The recent reissue of half-a-dozen Atlantic albums by superb Southern soul sister Margie Joseph was an immediate reminder to me that the Mississippi-born vocalist made two wonderful records for the Stax imprint, Volt Records. Fortunately, both are still available on a two-on-one release (“Margie Joseph Makes A New Impression” and “Phase II”); fortunate indeed for real soul music lovers, some of whom recall the authentic and honest ‘woman-to-woman’ rap that a then-21-ear old Margie created as a prelude to a searing version of The Supremes’ “Stop! In The Name Of Love,” the opening cut on her 1971 Volt debut set. I remember hearing it when it was first issued and thinking writers Holland, Dozier & Holland probably never imagined that their catchy ditty might be transformed into a brilliant eight-minute Isaac Hayes-styled opus by Margie and producers Fred Briggs and Darryl Carter. In a 1971 interview with John Abbey of Britain’s “Blues & Soul” magazine, Margie recalled that the idea for the memorable monologue on “Stop!” came from producer Briggs: “…I was in my hotel room trying to think up what I should say… I thought back to my school days and imagined some sort of a teenage love affair that could relate to someone having to ‘stop in the name of love.’ That’s about it…at school, I was always the sort of counselor for the other girls… They would tell me their troubles in the dormitory – a sort of guidance bureau for teenagers!”

“Stop! In The Name Of Love” with Margie’s spoken intro is worth the price of the entire CD but there is much more on the nineteen cuts that comprise this hidden gem in the Stax catalog: recorded in Memphis and Muscle Shoals with rich and full orchestrations (reminiscent of the work emerging Stax hitmaker Hayes was employing on his own work), highlights abound – including the British Northern soul-flavored “Medicine Bend,” the funky “Sweeter Tomorrow” (with some great lyrics – “Your car has been repossessed by the finance company!”), Margie’s own “Same Thing” (written years before Natalie Cole’s “This Will Be” but vaguely reminiscent of that massive 1975 hit) and the melancholy “Make Me Believe You’ll Stay” (which Margie re-cut on her 1973 Atlantic debut LP), a cut that features the two female members of The Soul Children (Anita Louis and Shelbra Bennett) and R&B singer Tommy Tate on background vocals.

Margie’s sophomore Volt set, “Phase II” (released later in 1971) kicked off with “The Other Woman Got My Man And Gone,” another slice-of-life piece dealing with the age-old issue of infidelity and roamin’ husbands; attempting to re-create the soul-to-the-bone remake of “Stop In The Name Of Love,” producer Briggs opted for another Supremes’ classic in the form of “My World Is Empty Without You” although the result is less impactful. A true highlight is Briggs’ “Strung Out,” with Margie’s emotive vocals exemplifying her skill as a soulstress of the first order; while the funky-butt “Didn’t Have To Tell Me” (which came from the pen of New Orleans writer Rosalind Nocentelli, no doubt related to Leo, one of the founding members of the famed Meters) shows Margie could groove with the best of ‘em!

Alas, her Stax/Volt stint (which had started in 1969, two years after her first recordings for the Okeh label, with a session with the late New Orleans producer/songwriter Willie Tee) didn’t last beyond 1971: in 1972, then-husband/manager and former Crescent City radio man Larry McKinley set up a new deal for Margie at Atlantic where she made some more great records, mostly with the late and brilliant producer/arranger Arif Mardin.

Personally, I first met Margie around 1974 during her first visit to London; I well remember some great interview sessions with her during subsequent years and just a few months ago, the always-genial lady (currently based just outside Atlanta) who made her own gospel LP a few years back) and I reconnected after a long time. Listening to “Makes A New Impression/Phase II,” I marvel once more at her soulful brilliance and hope that she’ll get another shot at recording again for she truly deserves to be heard. Until that day dawns, do yourself a favor and check out this stellar Stax standout!

David Nathan
Aka the British Ambassador Of Soul
Owner, www.soulmusic.com, www.soulmusicstore.com, www.soulmusicglobal.com