Product Description
By the early 60s, Atlantic Records was starting to gain traction as one of the go-to labels in the world of R&B, thanks to the success of Ray Charles, The Drifters, Ruth Brown, Lavern Baker and The Coasters among others. As the genre was gaining more popularity, the label shrewdly chose to capture the excitement and energy of shows staged on the famous chitlin circuit, a term used to refer to a group of theaters in cities with a significant African-American population. And the two most essential stops on the circuit were The Uptown in Philadelphia and the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

Atlantic recorded shows at the two venues in 1964, resulting in the two long-cherished live albums collected on this new twofer from Real Gone Music and SoulMusic Records. The first of the two albums was Apollo Saturday Night, which presented four solo artists from the label Otis Redding, Doris Troy, Rufus Thomas and headliner Ben E. King - and two groups, show-openers The Falcons (featuring Wilson Pickett) and The Coasters, playing before a packed house at the venue on 125th Street.

With renowned saxophonist (and Atco recording artist in his own right) King Curtis as bandleader, each act performed their main hits of the day, with the exception of Troy, who had in fact been an usherette at the venue during her teen years. An encore brought everyone back onstage for a rousing version of Ray Charles What d I Say.

The bill at the Uptown had a similar mix of major hitmakers (The Drifters and The Vibrations) with others who were just making headway as R&B stars, most of whom, interestingly, did not record for Atlantic. Among them were New Jersey natives Patty & The Emblems, Washington D.C. group The Carltons, Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles, then on the verge of signing with Atlantic, and Barbara Lynn, who was recording for local Philadelphia label Jamie Records.

The Atlantic acts included the L.A.-based Vibrations and Wilson Pickett, now no longer with The Falcons and just signed with the company, performing his hit If You Need Me. Atlantic s mainstay group, The Drifters, understandably had the top spot and thrilled the audiences with a reprise of their classics There Goes My Baby, On Broadway and Under the Boardwalk.

Just over 50 years after they were recorded, these two albums still pulse with the excitement and passion that made the Uptown and the Apollo world-famous venues. Liner notes are by noted UK author, R&B historian and Solar Radio broadcaster Clive Richardson...live soul at its finest!

1. I Found a Love The Falcons
2. Alabama Bound The Falcons
3. Pain in My Heart Otis Redding
4. These Arms of Mine Otis Redding
5. Misty Doris Troy
6. Say Yeah Doris Troy
7. Rockin Chair Rufus Thomas
8. Walkin the Dog Rufus Thomas
9. Tain t Nothin to Me The Coasters
10. Speedo s Back in Town The Coasters
11. Groovin Ben E. King
12. Don t Play That Song Ben E. King
13. Stand by Me Ben E. King
14. Finale (What d I Say)
15. Introduction Jimmy Bishop
16. Under the Boardwalk The Drifters
17. On Broadway The Drifters
18. There Goes My Baby The Drifters
19. Mixed-Up, Shook-Up Girl Patty & the Emblems
20. My Girl Sloopy The Vibrations
21. The Watusi The Vibrations
22. Introduction Jimmy Bishop
23. If You Need Me Wilson Pickett
24. I m Gonna Cry Wilson Pickett
25. Down the Aisle Patti LaBelle & Her Bluebells (sic)
26. Can t You Hear the Beat The Carltons
27. (O Baby) We Got a Good Thing Goin Barbara Lynn

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