Two legendary albums by perhaps the most underrated would-be soul superstar I know. Powerful, powerful stuff. Darrell Banks Is Here came out in 1967 on Atco and Here To Stay came out in 1969 (again, the best year in pop music) on Volt.
This is great midwest, stax-style soul music. The ballads kill, the rev-ups kill harder. Think a bit more gruff Otis. Great shit, awesome summer lounging music.
These are his only two albums, as Banks was shot to death by a police officer in 1970. Listening to these albums makes you wonder what could've been if he survived a bit longer. My feeling is that he would've wound up listed with the all-time great soul singers of the era.
If you don't have these, you probably need them.
Darrell Banks Is Here!
Download Here
Here To Stay
Download Here
2 comments:
I've stumbled upon your blog today. Now that I think about it, I realize I was searching for something specific, but I can't for the life of me remember what that was.
What I know is that I've been here for more than one hour reading your reviews and opinions about artists and albums of all imaginable styles, and it's all been such an enjoyment that I thought I should drop you a note.
Your approach to music and the relationship you seem to have with these albums and artists you feature in here is truly admirable. I read your paragraphs and sometimes wonder myself when exactly did I lost that; when did I stop listening to music with the care that it requires – well, at least most of it. I can't remember which was the last album I listened to more than five times in the last couple of years, and that was like... a dime a dozen back when I was a teenager and deprived of an internet connection, an iPod and bigger responsibilities.
Regardless, I'll certainly dust off an album or two later tonight when I get back home from work. Fun times ahead, I bet. So yeah, thank you.
Tremendous overlooked albums & very hard to locate - so thanks!
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