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