The Exciting Wilson Pickett, released in 1966, was R&B and soul singer Wilson Pickett’s third album, charting at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard R&B albums chart and No. 21 on the popular albums chart, becoming the highest-charting studio album of Pickett’s career.

The making of the album saw Pickett end his relationship with Stax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had cut his early singles, and move to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he would record for the next two years. According to AllMusic, this album firmly established Picket’s “stature as a major ’60s soul man,” launching four major crossover hits.

The chart-toppers include “In the Midnight Hour” reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and No. 21 on the pop singles chart. “Land of a Thousand Dances” reached No. 1 and No. 6 respectively, his biggest pop hit. “Ninety-nine and a Half (Won’t Do)” reached No. 13 and No. 53. “634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.),” a song which Pickett had not on first hearing liked, reached No. 1 and No. 13.

The deeper album cuts hold significant appeal as well and include standards “Something You Got,” “Barefootin'” and “Mercy Mercy” as well as several original tunes with Memphis Soul greats Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, and David Porter.

Mastered by Matthew Lutthans at Cohearent Audio in Los Angeles from the original master tape. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in a tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jacket by Stoughton Printing.