Housed in a beautiful 8 1/2" X 8 1/2" 124 page hardcover package, this complete collection by these founding fathers of American Soul Music contains 141 tracks on 5 compact discs. Headed by influential guitarist/songwriter Lowman Pauling, the collection includes the original recordings of "Think" (covered by James Brown), "Dedicated To The One I Love" (covered by The Shirelles) along with a treasure trove of blistering R&B scorchers and some fine ballads as well.

Growing up in the late 50's and early 60's was the greatest time ever, at least for me.

I always hear that the best is now but, I'm here and I was there and I assure you the best

was then. Being raised on a farm in Missouri without electricity and other modern items

will definitely make you appreciate what we have today however, nothing can take the

place of hearing great dance music for the first time. I had been exposed to a lot of Rock

and Roll, Pop and Rock-a-Billy by the time I first heard THE 5 ROYALS and none

of it had the deep soul and feeling the Five Royals projected. I had only been playing a few years when I heard Dedicated To The One I Love which I think was played on the great Dewey Phillips show in Memphis. We added the song to our set list and everybody loved to dance to it. I always thought the guitar riff melodies Loman Pauling played were pure genius, way ahead of his time. What I didn't know was that the song was written many years before which makes it even more special. My friend Donald Duck Dunn, the bass player in our band, informed us that a new 5 Royales album had come into the King distributor where his brother Bobby worked and we couldn't wait to get down there to hear it. After listening many times we decided to add to our set the songs Think and Say It, both with exceptional guitar work by Loman. King Records also bought the Royals prior released songs when they signed the group. We always thought they were new releases and I didn't know that they had been recorded earlier until a few years ago. Duck Dunn and I were very fortunate to see The Five Royals in concert at Clearwater s Beverly Ball Room upstairs from where we played five nights a week. I know when I saw Loman Pauling on stage it changed my style and my life. He was a one man show who played rhythm guitar and stinging riffs when necessary. I started using that style on sessions and everyone who hired me loved it so I owe a lot to Loman. The next day after the concert I joined two belts together and made a long guitar strap like Loman and used that style on stage while on tour with THE MAR-KEYS . The next year we had the hit with the MG's GREEN ONIONS so I never went back to the long strap but I use a silhouette of me imitating Loman with the long strap for my record label Play It Steve The picture was taken at the Royal Peacock Lounge in Atlanta two weeks after the Royals had played there in 1961. I could continue on and on about my feelings towards Loman Pete Pauling and how much I admire his playing because I play guitar, but the vocals on these songs will also never be duplicated. The vocal sounds are unique and as people say God only made one. So hats off to Mr. Tanner and the rest of the group for their wonderful Gospel harmonies and especially the song writing of Loman Pauling. Thanks Winston-Salem for this wonderful group. To the listener, enjoy the experience and pass along.

Steve Cropper

July 2013

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Soul & Swagger: The Complete "5" Royales 1951. - CD

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