Roy Arlington

Before Al Bell joined Stax records he co-owned Safice Records with Eddie Floyd and ex-Moonglow Chester Simmons out of a Washington DC base. All the released half a dozen 45s are well worth picking up as are the outside productions on artists like the great Grover Mitchell. Sessions were held in DC and also at Stax where this double sided masterpiece was cut. Everybody Makes A Mistake Sometimes is recognised as one of the great deep soul songs, cut not just by Arlington but also notably by Mitty Collier at Fame. But the original version here is almost unbeatable for its pathos and regret - Arlington just sounds as though his heart is about to burst. And is that Mr Floyd I hear singing harmonies?

The flip That's Good Enough is almost as good. Another ballad of immense power, superbly arranged by the Stax house band with a great horn chart. Arlington is unstoppable on such lines as "What a fool I must have been". Awesome. And if those two tracks weren't enough Arlington had also cut a duet with Betty - whose real identity has eluded soul researchers so far - that is almost up there as well. I'll Be There was recorded in Washington and although the rhythm section can't match the finesse of the Stax boys guitarist Al McCloud provides some fine licks and the horn section add valuable support. The vocals are as strong and as passionate as any fan could wish for especially towards the run out groove.

So good were Arlington's vocal performance it really is surprising that he didn't follow Bell and Floyd to the Stax label.

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