VA - Royal Memphis Soul (1996) [4CD Box Set]

Royal Memphis Soul is a superb, 95-track box set that collects all the highlights, both well-known and obscure, from the Hi Records vaults. Hi was one of the handful of great soul labels of the early '70s, featuring such artists as Al Green, Ann Peebles, Syl Johnson and Otis Clay. Green's popularity and reputation has tended to overshadow the other artists, who were all capable of delivering material of equal power, as this set demonstrates. In addition to all the hits, there's a number of neglected gems that hardcore soul fans will treasure. Certainly, the mammoth size of this box set means that it appeals primarily to special interests, but those collectors will find this to be an invaluable addition to their collection.

Tracks:

CD 1:
01. Bad & Good Boys - We Got Soul (2:05)
02. Don Bryant - I Like It Like That (2:28)
03. Willie Mitchell feat. Don Bryant - Everything Is Gonna Be Alright (2:24)
04. Janet & The Jays - Without a Reason (3:02)
05. Don Bryant - The Lonely Soldier (2:35)
06. 1 + 1 - I Will Be True (2:11)
07. Norm West - Hey Little Girl (2:25)
08. Don Bryant - The Call of Distress (2:24)
09. George Jackson - I'm Gonna Wait (2:56)
10. Don Bryant - Is That Asking Too Much? (2:39)
11. Don Bryant - There Is Something on Your Mind (Part 1) (2:25)
12. James Fry - Tumblin' Down (2:46)
13. Don Bryant - I'll Go Crazy (2:06)
14. Ann Peebles - Walk Away (3:14)
15. Don Bryant - You Cause Me to Wonder (2:05)
16. Lyndon - The Very First Time (2:21)
17. Lyndon - Love Map (2:18)
18. Al Green - You Say It (2:51)
19. Ann Peebles - Part Time Love (2:55)
20. Ann Peebles - I Still Love You (3:24)
21. Al Green - I Can't Get Next to You (3:50)
22. David Duke - Is It Over? (3:46)
23. Ann Peebles - I Pity the Fool (2:59)
24. Eddie McGee - What Made You Change? (2:59)
25. Eric Tigg - Treat Her Right (2:20)
26. Al Green - Tired of Being Alone (2:59)
27. Ebony Web - This Morning (3:01)

CD 2:
01. Ann Peebles - 99 lbs (2:17)
02. Syl Johnson - The Love You Left Behind (2:47)
03. Al Green - Let's Stay Together (3:17)
04. Veniece - Stepchild (2:36)
05. Al Green - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? (6:23)
06. Ann Peebles - I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home (2:30)
07. Al Green - Look What You Done for Me (3:07)
08. George Jackson - Aretha, Sing One for Me (2:58)
09. T-99 - Sweetness Ain't Sweet No More (2:57)
10. Al Green - I'm Still in Love with You (3:14)
11. Phillip Mitchell - Little Things (3:10)
12. Quiet Elegance - I'm Afraid of Losing You (2:44)
13. Bobo Mr. Soul - She's My Woman (3:35)
14. Otis Clay - Trying to Live My Life Without You (2:49)
15. Al Green - You Ought to Be with Me (3:16)
16. Joint Venture - When the Battle Is Over (2:54)
17. Ann Peebles - I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (2:41)
18. Al Green - Call Me (Come Back Home) (3:04)
19. Otis Clay - I Can't Make It Alone (2:53)
20. Phillip Mitchell - The Same Folks That Put You There (3:34)
21. Darryl Carter - Looking Straight Ahead (2:49)
22. Quiet Elegance - You've Got My Mind Messed Up (2:51)
23. Otis Clay - I Love You, I Need You (5:45)
24. Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand the Rain (2:27)

CD 3:
01. Syl Johnson - Back for a Taste of Your Love (2:38)
02. Otis Clay - If I Could Reach Out (2:54)
03. Erma Coffee - You Made Me What I Am (2:55)
04. Otis Clay - I Die a Little Each Day (2:43)
05. Erma Coffee - Anyway the Wind Blows (3:04)
06. Al Green - Livin' for You (3:12)
07. Phillip Mitchell - Turning Over the Ground (3:35)
08. Al Green - Let's Get Married (5:36)
09. Quiet Elegance - Will You Be My Man in the Morning? (2:56)
10. The Masqueraders - Wake Up Fool (2:49)
11. Syl Johnson - Please Don't Give Up on Me (2:38)
12. Otis Clay - It Was Jealousy (3:05)
13. Al Green - Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) (3:00)
14. Veniece - Every Now and Then (2:55)
15. Known Facts - He's Got It (2:46)
16. Al Green - L-O-V-E (Love) (3:06)
17. Known Facts - How Can I Believe in You? (2:59)
18. Ann Peebles - Beware (3:07)
19. Syl Johnson - Take Me to the River (3:08)
20. Willie Clayton - I Must Be Losing You (2:30)
21. Gene Anderson - Your Love Must Be Voodoo (Part 1) (2:51)
22. Willie Clayton - It's Time You Made Up Your Mind (2:37)
23. Jimmy Mack - Be Good to the One (That's Good to You) (3:24)
24. Ann Peebles - Come to Mama (2:58)
25. Willie Walker - I Love Her (2:58)

CD 4:
01. Jean Plum - Back to You (3:26)
02. Al Green - Full of Fire (5:15)
03. Jean Plum - Today I Sing the Blues (4:35)
04. Syl Johnson - It Ain't Easy (5:06)
05. Ann Peebles - I Needed Somebody (5:00)
06. Quiet Elegance - After You (3:08)
07. Jean Plum - I Love Him (3:49)
08. O.V. Wright - Without You (4:37)
09. Jean Plum - Loneliness (3:54)
10. Quiet Elegance - Roots of Love (4:10)
11. Otis Clay - I Can't Take It (4:06)
12. Quiet Elegance - How's Your Love Life Baby? (3:04)
13. Bobby McClure - I Ain't Gonna Turn You Loose (2:50)
14. Al Green - Belle (4:53)
15. Willie Parker - Reaching for the Real Thing (3:18)
16. O.V. Wright - Your Good Thing Is About to End (4:59)
17. O.V. Wright - I Don't Know Why (3:17)
18. O.V. Wright - Sacrifice (4:29)
19. O.V. Wright - Eight Men, Four Women (Live) (4:25)