King Curtis (real name Curtis Ousley) was a saxophonist with soul.
Curtis was a popular recording artist of Atlantic Records who was tragically murdered in August 1971 (one week after this release).
Curtis was trying to get to his apartment and two dope heads were in the way.
He asked them to move, they refused, a scuffle ensued, and Curtis was stabbed in the heart.
A promising career brought to an end by a dope head’s lack of manners.
Aretha Franklin sang at Curtis’ funeral.
Ironically, Curtis had appeared with Franklin earlier in March 1971 at the Fillmore West.
A three-night venue at rock promoter Bill Graham’s Fillmore West arranged by producer Jerry Wexler.
It was thought by some that the “longhairs” and “flower children” that frequented the establishment, it being in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, would not appreciate neither Franklin nor Curtis.
Curtis came prepared though.
He had assembled a “dream team” (dubbed the Kingpins) for the occasion that consisted of Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Truman Thomas, and Pancho Morales.
To this mix the legendary Billy Preston (aka the fifth Beatle) and the Memphis Horns were added.
Curtis and the boys would open the show for Aretha and featured versions of Curtis’ Atlantic hits.
The LP that was released of these performances would late go on to be Curtis’ best selling album of his too short career reaching #9 on Billboard’s R&B chart.
The first nine tracks on this CD represent that album.
They’ve now chosen to compile all of Curtis’ contributions to this soul spectacular into this one CD.
The original nine songs featured on the LP are “Memphis Soul Stew”, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”, “Whole Lotta Love”, “I Stand Accused”, “Them Changes”, “Ode To Billy Joe”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” and “Soul Serenade” (...)
(...) The sad part is that his career was cut short over an argument.
We wonder what could’ve been.
It’s also very nice to hear from the late, great Billy Preston (he died in June 2006).
If you’re a fan of King Curtis or any of the artists mentioned they you’ll really want to pick up this album.
Excellent stuff there, longhairs and flower children prepare to gather a new appreciation for soul music. (by Jeff Swindoll)
Track List :
01.Memphis Soul Stew
02.A Whiter Shade Of Pale
03.Whole Lotta Love
04.I Stand Accused
05.Changes
06.Ode To Billy Joe
07.Mr. Bojangles
08.Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours
09.Soul Serenade
Personnel :
*King Curtis - tenor, alto & soprano saxes
*Billy Preston - organ
The Kingpins:
*Cornell Dupree - guitar
*Jerry Jemmott - bass
*Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie - drums
*Truman Thomas - electric piano
*Pancho Morales - conga drums
The Memphis Horns:
*Wayne Jackson - trumpet
*Andrew Love - tenor sax
*Roger Hopps - trumpet
*Jack Hale - trombone
*Jimmy Mitchell - baritone sax
*Lou Collins - tenor sax
[ Thank you DR BELL OTUS for sending this post ]
[ Rip and scans made by torrents ]
CODE : 50826
nice
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