Dig Deep: The Packers – Hole In The Wall – Pure Soul (1965)

The Packers – Pure Soul
The Packers – Hoppin’ John
The Packers – I’m Converted

It doesn’t happen often, but I honestly can’t remember where I first came into contact with this album. I might have gotten a copy off of Dusty Groove, or at Groove Merchant, definitely while I was living in Oakland, but can’t remember…anyhow, for a long time this was a record that after my great sell-off in 2004, I really wish I had kept. I recently tracked down another copy at Amoeba Hollywood and now I share it with you.

The Packers are a somewhat mysterious group, put together by a DJ (Man, those were the days!!!) by the name of Magnificent Montague and led by saxophonist Charles “Packy” Axton, who was the son of the “AX” part of Stax records, Estelle Axton. The mystery surrounding this record is who else is involved. Funky 16 Corners did some nice detective work back in 2006 which explains that most likely Booker T and several “MGs” are featured on the original single (with Booker on piano and Leon Haywood on organ), one of the all-time great soul instrumental sides “Hole In The Wall” and it’s B-side “Go Head On.” From there, no one seems to be sure who the sessions men are that make up the rest of the record’s dynamite soul sound.

To my ears, it really does sound like Steve Cropper throughout, but it could have been one of the Muscle Shoals pickers, or just someone biting Cropper’s style. Perhaps someone else on the internets has figured it all out (or maybe it’s even in one of those books everyone used to read before the internet came along), but a little mystery is never a bad thing. Neither is the absolutely ace soul sound of this record. With tracks like “Hoppin’ John” with it’s snapping fingers and poppin’ drums and “I’m Converted,” with it’s mighty fine, though very quick, drum break, this record got me rethinking my preferences for soul music and got me digging for pre-1967 titles.

“Pure Soul” remains my favorite track though, with it’s “Tramp” inspired beat and gritty sax, as well as multiple times every takes it down and plays it a little bit softer before bringing it back up and banging. I would have loved to have been at a performance or a dance hall when this was playing back in the day.

Speaking of “Pure Soul,” it might just be my shaky memory regarding this song, but I could have sworn that my original copy, which had a red label, faded out at the end, though this current copy (on a black label pictured to the right) just cuts cold. Maybe there are more subtle differences between these two pressings, which will remain a mystery to me, unless some chimes in or I track down another copy.

Cheers,

Michael