Original Album Series

Sadly this could've-been-wonderful inexpensive Rhino re-release of R&B legend Wilson Pickett’s first 5 major label studio albums (1965-67; his 1963 small label debut is missing) is marred by some horrible sound quality and wildly varied playback levels between discs. Even though album #2’s cover says stereo, the first 2 mono albums are a mix of boomy/muddy lows & (sometimes) screechy/distorted highs w/too loud playback levels. Album 3 (showing mono on the cover) is a horrible stereo mix, w/muffled/very muted bass & not-bad-sounding backup vocals on the left, and everything else not-very-crisp on the right (although it’s not as bad as fake electronically simulated stereo of that era). The last 2 albums sound good: crisp, clean, w/nicely separated stereo. Although most of Rhino’s 5 album “Original Album Series” are European, this one is from the U.S.; as usual each album comes in a cardboard mini replica of the front/back cover of the original LP release, w/all 5 albums slipping inside of a lightweight box about the size of a double cd jewel case (nice for taking up limited shelf space). Set has no bonus tracks or additional info of any kind, other than song titles on the back of the box, & what was/is on the covers of the original albums. Read Luigi Facotti’s review above & follow his suggestion for the more expensive release to buy if you want better sound than this disappointing box. W/shipping, I picked this up for about $19, so I don’t feel too bad since the last 2 albums sound great.

Great music , great collection of songs.

Another in Rhino UK's low cost five album series in original mini sleeves. The sound is varied with "The Wicked Pickett" being decidedly weird. Indicated as mono on the sleeve - most of the sound comes from the left with intermittent "stereo" sounds from the right. Always nice to have the original sequencing (and at a reasonable price) that we all grew up with.However, if you are into the sounds of Memphis, New York, Muscle Shoals and Miami, the Bill Inglot mastering on the 2010 Rhino Handmade boxed set "Funky Midnight Mover" blows the current set away - many times over. If you want the complete Wilson Pickett on Atlantic and have $100 to spend, take a pass on this set and buy the real thing.

Outstanding set of CDs. Great value.

Nice

A good introduction to Wilson Pickett. Highlights five of his albums with only one repeated song. I would recommend to others for purchase.

Great old classic stuff! Many modern musicians took to heart the lessons taught by this musician. One of the originators.

I love these cd sets. Great music in a nice presentation.

Wilson Pickett es uno de los grandes del Soul. Su característica voz áspera y la intensidad y electricidad que transmitían sus interpretaciones hicieron de él un artista irrepetible.En este caja tenemos cinco de sus primeros discos. Los cinco son altamente recomendables, pero destacan claramente "The Exciting Wilson Pickett", "The Wicked Pickett" y "The Sound of Wilson Pickett". Son quizás los 3 mejores discos que lanzó en toda su carrera y están a la altura de las mejores obras de un gigante como Otis Redding.La carrera de Wilson Pickett abarcó varias décadas, pero, a pesar de algunos momentos interesantes, salvo en el también imprescindible "In Philadelphia" de 1970, nunca volvió a tener el éxito artístico ni comercial que disfrutó en los años 60. Sin embargo, lo que hizo en esa década y muy particularmente en los discos incluidos en esta colección, lo convierte en uno de los soulmen definitivos de la historia y ésta es una buena oportunidad para disfrutar lo mejor de él a un magnífico precio.El sonido de los discos es bueno. El único punto negativo, común a toda la colección "Original Album Series" es la pobreza de la presentación, pero eso no empaña la calidad de su contenido.

Ce mec était immense. On le fait toujours passer à l'as un peu vite. Bien sûr il y a ses tubes que tout le monde connait mais finalement le reste est assez peu cité. Pourtant c'est absolument hors du commun.5 étoiles pour ces 5 disques sur lesquels il n'y a rien à jeter, aucun temps mort et aucun remplissage. Le génie de Pickett c'est d'allier l'énergie d'une centrale nucléaire en implosion à une justesse jamais prise en défaut. Wexler disait: "il est seul à savoir hurler les notes". C'est absolument vrai. James Brown et Screaming Jay Hawkins compris.Le premier disque de cette sélection est enregistré chez STAX avec Booker T and the MG's. Pickett se fâchera avec tout le monde assez vite (c'était un type violent et difficile) avant que Wexler ne le rapatrie à Muscle Shoals entraînant dans son sillage les artistes de chez Atlantic. Autant dire que c'est une page de l'histoire de la musique américaine que nous avons l'occasion d'entendre ici.Tout est magnifiquement joué avec des mecs qui s'y connaissent en plus d'avoir sacrément la classe. Tout est mémorable. Même les morceaux archi-connus valent le coup. Un truc pas terrible comme "Sunny" devient soudainement essentiel, avec un arrangement à pleurer.Pourquoi malgré son aura et ses tubes Wilson Pickett demeure-t-il une sorte de second couteau dont on ne parle jamais par chez nous (un peu comme les Byrds pour le rock)?C'est à n'y rien comprendre.En plus personne ne porte aussi bien le noeud papillon que lui...

The extraordinary voice of Wilson Pickett is showcased here in five of his Atlantic albums from the mid-1960s. His raucous gospel shout never better than on "I Found a Love" (you get three versions over the five albums but what the heck!), prototype funk on the likes of Ninety Nine and a Half (Won't Do), and suprisingly tender on I'm Sorry About That and others. Of course the hits and the Northern Soul classics are also included (but no Hey Jude with the Memphis Horns and Duane Allman's amazing guitar :( ), epitomising the excitement - for me, Wilson's very much the "Soul Brother" of Little Richard - which mark him as one of the all-time greats. No brainer at the price.

This package contains 5 cds representing Wilson Pckett's vinyl releases during the sixties. Nicely packaged these are the core recordings that propelled him to the top of the soul charts making him a premier soul artist and trend setter. A must have for all soul music fanatics.John Walsh

Five Brilliant Albums, the only downside being that a couple of tracks are repeated, but who cares. The exciting Wilson Pickett is the stand out album for me, but I may be biased as that is the one I bought the collection for, as I havn't heard it since the 70's. What a bargain. If you are a soul fan you will love every track from 'I found love' to the energy of '1000 Dances'. Pickett's version of 'Barefootin' is brilliant. Well worth the money.