The Soul Children: Hold On, I’m Coming

By 1971, Isaac Hayes was so popular and obligated as a solo artist that he had no time left to invest in other Stax artists, including the group that was partly his creation, The Soul Children. Jim Stewart and Al Jackson Jr. took over producing the group.

Rob Bowman suggests in his booklet notes for The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles Volume 2 that, “The Soul Children’s work in this period probably encompasses the most underrated recordings issued by Stax.” The studio version of “Hearsay” that climbed to #5 on the R&B singles chart after its February ‘72 release is represented on Hold On by the concert version recorded during the Children’s performance at Wattstax.

Blackfoot and Bennett split the lead vocal on the soulfully homespun “Don’t Take My Kindness for Weakness,” which made it up to #14 R&B after its June ‘72 single release. Released in Janaury ‘73, “It Ain’t Always What You Do (It’s Who You Let You See Do It)” ascended to #11 R&B single. Its message is both cheerful and moral, and one wonders how such a warm sweet slice of folksy country soul, led by a female voice, never made it to the Staples Singers for Mavis to sing. Stewart and Jackson produced all three of these singles.

Even so, the Soul Children, like many other Stax artists, also made some great music using other peoples’ tunes. In fact, for my money, the three best tunes on Hold On, I’m Coming are cover versions of other artists. Next time, those barnburners.

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