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Bar-Kays - Soul Finger
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AllMusic Review by Lindsay Planer
The Bar-Kays were an aggregate born of the same inspiration behind Booker
T. & the MG's -- performing the double-duty of being a backing combo for the
significant canon of vocalists on the Memphis-based Stax and Volt labels, as
well as a self-contained unit. The original lineup of James Alexander (bass),
Jimmy King (guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (organ), Phalon Jones (sax), Carl
Cunningham (drums), and Ben Cauley (trumpet) were only together long
enough to have issued this album prior to the tragic loss of everyone sans
Alexander and Cauley in the December '67 plane crash that also claimed the
life of Otis Redding. Soul Finger (1967) commences with the title track, which
quickly became a Top 20 crossover pop hit in addition to one of the band's
best-known works, not to mention a certifiable 'feel good' party anthem. The
remainder of the platter follows suit offering up ten further instrumentals that
stay true to the precedent that had guided Booker T. & the MG's , blending
fun upbeat numbers with the occasional slower-tempo side complementing the
otherwise teen-oriented and definitely danceable selections. Here, the cover
of the Mad Lads' "I Want Someone" -- co-written by Stax co-founder Estelle
Axton aptly fits the bill, with Caldwell providing a lovely and affective lead
over the languid, melodic ballad. "Theme From Hells Angels" is interesting as
there is no designation given to either the song's author or precisely what
Hells Angels refers to. A movie? The infamous biker club? The staccato rhythm
recalls Maurice Ravel's "Bolero," while King's distinctly distorted fretwork helps
to further the composition's undeniably dramatic quality. Another highlight is
the "Bar-Kays Boogaloo," while definitely a product of its time, it exemplifies
the unit's cohesion as purveyors of the unmistakably swinging Stax/Volt
sound.
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Artist...............: Bar-Kays
Album................: Soul Finger
Genre................: Funk / Soul
Source...............: CD
Year.................: 1967
Ripper...............: EAC (Secure mode) / LAME 3.92 & Asus CD-S520
Codec................: LAME 3.82
Version..............: MPEG 1 Layer III
Quality..............: Insane, (avg. bitrate: 320kbps)
Channels.............: Stereo / 44100 hz
Tags.................: ID3 v1.1, ID3 v2.3
Ripped by............: Grad58 on 9/1/2016
Posted by............: Grad58 on 9/1/2016
Included.............: NFO
Covers...............: Front
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Tracklisting
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1. Bar-Kays - Bar-Kays Boogaloo [02:15]
2. Bar-Kays - Don't Do That [02:48]
3. Bar-Kays - Hole In The Wall [02:31]
4. Bar-Kays - House Shoes [02:46]
5. Bar-Kays - I Want Someone [03:09]
6. Bar-Kays - Knucklehead [02:19]
7. Bar-Kays - Pearl High [02:35]
8. Bar-Kays - Soul Finger [02:19]
9. Bar-Kays - Theme From Hell's Angels [02:46]
10. Bar-Kays - With A Child's Heart [02:57]
11. Bar-Kays - You Can't Sit Down [03:06]
Playing Time.........: 29:35
Total Size...........: 70.45 MB
NFO generated on.....: 9/1/2016 10:22:24 PM
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