Edwin Starr - Soul Master (Expanded Edition)

Edwin Starr hailed from Nashville, Tennessee and is best rememberedfor his rasping Vietnam protest song War from 1970. After a stint asvocalist for Bill Doggetts touring band Starr was able to secure a solorecording deal with Detroit's Ric-Tic Records in 1965 and immediately gained chart success with his self- penned hit Agent Double-O-Soul(R&B #8/Pop #21). More Ric-Tic hits followed before Berry Gordy boughtout Starr's contract in 1967 and took him and his music to the fabledMotown imprint, making the James Brown and Stax influenced singer therawest vocalist on the celebrated label. Soul Master was Starr's debut album and was released on Motown'sGordy imprint in 1968. With soul music in the 60's, and especially withMotown, the emphasis was on singles, so the album did not chart butdoes boast a number of R&B hit singles. These include theaforementioned Agent Double-O-Soul and Starr's other top ten Ric-Ticrelease, 1966's Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S) (R&B #9/Pop #48/UK #35), as well as Headline News (Pop #84). Two more singles, issued on Gordy,charted in the US during the same year as the album release. Thesewere I Am The Man For You Baby (R&B #45/Pop #112) and Way Over There (Pop #119).