Number One's Greatest Hits

"The Big Soul of Garnett Mimms" from August 2004:

There's nothing shy and retiring about the records Garnet Mimms made with legendary writer/producer Jerry Ragovoy. Their first big hit together was the classic "Cry Baby" in 1963 which Mimms recorded with his group The Enchanters (with backing vocals by a then-unknown Dionne Warwick and her sister Dee Dee and aunt Cissy Houston). This emotional powerhouse of a record pretty much created the template for all big soul ballads in the 1960s (and was later covered by Janis Joplin). On this and subesquent records Mimms gospel-drenched wailings were set to massive, New York City-scale productions by Ragovoy for a sound that was sophisticated and uptown but deeply soulful and gut-wrenching at the same time. Ragovoy made a bit of a speciality out of the big-sounding soul record, he had a hand in the writing and/or producing classics like Erma Franklin's "Piece Of My Heart" (also covered by Joplin), Irma Thomas' 'Time Is On My Side" (covered by The Stones of course), and the epic soul ballad to end all epic soul ballads: Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me Baby". Mimms left The Enchanters in 1964 but continued to make records with Ragovoy which, while even more incredible-sounding than "Cry Baby" never achieved the same success. ''It Was Easier To Hurt Her" from 1965 is a dramatic, mid-tempo number which reaches a crescendo that Cecil B DeMille would be proud of. Unbelievably this great track was only a b-side. "As Long As I Have You" is a thumping dance number with a pounding beat like a jackhammer and some wicked guitar work (apparently Led Zeppelin used to cover this tune in their early live shows). Unbelievably again, this was only an album track and was never put out as a single. If I was Mimms I'd have sued my record label for gross career mismanagement.

There are a couple of Garnet Mimm's collections around, the Cry Baby/Warm Soulful set seems to have most everything you'd want on it. The Best of Garnet Mimms is hard to find but has pretty much the same track listing and - most importantly - a much nicer sleeve. Needless to say, both are packed with dynamite.

[Download]
It Was Easier To Hurt Her - Garnet Mimms
As Long As I Have You - Garnet Mimms