Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Considered by many aficionados the greatest of all Deep Soul singers, James Carr grew out of the same mulch of Southern influences that spawned Otis Redding. The second in Ace's reissue of Carr's Goldwax recordings, this features the recently deceased soulman's magnificent 1967 debut album in all its glory, sensitively remixed for stereo along with a dozen previously unavailable out-takes, some of which rival his finest work. Comparable in depth of emotion, quality of material and intensity of performance to Otis Blue, it's an extraordinary collection of songs that includes at least three all-time classics in the title-track, the abasement anthem "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man" ("You push me when I'm falling and you kick me when I'm down/ I guess I missed my calling, 'cos I should have been a clown"), and the quintessential cheater's lament "Dark End of the Street". The true mark of Carr's greatness, though, is that even when he was called on to do little more than recycle others' successes – as on "My Adorable One", a dead ringer for Percy Sledge's "Warm and Tender Love" – he could draw on apparently alchemical vocal abilities to transform base metal into gold. Raw, sore, and as real as soul music gets, You Got My Mind Messed Up is one of the landmark recordings of 20th-century black music.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments