Maurice & Mac were a soul music duo active from the late 60s to the early 70s.
Maurice McAllister and Green 'Mac' McLauren had both been members of Chicago-based vocal group The Radiants, who recorded for Chess Records from 1962 to 1965. McAllister had been the group's lead vocalist and songwriter, and McLauren had been with them briefly in 1962 before being drafted into the armed forces. McAllister left the group in 1965, and after releasing a non-charting single as a solo artist, teamed up with McLauren again as the duo Maurice & Mac in 1967, signed to Chess subsidiary Checker.
They released a number of singles from 1967 to 1970, in a hot southern R&B style somewhat reminiscent of the great Stax soul duo Sam & Dave. Most of these sides were recorded at Fame Studios in Alabama, and included the classic "You Left The Water Running", written by songwriter Dan Penn and studio boss Rick Hall. This song was recorded by several singers in 1966 and 1967, including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, James & Bobby Purify and Barbara Lynn, and Maurice & Mac's version must surely rate as the best, and indeed is something of a masterpiece of southern soul. "You Left The Water Running" was the closest thing they had to a hit, but unfortunately they never had any commerical success. This is mostly due to a complete lack of support from Chess. They stuck with it until 1972, when they finally called it quits.
This compilation album gathers together fourteen songs recorded in the late 60s, and as well as "You Left The Water Running" it includes "Why Don't You Try Me Tonight?", which was covered by Ry Cooder in 1979, and a great version of the Goffin/King composition "So Much Love". As well as a host of other brilliant hidden gems.
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