Wilson Pickett – The Exciting Wilson Pickett (Mono, Atlantic 75 Series, Clear Vinyl,)

Wilson Pickett's The Exciting Wilson Pickett is the 1966 album that turned a run of hit singles into his biggest studio LP, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 21 on the pop album chart. Originally his third album, it captures Pickett at the point where his raw, hard-driving style was crossing over fast, powered by four major singles including the chart-topping “In the Midnight Hour” and “Land of 1000 Dances.”

What makes this record last is that it is not just a hits container. Alongside “634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)” and “Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won’t Do),” the album digs deeper into the Southern soul blend that defined Pickett’s best work, mixing sharp originals with versions of R&B staples such as “Something You Got” and “Barefootin’.” Several songs were written with key Memphis soul figures Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, and David Porter, which helps explain the album’s punchy, band-led feel and its balance of grit, groove, and melody.

For listeners coming to Pickett beyond the most famous singles, this is one of the clearest places to hear why he mattered: not only as a hitmaker, but as a singer who could turn urgency, swagger, and gospel-bred force into a full album statement.

Features

• Clear Vinyl, Limited Edition
• Mono mix
• Atlantic 75 Series

Reviews

• It all adds up to one of the most consistent '60s soul albums ever. - AllMusic.com