Following the recent reissue of Sweet Southern Soul by Lou Johnson (watch this space for a review soon!), Run Out Groove is staying in a soulful bag with the latest addition to its catalogue: Bettye LaVette's The 1972 Muscle Shoals Sessions!  This brand-new, 1-LP collection, voted on by the fans, will prove the first time any of these scorching soul tracks from a remarkable artist have ever been released on vinyl.

The soul survivor has recorded for countless labels over the years, including Atlantic, Scepter, Epic, Motown, and most recently, Verve.  LaVette has just released Things Have Changed, a new album dedicated to reinterpretations of the Bob Dylan songbook. This new archival anthology from Run Out Groove couldn't come at a better time.  In 1972, the Michigan-born artist signed with Atlantic's Atco imprint, and was dispatched to Muscle Shoals to record what would have been her first full-length album.  Produced by Brad Shapiro and featuring the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the LP was to be titled Child of the Seventies.  However, Atco shelved it, consigning it to the vaults for decades.  The material made its first appearance on the Art and Soul label in 2000 as Souvenirs, and was later reissued by Rhino Handmade under the original Child of the Seventies title, with additional tracks from 1973 added.  The 1972 Muscle Shoals Sessions will mark the first time these songs have all been collected together on a vinyl record.

That's not all.  Though the title has been confirmed for release, Run Out Groove is giving fans the chance to vote on which cover they like best, out of three possible choices.  Just head over to the label's Twitter feed, Facebook page, or Instagram to vote!  The winning cover will be announced on Monday, April 23.  Voting is also now open for ROG's next round of titles.  Which of these would you like to see the label release?  All descriptions below are courtesy of ROG:

-Gary Louris - Vagabonds (Expanded Edition): New to voting this month. If voted to win, ROG will expand Gary's 2008 Rykodisc solo album to a 2-LP set that would include acoustic tracks, demos, and outtakes making their debut on a physical format, as well as one previously unreleased outtake to round out the set. Mastered from the best possible source with lacquers cut at Sam Phillips Recording Studio, the deluxe package will to include a gatefold Stoughton tip-on jacket with 180g vinyl pressed at Record Industry.

-Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks - Mr. Dynamo: If voted to win, ROG will bring back the Rockabilly king's second record for Roulette, issue it in its original 1959 sleeve art and press on red vinyl as originally released and now very rare. Deluxe packaging to include a single sleeve Stoughton tip-on jacket with 180g red vinyl pressed at Record Industry.

-Sons of Freedom - Sons of Freedom: If voted to win, the Canadian alt-rocker's debut for Slash will be reissued for the first time since the original release in 1988, mastered from the original source and we'll throw in some unreleased bonus tracks for good measure. Deluxe packaging to include a single sleeve Stoughton tip-on jacket with 180g multi-color vinyl pressed at Record Industry. Fans would get the opportunity to vote on the color way of the vinyl.

Don't miss out!  Pre-ordering for Bettye LaVette's The 1972 Muscle Shoals Sessions is open now at Run Out Groove's website (link below)!

Bettye LaVette, The 1972 Muscle Shoals Sessions (Run Out Groove, 2018)

Side One

1. It Ain't Easy
2. If I Can't Be Your Woman
3. Fortune Teller
4. Your Time to Cry
5. Soul Tambourine
6. All the Black and White Children
7. Our Own Love Song

Side Two

1. Ain't Nothing Gonna Change Me
2. Outside Woman
3. The Stealer
4. My Love is Showing
5. Souvenirs
6. Heart of Gold (*)
7. You'll Wake Up Wiser (*)

(*) bonus track recorded in Detroit, 1972

All tracks first released on Art & Soul CD 851012, 2000