What Is Success: The Scepter And Bell Recordings Allen Toussaint

£11.70

Genre:
Southern Soul
Label:
Kent
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDKEND 286

If Allen Toussaint had recorded the hit version of every song that he’s written over the past 50 years, he would rank among the most successful artists of all time. Just a list of his hit compositions would fill several pages, and a list of those who have put voice to his words and music would fill the rest of an issue. Working In The Coal Mine, Southern Nights, What Do You Want The Girl To Do, Lipstick Traces, Whipped Cream, and Ruler Of My Heart and many others are permananetly enshrined in the Popular Music Hall Of Fame, as are the artists who recorded these and hundreds of other Toussaint compositions, from Glen Campbell and Herb Alpert at one end of the scale to Lee Dorsey and Irma Thomas at the other.

Toussaint’s prolific songwriting has never been matched by his own output as a recording artist. He has released less than 10 albums under his own name since 1957 - and only around 25 singles across the same time frame. The album that forms the core of this new Kent collection was released, almost 14 years after he had first set foot in a recording studio, in 1970.

The warm, rich harmonies of Toussaint, and his friend Willie Harper, had been a feature of so many of his productions that many who bought the LP were probably expecting an all-vocal set. Instead it offered a 50/50 split between mostly new Toussaint songs and instrumentals, with a couple of revivals (one vocal, one instrumental) thrown in. Among the songs were three of his most celebrated: the original versions of From A Whisper To A Scream, Sweet Touch Of Love and, perhaps most famously, What Is Success. Allen also remade two of his songs that had shaped Lee Dorsey’s profile in the latter 1960s, Working In The Coal Mine and Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky. A third Toussaint/Dorsey collaboration, Get Out Of My Life, Woman, is one of six bonus tracks, originally released as three singles on Bell Records. Original instrumentals like Louie and Pickles display all his trademark pianist flourishes and runs.

“Toussaint” got lost in the shuffle when Tiffany Records went belly up. Before Scepter had a chance to get behind its reissue, Toussaint had signed to Reprise. 35+ years later, everyone should welcome this chance to reappraise these recordings. R&Bs and rock‘n’roll would never have been the same without Allen Toussaint. You only have to listen to this CD to understand why.

By Tony Rounce

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

Show

Essential for any connoisseur of the NoLa thang. ★★★★

Mojo

Customer reviews

Show

Customers who bought this item also bought