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CD/Record Reviews

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William Bell presents Atlanta Soul: The Peachtree Records Story (Grapevine GVCD 3009) - 2003

UK-based Grapevine records follows up on their Peachtree singles series with a long awaited full length CD of some of the labels best tracks.

by Brian Poust (originally published for The Uppers Organization, www.uppers.org)

I’ve been waiting a long time for this CD. Almost immediately upon my move to Atlanta in 1996, I began searching for soul records from Georgia. While you readers may still be surprised at how many GA 45s I don’t own, you may not be surprised at just how elusive the Peachtree label has been. The myth and legend of 45s by James Fountain, Emory & the Dymanics, Gorgeous George and others are storied and still beyond my dusty fingertips, at least in their original form. So many days spent flipping through records with the occasional familiarity of that Peachtree label have ended in the disappointment of “another Mitty Collier 45”.

Don’t get me wrong. I mean no slight or disrespect to the Reverend Mitty Collier. John Ridley’s well-informed liner notes to this Grapevine compilation do correctly identify Ms. Collier as the strongest vocalist ever recorded for the Peachtree label (though we must not overlook that Four Dynamics single). It’s only that the Collier singles seem to be the only ones I ever come across. Without spending true market prices, I’ve only been able to collect six original Peachtree singles. I suppose I should feel fortunate for even that, which is exactly why I again state that I’ve been waiting a long time for this CD.

As James Fountain’s “Burning Up For Your Love” continues to burn up my stereo speakers, I’m again reminded at what a versatile label Peachtree was during its short three year existence. From the hard hitting percussive funk of that James Fountain track to Mitty Collier’s blues and gospel fused delivery; from Susie Rainey’s sweet voice to the vocal stylings of Emory & the Dynamics or the stripped down version of “Purple Haze” by Johnny Jones & the King Casuals, Peachtree covered all bases. Peg Leg Moffett (who did in fact have a peg leg) delivered a funky southern soul dancer in “The Shocker”, to compliment Eddie Billups lamenting and socially conscious ballad “A Soldier’s Prayer”. And best of all, the production was always fresh and honest. You’ll hear out of tune horns and loose drums which only serve to ground the incredibly heart felt vocal deliveries. The perfect example is Jimmy Church’s “Thinkin’ About the Good Times”. It’s as infectious a southern soul record as you’re likely to find (as unlikely as it may be that you’ll find the 45), without all of the polish of some of the bigger soul labels of the time.

The Peachtree Records address, today.

The rarity of these records alone makes this Grapevine compilation important on their own merit, but what is equally noteworthy are the organized and informative liner notes from noted deep soul collector John Ridley. In five 5 x 5 pages, I learned a wealth of information about Peachtree Records which cleared up some of my own questions and connected some dots in my own meager research.

William Bell’s Peachtree Records is one of the primary reasons I became interested in Georgia soul music. Listen to Gorgeous George’s “It’s Not A Hurting Thing” and try to deny its greatness. You’ll have to judge the merit of the music on your own as I’m clearly more grateful for this CD than I am objective of its content. But I’ll bet you a Mitty Collier 45 that you won’t have to get through even one full listen of this CD to agree with me.

The Mighty Hannibal - Hannibalism! (Norton Records CED-290) - 2001

2001 retrospective of the 60s and 70s recordings of James "Hannibal" Shaw" from New York's Norton Records.

by Brian Poust

The Vine City MARTA station is situated on the East/West line, just one stop West of the CNN Center. Not too far from there is where James "Hannibal" Shaw was born, and where he cut his musical teeth singing with a doo wop group called The Overalls (a group which also featured two future members of Gladys Knight's Pips). With Grover Mitchell, then of The Blue Dots, cited as an early mentor, Hannibal made early steps to becoming one of Atlanta's most notorious soul singers.

Now living in Harlem, NYC, Hannibal is once again gaining fans through this 2001 compilation of Hannibal tracks released by Norton Records. With an impressive 28 songs spanning his work between the mid 1950s and early 1970s. Interviews with Hannibal conducted by label owners Billy Miller & Miriam Linna make up the extensive and colorful liner notes which are truly worth the price of the CD alone.

As far as I can tell, this CD compiles at least one side of every single Hannibal recorded through 1973 with the exception of his Venture single "I'm Your Man" b/w "I'm Getting Ready" (written and produced by Thomas "Tee" Fletcher). However, the CD does boast three previously unreleased tracks from 1970 and a live version of "In the Midnight Hour" with the Gatemouth Brown Band backing him on a local Texas television show called "The Beat".

Highlights on this CD come fast and furious, from his Sue 45, we're treated to the Jack Nitzche penned "The Biggest Cry", Johnny Otis' "Baby Please Change Your Mind", Johnny Watson's "My Kind of Girl" from the King label are all favorites from his Los Angeles period. All of his Wendell Parker recordings are superb, as is the funky favorite from the Loma label "Get In the Groove". The mastering of all these tracks sounds great, even the televised recording of "In the Midnight Hour", making this CD collection a necessity for anyone interested in Georgia music, soul or otherwise.