Browse by Artist: MURRAY, MICKEY

Artist:	MURRAY, MICKEY
Title:	People Are Together
Label:	SECRET STASH RECORDS
Format:	LP
Price:	$17.50
Catalog #:	SSR 284LP

"Throughout the sixties, Mickey Murray made a name for himself as a hard working entertainer viewed by many as a cross between James Brown and Otis Redding. In 1969 Murray was signed to King Records. The label was preparing for the inevitable loss of James Brown. Since they obviously couldn't afford to sign another act of Brown's caliber, they decided to develop their own. Mickey was groomed by the label to become their next superstar act. He recorded People Are Together and they prepared to release it in 1970 on their Federal Records imprint. They chose the title track as the lead single. The response from most of the black DJs they relied on for support was that they wouldn't play the song. Most of them feared that the song was far too racially provocative for a developing artist. In fact, many black DJs said they were concerned they'd lose their job if they played the track. It didn't take long at all for King to abandon the release. According to Murray, the record may have never actually been formally released in stores. Secret Stash is proud to present the first ever reissue of this lost gem. Each track has been carefully remastered from the original master tapes. We've also added a gatefold jacket packed full of liner notes and never before seen photos."

Artist:	MURRAY, MICKEY
Title:	Shout Bamalama
Label:	VAMPISOUL (SPAIN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	VAMPI 053CD

2004 release. Mickey Murray was a powerful performer who was signed to Sun Records' SSI International in the late '60s. Written by Otis Redding, "Shout Bamalama" rose up the R&B charts, just missing the Top 10 in 1967. But follow-ups like his self-penned Lonely Room and the hard funk of Hit Record failed to generate any chart action, leaving Redding's song as the biggest career hit for the Southern singer. This collection brings together the best of Murray's SSI tracks and demonstrates his fine skills as a singer. A surprisingly hard to find album of groovy soul cuts. Here are loads of great cuts, like "Hit Record," "How many Breaks Can One Heart Take," "Got You On My Mind," and the eerie "Lonely Room." In "Shout Bamalama" he imitates Redding, and he sings in a lower, less hectic voice on the other songs -- except for "Flat Foot Sam" and "Sticky Sue," which are as boisterous and backwoods as "Shout Bamalama." The ballads -- "Lonely Room," "Pledging My Love" (a sweet remake of Johnny Ace's classic), and "Am I That Easy to Forget" (slow Southern blues) -- are well-done and memorable. On "Hit Record" and "Mama Got the Wagon" you'll swear you're listening to James Brown, whereas tracks like "After What I've Been Used To" and "The Pig and the Pussy Cat" harken back to memories of Stax Records and their patented horns. The sound is a mix of Sound Stage Seven southern soul with funkier production -- and Mickey's voice is nice and raw, and works great with the material.

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