Author Rob Bowman, widely acknowledged as the definitive source for all matters Stax (not only as the writer of the tome “Soulsville USA: The Story Of Stax Records”) but as the penman behind dozens of liner notes for Stax reissues calls “Genesis” and “Friction” by The Soul Children “among the finest soul recordings in the 1970s.” He describes the vocal workouts between original members Norman West, J. Blackfoot, Shelbra Bennett and Anita Louis as “incendiary”
and Bowman knows of what he speaks. Listening back to the two-on-one CD still thankfully available on Stax, I can only agree with Rob’ assessment: while I have a personal preference for “Friction,” the soap opera-styled concept LP on the subject of infidelity created by producers Homer Banks (himself a Minit recording artist in the late ‘60s) and songwriting partner Carl Hampton, the seventeen tracks on this one record are simply stunning. For many reasons – including the likelihood that the quartet was simply too soulful for radio airplay – The Soul Children never received the mass appeal that their music deserved. They did, most assuredly, resonate with black music buyers in the South but never gained the foothold among a more mainstream crowd that could have ensured greater recognition.

It’s obvious from their eight-minute reworking of vocalist Lorraine (“Stay With Me”) Ellison’s 1967 cut “I Want To Be Loved” (not, as Mr. Bowman suggests in his liner notes originally recorded by Willie Hightower but rather by Ellison) that is the opening cut on “Genesis,” The Soul Children didn’t play when it came to laying down gospel-fused passionate vocals. It didn’t hurt that Stax co-founder Jim Stewart masterminded the sessions for 1971’s “Genesis,” co-produced by MGs’ drummer Al Jackson Jr. According to Rob Bowman’s notes, “the sessions…marked a return at Stax to both the communal way of working and the gospel aesthetic that permeated most of the company’s work in the 1960s.” Indeed, when producer/writers Isaac Hayes and David Porter had first created the concept for The Soul Children in 1968, it was as natural musical successors – with the expansion to a quartet – to Sam & Dave, who had been constant hitmakers for Stax in the ‘60s.

Aside from the hit single, “Hearsay,” other key cuts that are remarkable for their sheer soulfulness include the standout “All That Shines Ain’t Gold” (co-written by KoKo artist Tommy Tate), the amazing “I’m Loving You More Everyday,” the Eddie Floyd-penned “Never Get Enough Of Your Love” (the rhythm track for which was cut in Jamaica) and the Southern soul-flavored “All Day Preachin’” (co-written by Stax stalwart Bettye Crutcher).

“Friction” may be best remembered for the classic opus “I’ll Be Other Woman”: as writer Bowman explains, producers Banks and Hampton decided to make full use of the vocal capabilities of all four singers quoting the late Homer Banks as saying, ‘This group is full of lead singers, what if we explored other territories,’ a reference to the fact that most of the quartet’s recordings had featured J. Blackfoot as the lead singer. Following a story of the ups-and-downs of a relationship, “What’s Happening Baby” with its real-life rap from Blackfoot is just pure brilliance as is “Can’t Let You Go.” A few cuts on “Friction” including “I’ll Be The Other Woman” showcase female vocalist Shelbra Bennett who Banks had known from the years when she sang at a local Memphis club including the wonderful “It’s Out Of My Hands” and the album’s closer “Love Makes It Right,” (the group’s last charted single for Stax) which also includes a truth-tellin’ rap about the everyday challenge that folks deal with when faced with falling in love with someone else’s mate! Ask me how I know: “Friction” was actually the soundtrack for a real relationship I was experiencing at the time of its release which is probably why the LP will always have a special place in my memories. That said, Rob Bowman calls it “one of the greatest soul albums of the decade” and I concur. If you can handle soul music of the deep variety, check out this brilliant two-on-one CD!

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

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