The Letter/Neon Rainbow

Most of the backing tracks were performed by session musicians; however the original group played the hit "The Letter". The session musicians likely consisted of Reggie Young and Bobby Womack (guitars), Tommy Cogbill (bass), Bobby Emmons (piano, organ), and Gene Chrisman (drums). The Letter/Neon Rainbow was re-released on CD in 2000 on the Sundazed label (SC 6158) with four additional tracks. These included the mono single versions of "The Letter" and "Neon Rainbow"; the 1969 single "Turn on a Dream"; and the previously unreleased track "Georgia Farm Boy". == Chart performance ==

The album peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Top LPs in 1968, during a fifteen-week run on the chart. On Cash Box the album peaked at No. 37. ==Reception==

Writing for AllMusic, music critic Richie Unterberger notes Chilton's strong vocals but called the album "a spotty affair showing every indication of having been assembled very quickly in the wake of "The Letter" soaring to number one". In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), contributor Greg Kot writes, the "debut album is steeped in Memphis soul, with touches of country and blues, an approach that would remain intact on subsequent releases". ==Track listing==

• "The Letter" (Wayne Carson) – 1:55 • "She Knows How" (Thompson) – 3:08 • "Trains and Boats and Planes" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 3:48 • "Break My Mind" (John D. Loudermilk) – 2:29 • "Whiter Shade of Pale" (Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher) – 4:34 • "Everything I Am" (Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn) – 2:20 • "Neon Rainbow" (Thompson) – 3:04 • "People Make the World" (Bobby Womack) – 2:31 • "I'm Your Puppet" (Oldham, Penn) – 2:54 • "Happy Times" (Oldham, Penn) – 1:46 • "Gonna Find Somebody" (Womack) – 3:02 • "I Pray for Rain" (Oldham, Penn) – 2:26 CD bonus tracks • "Turn on a Dream" (Mark James) – 2:50 • "The Letter" (Thompson) – 1:58 • "Neon Rainbow" (Thompson) – 3:00 • "Georgia Farm Boy" (Mickey Newbury) – 3:48 ==Personnel==

;The Box Tops • Alex Chilton – vocals, guitar • Gary Talley – guitar, backing vocals • John Evans – keyboards • Bill Cunningham – bass guitar • Danny Smythe – drums with: • Dan Penn – backing vocals • ;The Memphis Boys: • Bobby Womack – acoustic guitar • Reggie Young – electric guitar • Bobby Emmons – piano, organ • Tommy Cogbill – bass guitar • Gene Chrisman – drums ==Production notes==

• Produced by Dan Penn • Engineered by Chips Moman • Remastered by Bob Irwin • Original cover photo by Frank Lerner • Cover art by Rich Russell • Original cover design – Steven Craig Productions • Liner notes by Jud Cost and Hal Smith (original and re-issue) • Re-issue photos & graphics courtesy of Bill Cunningham, Danny Smythe, Clark & Steve Besch, Ric Zannitto, and the Sundazed Archive == Charts ==