Search - James Carr :: Complete Goldwax Singles

Essential soul classics

R. Riis | NY | 06/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both sides of all 14 singles recorded for Goldwax Records, 1964-1970, making for 28 tracks of essential Memphis soul from one of the greats. Carr never got the recognition, but his talent was comparable to Otis Redding's even if his material and backing were sometimes less stellar. Still, there are some true classics here and even the weaker material is elevated by Carr's gritty, muscular pipes. A truly excellent booklet with pictures and notes for each track rounds out an exceptional set."

Southern Soul Perfection!

Glenn Nippert | Alpharetta, Georgia United States | 08/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"James Carr never had a hit on the pop charts and didn't really have too many R&B hits either, but his signature song "The Dark End Of The Street" has become legendary over the years and kept his legacy alive. There are other excellent versions of this song by Aretha Franklin and Percy Sledge, but Carr's original still takes the cake. If there was nothing else of quality on here, this song alone would be worth the price of the disc, but Carr's legacy is much deeper than that. The 28 tracks on here are an embarrassment of riches- "Stronger Than Love", "Life Turned Her That Way", "Pouring Water On A Drowning Man" and on and on, one great vocal performance after another. I'm not sure why he didn't evolve beyond cult status, but I have always felt that the music scene of the mid 60's to mid 70's were crammed with so many great artists and such classic songs that it was just impossible for all of them to be heard at once. I mean unless you had money to burn, how could you have kept up with the newest releases from James Brown, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Percy Sledge, O.V. Wright, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding,Johnny Adams, Sam and Dave, not to mention all the great rock and pop music of the time. So unless you were really driven like James Brown or The Beatles and Stones to be number one, you kind of got lost in the shuffle, no matter how great your vocal ability. James also seemed to get sidetracked by drug and/or personality problems, but that never stopped a lot of other miscreants from going straight to the top. In the end, James Carr's great voice will live on longer than most of today's fly by night "artists" , thanks to this great and very complete collection. Rest in peace, my talented soul brother."

Little heard gems

Hal Peebles | Portland,Orygun,usa | 11/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you weren't a soul fan,you wouldn't be reading this.All I can really say, in all sincerity, is this collection of 28 tunes is a revelation.From the very first note of The Dark End Of The Street,you'll be hooked.Not much filler here.Just 28 of the best soul singles you'll ever hear.Many thanks to all the folks at Kent/Soul in London,England for this wonderful disc.Lot's of us have been waiting a long while for this collection.Get one,it will make you glad you have ears."