Release Date: 24 May 2019
Label: Soul Music Records / Cherry Red
Packaging Type: Clamshell
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 5013929088337
Description
Junior Walker (born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. in 1931 in Blytheville, Arkansas) was one of the most consistent Motown chartmakers and undeniably the global brand's most successful instrumentalist from 1964 to 1978, racking up 25 US charted singles and 14 US charted albums.
With his distinctive, rousing sax style and immediately identifiable vocals, Jr. Walker (with The All Stars - guitarist Willie Woods, keyboardist Vic Thomas and drummer James Graves) had the kind of raw'n'funky sound that captivated audiences worldwide. .Junior's early success on Motown's Soul imprint in the '60s with 'Shotgun', '(I'm A) Road Runner', and a reworking of Marvin Gaye's 'How Sweet It Is', established the dynamic sax man and his band as reliable groove makers.
The 1969 release of the now-classic 'What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)' proved to be a game-changer for Junior, setting the stage for a new decade of recordings that clearly showcased his innovative ability to add his own musical stamp to a diversity of pop, rock, jazz and R&B material. .This superb box set spanning the years 1970-1976 features five original Motown albums and one album (1974's "Jr.Walker & The All Stars") which has only ever been released in its entirety in UK and Europe, all six making their debut on CD worldwide with this 2019 SoulMusic Records' release.
Disc One comprises 1970's "A Gasssss" and 1971's "Rainbow Funk," both produced by Johnny Bristol; the (20) tracks include 'Do You See My Love (For You Growing)', 'Carry Your Own Load' and 'Take Me Girl, I'm Ready' (one of Jr. Walker's three UK hits of the '70s).
Disc Two (with the charted hits 'Way Back Home', 'Groove Thang', 'Walk In The Night' and 'Gimme That Beat') features 1972's Johnny Bristol-produced "Moody Jr.," and the 1973 set, "Peace & Understanding Is Hard To Find" which marked a change in creative direction with production by Motown stalwarts Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Gloria Jones & Pam Sawyer and Junior himself.
Disc Three consists of 1974's jazz-flavoured "Jr. Walker & The Allstars" and the album "Hotshot".
Tracklisting
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Tko
Tim Hollier
The Spinners
The Residents
Reuben Howell
Chris Clark
Barbara McNair
The Temptations
Brenda Holloway
Martha & The Vandellas
David Clayton-thomas
Jr. Walker & The All Stars
