Shirley Brown-I Don't Care Anymore/Carla Thomas & Eddie Floyd-It's Our Time-Black Vinyl-End November

In 2023 the “Written In Their Soul" CD box set gave us some incredible demo takes recorded by Stax Records. Amongst them, standing and shoulders above all these tracks was a track written by Bettye Crutcher and recorded by Shirley Brown which despite the sparse backing, so typical of demo takes, created quite a stir amongst aficionados of real soul.
Fast forward to 2024, amongst a dusty stack of master tapes, found during a trip to Memphis, was that track. “I Don’t Care Anymore”, recorded in a fully orchestrated session, complete with strings and Shirley giving even more to this finished cut. How or why this track failed to gain a release, laying unwanted on a shelf, we may never know. But, one thing’s for sure it is a masterpiece of that early 70’s Stax era that truly deserves to be heard and loved……

“Hello, may I speak to Shirley? Shirley this is Andy. You might not know who I am but the reason I’m calling you, is because I was going through some dusty old master tapes this morning that one of your old producers gave to me. I just happened to come across, and fall in love with one of the greatest deep soul recordings I’ve ever heard. So, man to woman, I don't think it's being any more than fair to call you and let you know our plans to release it on a 45. Now Shirley, I don't know how you're gonna take this, but whether you be cool or come out of a bag on me? You see it really doesn't make any difference! But it's only fair that I let you know that “I Don’t Care Anymore” because the world needs to hear this record…. and if you were in my shoes, I think you would have done the same thing too”.
So, here it is, a master tape track from 1974. The full, finished, unreleased recording, complete with strings, in all its 4 minutes and15 seconds glory, just the way it was meant to be heard.

…and on the flipside, we have two more Stax legends – Carla Thomas and Eddie Floyd with “It’s Our Time”, a track which if it had been released as a 7” back then would surely have been on all discerning DJs play lists. You just know this going to be something special right from the hallmark guitar chords, the thumping bass drum intro, and when some angelic voices from the deep south angels sing the title. Setting the scene for Carla and Eddie to break out as only they could into a magical duet made for the dance floor. This is Stax!

Take a listen to both....