Joe Tex discography explained

Artist:Joe Tex
Studio:18
Compilation:47
Singles:81
B-Sides:3

This article contains comprehensive discography information related to Joe Tex.

Albums

[1]

Singles

[33]

YearTitles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[34]
US R&B
AUS
[35]
UK
[36]
1955"Come in This House"
b/w "Davy, You Upset My Home"
align=center align=center align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (King)
1956 "My Biggest Mistake"
b/w "Right Back to My Arms"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"She's Mine"
b/w "I Had to Come Back to You"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Get Way Back"
b/w "Pneumonia"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1957"Ain't Nobody's Business"
b/w "I Want to Have a Talk with You"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1958 "Cut It Out"
b/w "Just for You and Me"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"Open the Door"
b/w "Teenage Rock"
By "Little Booker, featuring Joe Tex, vocals"
[37] [38]
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"You Little Baby Face Thing"
b/w "Mother's Advice"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1959"Don't Hold It Against Me"
b/w "Yum, Yum, Yum"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Charlie Brown Got Expelled"
b/w "Blessed Are These Tears"
By "Joe Tex and His X Class Mates"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1960 "Boys Will Be Boys"
b/w "Grannie Stole the Show"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"I'll Never Break Your Heart (Part 1)"
b/w "Part 2"
By "Joe Tex and The Vibrators"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Hold On
"All I Could Do Was Cry (Part 1)"
b/w "Part 2"
align=center 102align=center align=center align=center
"Goodbye My Love"
b/w "Wicked Woman"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Turn Back the Hands of Time
1961"Baby You're Right"
b/w "Ain't I a Mess"[39]
align=center align=center align=center align=center Hold On!
"The Only Girl (I've Ever Loved)"
b/w "What Should I Do"
align=center align=center align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (Parrot)
"One Giant Step"
b/w "The Rib"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
1962 "I Let Her Get Away"
b/w "The Peck"
align=center align=center align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (Parrot)
"Hand-Shakin', Love Makin', Girl Takin'
Son-of-a-Gun"
b/w "Popeye Johnny" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Meet Me in Church"
b/w "Be Your Own Judge" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1963 "Someone to Take Your Place"
b/w "I Should Have Kissed Her More" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"You Keep Her"
b/w "Don't Play" (from Hold On!)
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album track
"I Wanna Be Free"
b/w "Blood's Thicker Than Water" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (Parrot)
1964 "Say Thank You"
b/w "Looking for My Pig" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"I Had a Good Home But I Left (Part 1)"
b/w "Part 2"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"The Next Time She's Mine"
b/w "I've Got a Song"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"Sit Yourself Down"
b/w "Get Closer Together"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Hold On!
"I'd Rather Have You"
b/w "Old Time Lover" (from The Best of Joe Tex (Parrot))
align=center align=center 44 align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"Hold What You've Got"
b/w "Fresh Out of Tears"
align=center 5align=center 1 align=center align=center Hold What You've Got
1965"Boys Will Be Boys"
b/w "Baby You're Right (I'm Gonna Hold What I Got)"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"You Got What It Takes" /align=center 51align=center 10align=center align=center Hold What You've Got
"You Better Get It"align=center 46align=center 15align=center align=center
"A Woman Can Change a Man" /align=center 56align=center 12align=center align=center The New Boss
"Don't Let Your Left Hand Know"align=center 95align=center align=center align=center The Love You Save
"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"
b/w "Build Your Love on a Solid Foundation" (from The Love You Save)
align=center 65align=center 20align=center align=center Hold What You've Got
"I Want To (Do Everything For You)"
b/w "Funny Bone" (from The Love You Save)
align=center 23 align=center 1align=center align=center The New Boss
1966 "A Sweet Woman Like You"
b/w "Close the Door"
align=center 29align=center 1 align=center align=center The Love You Save
"The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
b/w "If Sugar Was as Sweet as You"
align=center 56align=center 2align=center align=center
"S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)"
b/w "I'm a Man" (from The Love You Save)
align=center 39align=center 9align=center align=center I've Got to Do a Little Bit Better
"I Believe I'm Gonna Make It"
b/w "You Better Believe It Baby" (from The Love You Save)
align=center 67align=center 8align=center align=center
"I've Got to Do a Little Bit Better"
b/w "What in the World" (from The New Boss)
align=center 64align=center 20align=center align=center
"Papa Was Too"
b/w "The Truest Woman in the World"
align=center 44align=center 15align=center align=center
1967 "Show Me"
b/w "A Woman Sees a Hard Time (When Her Man Is Gone)" (from I've Got to Do a Little Bit Better)
align=center 35align=center 24align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (Atlantic)
"Woman Like That, Yeah"
b/w "I'm Going and Get It"
align=center 54align=center 24align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"A Woman's Hands"
b/w "C.C. Rider" (from The New Boss)
align=center 63align=center 24align=center align=center Live and Lively
"Skinny Legs and All"
b/w "Watch the One (That Brings the Bad News)" (from I've Got to Do a Little Bit Better)
align=center 10align=center 2align=center align=center
"I'll Make Every Day Christmas (For My Woman)"
b/w "Don't Give Up" (from Live and Lively)
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
1968"Men Are Gettin' Scarce"
b/w "You're Gonna Thank Me Woman" (from Live and Lively)
align=center 33align=center 7align=center align=center
"I'll Never Do You Wrong"
b/w "Wooden Spoon" (from Live and Lively)
align=center 59align=center 26align=center align=center Soul Country
"Soul Meeting"
b/w "That's How It Feels"
By "The Soul Clan" (Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, Arthur Conley, Don Covay and Ben E. King)
[40]
align=center 91align=center 34align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"Betwixt and Between"
b/w "Chocolate Cherry"
By "The Joe Tex Band"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Keep the One You Got"
b/w "Go Home and Do It"
align=center 52align=center 13align=center align=center Happy Soul
"You Need Me, Baby"
b/w "Baby, Be Good"
align=center 81align=center 29align=center align=center
"That's Your Baby"
b/w "Sweet, Sweet Woman"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1969"Buying a Book"
b/w "Chicken Crazy" (from Happy Soul)
align=center 47align=center 10align=center align=center Buying a Book
"Say Thank You"
b/w "Looking for My Pig" (Non-album track)
Reissue
align=center align=center align=center align=center The Best of Joe Tex (Parrot)
"That's the Way"
b/w "Anything You Wanna Know"
align=center 94align=center 46align=center align=center Buying a Book
"It Ain't Sanitary"
b/w "We Can't Sit Down Now"
align=center 117align=center align=center align=center
"(When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again) I Can't See You No More"
b/w "Sure Is Good" (from Buying a Book)
align=center 105align=center align=center align=center Joe Tex Sings with Strings & Things
1970"You're Right, Ray Charles"
b/w "Everything Happens on Time"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
b/w "The Only Way I Know to Love You"
align=center align=center align=center align=center From the Roots Came the Rapper
1971"Bad Feet"
b/w "I Knew Him" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center I Gotcha
"Papa's Dream"
b/w "I'm Comin' Home" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center Joe Tex Spills the Beans
"Give the Baby Anything the Baby Wants"
b/w "Takin' a Chance"
align=center 102align=center 20align=center align=center I Gotcha
1972 "I Gotcha" /align=center 2 align=center 1align=center align=center
"A Mother's Prayer"align=center align=center 41align=center align=center Joe Tex Spills the Beans
"You Said a Bad Word"
b/w "It Ain't Gonna Work Baby"
align=center 41align=center 12align=center align=center I Gotcha
1973 "King Thaadeus"
b/w "Rain Go Away"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Joe Tex Spills the Beans
"Woman Stealer"
b/w "Cat's Got Her Tongue"
align=center 103align=center 41align=center align=center
"All the Heaven a Man Really Needs"
b/w "Let's Go Somewhere and Talk"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Trying to Win Your Love"
b/w "I've Seen Enough" (Non-album track)
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1975"Under Your Powerful Love"
b/w "Sassy Sexy Wiggle"
align=center align=center 27align=center align=center Non-album tracks
"I'm Going Back Again"
b/w "My Body Wants You"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Have You Ever"
b/w "Baby, It's Rainin'"
align=center align=center 74align=center align=center
"Love Shortage"
b/w "Mama Red"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1977"Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)"
b/w "I Mess Up Everything I Get My Hands On"
align=center 12align=center 7align=center 2align=center 2 Bumps & Bruises
"Hungry for Your Love"
b/w "I Almost Got to Heaven Once"
align=center align=center 84align=center align=center
"Rub Down"
b/w "Be Kind to Old People"
align=center align=center 70align=center align=center Rub Down
1978"Get Back, Leroy"
b/w "You Can Be My Star"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1979"Loose Caboose"
b/w "Music Ain't Got No Color"
align=center align=center 48align=center align=center He Who Is Without Funk Cast the First Stone
"Who Gave Birth to the Funk"
b/w "If You Don't Want the Man (Don't Take the Money)"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"Discomonia"
b/w "Fat People"
align=center align=center align=center align=center Non-album tracks
1980"Stick Your Key In (and Start Your Car)"
b/w "Lady J. (I Love You)"
align=center align=center align=center align=center
1981 "Don't Do Da Do"
b/w "Here Comes No. 34 (Do the Earl Campbell)" (first pressings)
"Loose Caboose" (later pressings)[42]
align=center align=center align=center align=center
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Soundtrack Inclusions (Joe Tex performances)

[43]

References

  1. Primarily from Rolling Stone Joe Tex Discography; www.rollingstone.com, [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5624/discography|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Joe Tex Discography]; www.allmusic.com, Yahoo Music Joe Tex Discography; www.new.music.yahoo.com and James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  2. This was Tex's first album release, despite having released over thirty singles during the previous decade.
  3. Early recordings, released to capitalize on the success of Hold On to What You've Got. Includes "Baby, You're Right", written by Joe Tex and a hit for James Brown in 1962. Also includes "You Keep Her", written by Joe Tex in relation to wife leaving Tex for James Brown. See James Porter et al., Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  4. Also early recordings, released to capitalize on the success of Hold On to What You've Got. Also in 1965, a record containing no more than four Joe Tex songs and filled with other recordings represented to be Tex was released by Pickwick Records as Joe Tex. See James Porter et al., Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com; commentary by Greg Burgess.
  5. More early recordings. Includes "Meet Me in Church", later recorded by Solomon Burke.
  6. Another release of early Joe Tex material, most songs being previously unreleased, intended to capitalize on Tex's newfound national success.
  7. "No filler, no fat. Can't argue with this one, as it has all of his hits up to then. No B-sides, no album cuts. However, Atlantic should have put together a "Vol. 2", because his biggest hit of the sixties was right around the corner." James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  8. Re-release of his first album Hold What You've Got.
  9. Containing previously unreleased material of varying quality, released after Tex had left the label. See James Porter et al., Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003, commentary by Waymon Timbsdayle; www.roctober.com.
  10. Containing early, pre-"Hold On" material, without disclaimer, though the collection is considered to be quite worthwhile. According to John Battles, "These tracks were largely recorded during Joe's "Little Richard" phase, which wielded some wild, unruly rockers, of which some of the best are included here. ...All that screamin' and beamin' and steamin' makes me wanna wreck a room, just like Richard's most frantic sides (i.e. "Keep A Knockin'" or "Bama Lama Bama Loo", which hadn't been recorded yet). ...make no mistake, Tex wasn't just copying pre-established artists, he was getting his own thing together, and learning from the best. That said, Tex was already a highly respected performer without a hit when he was doing opening spots for Brown and Richard in the late Fifties. Little Richard himself went so far as to say that James Brown got much of his stage act from watching Joe Tex on stage. All in all, this is a cool compilation, but there's enough material from this period for a nice CD (Or maybe even a double CD) retrospective." Joe Tex Album Guide, commentary by John Battles; www.roctober.com.
  11. Being a direct re-release of the 1965 release of The Best of Joe Tex on Parrot Records.
  12. Rerelease of pre-1965 King Records material, previously released in 1965 as The Best of Joe Tex.
  13. Criticised as being another re-release of Tex's pre-Dial material, but again excluding the "lost 45, 'Looking for My Pig'". Released as part of the London Records Collectors' Series, which also included releases of London material by Thin Lizzy, Genesis and David Bowie. See James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  14. Another release of pre-1965 material.
  15. Being primarily a re-release of Hold On! It's Joe Tex (1965), though with detailed liner notes by legendary DJ Bill "Hoss" Allen.
  16. Printed for release in 1984, but actually released in 1985. The album is similar to the original Atlantic 1967 release of The Best of Joe Tex, except that Tex's No. 1 R & B chart hit in 1965, "I Want to Do Everything for You", is inexplicably replaced with the non-single, "Build Your Love On A Solid Foundation". Also criticised for not including other Joe Tex hits, such as "Skinny Legs and All". See James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  17. Both the Rhino and Charly releases are considered to be definitive "best of" releases of Joe Tex material, superior to reissues by his long-time label, Atlantic: "Now this is more like it. All the hits from all the labels, plus comprehensive liner notes that tell you what's what. At the time, Rhino (US) and Charly (UK) were setting the standard for reissue labels, and they gave Joe's legacy the royal treatment it deserved." James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  18. Rare and previously unissued Joe Tex material, including "I Can See Everybody's Baby But Mine".
  19. Reissue of Soul Country (1968), with bonus tracks.
  20. The release of Greatest Hits on Curb Records marked the beginning of a series of reissues of Joe Tex material on various discount record labels. This led to speculation that Buddy Killen, who had formed Dial Records explicitly to record Joe Tex and then licensed the recordings to Atlantic Records, must have regained the rights to his Dial Records masters of Joe Tex recordings. See James Porter with John Battles and Waymon Timbsdayle, Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.
  21. A major collection, containing 44 tracks. Track listing is [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r424382|pure_url=yes}} here].
  22. According to reviewer Richie Unterberger, "If you're set on having the best available Joe Tex CD anthology...this definitely supersedes others as the greatest-hits collection of choice. ...There's no telling if this will remain the definitive Tex compilation if his catalog continues to get passed around, but there's a good chance that it won't be surpassed." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r470002|pure_url=yes}} Review of Joe Tex, ''25 All Time Greatest Hits'']; www.allmusic.com.
  23. An independent record label started by singer John Prine.
  24. As described by reviewer Dave Marsh, "Fourteen fundamental hits, mainly from the Atlantic soul period, starting with 'Hold What You've Got' and with a brief diversion to the disco-funk of 'I Gotcha.' This is Tex as pared down to his essence as you'll find. Notes are by the great Memphis producer/songwriter Chips Moman, but, unfortunately, they're just one paragraph long." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r538464|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''Oh Boy Classics Presents Joe Tex'']; www.allmusic.com.
  25. As described by reviewer Mark Deming, "Stylistically, both albums were just a bit off the beaten path from the bulk of Tex's mid-1960s work; his sense of humor (always bubbling beneath the surface) came into the forefront on Hold On to What You've Got, while The New Boss focused new emphasis on Tex's obvious fondness for country music." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r551828|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''Hold On to What You've Got/The New Boss'']; www.allmusic.com.
  26. As described by reviewer Mark Deming, "Two of Joe Tex's finest albums from his tenure as the in-house 'advice columnist' of Southern soul are paired up on this superior CD reissue. ...Buddy Killen's production is the ideal match for Tex's often witty, always heartfelt stories about finding and holding on to love." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r551833|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''The Love You Save/I've Got to Do a Little Bit Better'']; www.allmusic.com.
  27. Being the only soul record in the "David Allan Coe Presents" series. As noted by reviewer Wade Kergan, "Tex was among the grittier songwriters of '60s Southern soul, so the fact that the irascible redneck Coe would pick him as the lone soul artist in his mostly traditional country David Allan Coe Presents series isn't a surprise." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r617366|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''David Allan Coe Presents Joe Tex'']; www.allmusic.com.
  28. Criticised by reviewer Tim Sendra as excluding too much "classic" Joe Tex, such as "'One Monkey Don't Stop No Show' and the timeless disco classic 'Ain't Gonna Bump No More With No Big Fat Woman'." [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r633802|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''Classic Masters'']; www.allmusic.com.
  29. Being a collection of Dial Records material from the 1960s. As noted by reviewer Steve Leggett, "Whatever else Joe Tex has been in his long career, and that includes being a charismatic showman, singer, and performer, he has always been a fine songwriter, and this generous 20-track set of his key 1960s Dial Records sides has plenty to prove the point." Steve Leggett, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1368190|pure_url=yes}} Review of Greatest Hits (Neon)]; www.allmusic.com.
  30. Being the complete recordings Tex completed for King Records (owned by Syd Nathan) during 1955-1957, involving no album release at the time. According to reviewer Steve Leggett, the material is considered to be "derivative...sounding a bit like Tex trying to emulate Sam Cooke. It's pleasant enough, but it wasn't until the next decade that he would find his own voice." Steve Leggett, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1390515|pure_url=yes}} Review of The Best of Joe Tex (Gusto)]; www.allmusic.com.
  31. Being exclusively Dial Records material, almost all cut between 1961 and 1964, just before Tex's 1965 breakthrough. According to reviewer Richie Unterberger, the album contains "arrangements similar to those heard in early-'60s 45s by poppy early soul singers like Marv Johnson and Dee Clark; and hints of Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, and doo wop. Yet at the same time, there are also strong pleading ballads much closer to the Southern soul style with which he became identified, all of them written by Tex himself, the slightly James Brown-ish "Blood's Thicker Than Water" being a particular highlight in that regard." See Richie Unterberger, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1393225|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''First on the Dial: Early Singles and Rare Gems'']; www.allmusic.com.
  32. Reviewer Richie Unterberger commented in relation to Get Way Back as follows: "Get Way Back: The 1950s Recordings...collects 27 tracks he recorded between 1955 and 1960 for the King and Ace labels, none of which were hits. It says something for both Tex's talent and perseverance that he was able to issue so much material without making a commercial impact, but it also says something about the derivative nature of that material." See Richie Unterberger, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1422834|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''Get Way Back: The 1950s Recordings'']; www.allmusic.com.
  33. Primarily from a highly detailed singles discography, including particulars of B-sides, by Bosko Asanovic, with additions by Greg Burgess, Joe Tex Singles Discography; www.soulfulkindamusic.net.
  34. Web site: Joe Tex - Awards. AllMusic. November 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103033754/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-tex-mn0000210323/awards. November 3, 2012.
  35. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 307.
  36. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 55.
  37. B-side to the instrumental "Teenage Rock".
  38. New Orleans pianist Little Booker (1939-1983), not to be confused with jazz trumpeter Booker Little, was generally known professionally by his given names of James Booker. He was a childhood classmate of Allen Toussaint and Art Neville and in his later years worked with Dr. John. Through the introduction of Joe Tex and while still legally a minor, he had been signed to a three year contract with Ace Records. He terminated the arrangement after three songs, when he discovered that Joe Tex's vocals were being dubbed over his own. See Greg Johnson, Biography of James Booker, Cascade Blues Association, Blues Notes, February, 2002; www.cascadeblues.org. See also James Booker.
  39. Recorded by and a hit for James Brown in 1962.
  40. Te Soul Clan was a one-off group, consisting of Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, Arthur Conley, Don Covay and Ben E. King, all at the time Atlantic-related artists. An album, Soul Clan was later released, though the only true Soul Clan performances were "Soul Meeting" and its b-side, "That's How I Feel", written by Don Covay and Bobby Womack. The balance of the album was simply a compilation of previous hits of the various artists. Joe Tex was represented by "Skinny Legs and All" and "Hold What You've Got". See Mark Deming, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r64641|pure_url=yes}} Review of ''Soul Clan'']; www.allmusic.com.
  41. Web site: Joe Tex - Ain't Gonna Bump No More. bpi.co.uk. 25 November 2022.
  42. This single was released three times in 1981. Two versions, one on Columbia and the other on Handshake Records, had "Here Comes No. 34 (Do the Earl Campbell)" as the b-side, with reference to Earl Campbell, football star of the University of Texas Longhorns and the Houston Oilers. The third release of the song, on Handshake Records, had "Loose Caboose", a 1979 single, as the b-side. See Bosko Asanovic, with additions by Greg Burgess, Joe Tex Singles Discography; www.soulfulkindamusic.net.
  43. In contrast to Joe Tex songs performed by others. Information primarily from www.allmusic.com and www.imdb.com.