Richard Marks - Never Satisfied - The Complete Works 1968-1976 (2015)2 x LP Now-Again Records - Rare Soul

Richard Marks, possibly the greatest unsung Atlanta soul singer. Richard’s music was never officially reissued in his lifetime, and he never allowed the few record collectors savvy enough to suss out his whereabouts entry into his home ,or gave interviews to the music press. Richard and his music are unknown to the majority, but to an obsessive minority, he is a lightning rod, that singular point at which numerous Southern soul and funk musicians converged and exploded, spreading wondrous music in all directions. Richard’s impeccable run of 7-inch singles, released largely on tiny, local labels, are the stuff of legend, and are hen’s teeth rare.  Richard’s music was never officially reissued in his lifetime and no studio albums were ever released. Given the caliber of his recordings and the near complete lack of information available about him, Richard stands out as the most mysterious talent to originate from Atlanta, a city that birthed no shortage of genius, from acclaimed worldwide (the Mighty Hannibal), obscure yet celebrated (Lee Moses) and local, but well-documented (Tommy Stewart).I’d heard Richard’s music over the years.  Richard’s Tuska Records 45 “I’m The Man For You/Crackerjack.” It’s one of the best funk two-siders ever issued, it’s never turned up in quantity, and, even in the ’90s, was a 1000 Dollar single. seven years in the making, 'never satisfied' is now-again's collection of legendary soul and funk singles by atlanta guitarist / singer / songwriter richard marks. this 21 track anthology follows marks' stylistic development, from his earliest work for the legendary tuska label, from 1968 until approximately 1972, through his more mature releases on the shout label and smaller regional labels like note, free spirit and rsc. it also includes two tracks never released in any form, found on reels marks had maintained in his atlanta home. Marks' story is that on an unsung soul and funk hero, whose number was in al green's, barry white's and eddie kendricks' phones, but whose talents have only been heard in sporadic bursts since his 45s were released and disappeared into atlanta's urban expanse. this is the story of a father and husband who managed to keep his family together with uttermost privacy as he gigged six nights a week. the story of a man who wished for more and whose talent is overdue for reassessment. Marks died of cancer in may of 2006, no record of his birth year. Given the calibre of his recordings and the near complete lack of information available about him before the issue of this anthology. Its a Brilliant album that has it all,rew edged funk,deep soul,northern dancers!

AMM

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