Darrell Banks – I’m The One Who Loves You – The Volt Recordings CD (Kent)

Darrell Banks’ career lasted barely three years, ending when he was shot dead in suspicious circumstances early in 1970. His discography amounts to barely three dozen surviving masters and demos, but he is as popular in soul circles as any of the music’s more famous legends. The tracks on this CD compilation amply demonstrate why this is so, and demand for it is sure to be extremely strong.

He signed to Stax in early 1969 after artistically satisfying spells with Revilot and Atco. He recorded and released one album for the company’s Volt subsidiary and had begun work on demos a second album when he died.

“I’m The One Who Loves You” contains his “Here To Stay” album in full – making its UK CD debut here – along with the, often very different, mono mixes from the two singles that Volt culled from the LP and our title track, which did not make it onto the album for some inexplicable reason.

The big treat for collectors will be the inclusion of four recently unearthed demos. They are the only ones to survive from the work begun on his proposed second album, recorded in Memphis under Steve Cropper’s supervision, just a couple of weeks before Darrell died.  – Ace Records