Southern soul collection puts spotlight on quiet geniuses

Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham are legends in Memphis/Muscle Shoals music lore, but their names aren't usually the first to come to mind when discussing Southern soul and R&B from the 1960s and '70s. And that's a shame because their work writing and performing on some of the most dynamic songs of that era is as good as it gets. 

Ace Records, the terrific British reissue label, spotlights Penn and Oldham on "Sweet Inspiration - The Songs of Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham," a 24-track collection of soul, pop, country and gospel that's top-notch from beginning to end. 

Guitarist Penn and organist Oldham are capable musicians willing to stay in the shadows but it's their collaborative songwriting that shines here on songs performed by no names and big names, including Percy Sledge, Dionne Warwick, Etta James, Solomon Burke, The Box Tops, Ronnie Milsap, Patti Labelle, Irma Thomas and Tommy Roe. 

The best, however, may be Charlie Rich's version of "A Woman Left Lonely," a ballad that's epic in all aspects. 

What's scary is Ace had the choice of multiple recordings of these Penn-Oldham songs by different artists. Imagine the decision to favor Jeanne Newman's version of "It Tears Me Up" instead of Percy Sledge's take?

I have so much music that I don't have many albums on heavy rotation, let alone light rotation, but "Sweet Inspiration" is one that will get regular play.