Stone crush : Memphis modern soul 1977-1987

"Compiled by Memphis DJs Daniel Mathis and Chad Weekley, this collection of thwarted successes and earnest hopefuls (...) covers a chaotic mix of styles - Southern soul, electro-boogie, last-dance ballads. Standouts include the DIY psych-soul unravelling of Greg Mason and Laurence 'L.A.' Armour's forlorn Al Green groove, "The Doctor". The prevading mood is of a deserted club on the outskirts of town; there are only few people dancing, but they're dancing for their lives".

"Memphis may have lost its edge once Stax folded, but the city's homegrown talent still had what it took ... "Stone Crush" can't assert Memphis' supremacy during a decade where all but the die-hard had moved on from its soul and rock'n'roll roots - nor does it attempt to. Stylistically, the tracks are too disparate, taking in too many external influences, to suggest the city had anything approaching a unified sound once its major players had folded. Replacing that, however, was an artistic freedom that Memphis' local stars-in-waiting may never have enjoyed while Stax called the shots".