Sun Records Curated By Record Store Day, Volume 6

Various Artists

ORG Music, 2019

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/09/2019

Limited to just 4000 copies, this sixth volume of the Sun Records Curated By Record Store Day series brings focus on the seminal female artists in the legendary Memphis label's vast catalog. The entire affair was even curated by record store employees participating in RSD. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

“Soulshake” by Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson gets the album off to a fuzzy and funky start with plenty of underlying R&B. Jeannie C. Riley's country spirited Harper Valley PTA follows with a playful, rural feel. Side one also offers us the dusty, melodic, country rock and horn-fueled fun of “Kangaroo Of Love” from Margaret Lewis, as well as the ultra-smooth vocals on the R&B hit “You Got To Pay The Price” by Gloria Taylor. Bettye Lavette's “At The Mercy Of A Man” ends the first side with emotion and grit on the soulful rocker that certainly has stood the test of time.

The second side recruits some classics to the listen, including a haunting version of Patti Page's mega hit “The Tennessee Waltz,” as well as the timeless vocal melodies of “Baby Be Mine” by The Jelly Beans and the busy, swinging prowess of “You've Got Me Up Tight” from Evie Sands. Doris Allen's brass-filled “Candy From A Baby” ends the listen with swagger and style; it is a fitting end to a listen with so much authenticity.

A record label that was founded in the early '50s and was the first to record legends like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, and many others, Sun Records certainly played a large role in shaping rock 'n' roll's history. These selections do a fine job of showcasing the immense amount of talent Sun Records had the honor of bringing to the world.

Rating: A-

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