The Best Of Joe Tex
View on Discogs
Album Summary
Released in 1967 on the storied Atlantic Records label, 'The Best Of Joe Tex' is a compilation drawing from the Beaumont, Texas-born soul man's run of singles recorded for Dial Records — which were distributed through Atlantic — capturing a stretch of some of the most honest, down-home soul music to come out of the mid-1960s. Produced largely under the guidance of Buddy Killen at Fame Studios and in Nashville, these recordings showcase Joe Tex's singular gift for preacher-style storytelling set to a Southern funk and soul groove. The compilation was assembled to bring together his most beloved moments for fans who wanted the full picture of a man who had been grinding and hustling in the music business since the late 1950s before finally breaking through in a big way.
Reception
- Joe Tex had already proven himself a genuine hitmaker by the time this compilation arrived, with 'Hold What You've Got' having broken him nationally as a charting soul single earlier in the decade.
- The collection was well regarded as a solid representation of his Dial Records output, giving both new listeners and longtime fans a cohesive listen through his run of soulful, sermon-laced singles.
- Tracks like 'A Sweet Woman Like You' and 'The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)' had already demonstrated his crossover appeal across both R&B and broader pop audiences.
Significance
- Joe Tex stands as one of the founding architects of Southern soul and proto-funk, and this compilation captures the raw, conversational vocal style that set him apart from his contemporaries — a style that bridged the gap between gospel testifying and secular storytelling.
- The album documents a crucial moment when Southern soul was asserting its own identity distinct from the polished sounds of Motown, with Joe Tex's gritty, deeply human narratives speaking directly to working-class Black America.
- Tracks like 'S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)' and 'Papa Was Too' highlight Tex's pioneering use of spoken-word passages within soul songs, a technique that would echo forward through decades of R&B and rap music.
Samples
- Hold What You've Got — one of Joe Tex's most recognized recordings, it has been sampled across hip-hop and R&B productions drawn to its raw Southern soul groove and commanding vocal delivery.
- The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) — sampled notably in hip-hop, with its soulful foundation making it an attractive source for producers mining classic soul for breaks and melodic material.
- Papa Was Too — has been sampled by hip-hop artists drawn to its rhythmic feel and Tex's percussive, preacher-style vocal delivery.
- Show Me — sampled in various hip-hop and R&B contexts, with its groove and Tex's impassioned performance making it a recurring source for producers.
- A Sweet Woman Like You — has attracted sampling attention from producers working in soul-influenced hip-hop and contemporary R&B.
Tracklist
-
A1 Hold What You've Got 101
2:12
-
A2 You Got What It Takes 106
2:44
-
A3 A Woman (Can Change A Man) —
2:35
-
A4 I Want To (Do Everything For You) —
2:07
-
A5 I Believe I'm Gonna Make It 97
3:00
-
A6 I've Got To Do A Little Bit Better 124
2:58
-
B1 S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song) 138
2:45
-
B2 Papa Was Too —
2:47
-
B3 Show Me 146
2:53
-
B4 A Sweet Woman Like You 89
2:34
-
B5 The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) —
2:54
-
B6 You Better Get It 104
3:21
Artist Details
Joe Tex was a soulful, funky treasure out of Rogers, Texas, who came up in the early 1960s and carved himself a righteous lane in Southern soul with that smooth-talking, preacher-man delivery that made records like "Hold What You've Got" and "Skinny Legs and All" feel like a Saturday night revival and a house party all rolled into one. He was a founding father of what folks would come to call funk, right there alongside James Brown, blending gospel fire with bluesy grit and a sharp wit that made him one of the most original voices the South ever produced. Joe Tex never got quite all the credit he deserved, but his influence ran deep through the veins of soul and funk music, and every time that needle hit his groove, you knew you were in the presence of something genuinely, beautifully real.
