The Goldwax Singles

A seminal deep soul singer with a voice that combined the sheer power of Otis Redding's scratchy holler with the emotional subtlety of Sam Cooke's deathless croon, James Carr routinely tops critics lists of "finest male soul singers," but often goes unrecognized by the general public. His career-making 1967 recording of Dan Penn and Chip Moman's heart wrenching "Dark End of The Street" is the definitive take on the song, easily besting versions by the likes of Aretha Franklin and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Incredibly, the rest of his catalogue more than matches this high standard. Kent Records' superb COMPLETE GOLD WAX SINGLES compiles all the singer's sides for Quentin Claunch's tiny Goldwax imprint. "The Dark End of The Street," "Love Attack," and "Girl You Got My Mind Messed Up" are acknowledged deep soul classics, but lesser-known cuts like the driving "Freedom Train" and the Solomon Burke-influenced "Lovable Girl" are equally impressive.