Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up (1968) LP

Released on the heels of their number one smash "Tighten Up," this album includes both parts of that classic along with an assortment of southern soul grooves like "Knock on Wood" and "In the Midnight Hour." There's also a fine rendition of Sunny Ozuna's "Give Me Time." Two Archie Bell compositions, "When You Left Heartache Began" and "A Soldier's Prayer," show the soulful Texan's writing and singing skills; the latter initially appeared on Ovide Records in 1967 and "Tighten Up" followed on Ovide the same year. Atlantic Records licensed and re-released "Tighten Up," which blew up while Bell was in the Army. Credit goes to the TSU Tornados, the band accompanying Bell on "Tighten Up."