James Carr - You Gotta Have Soul (1964-1970)

Compilation 
James Carr was an American soul singer.

From 1964 to 1970 the great James Carr only released two albums, as his career was severely hampered by his mental health problems. However he did release a total of fifteen singles, many of which weren't included on the albums. Since the re-issue of those two albums in 2002 and 2003 with plenty of bonus tracks, and the 2001 release of The Complete Goldwax Singles, there is now much more James Carr material on the market. This compilation brings together the re-issue bonus material and the singles not to be found on either albums, and so features non-charting a-sides, b-sides and outtakes. It includes his first three singles from 1964 and 1965 ("You Don't Want Me", "Lover Competition" and "Talk, Talk"), before he had his first hit in 1966, a wonderful version of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire", and his last two minor R&B hits from 1969, the civil rights song "Freedom Train" (#39) and a cover of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" (#44). Despite his behind-the-scenes problems, Carr's voice remained on top form thoughout. Sadly his music career could not continue and by 1970 any hope of becoming a star had faded.

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James Carr - A Man Needs A Woman (1968)

James Carr was an American soul singer.

In 1966 and 1967 James Carr had seen some modest success, with four Top 40 R&B hits released on the small Memphis-based Goldwax label, including an enduring classic soul record with "The Dark End Of The Street". However true stardom always remained out of reach, and much of this was due to his mental problems. He suffered from bipolar disorder, which made organizing his career and getting him to work at recording sessions very difficult - his manager Roosevelt Jamison had ended up acting almost as his carer as well, and when the two of them parted ways Carr found it increasingly difficult. The tragedy was that he had one of the greatest voices of the entire 60s soul genre, and unfortunately could not achieve his true potential.

Goldwax did manage to get enough out of him to put together a second album, though it did repeat "The Dark End Of The Street" and his earlier hit "You've Got My Mind Messed Up". Nevertheless A Man Needs A Woman was just as strong as his debut, with a similar big, powerful Southern soul sound. The title track (another O.B. McClinton composition) gave him his last true R&B hit at #16, and other great highlights included "I'm A Fool For You", a duet with Betty Harris.

As the 60s came to a close, Carr's brief period of success ended, as his problems got the better of him. At recording sessions he would reportedly just sit and stare into space, and he famously froze whilst on stage during a tour of Japan in the 70s, due to an overdose of antidepressants. Over the years he effectively retired from the music business, moving in with his sister and living as if in a daze, unaware of the world around him. He would not make another album until 1991.

You Got My Mind Messed Up (1967) <|> Take Me To The Limit (1991)
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James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up (1967)

James Carr was an American soul singer.

Born in Mississippi in 1942, James Carr began singing gospel music at an early age. When he was young his family moved to Memphis, where he went on to sing with various gospel groups. When he started to move into secular R&B territory, he was discovered by Roosevelt Jamison (author of "That's How Strong My Love Is"), who recognised Carr's talent and became his manager. With Jamison's help he was signed to a small Memphis record label called Goldwax in 1964 (along with fellow singer O.V. Wright).
His first few singles with Goldwax did not go anywhere, but in 1966 he recorded a song called "You've Got My Mind Messed Up" by O.B. McClinton which made it to #7 on the R&B charts, finally getting his career going, and establishing his distinctive style of deep-voiced, mournful country-soul. It was followed the same year by "Love Attack" (#21) and "Pouring Water On A Drowning Man" (#23). Then came the song for which Penn is best remembered for today - "The Dark End Of The Street", written by the duo of Dan Penn and Chips Moman (the latter having had engineered many of the Goldwax sessions). It was a #10 R&B hit, but it has earned itself a legacy much greater than its original chart position would suggest - simply put, it is one of the most sublime and perfect 60s soul records to be produced, Carr's anguished voice perfectly suited to the lyrics of illicit love. The song has since been recorded by a vast number of artists, but it is Carr's original that remains the definitive version.
The album You Got My Mind Messed Up came out in '67, featuring all four hit singles alongside other similar material (including a further three songs by O.B. McClinton). Retrospectively it has often been called one of the greatest albums of the 60s Southern soul genre.
However Carr's brief run of success was doomed to not last long. He was a troubled man, suffering from bipolar disorder, and it soon became apparent to all around him that he had problems. Roosevelt Jamison became his caretaker as well as his manager, as he almost needed someone with him at all times lest he go missing. His recording sessions became increasingly difficult, and before long these problems would have serious effects on his singing career.

|> A Man Needs A Woman (1968)
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