King Curtis Sweet Soul/Everybody's Talkin' CD

This installation in the Ambassador Soul Classics series brings together two King Curtis albums--originally released on Atco--from 1968 and 1970, respectively. SWEET SOUL puts a smooth spin on King Curtis's brand of soul, adding lush orchestrations to the saxophonist's sultry, rootsy style of playing on popular '60s tunes like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Up-Up and Away." EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' provides more down-and-gritty bite, with funky backing from a small combo on the title track and the self-explanatory "Groove Me," among others.

2 LPs on 1 CD: SWEET SOUL (1968)/EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' (1972).

Personnel: Reggie Young (guitar, electric bass); Cornell Dupree, Everett Barksdale, Ron Miller, Jim O'Rourke (guitar); Frank Wess (tenor saxophone); Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Joe Newman Quartet , Mel Lastie (trumpet); Benny Powell (trombone); Roger Hopps, Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson, Ed Logan, Jack Hale (horns); Spooner Oldham, Bobby Emmons (piano, electric piano, organ); Jimmy Smith (piano, organ); James Booker, Richard Tee, Paul Griffin , George Stubbs (piano); Billy Preston, Billy Carter (organ); Gerald Jemmott, Mike Leech (electric bass); Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice, Tubby Zeigler, Gene Christman, Ray Lucas, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums); Ralph MacDonald (congas); Trevor Lawrence (percussion).

Audio Remixers: Gene Paul; Jimmy Douglass.

Liner Note Author: David Nathan.

Recording information: American Sound Studio, Memphis (02/01/1968-02/10/1971); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (02/01/1968-02/10/1971); Atlantic South-Criteria Studios, Miami, FL (02/01/1968-02/10/1971); Juggy Sound Studio, New York, NY (02/01/1968-02/10/1971).

Photographer: Stephen Paley.

Arranger: Arif Mardin.