Soul Galore

A connoisseurs' package of 24 Jackie Wilson sides, and an indispensable treat, because other than the obvious hit, "Whispers (Getting Louder)," the rest were chosen with no regard to chart action or popularity, though many did chart R&B. Some of these will be new to you if you didn't purchase any of the albums Brunswick Records flung on the market by Wilson. Check his version of the Holland, Dozier, Holland's hit on the Supremes, "You Keep Me Hanging On." If Brunswick hadn't held Wilson under contract you would have got a taste of the artist cutting HDH tunes at Motown, but Wilson's management never let it happened, for Wilson signing with Brunswick was akin to joining a gang -- blood in, blood out. His version of "Love Uprising" -- also recorded by Otis Leavil and the Chi-lites -- is the best, ditto for "You Got Me Walking," also done (unreleased when recorded) by Cicero Blake, and a rip snortin' rendition of Darrell Banks' "Open the Door to Your Heart." ~ Andrew Hamilton