Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Stax Instrumentals
 | This comp is comprised entirely of previously unreleased tracks from Stax house bands the Mar-Keys and Booker T. and the MG's. |
Picks: Let's Go, Good Groove, Candy, Peppy, Slidin', Put A Label On It, Raw-Hide, Gigglin', Jazzy, Weird Stomp, Made In Memphis, Soul Twist, Funky Folks Cha Cha, Tic-Tac-Toe, Settle Down, Blue Peanut, Ain't It, Lawn Party, Tighten Up, Saucy, Consumption, Three Leaf Clover, Sassy, The Floyd, The Bo Vitch
Track by Track Review
Let's Go Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
"Let's Go" is a pretty tame progression number with the organ riff unchanging under the jammin' guitar riffs.
Good Groove Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Like a restrained kettle drum tribute to "Comin' Home Baby," "Good Groove" moves slowly through what's not quite a cool groove.
Candy Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
The Mar-Keys' horn section and piano groove with a saucy sway through a simple jive jam. The sensual horns harmonies make "Candy" work.
Peppy Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
A fast jumpin' jam. Not a lot of character, but plenty of period go-go fitness.
Slidin' Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Soft lights down low groove with slidin' guitar that lays down a line born of the "Girl From Ipanema," but it morphed into a bottle neck fantasy.
Put A Label On It Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Like a backtrack to an Otis Redding or Sam and Dave monster, "Put A Label On It" needs a raspy vocal up front to be complete, yet is quite listenable as is. Perhaps it's the shouts and spoken lines that make it work.
Raw-Hide Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Link Wray's "Raw-Hide" is an odd vehicle for horns to lead. Without the raw edge of the guitar, the song's simplicity just doesn't hold up.
Gigglin' Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Like a backtrack to a minor "Shimmy Shimmy Koko Bop," this doesn't quite gather enough steam to stay afloat. The riff without the lead melody is just not enough.
Jazzy Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
A bit of the flavor of Cannonball Adderley and the soul of Booker T.'s organ laid over a jam... not quite complete.
Weird Stomp Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Despite the title, this is neither a stomp nor weird. Just a jam that goes bump in the night.
Made In Memphis Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Well, yes, it's "Made In Memphis," but does it drip Memphis soul? Not really. Pretty tame.
Soul Twist Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
With a nod to King Curtiss, "Soul Twist" wants to be really cool, but is not electric enough, nor synergetic.
Funky Folks Cha Cha Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
The early funk styling and the studio jam structure seem to work OK together, but without a melody focus, "Funky Folks Cha Cha" doesn't rise above filler.
Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
This alternative take on "Tic-Tac-Toe" is way toned down. It's no wonder they rearranged it. The electricity and pump of the hit version is mostly missing. Interesting historically, but too grumbly low down for the riff. Still, it IS "Tic-Tac-Toe."
Settle Down Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Frat rock if ever there was, "Settle Down" just grooves like sweaty fraternity brothers looking for sorority sisters to jam with.
Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
More like Booker T. and the MG's with horns than the Mar-Keys, "Blue Peanut" is spunky and funky and pretty cool. Its completeness and catchy arrangement bring a grin.
Ain't It Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
This slow organ groove is too riffy for my taste, without the magic catchiness that Booker T. and the MG's are capable of.
Lawn Party Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Sounding like a Northwest frat rockin' instro, "Lawn Party" is low brow riff rock.
Tighten Up Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Kinda catchy, yet way too riffy, "Tighten Up" bounces with a stilted guitar horn phrases for good measure.
Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
"Saucy" is kinda ho-hum, though there's some energy. It's catchy riffs are just repeated too many times without changing. Still, the frat party groove of the song redeems it.
Consumption Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Tribal drums and bass rumble under a minimalist guitar riff and organ chords. Too repetitious.
Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Cool tribal runway drums sensually undulate under a minimalist organ lead. More than just interesting, yet very simple. I love the drums!
Sassy Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
The beat is a basic twist, with a jam guitar and horn riffs.
The Floyd Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
Just a jam... nothing special.
The Bo Vitch Memphis Soul (Instrumental)
The choppy organ chords and tweaky guitar lines, while repetitious, are just odd enough to make this catchy for a few spins.