Various Artists: More from the Other Side of the Trax – Stax-Volt 45 rpm Rarities 1960-1968

Reviewed by Heikki Suosalo

March 30, 2017

Rating: 7/ 10

(Kent, CDTOP 462; www.acerecords.com; 24 tracks, 60 min.; notes by Tony Rounce)

Barbara & the Browns: I Don’t Want Trouble / William Bell: What’cha Gonna’ Do / Rufus Thomas: Fine And Mellow / The Mar-Keys: Grab This Thing pt 2 / The Premiers: You Make A Strong Girl Weak / Carla Thomas: The Puppet / Rufus Thomas: All Night Worker / Eddie Floyd: Good Love, Bad Love / Barbara Stephens: I Don’t Worry / Carla & Rufus: Deep Down Inside / William Bell: Don’t Make Something Out Of Nothing / The Mar-Keys: The Dribble / Carla Thomas: It’s Starting To Grow / Rufus Thomas: Talkin’ Bout True Love / William Bell: One Plus One / Rufus & Carla Thomas: Never Let You Go / The Four Shells: Reputation / Sir Mack Rice: Mini-Skirt Minnie / Rufus Thomas: Greasy Spoon / Carla Thomas: I Want You Back / The Mar-Keys: The Shovel / William Bell: I’m Waiting On You / The Triumphs: Raw Dough / Carla Thomas: Don’t Let The Love Light Leave

Kent has come up with the second volume of certain Stax single sides, more precisely the largely ignored b-sides of the so-called blue period singles. The stars of this show are Carla and Rufus Thomas, William Bell and the Mar-Keys. On his four tracks Rufus either gets bluesy (Fine and Mellow, Talkin’ Bout True Love) or makes you dance (All Night Worker, Greasy Spoon), while Carla either brings out her sweet side on a ballad (It’s Starting to Grow) or sings mid-tempo poppy songs (The Puppet, I Want You Back, Don’t Let the Love Light Leave). Their first joint effort is a slow bluesy number called Deep down Inside, and the other one a funky dancer named Never Let You Go.

William’s music here is more mellow and melodic, be it laid-back mid-pacers (What’cha Gonna’ Do, I’m Waiting on you) or tender, easy ballads (Don’t Make Something out of Nothing, One Plus One). The three Mar-Keys’ instrumental tracks are simple and punchy dancers, and on this set also the Triumphs - in the line-up of Chips Moman, Marvell Thomas, Booker T. Jones, Lewie Steinberg and Howard Grimes - play on one uptempo, intense instrumental titled Raw Dough, which was the first Volt b-side in 1961.

There’s some fascinating music among the rest six tracks, too. Both The Premiers’ You Make a Strong Girl Weak, and Eddie Floyd’s Good Love, Bad Love are soothing soul ballads, whereas Barbara & the Browns’ I Don’t Want Trouble is a rousing dancer. Memphis music connoisseurs and Stax completists will no doubt grab this CD without any delay (7).