Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest

Amazon.com
Chess Records may not have had the grit of Stax or the impact of Motown when it came to soul, but the label certainly had its share of success. Between 1961 and 1971, chart-toppers like Etta James, Fontella Bass, Little Milton, and the Dells kept enough money rolling in to leverage the stronger, but weaker-selling, blues side of Chess. Crucial cuts by all these acts can be found in this two-CD compilation along with fine work from many lesser-knowns. Chess preferred the softer side of soul with string arrangements (the Gems' "I Can't Help Myself," the Knight Brothers' "Temptation 'Bout to Get Me"), but they managed to balance out their catalog with some sweatier material (Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto's "Do I Make Myself Clear," Laura Lee's "Dirty Man"). Highlights include Jan Bradley's sugar-sweet "Mama Didn't Lie," the Kolettes' punchy "Who's That Guy," Maurice & Mac's propulsive "You Left the Water Running," and (of course) the Fontella Bass classic "Rescue Me." This probably should have been expanded into a box set, but there's more than enough first-class music here to make it a must-have for soul fans. --Ken Hohman

Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest,Various Artists,Mca,Black Gospel,Chicago Soul,Disco,Funk,Northern Soul,Pop,Pop-Soul,R&B,Smooth Soul,Soul,Soul-Blues,Soul/R & B Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Uptown Soul,Urban,V/a Compilations

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Average customer rating: Top Notch Chicago Soul from Chess essential "Lost Soul" Great compilation

Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago's Finest Various Artists Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Northern | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music Soul | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Hard to Find 45's on CD: Sweet Soul Sounds Chess Blues Guitar : Two Decades Of Killer Fretwork, 1949-1969 The Moonglows - Their Greatest Hits [MCA] A Treasury of Northern Soul Oh What a Night! The Great Ballads ASIN: B000005KQY Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

1. Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley
2. Strange Feeling - Billy Stewart
3. I've Been So Lonely - Cookie & The Cupcakes
4. Soulful Dress - Sugar Pie Desanto
5. Love Ain't Nothin' (But A Monkey On Your Back) - Johnny Nash
6. Who's That Guy? - The Kolettes
7. Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud - Tony Clark
8. I Had A Talk With My Man - Mitty Collier
9. I Can't Help Myself - The Gems
10. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing - Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure
11. Voice Your Choice - The Radiants
12. Selfish One - Jackie Ross
13. The Entertainer - Tony Clarke
14. I Do Love You - Billy Stewart
15. Love Is A Five Letter Word - James Phelps
16. The Soul Of A Man - Fontella Bass
17. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me' - The Knight Brothers
18. Do I Make Myself Clear? - Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto
19. Take Me For A Little While - Jackie Ross
20. What About Me? - The Valentinos
21. I'm Satified - Mitty Collier
22. Searching For My Love - Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces
23. Only Time Will Tell - Etta James

Tracks:

1. Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
2. I'm Not Ashamed - Bobby McClure
3. Stay By My Side - Jo Ann Garrett
4. Have Pity On Me - Billy Young
5. Wade In The Water - Ramsey Lewis
6. I Fooled You This Time - Gene Chandler
7. Don't Pass Me By - Big Maybelle
8. Lonely Girl - Andrea Davis
9. To Be A Lover - Gene Chandler
10. Don't Knock Love - Babara Carr
11. I Believe She Will - Eddie & Ernie
12. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Marlene Shaw
13. A Love Reputation - Denise LaSalle
14. Dirty Man - Laura Lee
15. I Can't Make It Without You - Fred Hughes
16. Hold On - The Radiants
17. Good To Me - Irma Thomas
18. You Left The Water Running - Maurice & Mac
19. Oh What A Day - The Dells
20. Baby, I Love You - Little Milton
21. Losers Weepers - Etta James
22. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation - The Dells

Amazon.com

Chess Records may not have had the grit of Stax or the impact of Motown when it came to soul, but the label certainly had its share of success. Between 1961 and 1971, chart-toppers like Etta James, Fontella Bass, Little Milton, and the Dells kept enough money rolling in to leverage the stronger, but weaker-selling, blues side of Chess. Crucial cuts by all these acts can be found in this two-CD compilation along with fine work from many lesser-knowns. Chess preferred the softer side of soul with string arrangements (the Gems' "I Can't Help Myself," the Knight Brothers' "Temptation 'Bout to Get Me"), but they managed to balance out their catalog with some sweatier material (Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto's "Do I Make Myself Clear," Laura Lee's "Dirty Man"). Highlights include Jan Bradley's sugar-sweet "Mama Didn't Lie," the Kolettes' punchy "Who's That Guy," Maurice & Mac's propulsive "You Left the Water Running," and (of course) the Fontella Bass classic "Rescue Me." This probably should have been expanded into a box set, but there's more than enough first-class music here to make it a must-have for soul fans. --Ken Hohman

Customer Reviews:

Top Notch Chicago Soul from Chess.......2001-06-16

The Chicago Soul sound was distinguished by it's emphasis on appealing and beautiful harmony and melody, much of it the trademark of Curtis Mayfield and producer Johnny Pate. It is well represented on this CD with beauties as "Voice Your Choice" by the Radiants, "The Entertainer" By Tony Clarke (not to be confused with the Scott Joplin tune, but still an underrated masterpiece), "Selfish One," "mama Didn't Lie," Billy Stewart's "Strange Feeling," Gene Chandler's "To Be A Lover." Even if you did not grow up with this music, it will certainly make you feel good!

essential.......1999-11-04

Anyone with even a passing interest in '60s Soul should not be without this in their collection. Not a bad apple in the bunch. Absolutely essential.

"Lost Soul".......1998-08-24

Even though I grew up in the mid-west in the 60's listening to WLS and WLAC, I only remember a few of the songs on this double album. But all of the others seem like "old friends," and match those found in any STAX collection. Chess also has some great Blues collections, but if Soul's your game, this is one of the best!

Great compilation.......1998-05-13

I missed the soul celebration of the sixties and early seventies, probably in a drug induced stupor. This two CD set is a great way to get caught up. The selection is wonderful, the sound quality is too. I hate to say one song could possibly be worth the price of a CD set, but Fontella Bass singing for Respect comes close.

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