Various Please Release Me - The Soulful Side Of Country (CD)

(2016/Jasmine) 29 Tracks - The unexpected success of Ray Charles' million selling Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music LP, in the Spring of 1962, led to a flood of soul and R&B artists recording C&W songs. Including Ben E. King, Clyde McPhatter, William Bell, Arthur Alexander and most notably 'Little Esther' Phillips, whose million-selling revival of the old Ray Price hit 'Release Me' provides our title track (in closing, the remarkable Ted Taylor weighs in with his classic Answer Disc, 'I'll Release You'). Yet ironically, artists like Solomon Burke, LaVern Baker, Little Willie John, Brook Benton, Bobby Bland, Adam Wade, Varetta Dillard, Big Maybelle and Fontella Bass had long been singing Country, often enjoying great commercial successes. Louisiana was another hotbed of R&B/C&W crossover, as evidenced by Elton Anderson, Cookie & His Cupcakes, Phil Phillips and particularly Fats Domino, who'd been singing Hank Williams' songs since the 40s. This is a unique and irresistible collection of big hits and collectors' obscurities.