Stax Profiles

by Rance Allen

Overview

Detroit-born singer, pianist, and guitarist Rance Allen, along with his brothers Steve and Tom Allen, made clear the gospel roots of soul with these impressive tracks recorded between 1971 and 1975 for Stax Records and the Stax imprints Gospel Truth and Truth. With his jaw-dropping multi-octave vocals, which could soar into an ether-ionizing high falsetto, Rance never recorded a note that didn't seem to brim with joy, even when he works around the blues form like he does here on "What Is This?," and along with the solid musicianship of his brothers, the Rance Allen Group pioneered a truly American mix of gospel, soul, jazz, and blues. This generous set (it tops 75 minutes in length) includes the best of the group's Stax-era sides, including the hits "I Belong to You" (which eerily presages contemporary urban soul) and the beautiful David Porter-penned "Ain't No Need of Crying," as well as another Porter composition, "Ring My Bell," and a joyous, stomping cover of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head," where Rance's vocal soars up into the high atmosphere at the end of lines as if it had wings. An upbeat, bubbling set that is sure to chase the blues all the way back to Georgia, or wherever the blues comes from these days. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	04/25/2006
Label:	Fantasy / Stax / Universal
UPC:	0025218861922
Rank:	100833

Tracks

1. Lying on the Truth
2. Joy
3. Hot Line to Jesus
4. What Is This?
5. I Belong to You
6. Ain't No Need of Crying
7. That Will Be Good Enough for Me
8. Let the Music Get Down in Your Soul
9. What a Day
10. The Painter
11. I Give My All to You
12. God Is Wonderful
13. Up Above My Head
14. Heaven Is Where the Heart Is
15. Greatness of God
16. Ring My Bell

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rance Allen   Primary Artist,Lead,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
The Rance Allen Group   Primary Artist
Romeo Williams   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Tom Allen   Vocals (Background),Drums,Drums,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Steve Allen   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Bob Zimmitti   Percussion
Bobby Manuel   Guitar
Donald "Duck" Dunn   Bass
Lester Snell   Keyboards
Phillip Wilson   Percussion
Al Jackson, Jr.   Percussion
Ray Griffin   Bass
Willie Hall   Drums,Percussion
Linda Mendez   Vocals (Background)
Esau Allen   Congas
Judy Mendez   Vocals (Background)
David Pruitt   Guitar
Annie Mendez   Vocals (Background)
Ronnie Williams   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Toby Jackson   Audio Production
Dave Clark   Audio Production
Sir Mack Rice   Composer
Sister Rosetta Tharpe   Composer
Benjamin F. Wright   Arranger
Frederick Knight   Composer
Joe Tarantino   Remastering
Deanie Parker   Liner Notes
S. Allen   Composer
Al Bell   Producer
James Cleveland   Composer
Henry Cosby   Arranger,Producer
The Dave Clark Five   Producer
David Porter   Composer,Producer
Rance Allen   Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Jamie Putnam   Art Direction
Joe May   Composer
Ronnie Williams   Producer