The Complete Goldwax Singles
By James Carr
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Track listing
- 1 The Dark End of the Street 2:33
- 2 These Ain't Raindrops 2:36
- 3 A Man Needs a Woman 2:49
- 4 Life Turned Her That Way 2:32
- 5 Freedom Train 2:19
- 6 Pouring Water on a Drowning Man 2:43
- 7 Everybody Needs Somebody 2:42
- 8 That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me 3:18
- 9 To Love Somebody 3:19
- 10 You've Got My Mind Messed Up 2:23
- 11 I'm a Fool for You 2:00
- 12 A Losing Game 2:04
- 13 Stronger Than Love 2:30
- 14 Lovable Girl 2:29
- 15 Forgetting You 2:57
- 16 Love Attack 2:57
- 17 She's Better Than You 2:22
- 18 Coming Back to Me Baby 2:00
- 19 That's What I Want to Know 1:57
- 20 Talk, Talk 2:17
- 21 I Can't Make It 2:20
- 22 Only Fools Run Away 2:51
- 23 You Don't Want Me 2:37
- 24 Lover's Competition 2:15
- 25 Row, Row Your Boat 2:13
- 26 Gonna Send You Back to Georgia 2:24
- 27 Let It Happen 2:42
- 28 A Message to Young Lovers 2:47
- Total length: 70:56
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10 Reviews
Overshadowed by commercially more successful singers in the 1960's James Carr was nevertheless as good as any soul star of the decade - his "Dark end of the street" is in the same league as "When a man loves a woman" by Percy Sledge - this collection of singles presents Carr in the best possible light,as a powerful, expressive singer who was particularly strong at dark,dramatic ballads.
His excellent version of "To love somebody" reminds us what a interesting and talented composer Barry Gibb was before disco came along.
His excellent version of "To love somebody" reminds us what a interesting and talented composer Barry Gibb was before disco came along.
Published
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Just to convey the dimension of the possible lack in the self. In case your library includes up to 50 releases (assorted genres) and it still does not include any by James Carr, you are running into the 'category' of unforgiveable.
Published
What a voice - deep,anguished ,haunting but always powerful .
This is a collection of deep southern soul that any fan of soul music has got to hear . The only artists who come close to the way he inhabits a tune is aretha and otis . Theirs also an element of country in his voice that you can here occasionally but particularly on his wonderful version of "to love somebody" .
The only thing that lets this down is the sometime poor choice of material (although many of these cuts are b sides) but carr himself may not have been in control of this aspect .
Another of those beautifully put together kent soul compilations , and although james had a pretty tragic life this release shows what a loss to music his obscurity at the time of these recordings was , and does its bit to redress the balance .
This is a collection of deep southern soul that any fan of soul music has got to hear . The only artists who come close to the way he inhabits a tune is aretha and otis . Theirs also an element of country in his voice that you can here occasionally but particularly on his wonderful version of "to love somebody" .
The only thing that lets this down is the sometime poor choice of material (although many of these cuts are b sides) but carr himself may not have been in control of this aspect .
Another of those beautifully put together kent soul compilations , and although james had a pretty tragic life this release shows what a loss to music his obscurity at the time of these recordings was , and does its bit to redress the balance .
Published
Quite possibly my favorite single soul artist compilation. There are a staggering number of top-notch tracks on this collection.
The latter tracks are not of the same quality as the first two thirds. But, they're decent in their own right. Add to this consideration to the fact that I genuinely don't rate compilations (especially with an artist who covers others material) in the same fashion I do albums..and, you have an explanation as to why I submitted a less than perfect rating.
Faves: The Dark End of the Street (!!!), These Ain't Raindrops (!!!), A Man Needs a Woman (!!!), That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me, To Love Somebody, You've Got My Mind Messed Up, Stronger Than Love (not a fave, but wanted to note that I'd be shocked if the first few bars weren't used in some killer hip-hop track), Lovable Girl, Forgetting You (!!!), Love Attack & She's Better Than You
The latter tracks are not of the same quality as the first two thirds. But, they're decent in their own right. Add to this consideration to the fact that I genuinely don't rate compilations (especially with an artist who covers others material) in the same fashion I do albums..and, you have an explanation as to why I submitted a less than perfect rating.
Faves: The Dark End of the Street (!!!), These Ain't Raindrops (!!!), A Man Needs a Woman (!!!), That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me, To Love Somebody, You've Got My Mind Messed Up, Stronger Than Love (not a fave, but wanted to note that I'd be shocked if the first few bars weren't used in some killer hip-hop track), Lovable Girl, Forgetting You (!!!), Love Attack & She's Better Than You
Published
This superb compilation not only brings you great classics such as "The Dark End of the Street", "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", "Life Turned Her That Way", "Love Attack" and "A Man Needs a Woman" - it is a complete overview of James Carr's singles recorded for the Goldwax label between 1964 and 1970.
Most of these tremendous soul joints can be found on the 'You've Got My Mind Messed Up' (1967) and 'A Man Needs a Woman' (1968) albums, but the rare, incredibly tight single-only releases warrant this comp's inclusion in this list.
The oldest tracks stem from 1964; "Only Fools Run Away" sounds a bit dated, more pop than soul, but its flip "You Don't Want Me" is unabashed blues-based gospel wailing.
1965's "I Can Make It" incorporates a slight bossa nova groove and features some Tin Pan Alley-styled female backing vocals, with Carr in something of a Jackie Wilson bag on the B-side, the jittering "Lover's Competition". The far funkier "Talk Talk", from 1967, would grace the flip of "She's Better Than You". From that same year comes the hard socking R&B fingersnapper "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia".
In 1968 Carr cut his sole political tune with the fantastic "Freedom Train", a spirited, uplifted, up-beat romper every bit as fierce in its gospel message as Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready".
The last two years of Carr's stay at Goldwax showed the beginning signs of his mental instability. It turned into full-blown mental sickness somewhat later, alas, but the man with the golden voice did leave us two more supreme slices of Southern Soul: his version of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" is bonechillingly deep, the absolute definitive rendition of this oft covered tune.
His very last release is bittersweet to say the least: whereas the funked up rendition of "Row, Row Your Boat" is right-on finger-poppin' righteousness, the achingly beautiful mid-tempo "Everybody Needs Somebody" really leaves a lump in your throat... An almost too painful bookend to the man's most productive years, the absolute 'cry out for help' anthem, subtly orchestrated.
Get this along with Carr's original albums... You'll have a trilogy of the deepest of deep Southern Soul right at your fingertips.
Most of these tremendous soul joints can be found on the 'You've Got My Mind Messed Up' (1967) and 'A Man Needs a Woman' (1968) albums, but the rare, incredibly tight single-only releases warrant this comp's inclusion in this list.
The oldest tracks stem from 1964; "Only Fools Run Away" sounds a bit dated, more pop than soul, but its flip "You Don't Want Me" is unabashed blues-based gospel wailing.
1965's "I Can Make It" incorporates a slight bossa nova groove and features some Tin Pan Alley-styled female backing vocals, with Carr in something of a Jackie Wilson bag on the B-side, the jittering "Lover's Competition". The far funkier "Talk Talk", from 1967, would grace the flip of "She's Better Than You". From that same year comes the hard socking R&B fingersnapper "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia".
In 1968 Carr cut his sole political tune with the fantastic "Freedom Train", a spirited, uplifted, up-beat romper every bit as fierce in its gospel message as Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready".
The last two years of Carr's stay at Goldwax showed the beginning signs of his mental instability. It turned into full-blown mental sickness somewhat later, alas, but the man with the golden voice did leave us two more supreme slices of Southern Soul: his version of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" is bonechillingly deep, the absolute definitive rendition of this oft covered tune.
His very last release is bittersweet to say the least: whereas the funked up rendition of "Row, Row Your Boat" is right-on finger-poppin' righteousness, the achingly beautiful mid-tempo "Everybody Needs Somebody" really leaves a lump in your throat... An almost too painful bookend to the man's most productive years, the absolute 'cry out for help' anthem, subtly orchestrated.
Get this along with Carr's original albums... You'll have a trilogy of the deepest of deep Southern Soul right at your fingertips.
Published
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Never have I heard so much pain in any voice - except perhaps Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit" - than I hear in the amazing voice of lesser-known soul singer James Carr. This is a man who could have easily been a blues singer. He IS a blues singer in many ways - just listen to "Everybody Needs Somebody" to hear what I'm getting at. This would be a great record to throw on after a particularly heart-shattering break-up; perhaps the most effective catharsis I can think of.
Published
James Carr was among the greatest Soul singers to ever live, and it's a shame that his career was so ill-fated. Plagued by mental problems and given subpar material by the Goldwax label, Carr didn't record long enough to establish a legacy, and he didn't have enough hit singles to become a big star like Otis Redding. Nevertheless, his deep and gravelly vocals are enjoyable on every track, and a few are real great songs as well. If you have any interest in deep, southern Soul, this is essential.
Published
It's a minor calamity that great soul men connect their pipes to small songs. Everyone working the pop track will find the supply shrinking, as the better songwriters buttress the promised talent. And if you never got off the ground; well, you have to find a label that'll do right by you, and that's some work.
Not that it was always a struggle for Mr. Carr. Penn and Oldham knew who he was and what he could be, and thus wrote "The Dark End of the Street" (at a convention, in 30 minutes). For my money, it's the best & most durable soul song ever penned: a hazy, devastating whack at willful sin and hanging judgment. I prefer Percy Sledge's more plaintive take, but Carr's first-cause version sets most of the elements: woozy, reverbed guitar intro, a web of otherwordly backing singers. One thing Carr adds is a wry "huh" after that fearsome bridge. Oh, and a kind of workingman's hurt that always got the pain across without the wallow.
But for every song like "Life Turned Her That Way" and "Everybody Needs Somebody" (his vocals cranked into the red - I love it!), there's nursery-school dreck like "Row, Row Your Boat" or the tepid "Freedom Train". "A Man Needs a Woman" has promise - Carr is vocally in his wheelhouse - but ends with a trail of facile similes, forcing the singer to treat "like a soldier needs a gun" with the same weight as "like a hamburger needs buns." Ouch. I'm giving James 3.5 stars, but I'm being generous.
Not that it was always a struggle for Mr. Carr. Penn and Oldham knew who he was and what he could be, and thus wrote "The Dark End of the Street" (at a convention, in 30 minutes). For my money, it's the best & most durable soul song ever penned: a hazy, devastating whack at willful sin and hanging judgment. I prefer Percy Sledge's more plaintive take, but Carr's first-cause version sets most of the elements: woozy, reverbed guitar intro, a web of otherwordly backing singers. One thing Carr adds is a wry "huh" after that fearsome bridge. Oh, and a kind of workingman's hurt that always got the pain across without the wallow.
But for every song like "Life Turned Her That Way" and "Everybody Needs Somebody" (his vocals cranked into the red - I love it!), there's nursery-school dreck like "Row, Row Your Boat" or the tepid "Freedom Train". "A Man Needs a Woman" has promise - Carr is vocally in his wheelhouse - but ends with a trail of facile similes, forcing the singer to treat "like a soldier needs a gun" with the same weight as "like a hamburger needs buns." Ouch. I'm giving James 3.5 stars, but I'm being generous.
Published
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Catalog
14 Mar 2023
21 Feb 2023
-
1
The Dark End of the Street
-
2
These Ain't Raindrops
-
3
A Man Needs a Woman
-
4
Life Turned Her That Way
-
5
Freedom Train
-
6
Pouring Water on a Drowning Man
-
7
Everybody Needs Somebody
-
8
That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me
-
9
To Love Somebody
-
10
You've Got My Mind Messed Up
-
11
I'm a Fool for You
-
12
A Losing Game
-
13
Stronger Than Love
-
14
Lovable Girl
-
15 Forgetting You
-
16
Love Attack
-
17
She's Better Than You
-
18
Coming Back to Me Baby
-
19
That's What I Want to Know
-
20
Talk, Talk
-
21
I Can't Make It
-
22
Only Fools Run Away
-
23
You Don't Want Me
-
24
Lover's Competition
-
25
Row, Row Your Boat
-
26
Gonna Send You Back to Georgia
-
27
Let It Happen
-
28
A Message to Young Lovers
12 Feb 2023
9 Aug 2021
3 Jul 2021
-
1
The Dark End of the Street
-
2
These Ain't Raindrops
-
3
A Man Needs a Woman
-
4
Life Turned Her That Way
-
5 Freedom Train
-
6
Pouring Water on a Drowning Man
-
7 Everybody Needs Somebody
-
8 That's the Way Love Turned Out for Me
-
9 To Love Somebody
-
10
You've Got My Mind Messed Up
-
11
I'm a Fool for You
-
12 A Losing Game
-
13 Stronger Than Love
-
14 Lovable Girl
-
15 Forgetting You
-
16
Love Attack
-
17 She's Better Than You
-
18 Coming Back to Me Baby
-
19 That's What I Want to Know
-
20 Talk, Talk
-
21 I Can't Make It
-
22 Only Fools Run Away
-
23 You Don't Want Me
-
24 Lover's Competition
-
25 Row, Row Your Boat
-
26 Gonna Send You Back to Georgia
-
27 Let It Happen
-
28 A Message to Young Lovers
25 Mar 2021
9 Feb 2021
1 Dec 2020
15 Nov 2020
17 Oct 2020
11 Aug 2020
4 Feb 2020
19 Dec 2019
2 Jul 2019
13 Jan 2019
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