V A - Chess Soul - A Decade Of Chicago’s Finest Vol 1+2

V.A. - Chess Soul - A Decade Of Chicago's Finest Vol. 1+2 (1998)

Review
Chess Records may not have had the grit of Stax or the impact of Motown when it came to soul, but the label certainly had its share of success. Between 1961 and 1971, chart-toppers like Etta James, Fontella Bass, Little Milton, and the Dells kept enough money rolling in to leverage the stronger, but weaker-selling, blues side of Chess. Crucial cuts by all these acts can be found in this two-CD compilation along with fine work from many lesser-knowns. Chess preferred the softer side of soul with string arrangements (the Gems' "I Can't Help Myself," the Knight Brothers' "Temptation 'Bout to Get Me"), but they managed to balance out their catalog with some sweatier material (Etta James and Sugar Pie DeSanto's "Do I Make Myself Clear," Laura Lee's "Dirty Man"). Highlights include Jan Bradley's sugar-sweet "Mama Didn't Lie," the Kolettes' punchy "Who's That Guy," Maurice & Mac's propulsive "You Left the Water Running," and (of course) the Fontella Bass classic "Rescue Me." This probably should have been expanded into a box set, but there's more than enough first-class music here to make it a must-have for soul fans. --Ken Hohman

Disc 1:
01. Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley 2:05
02. Strange Feeling - Billy Stewart 2:10
03. I've Been So Lonely - Cookie And The Cupcakes 2:16  
04. Soulful Dress - Sugar Pie DeSanto 2:52
05. Love Ain't Nothing(But A Monkey On Your Back) - Johnny Nash 2:16
06. Who's That Guy - The Kolettes 2:54  
07. Ain't Love Good, Ain't Love Proud - Tony Clarke 3:15  
08. I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night - Mitty Collier 3:43
09. I Can't Help Myself - Gems 2:59  
10. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing - Fontella Bass 3:03  
11. Voice Your Choice - Radiants 2:35
12. Selfish One - Jackie Ross 3:20
13. The Entertainer - Tony Clarke 2:35  
14. I Do Love You - Billy Stewart 3:01  
15. Love Is A Five Letter Word - James Phelps 3:31  
16. The Soul Of A Man - Fontella Bass 3:34
17. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me - The Knight Brothers 3:27
18. Do I Make Myself Clear - Etta James 3:02
19. Take Me For A Little While - Jackie Ross 2:34
20. What About Me - The Valentinos 2:49
21. I'm Satisfied - Mitty Collier 2:03
22. Searching For My Love - Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces 2:32
23. Only Time Will Tell Etta James 3:24

Disc 2:
01. Rescue Me - Fontella Bass 2:56
02. I'm Not Ashamed - Bobby McClure 2:55  
03. Stay By My Side - Jo Ann Garrett 2:59
04. Have Pity On Me - Billy Young 2:33
05. Wade In The Water - Ramsey Lewis Trio 3:29
06. I Fooled You This Time - Gene Chandler 2:54  
07. Don't Pass Me By - Big Maybelle 3:11
08. Lonely Girl - Andrea Davis 3:06
09. To Be A Lover - Gene Chandler 2:57  
10. Don't Knock Love - Barbara Carr 2:27
11. I Believe She Will - Edgar Campbell 3:01  
12. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Marlena Shaw 3:06  
13. A Love Reputation - Denise LaSalle 2:47
14. Dirty Man - Laura Lee 2:55  
15. I Can't Make It Without You - Fred Hughes 2:44
16. Hold On - Radiants 2:58  
17. Good To Me - Irma Thomas 2:36
18. You Left The Water Running - Maurice & Mac 2:44  
19. Oh, What A Day - The Dells 2:50
20. Baby I Love You - Little Milton 2:49  
21. Losers Weepers, Part One - Etta James 3:02
22. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation - The Dells 4:34