The Box Tops

Dimensions - Bell 1969

Tracks: 1. Soul Deep / 2. I Shall Be Released / 3. Midnight Angel / 4. Together / 5. I'll Hold Out My Hand / 6. I Must Be the Devil / 7. Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March / 8. Happy Song / 9. Ain't No Way / 10. Rock Me Baby / 11. King's Highway [*] / 12. Soul Deep [Mono Single Version][*] / 13. Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March [Mono Single Version][*] / 14. I See Only Sunshine / 15. Lay Your Shine on Me [#]


Comments:

"Dimensions" from 1969 was the final Box Tops album, and probably the album on which Alex Chilton had the greatest influence on. However, he was in his mind already away from the group, in which, according to his own statement, he was only in order to avoid school.

Three of the album's songs are written by Chilton and they are really quite different. "Together" is a fine soul-ballad, much like what you might expect from the group. "I Must Be the Devil" is almost pure blues, while "Happy Song" is a light melodic catchy song; much different from what the group otherwise recorded. Another Chilton song is available as a bonus track; the little commercial and not very exciting "I See Only Sunshine".

Otherwise, the highlight is "Soul Deep", written, as "The Letter", by Wayne Carson Thompson, which was another big hit for the group. "Sweet Cream Ladies" is quite sweet and unusual for the group; This was also released on single, though without success. A solid, but not very original, version of Dylan's "In Shall Be Released" is also included.

The end track "Rock Me Baby" runs over nine minutes plus long, and is really a yawner that drastically pulls down the overall impression. The Box Tops were never really an albums band, anyway.


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