Margie Joseph - Phase II (1971)

Margie Joseph's second album, aptly named "Phase II," followed on in more ways than one from "Makes A New Impression," released a year earlier. Recording and production locations were unchanged, resulting in a similar Memphis/Motown crossover feel, and she again borrowed a song from the Supremes - this time, "My World Is Empty Without You." This second effort didn't sell as well as her debut, though it was equally competent. After this album, Margie moved on to Atlantic where, in 1973, she recorded perhaps her most successful album, "Margie."

Album info. on Discogs:

Phase II

Available on 2-for-1 CD from Amazon:

(amazon.com) Make A New Impression & Phase II

(amazon.ca) Makes A New Impression & Phase II

Shirley Brown - Woman To Woman (1974)

Shirley Brown was discovered by Albert King singing at a club in Brooklyn, Illinois at the age of 14, and she spent the next 9 years on the road performing with him. She cut her first record in 1972, and was signed by Stax in 1974. "Woman To Woman," Brown's debut album, was released on the Stax subsidiary, Truth, that same year. The album - a collection of intimate, emotional songs focusing on the goods and not-so-goods of love and relationships - was a strong seller. The title track - a love-triangle melodrama - outdid the album, and spent 2 weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart, eventually selling a million copies and earning a gold disc. The follow-up single, "It Ain't No Fun," didn't sell well, possibly due to Stax's financial difficulties and inability to market the song adequately. Stax closed it's doors in 1975, and Brown moved on to Arista.

Album info. here:

Woman To Woman

CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Woman To Woman

(amazon.ca) Woman To Woman

The Soul Children - Genesis (1972) and Friction (1974)

After Sam & Dave left Stax, there was a hole to fill at the label. Isaac Hayes and David Porter put this group together to fill it. The group were together for 10 years, from 1968 to 1978, during which time they scored 15 R&B hits. "Genesis" and "Friction" are the 3rd and 4th of 7 albums. These are available on a 2-for-1 CD, but I for one am not a big fan of the "two-fer" covers, hence the post of these originals.

Info. at Discogs:

Genesis and Friction

2-for-1 CD available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Genesis & Friction

(amazon.ca) Genesis & Friction

24-Carat Black - Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth (1973)

Superb concept album from Stax, focusing on the hardships of inner city ghetto life. The album was re-released on CD in 1994, but is almost impossible to find. The group only released one album in their time, though there was an album of unreleased material called "Gone: The Promises of Yesterday" released in 2009.

More info available on Discogs:

Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth

CD Available on Amazon:

(amazon.com) Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth

(amazon.ca) Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth