VA - The Complete Goldwax Singles Vol. 2: 1966-1967 (2009)

Tracklist:

CD1
01. James Carr - You've Got My Mind Messed Up (2:24)
02. James Carr - That's What I Want To Know (1:58)
03. Yo-Yo - Leaning On You (2:12)
04. Yo-Yo - I Can't Forget You (2:40)
05. Leroy Daniels - Hello Daughter (2:43)
06. Leroy Daniels - Gonna Comb You Out Of My Hair (2:28)
07. Oboe - Trying To Make It (2:38)
08. Oboe - I'm Just That Kind Of Fool For You (2:50)
09. Gene 'Bowlegs' Miller - Here It Is Now (2:24)
10. Gene 'Bowlegs' Miller - What Take Ye Got (2:24)
11. The Ovations - I Believe I'll Go Back Home (2:28)
12. The Ovations - Qualifications (2:41)
13. Ivory Joe Hunter - Every Little Bit Helped Me (1:55)
14. Ivory Joe Hunter - I Can Make You Happy (1:53)
15. Jeannie Newman - Little Things (2:03)
16. Jeannie Newman - Ain't That Lonely (2:08)
17. Spencer Wiggins - Take Me Just As I Am (2:45)
18. Spencer Wiggins - The Kind Of Woman That's Got No Heart (2:45)
19. James Carr - Love Attack (2:57)
20. James Carr - Coming Back To Me Baby (2:01)
21. Yo-Yo - Gotta Find A New Love (2:50)
22. Yo-Yo - I've Got Something In My Life (2:35)
23. James Carr - Pouring Water On A Drawning Man (2:42)
24. James Carr - Forgetting You (2:56)
25. Spencer Wiggins - Old Friend (You Asked Me If I Miss Her) (2:48)
26. Spencer Wiggins - Walking Out On You (2:35)
27. George & Greer - You Didn't Know It But You Had Me (2:15)
28. George & Greer - Good Times (2:38)

CD2
01. The Ovations - Me And My Imagination (2:22)
02. The Ovations - They Say (2:06)
03. Percy Milem - Crying Baby Baby Baby (2:05)
04. Percy Milem - Call On Me (2:20)
05. Eddie Jefferson - When You Look In The Mirror (2:34)
06. Eddie Jefferson - Some Other Time (1:56)
07. James Carr - The Dark End Of The Street (2:32)
08. James Carr - Lovable Girl (2:28)
09. Barbara Perry - Say You Need It (2:36)
10. Barbara Perry - Unlovable (2:24)
11. The Terry's - Cry Me A Hand Full (2:28)
12. The Terry's - Stormy Love Affair (2:21)
13. Ivory Joe Hunter - Don't You Believe Him (2:25)
14. Ivory Joe Hunter - What's The Matter Baby (1:48)
15. Timmy Thomas - Have Some Boogaloo (2:17)
16. Timmy Thomas - Liquid Mood (2:29)
17. Spencer Wiggins - Uptight Good Woman (2:43)
18. Spencer Wiggins - Anything You Do Is Alright (2:17)
19. The Ovations - I've Gotta Go (3:03)
20. The Ovations - Ride My Troubles And Blues Away (2:32)
21. Kathy Davis - The Wife Of The Life Of The Party (2:39)
22. Kathy Davis - You Can Dish It Out (But Can You Take It) (2:01)
23. James Carr - Let It Happen (2:42)
24. James Carr - A Losing Game (2:03)
25. Carmol Taylor - Did She Ask About Me (2:13)
26. Carmol Taylor - Here Comes The Fool (2:24)

The second of Ace's three volumes documenting the Goldwax's label complete run of singles enters what most connoisseurs would consider to be its prime period, with all of the tracks having first been issued in 1966 and 1967. In particular, this era found Goldwax's most prominent artist, James Carr, releasing some of his most heralded songs, including "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man" and "The Dark End of the Street." It's no surprise that Carr is the most heavily represented member of Goldwax's roster on this two-CD compilation, as he's responsible for ten of its 54 tracks. It's also no surprise that the kind of deep Southern soul Carr sang is the most heavily represented style on this anthology, especially in the sides by Spencer Wiggins and the almost annoyingly Sam Cooke-like Ovations. But since Goldwax is so identified with the deep soul style, the big surprises for collectors are the numerous cuts that found the label venturing outside of the R&B field. Kathy Davis, Leroy Daniel, Carmol Taylor, and the Terry's all do relatively straight country-pop with a honky tonk angle, though they're more competent than memorable. Jeannie Newman's 1966 single is country-meets-girl group pop that recalls, as the liner notes rightly point out, some of Sandy Posey's work. Yet more unexpectedly, the Yo-Yo's play something of a mixture of garage rock and blue-eyed soul, though only "Leaning on You" makes much of a mark. Even the 1967 single by Timmy Thomas (later of "Why Can't We Live Together" fame) is kind of left field, offering organ-dominated soul instrumentals.
While Ace's completism is admirable as ever, the stew of deep soul and other genres makes one question who's going to find this a wholly satisfying listen. Deep soul fans can find entire CDs devoted to the output of Carr, Wiggins, and the Ovations, and aren't likely to be unduly impressed by the non-R&B oddities. While some of the soul rarities by Goldwax's lesser-known artists (like Barbara Perry) are OK, they're not stunning, especially when a past-his-peak Ivory Joe Hunter runs the Drifters and Arthur Alexander through a blender for the highly derivative "Don't You Believe Him." And while this opinion won't sit well with Goldwax advocates, even much of its better stuff was rather derivative of -- or at least doesn't compare favorably to -- the more famous soul coming out of Stax in Memphis at the same time. But a meticulously sequenced series such as this isn't really aimed at the most discriminating listeners. It's for those who want it all in a good package, and there probably couldn't be a better such package of the Goldwax catalog for those who want it, complete with Ace's usual thorough liner notes.