243. YOU GOT MY MIND MESSED UP by James Carr

So a couple of nights ago we were watching the final episode of the TV show Hijack. During the final scene and while the end credits were rolling I was introduced to one of the finest soul singers of our time. James? No. Aretha? No. Otis? No. It was James Carr, someone I had never heard of before and the song was 'The Dark End of the Street.' I was so captivated by this track and Carr's voice that I've spent the last few days reading about him and, more importantly, listening to the record that song is from, You Got My Mind Messed Up.

Turns out that this 1967 album is considered one of the finest soul records out there and for good reason. Carr's raw emotion comes pouring out, track after sweat-soaked track. The original pressing was 12 songs and 29 minutes, so you can easily get through the whole album in one short sitting. However, for your sampler (and included in the Daily Records playlists) I suggest the aforementioned 'The Dark End of the Street' followed by 'Pouring Water on a Drowning Man,' 'These Ain't Raindrops,' 'Coming Back to Me Baby' and title track, 'You've Got My Mind Messed Up.' And, after that go ahead and listen to the 2002 re-release which adds another 12 songs.