On Tour

Recorded at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater in 1964, Chuck Jackson on Tour captures the underrated soul singer in support of his then-current single, "Beg Me." Backed by Bobby Scott and his band, Jackson delivers dynamic, rousing versions of past hits like "Any Day Now," "I Wake Up Crying," and "I Will Never Turn My Back on You," but the real draw here is the well-chosen cover material -- readings of James Brown's "Please, Please, Please," Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," and William Bell's "Any Other Way" prove excellent vehicles for his gruff, emotional vocals. Also noteworthy is Jackson's easy, charming between-song patter -- it's clear from the cheers and screams that he has the audience eating out of his hand, again begging the question of why his considerable talents never crossed over to greater success. ~ Jason Ankeny