Original Album Series [Box set]

These Original Album Series have just become available here in Oz and what a fabulous concept from Rhino UK, five albums in original sleeves (with notes) in one box set for very reasonable cost. What a disappointment that the sound quality on the Wicked Pickett album was overlooked. The fake [?] stereo version has been used, even though the sleeve states 'mono' (conversely The Exciting Wilson Pickett states 'stereo' but is in glorious, warm, punchy mono).

So on the Wicked Pickett album you have Pickett's voice out of the one speaker and the response chorus coming from the other speaker, which effectively dissipates power and cohesion in production which Fame studios and Jerry Wexler would have found. I compared the sound with tracks from the Atlantic/ Rhino USA 2 CD compilation Wilson Pickett 'A Man and A Half' from 1992 and the difference for my ears is marked - I much prefer the mono sound. That said, the album itself is so good, and some people may prefer the chorus separated.

The quality of material, i.e. the songs themselves, many of which Pickett wrote, is great and take you from the early 60s exciting gospel tinged doo wop of The Falcons 'I Found a Love' to 1968's 'I'm In Love', a great Bobby Womack song which heralds the slicker soul style of the 70s. The Exciting Wilson Pickett and The Wicked Pickett, for me are indispensable. The first album The Midnight Hour was issued to support the hit single and is really a collection of earlier singles where Pickett is finding is voice, some raw and the better for that - most are fabulous.

Both The Exciting Wilson Pickett and The Wicked Pickett have his major 60s hits except If You Need Me (covered by Solomon Burke and The Rolling Stones) released by for Double-L and available on A Man And A Half. But they aso contain covers of contemporary hits such as Knock On Wood from Falcon band mate Eddie Floyd, Don Covay's Mercy, Mercy, Irma Thomas/Rolling Stones Time is On My side, Bobby Herb's Sunny, Gary Bond's New Orleans and Solomon Burke's Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. Pickett's covers in many cases eclipse the originals.

I was unfamiliar with The Sound of Wilson Pickett apart from Soul Dance No 3 and Funky Broadway, two top funky dance numbers and the remake of I Found A Love Pts 1&2 where gospel moves into soul. After a few listenings the album revealed itself to be almost on a par with the previous albums, which is saying... all good.

I'm In Love for my taste is a notch below the Sound of Wilson Pickett but it does have R&B hit Jealous Love, a tough Stagger Lee, and the hit title track with the lyrics "I feel just like a baby boy/ on a Christmas morning with a brand new toy/I'm in love''. Oh yes he does. She's Looking Good has the warning ''Mama get your mojo/papa get your gun/ I'm gonna get your daughter/gonna be your son''. Watch out, the Wicked Pickett's coming into your home - it sits nicely with his reputation - 'look but don't touch, he might bite your hand'! The album ends with another Bobby Womac song, one of those a torching soul slow burners, I've Come A Long Way. Both The Sound Of Wilson Pickett and I'm In Love are in (true not fake) stereo, except perhaps for the track I Need a Lot of Lovin Every Day, which might be an earlier recording.

If you like powerful, exciting, gritty 60s soul, with superb musicianship and Pickett's almighty voice, this collection from the Original Album can't be denied and is also great value. I almost docked a star for the fake stereo Wicked Pickett, but that album even in it's lesser state is wonderful.

Five essential albums in the history of soul by the Wicket Picket, the number one soul screamer, at a bargain price. Fantastic songs and what a voice. I think I better dance now.

A great boxed set in the original album series of Wilson Pickett's first 5 Atlantic albums. The only drawback being that "The Wicked Pickett" is in Mono.