King Curtis - King Curtis Collection

Curtis Ousley (February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophonist known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer. Adept at tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, he was best known for his distinctive riffs and solos such as on "Yakety Yak", which later became the inspiration for Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and his own "Memphis Soul Stew".
Curtis was killed on August 13, 1971, when he was stabbed during an argument with a pair of drug dealers he discovered on the steps outside his Manhattan apartment. Curtis was attempting to carry an air conditioner into his apartment when Juan Montanez refused to move from the entrance. A fight ensued and Montanez stabbed Curtis. Curtis later died at Roosevelt Hospital. In March 1972, Montanez was sentenced to seven years for second-degree manslaughter, but was released in late 1977 for good behavior. (Wiki)


I love King Curtis...I made this compilation many moons ago...Rega-Planar deck with a decent Ortophon cartridge/stylus and dubbed direct to Yamaha Digital Recorder.
At the time most of these recordings were unavailable on CD and I hadn't even heard of a download ! Some come from King Curtis albums, others  were lifted from popular Soul compilations on vinyl. I've just ripped the disc I made (from same digital recorder) to flac ...and it sounds great...A minor tick here and there...but nothing to spoil the listening experience...Personally I hate ticks and if a record was too ticky I wouldn't record it...They were never part of the music and shouldn't be there ! 
Anyhow I've just played the whole flac recording and really enjoyed this wonderful man and his saxophones all over again...My favourite (of all tracks, that I get the pleasure to play to someone who has never heard it ), is King Curtis' 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale ', his Live version of the 1967 Procol Harum hit...and included here. It usually astounds !...Such soulful beauty from the soprano sax. And King Curtis can 'sing' a soulful classic (equal to Aretha and Otis) like no other player on saxophone...There are plenty examples right here as flac or mp3@320. - Enjoy - Gus

PS - A dedicated KC to another KC and all the gang ! xxx