Wilson Pickett, “The Definitive Collection”
SOUL | Atlantic/Rhino, released July 11
Southern soul legend Wilson Pickett rose to fame in the 1960s with songs like “Mustang Sally” and “Land of 1,000 Dances.” Known for his raw, sweaty performances, “Wicked Pickett,” as he was dubbed, gets his due on a lovingly crafted two-disc set from Atlantic/Rhino.
The 1962 hit “I Found a Love” kicks off the collection, a product of Pickett’s gospel-leaning band The Falcons. The sound quality is terrible but it’s clear even from this recording that the man was possessed with a stunning talent.
The sparks really fly in 1965 when Pickett visits Stax Records in Memphis. With house band Booker T. & the MGs he lays down some of the most searing vocals of his career, including a secularized version of a gospel song, “In the Midnight Hour.”
The horn-heavy sound he helped pioneer was endlessly imitated, but Pickett continued to evolve, moving on to Muscle Shoals in Alabama (his birth state) to record more tracks at Rick Hall’s Fame Studios. Although the performances are typically faultless, the sound quality varies, belying technical inconsistency as much as inventive arrangements. Pickett’s cover of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” is a gorgeous highlight, giving equal attention to Pickett’s heartbreaking vocals and Duane Allman’s unearthly guitar work.
Pickett died in January of a heart attack, his last real hit having been 1972’s “Fire and Water.” Still, even that 34-year gap can’t dim the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s shining soul, musical or otherwise. | John Wenzel
Say Hi to Your Mom, “Impeccable Blahs”
INDIE ROCK | Euphobia, to be released July 25
This fourth record in five years from New York’s Say Hi to Your Mom is an endearing lo-fi opus about vampires and the girl who dates the Prince of Darkness. And while the apartment recording is fun and lyrically stimulating, the music doesn’t always bring you in.
It’s as synth-heavy as anything on Polyvinyl, and while some of the beats are engaging and bouncy enough for a hipster dance party, it lacks consistency.
“Not as Goth as They Say We Are” never lives up to its cynical premise. “Angels and Darlings” falls flat, but “Snowcones and Puppies” varies the formula and makes it work. “Prefers Unhappy Endings” is a meandering, melodic treat and an ideal showcase for singer Eric Elbogen’s intoxicating voice. (Say Hi To Your Mom plays Aug. 1 at the Hi-Dive.) | Ricardo Baca
Aretha Franklin, “Aretha: Live at the Fillmore West”
SOUL | Rhino/WEA, released July 11
Aretha Franklin may be the indisputable Queen of Soul, but her success at a rock venue like Bill Graham’s Fillmore West was far from guaranteed in 1971. The crossover performance, set up by Atlantic Records’ head Jerry Wexler, ended up being one of the best-remembered moments of her career.
Opening with a breakneck-paced version of “Respect” (courtesy of backing band King Curtis and the Kingpins), the album rarely flags in its consistency or quality. This new version, a two-disc reissue that includes covers such as Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” presents the songs in gloriously crisp, painstakingly preserved stereo. | John Wenzel
Other releases today:
Los Lonely Boys, “Sacred” (Sony) The three Garza brothers who brought you “Heaven” are back with more Texican roots-rock.
Billy Ray Cyrus, “Wanna Be Your Joe” (New Door) The man behind “Achy Breaky Heart” presents a record with songs that spell out his desires. “Wanna Be Your Joe,” fine, OK. But what about “I Want My Mullet Back?” That might be taking humor a bit far.
