An orange and plum ocean ...

This was one of two compilations I picked up in the same charity shop last weekend. What made them completely irresistible were their labels, and to be precise, the colour of their labels. In this case the orange and plum of the 60s UK Atlantic label. I now own precisely three albums that sport this particular Atlantic label. All are mono, all are soul, and none are standard one artist studio albums; and I guess none are particularly valuable.

I can’t explain why, but my heart beats a little faster when I find an Atlantic orange and plum. There are some rare and desirable records on that label (for example I dream of finding a first issue Led Zeppelin album but I’m sure that will never happen) but it somehow goes beyond that. This album for example, being a compilation, will never be deemed to be that collectible, and I already have a few of the tracks so the heart was in a steady state when I picked it out of the rack. It was only when I pulled the out record from its cover to check the condition and I saw the flash of orange and plum that my heart started racing. 10 out of 10 to the Atlantic design department of the day then I suppose.          

Plenty of the usual Sixties Atlantic Soul suspects are represented on “Midnight Soul” but it is a male dominated affair. Here are two tracks that give you a flavour.

Some organ led goodness from the only artist on the album that may cause you to say “who?” They were apparently a group that hailed from North Carolina.

Little Mac & The Boss Sounds –Midnight Hour 1966  

And one from the altogether more familiar, and great, Joe Tex. This track was also the B side of S.Y.S.L.J.F.M.

  

Joe Tex – I’m A Man 1966

From the sleeve: “This is a high fidelity recording. For best results observe the R.I.A.A. high frequency roll-off characteristics with a 500 cycle crossover.” Don’t say I didn’t tell you!

To enjoy the full spectrum of this post you should also pop over to the Hi-Fi Cabinet Of Curiosities and read this.