"Home" by Delaney & Bonnie (1969)

Fire and brimstone Southern couple completely soaked in gritty Rhythm & Blues but they also added their own Rock sensibility to mix, creating in process the particular, very appealing combination of two genres that will soon influence no less than Eric Clapton who will be so swept away with excitement that he will literary run away with the circus. Because its recorded in legendary Stax Studios right in the middle of Memphis, Tennessee, the album drips with sweat, rhythms and horns, while impeccable backing band (Booker T. Jones, Isaac Hayes, Leon Russell and William Bell amongst others) burns away behind husband & wife who seems completely possessed with music. If Delaney Bramlett comes off as natural, charismatic leader, his wife Bonnie holds her own with powerful, tough vocals and her fierce approach (heavily influenced by her black idols) is best presented on "Piece Of My Heart" - its closing track but also quintessential heart of the album, because it explains what Delaney & Bonnie are: white, Southern rockers who grew up with R&B and now they are giving it their own twist.

Its actually very easy to imagine any of the usual Stax black stars here instead of Delaney & Bonnie, because the music is absolutely irresistible, typical of famous Memphis Soul - even on something as infectious as "My Baby Specializes" one can close eyes and place Otis Redding or Carla Thomas instead, but where the original Judy Clay duet with William Bell was classic in its own field, these kids give it their own stamp and infuse it with languid sensuality - when that soul clappin' moment comes on and Delaney encourages the chorus to join in, its bootie shakin' moment of the highest order. That album didn't reap any chart smashing singles doesn't diminish its power or its beauty - it completely caught the late 1960s zeitgeist with its tribal energy and no matter are you fan of old school Soul or classic Rock or simply curious how they might sound if merged together, this is the place to start checking out this fantastic musicians who would, of course, from here just go to bigger things.