The year 1997 marked the 50th anniversary of Atlantic Records, the most successful and last remaining of the independent record companies that sprouted up in the years after World War II. All the more remarkable is the fact that one of its original founders, Ahmet Ertegun, is still at the helm of this now-giant firm. Two thirds of the original partnership, Ertegun and Herb Abramson (Ahmet's dentist, Dr. Vahdi Sabit, was the silent partner who put up $10,000), were passionate fans and collectors of Harlem jazz and blues records.Their exquisite taste, along with the invaluable aid of arranger Jesse Stone and engineer Tom Dowd, made Atlantic a label to contend with from the start. 

The addition of Jerry Wexler in 1953 and Ahmet's brother, Neshui, to head the jazz department soon after were major contributions to the development of the company. In the '60s, mainly under the direction of Wexler, Atlantic led the way as public taste shifted from R&B to soul. Wexler focused on the new Southern recording meccas of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, where he made deals to distribute labels such as Stax and Dial. He also produced, alone or with Tom Dowd, numerous all-time hits in those cities. 

Often overlooked in today's tense racial climate is the fact that early rock 'n' roll brought together black and white fans and musicians as never before. Southern soul was an extension of this phenomenon in that these records were made by black singers, backed by racially integrated house bands, and produced by white producers. Culturally, this can be considered the pinnacle of America's melting pot theory.

One of the all-time greatest soul hits, Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" is one of those rare recordings that makes you remember exactly where you were the first time you heard it. So deep an impression did it make on listeners when it was released in 1966 that it raced to #1 on both the pop and the R&B charts. Percy had a pleading quality in his voice that led to other hits, but none with the impact of his first.

Born in Alabama, Eddie Floyd grew up in Detroit, where he was a charter member of The Falcons of "You're So Fine" and "I Found A Love" fame. After a move to Memphis, Eddie and Stax house guitarist Steve Cropper wrote and recorded the '60s classic bar band anthem, "Knock On Wood." Eddie had a nice long run, with hits like "I've Never Found A Girl" and "Bring It On Home To Me."

Carla Thomas is the daughter of Memphis DJ/entertainer Rufus Thomas, with whom she recorded many duets. Carla's best-remembered hit, "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)," was also the song that put the folks at Stax on the map. The midtempo "B-A-B-Y" heard here is another of her biggies.

After a number of years at Columbia Records with minimal record sales, Jerry Wexler enticed Aretha Franklin to move to Atlantic. Jerry felt that the Muscle Shoals musicians would bring out the magic he'd heard in her earlier gospel recordings. He was right -- her version of Otis Redding's "Respect" topped both the pop and R&B charts and set the stage for her subsequent superstardom.

Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" is the kind of record in which all the parts are as important as the song itself. Could you imagine hearing a version of the tune without Steve Cropper's guitar licks or those horn lines? Neither could the Blues Brothers, when they revived the anthem, note-for-note, some years later. Other volumes in this Atlantic R&B hits series include Ultimate '50s R&B Smashes, Ultimate '60s Soul Sensations, and Ultimate '70s R&B Smashes.

Billy Vera