Blue-Eyed Soul Deep..."I'll Work Myself To Death For Ya"!
Written: Nov 27 '07 (Updated Dec 04 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Rhino has done it again! Beautiful stereo! Classic Rock at its best!
Cons: Sorry...other than a bit of distortion on "Mi Sento Felice" can't think of any!
The Bottom Line: This is one great album that no collector or music lover should be without! Rhino's engineering has preserved one of Rock's forgotten band's greatest moments.
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| sam-pro's Full Review: Greatest Hits by The Box Tops |
Side One
1. The Letter
2. I Met Her In Church
3. Cry Like A Baby
4. I Shall Be Released
5. People Gonna Talk
6. Turn On A Dream
7. Every Time
Side Two
8. Soul Deep
9. Neon Rainbow
10. Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March
11. Choo Choo Train
12. Happy Song
13. Let Me Go
14. Mi Sento Felice {"Cry Like A Baby"...Spanish Version}
Legend has it that two local Memphis, Tennessee high school chums...Alex Chilton and Chris Bell won an extremely short period of studio time by sending in box tops from...cereal boxes??? This supposedly was by arrangement via a local dee-jay.
Both Chilton and Bell {ironically the parent name of the record label they signed to} had been in many different local ensembles and knew enough people to at least form a quintet with strings for the session! Even more ironically...Bell couldn't be there on that most eventful day in Rock 'N Roll history!
Apparently nobody took the session seriously...at least not at first...but two songs were recorded..."Happy Times" and the legendary sleeper..."The Letter". The young fourteen-going-on-fifteen year old Alex Chilton chain smoked endlessly...during the session and continual "takes" of "The Letter" lowered, deepened and hoarsefied his voice just enough to make him sound not only twice his actual age but just downright soulful! Are you now as shocked as I was back then to learn that this extremely young white boy was the voice behind this hit record?
Not only that but among the song's uniqueness and oddities was the fact that at the very end of the rather abrupt fade is this whiny-hiney sound of air being released from some sort of cushion. It almost can be likened to a cat's mee-ow!
Never expecting anything to become of the session...the wax was shelved until somebody from the studio found it months later. Hey, wait a minute! Wasn't "The Letter" an overnight success? Although it reached our ears while relaxing at the Jersey shore in the summer of 1967, it was months later after the recording was made and seemed to be the hottest thing 1400 WOND AM radio had in their midst for sometime...no!
But after initial airplay...it simply took off and by the time everyone was back to school it soared to number one. This under two-minute wonder became one of the hottest records around back then and the Bell mothered Mala label was proud owner of the hit single 'til Arista and then finally...Rhino got their paws on it.
Bell Records was commonly referred to as the "Amy-Mala-Bell Group" as per their respective 45 RPM sleeves back then and "Dynovoice" along with "Philly-Groove" and "Crewe" Records were also added to the team.
Although this particular collection of songs represents their hits...this white blue-eyed teenage band could never again in their short lived career duplicate the success of "The Letter". The song has been covered by numerous well-known artists not to mention The Arbors 1969 remake or Joe Cocker's rendition. Well...I guess I just did.
As an Air Force DJ for radio giant AFRN back in the early Seventies I can't tell you what a record like "The Letter" meant to those of us in service of our country during the Viet Nam War. I can tell you that it was one of the most requested oldies during my tenure there.
Part of the Box Tops' short lived career may also have been due to Alex's attitude toward the fans. There were numerous reports of him not only antagonizing audiences but showing up to events just downright out of his head! This plus more than a few situations where he failed to make an appearance at all may have only hastened an end to a short-lived career in the business where neither record producer nor the public could stomach anymore.
Too bad because this young man who woundup as a dishwasher was certainly talented enough. At any rate...this is all very well documented in Rhino's liner notes for the LP.
Despite all the typical dumb behind the scene stuff that goes on in this business...this album is wonderful! "Choo Choo Train" which was a local "Pick To Click" on New York Radio was the only other single in which Alex Chilton's vocal sounded as deep and soulful as it did on "The Letter". The follow up hit to their initial success was "Neon Rainbow" which was a bit softer sounding but nice! It failed to break the Top 25 locally and WABC refused to play it for one reason or another.
"People Gonna Talk" is one of those great songs that the business just was't kind to and somehow went by unnoticed for whatever reasons and by the powers that be. It's just a tremendous song that definitely has a place here!
"I Met Her In Church" which showed the "Gospel" side of the band received FM airplay on WABC-FM and the soulful pop hit "Cry Like A Baby" made the Top 4. But this Rhino re-issue is a real hand-clapper for anyone interested in Sixties Music! It's hard hitting starting from the drummer's count-in tap of the drum stick against the rim on "The Letter" to the album's finale..."Mi Sento Felice" which simply was a Spanish version of "Cry Like A Baby".
Note that even an interesting tearful version of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" is here. Most noteworthy is the inclusion of the local Top 30 hit..."Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March" which speaks of the worth of your friendly local prostitute. It really is a phenomenal sounding recording with that awesome deep bass kickdrum which opens the song!
Now all of these hits are really cool sounding and this Rhino collection would make a great Christmas gift but I've saved the best for last...
Darlin' I don't know much
I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch
And my love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river runnin' soul deep
I'll work myself to death for ya
Just to show I adore ya
Nothin' I wouldn't do for ya
'Cause my love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river runnin' soul deep
Ooh!
All I ever, ever hope to be
Depends on your love for me
Baby believe me
If you should leave me
I'd be nothin' but an empty shell
I know darn well, I can tell, now
I don't know much
I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch
And my love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river runnin' soul deep
Huh-huh
My love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
Well, my love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
Yeah, my love is a river runnin' soul deep
Way down inside me it's-a soul deep
"Soul Deep" was the group's last real hit single and reached the Top 14 locally in 1969 while becoming one of those dee-jay favorites...you know...one of those records that we disc jockeys like to air frequently because it helps drive the rhythm and timing of the show itself! Besides...it not only sounds downright awesome but is one of those rare oldies that your ears just beg to hear again despite what the narrow-minded program directors and consultants think!
All-in-all this is one great culmination of hits you won't wanna pass by and whether on CD or vinyl...the Rhino engineers have done it again! Viva la Box Tops!...PJS II
Please See My Review Of The Greatest Christmas Album Of All-Time!... http://www.epinions.com/content_121736957572
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Listening
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Epinions.com ID:
sam-pro
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Member: Peter J Sammon II
Location: The Bloomfield Burying Ground, USA
Reviews written: 218
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Every once in awhile something great arrives at relatively low cost to you...Priceless!
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