The Shacks on The Sapphires' "Best Of"

This week, we are joined by The Shacks, the NYC-based duo of singer Shannon Wise and producer Max Shrager. Maybe you heard their cool cover of The Kinks' "This Strange Effect" on that Apple adthis fall? Or maybe you were already up on them from their EP, released by Big Crown? Either way, Max and Shannon threw us a curveball with their choice: a 1994 compilation of nearly two dozen sides recorded in the mid-1960s by The Sapphires, the obscure-ish R&B trio of Carol Jackson, George Gainer and Joe Livingston that recorded with Swan and ABC-Paramount before dissolving circa 1966. We talked about the unique sound of The Sapphires, the roots of Philly soul, and what it's like to dig through the crates to figure out your own sound.

This episode was both the first time we had a group in the studio, which was fun, and the first time we tackled an album from the 1960s. Hopefully, it won't be the last, for either.

More on The Sapphpires and their Best Of anthology:

Soulwalking's page about The Sapphires Bruce Eder's review of the anthology for AllMusic.com

More on The Shacks:

Delicious Audio's interview with them about their foot pedals and production techniques. Supercorruptor's review of their EP. Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

Show Tracklisting:

The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Who Do You Love" The Shacks: The Shacks EP "This Strange Effect" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Lets Break Up For A While" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Gotta Have Your Love" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Evil One" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Come On And Love Me" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Your True Love" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Evil One" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Your True Love" Edison Lighthouse: Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made to be Broken" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "I've Got Mine, You Better Get Yours" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Evil One" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Who Do You Love" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Slow Fizz" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Baby You've Got Me" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Hearts Are Made To Be Broken" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Let Break Up For A While" The Sapphires: The very Best of the Sapphires "Gotta Have Your Love"

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!