ATLANTIC UNEARTHED: SOUL BROTHERS - VARIOUS
During its formative years, Atlantic Records was known as the “house that Ruth built” — an acknowledgement of the formidable hit-making reign of R&B singer Ruth Brown during the ’50s. Fortifying the label’s soul foundation between the mid-’60s and ’70s were a host of talented male and female singers, many of whom appear on the “Atlantic Unearthed” series of quite satisfying single-disc compilations. Each 16-song CD features remastered versions of B-sides, hard-to-find singles and previously unreleased tracks. The treats include Aretha Franklin’s gospel-tinged take on Frank Sinatra’s signature “My Way” and unreleased gems by Donny Hathaway (”What a Woman Really Means”) and Wilson Pickett (”Can’t Stop a Man in Love”). Adding to the discs’ allure are selections by such overlooked singers as Percy Wiggins (”Book of Memories”) and ex-gospel singer Laura Lee, whose “What a Man” sparkled some 25 years before Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue were a gleam in anyone’s eyes. First and foremost, however, this collection pointedly underscores the style and substance frequently missing in today’s R&B music. Billboard
