James Carr - The Dark End of the Street (Official Audio)
You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up – (ss507 UK)
That’s What I Want To Know -‘B’ (ss507 UK)
At The Dark End Of The Street
Freedom Train
These Ain’t Raindrops
Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
The FREEDOM TRAIN is coming…and
THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW – a Twisted Wheel anthem and were 100% absolute original Soul Classics from James Carr. Kev Roberts puts “That’s What I Want To Know” at 267 on his second generation scene Soul Bible the Top 500.
Curiously these days it is the ‘A’ side YOU’VE GOT MY MIND MESSED UP which is heard more often. At the time it was regarded as a soul classic, but not a dance track like the other two. No respectable AllNighter DJ could leave James Carr out of his repertoire.
Born in Memphis on June 13th 1942 James Carr recorded in the mid 1960’s at GOLDWAX RECORDS described as a ‘deep’ Southern soul singer. At the Dark End of the Street, written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman, was also recorded by Aretha Franklin, Clarence Carter, Linda Ronstadt, and Ry Cooder.
1969 Goldwax folded
1971 he recorded for a while at Atlantic.
Gospel singing at the local church and listening to the Jubilee Hummingbirds, the Pilgrim Travellers, Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers, and the Sensational Nightingales (led by Julius Cheeks) – all greatly influenced a young James.
1962 the Harmony Echoes was James’ first (Gospel) Group and at the same time he worked at the City of Memphis Hospital. He also had a another job at the blood bank.
1964 he signed to the Memphis-based Goldwax label; recording You Don’t Want Me
1966 You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up. Followed by Love Attack.
1967 James Carr recorded Dark End of the Street.
Unfortunately he suffered from manic-depression. Apparently, it sometimes took hours and hours to make a recording.
1979 he toured Japan but slipped into a trance onstage after taking too many anti-depressants. The tour was cancelled.
Forgetting You: a blues song from James was used at the start of the 2012 film Cold In July.
January 7, 2001. Aged 58 James Carr died – another of Soul Music’s tragedies.
Born 13th June 1942 – Memphis
Died 7th January 2001
James Carr – Wikipedia