Various Artists - Darrow Fletcher Presents Jacklyn

Fakta Jacklyn records is famed among soul record collectors as the home of three great Darrow Fletcher 45s issued on the label in the mid-60s. The imprint was owned and run by his father, Johnny Haygood, and though it served as a stepping stone in Fletcher’s extensive career, it was launched for a different artist and provided Chicago soul fans with several great discs over its seven-year existence. As ever with small labels, the virtually unknown artists provide highlights - in this case the solo singers Pam Colquitt and Bobbie Brown who had one-off releases but with two great sides on each. The vastly better-known blues stalwart, Mighty Joe Young ventured effectively towards soul on his two sides and Chicago studio musician and arranger Joe Savage got his only artist credit on the right-on instrumental (with chants) ‘All Power To The People’. These tracks add up to a fascinating and entertaining chapter in the rich history of Chicago soul music.