Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers / Drivin' You Wild (Reissue) (1965-66/2000)

Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers were a British soul combo that featured Bennett as pretty-boy soul singer with strong backing from the two saxes-guitar-organ-bass-drums lineup of the Rebel Rousers. Between 1964 and 1966, they cut these two albums for EMI, hooked up with Brian Epstein, and almost made it. In truth, they were a couple of years ahead of the curve, with Bennett possibly one of the few Brits who could tackle material by Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Reed, Smokey Robinson, Little Milton, and Curtis Mayfield without looking or sounding ridiculous in the process. The Rebel Rousers are a minimal -- but deceptively fat and full sounding -- sextet that makes these tracks come alive with stripped-down vitality. They make old soul tunes sound like Liverpool pop and pop throwaways sound like R&B rarities. This is one of the missing chapters in British rock that every fan ought to get around to sampling.