The Memphis Horns
Welcome To Memphis
Lead Vocals – Wayne A. Reed
Written-By – Eaton, Moten, Sparks 4:40
A2 Hey Girl
Lead Vocals – William C. Brown III
Written-By – McDonald 4:38
A3 My Heart Belongs To You
Lead Vocals – Joyce D. Wright, William C. Brown III
Written-By – Collins, Toles 4:26
A4 When It's Right, It's Right
Lead Vocals – "The Shadow", Joyce D. Wright, William C. Brown III
Written-By – McDonald 4:08
B1 Let's Go Dancing
Lead Vocals – The Gentlemen, William C. Brown III
Written-By – Love 4:15
B2 Keep On (Doing It)
Lead Vocals – Ricardo "Rickey" V. Crawley
Written-By – Collins, Toles 4:27
B3 No Time For Tears (Think About The Good Days)
Lead Vocals – Joyce D. Wright, William C. Brown III
Written-By – Hale, Blumberg 4:43
B4 Time's Movin' On
Lead Vocals – William C. Brown III
Written-By – Alexander, Mitchell 4:53
Label: RCA Victor – AFL1-3221
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Latin, Funk, Soul
Style: Soul, Funk, Disco
The Memphis Horns' 1979 album Welcome to Memphis is a soul and funk record that generally receives positive feedback from fans for its excellent sound and performances, although some critics find it a bit safe or conventional compared to their session work. The album showcases the duo's signature, bright horn sound, which dominated the tracks.
Fans praise the album as a great reminder of how good The Memphis Horns (Wayne Jackson on trumpet and Andrew Love on tenor saxophone) were, highlighting the excellent sound mix, great performances, and perfect song selection. The album is characterized by its soulful and funky style, which was typical of their work in the 1970s. The duo were known for their ability to blend their tones seamlessly, a quality that is evident in their autonomous releases.
While many appreciate the quality of the musicianship, one potential drawback noted by some is that the album can feel a bit "vanilla" or unoriginal, with conventional song choices. Some reviewers felt the tracks, which feature various guest vocalists, sound too much like the artists the Horns typically backed, rather than a distinct project for the duo themselves. The album is an enjoyable soul party, but perhaps lacks the raw, innovative edge of their iconic Stax-era session work for artists like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.
The album includes several tracks that capture the essence of their sound:
"The Bottom Line": A track that features their classic horn lines.
"My Heart Belongs To You": A soulful tune demonstrating their ability to work with vocalists.
"Let's Go Dancing": A disco-infused number that fits the late 1970s era.
"Keep On Doing It": Another funky, upbeat track.
The album was one of several releases where the legendary Stax session players stepped out as their own act, showcasing their iconic "fat Memphis sound" with soulful, blues-infused instrumentals, blending R&B, soul, and jazz, offering a taste of their legendary session work on hits for others, but as a standalone record. It was part of a series of albums they released on RCA between 1976-1979, following hits like High on Music and Get Up and Dance, delivering that signature powerful, gospel-rooted horn sound
In essence, it's a chance to hear the legendary session players themselves blowing their own brand of authentic Memphis soul music.