Ivory Joe Hunter and future hit-maker Timmy Thomas and fantastic Memphis garage from the Yo-Yo’s. We also see forays into the country market with Carmol Taylor, the Terrys and Kathy Davis singles. They usually included one side of the sort of ballad that bear a close relationship to the deepest country soul.

“The Complete Goldwax Singles Volume 1” was the recipient of some fantastic reviews: featured in Mojo ( ½ page lead review), Uncut, and Record Collector. We anticipate more of the same with this new volume.

Track listing:

Disc One:

1. YOU’VE GOT MY MIND MESSED UP - James Carr
2. THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW - James Carr
3. LEANING ON YOU - Yo Yo’s
4. I CAN’T FORGET YOU - Yo Yo’s
5. HELLO DAUGHTER - Leroy Daniel
6. GONNA COMB YOU OUTTA MY HAIR - Leroy Daniel
7. TRYING TO MAKE IT - Oboe
8. I’M JUST THAT KIND OF FOOL FOR YOU - Oboe
9. HERE IT IS NOW - Gene Bowlegs Miller
10. WHAT TIME YE GOT - Gene Bowlegs Miller
11. I BELIEVE I’LL GO BACK HOME - The Ovations
12. QUALIFICATIONS - The Ovations
13. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPED ME - Ivory Joe Hunter
14. I CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY - Ivory Joe Hunter
15. LITTLE THINGS - Jeanne Newman
16. AIN’T THAT LONELY - Jeanne Newman
17. TAKE ME JUST AS I AM - Spencer Wiggins
18. THE KIND OF WOMAN THAT’S GOT NO HEART - Spencer Wiggins
19. LOVE ATTACK - James Carr
20. COMING BACK TO ME BABY - James Carr
21. GOTTA FIND A NEW LOVE - Yo Yo’s
22. I’VE GOT SOMETHING IN MY EYE - Yo Yo’s
23. POURING WATER ON A DROWNING MAN - James Carr
24. FORGETTING YOU - James Carr
25. OLD FRIEND (YOU ASK ME IF I MISS HER) - Spencer Wiggins
26. WALKING OUT ON YOU - Spencer Wiggins
27. YOU DIDN’T KNOW IT BUT YOU HAD ME - George & Greer
28. GOOD TIMES - George & Greer

Disc Two:

1. ME & MY IMAGINATION - The Ovations
2. THEY SAY - The Ovations
3. CRYING BABY, BABY, BABY - Percy Millem
4. CALL ON ME - Percy Millem
5. WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR - Eddie Jefferson
6. SOME OTHER TIME - Eddie Jefferson
7. DARK END OF THE STREET - James Carr
8. LOVEABLE GIRL- James Carr
9. SAY YOU NEED IT - Barbara Perry
10. UNLOVEABLE - Barbara Perry
11. CRY ME A HANDFUL - Terry’s
12. STORMY LOVE AFFAIR - Terry’s
13. DON’T YOU BELIEVE HIM - Ivory Joe Hunter
14. WHAT’S THE MATTER BABY - Ivory Joe Hunter
15. HAVE SOME BOOGALOO - Timmy Thomas
16. LIQUID MOOD - Timmy Thomas
17. UPTIGHT GOOD WOMAN - Spencer Wiggins
18. ANYTHING YOU DO IS ALRIGHT - Spencer Wiggins
19. I’VE GOTTA GO - Ovations feat Louis Williams
20. RIDE MY TROUBLES AND BLUES AWAY - Ovations feat Louis Williams
21. THE WIFE OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY - Kathy Davis
22. YOU CAN DISH IT OUT (BUT CAN YOU TAKE IT) - Kathy Davis
23. LET IT HAPPEN - James Carr
24. A LOSING GAME - James Carr
25. DID SHE ASK ABOUT ME - Carmol Taylor
26. HERE COMES THE FOOL - Carmol Taylor