Very Best Of Wilson Pickett, The - Wilson Pickett

Advantages: still soulful
Disadvantages: no hits - buy a compilation

...This cd was originally produced in 1969, maybe after Soul's heyday, but still a whole lot better than the majority of songs passed off as soulful today. Wilson "in the midnight hour" Pickett has an excellant voice conveying true emotion and really let's you know when he's hurting or yearning. The songs themselves are a mixed bag:- Hey Jude, and Born to be wild, the 2 covers on the cd suffer in that the style of the original is so strong that they don't quite feel right. The uptempo songs such as Save me, toe hold, and man and a half are yhe stanout tracks where the braggardo Mr Pickett drives these songs forward. Slower songs such as back in your arms lack the drive to make them vital Stylishly this is still pure horn driven soul, and as the majority of the songs are uptemp originals you can't help but move your feet... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Every recording is good to totally superb!
Disadvantages: NONE!

...Aretha Franklin, daughter of a famous Pentecostel pastor, inevitably began singing in a church choir at a very early age and it was clear then that she had the gift of a deep, raw talent. Her vocal style, even as a young child, was capable of such immense power and volume. She began her musical career recording secular tracks for Columbia Records, none of which really bought her much chart recognition. Signed by John Hammond at the dawn of the 1960's, he tried invain to nurture her talent effectively. By the time of 1966, all she had released on the Columbia label was a string of minor selling hits. So in 1966 she signed a new deal with Jerry Wexler (who had enjoyed enormous success with such fantastic Soul music legends as the unforgetable Ray Charles and the divine Wilson Pickett) to Atlantic Records which finally propelled her,very... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: First time on cd for many tracks
Disadvantages: pastiche agenda limits wider appeal

...Slightly more worthy than her solitary hit "Just What i Always Wanted "suggests,provided its approached and enjoyed as pure pastiche and indulgent nostalgic enjoyment,even in 1982 Mari Wilson was portrayed as nostalgic ,her 15 minuteds of fame arriving at the tail end of a post punk mod revival,the whole concept relied on and evoked an age that never quite was,stylish lyrics ,glamorous outfits and a showband mentality that recalled the glory days of The Supremes ,Lulu and Sandie Shaw all put together on a shoestring budget inSouth London at the turn of the eighties initially as a very appealing live draw along the lines of Paul Youngs Q-Tips with a little less sweat. The aforementioned hit single is fairly representative of the rest of this fantastically priced collection and its a minor mystery how she didnt achieve at least half... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful