2008-04-01
Various Artists: Soulsville Sings Hitsville : Stax Records Seeing as Stax co-founder Estelle Axton would often play Motown’s latest hit singles to her artists in hopes that they would craft similar tunes, this album should have been called The Soul Instruction Manual. It is well known that the two labels played off of each other in hopes of garnering more chart success with their releases. However, what isn’t known is that some of these amazing renditions of the Motown classics will make you think they were Stax tracks to begin with all along. If David Porter’s take on Stevie Wonder’s “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” doesn’t convince you of this, then I don’t know what will. All tracks suitable for airplay Reviewed by Trevor Edmonds : April 2008GARY ALLEGRETTO
MANY SHADES OF BLUE
SUGAR RAY AND THE BLUETONES FEATURING LITTLE CHARLIE
TOO FAR FROM THE BAR
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
LIVE! In Chicago
MONSTER MIKE WELCH AND MIKE LEDBETTER
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
SAMUEL JAMES
THE RETURN OF SUGAR SMALLHOUSE
JANIVA MAGNESS
STRONGER FOR IT
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