The Queen Of Soul/Blues scored a huge Southern Soul hit with
"Snap, Crackle & Pop". She also continued to show her
songwriting prowess on numbers like "The Love You Threw Away" and
"Doormat Woman". This was voted "Southern Soul CD Of The
Year" in Blues Critic's Southern Soul
Awards.
2. Lou
Wilson & Today's People "Blues Groove" (Crew)
"Blues
Groove" is so Bobby Rush funky I need a shower after listening. I'm
not talking machine-produced funk I'm talking loose, hard-hitting,
spankin' guitar Blues funky. All of us, whether we're a critic,
performer, businessman or just a music lover, have a personal list
of artists who we adamantly insist should be better known instead of
the many manufactured, over-hyped pop tarts who saturate our
collective consciousness. Lou Wilson is one of those terrific
secrets that needs to be told.
3.
Leon McMullen "Just A Few Words" (Main
Street/Sound Mindz)
Leon has a vintage soul voice reminiscent of O.V. Wright. An
impressive debut.
4.
Floyd Taylor "No Doubt"
(Malaco)
A great year for Floyd. Not only did "Baby I've Changed" remain
on the charts for a whole year but he very nearly picked up FOUR
Blues Critic Awards! He won "Best Male
Vocal Performance" & "Best Southern Soul
Song" and finished a very close second in "Album Of The
Year" & 'Best Slow Jam" categories!
5.
Jeff Floyd "The Power Is Still On"
(Wilbe)
Floyd's second disc released on William Bell's Wilbe imprint is
consistent through and through. Includes the smash duet with Bell,
"Somebody's Gonna Lose A Good Woman", plus "You Had It All" & "I
Got My Woman Upset"
6.
Vick Allen "Simply Soul" (Waldoxy)
Ace songwriter steps to the fore on this terrific modern soul
effort. The first hit may be a remake of Z.Z. Hill's "Who You Been
Giving It To", but it's the Allen originals "Creepin' Ain't Easy"
& "I'm Sorry", plus Rich Cason's "Giving It Up" that are the
most noteworthy.
7.
Chairmen Of
The Board "All In The Family Southern Soul" (Xcel
Music)
Fantastic collection. "The Blacker The Berry" is a brilliant
song. Every track here is golden. The album would have a higher
placing on this list but most of the cuts appeared on last years
"All In The Family", which was in the Top
10 for 2004! Overall this is the better of the two.
8. Bobby Warren "I Slipped Up" (Kon
Kord)
An impressive set of Soul/Blues and
Memphis-blessed soul.
9.
Lorraine
Turner "Shake It Down"
(Ecko)
Very promising debut by this mezzo-sorprano voiced
singer benefits from strong compositions like "You Lost A Fortune",
"Good Love Is Hard To Find" and "Let Me Make Love To You". The
latter contains a particularly sugary vocal from Turner.
10.
Archie Love "Sincerely Yours" (JEA Music)
You can use the cliche' "big in Japan" for Archie Love but he
also made his mark elsewhere with this disc. "Same Woman", a duet
with mentor J. Blackfoot, and the gorgeous "Should've Been There For
You" were two of the best cuts.
11. Lee "Shot" Williams "Nibble Man"
(Ecko)
Yet another solid collection from "Shot" includes the funny "Ease
On Down In The Bed" and "I'm A Nibble Man", both sizable hits.
John Ward produced.
12.Chuck
Roberson "Expressions Of Yesterday" (Cruise
On)
Modern day Jackie Wilson on the vocals released a compilation of
his late 80s/early 90s material. It contains the original "Lollypop
Man", plus "Good Thing Man" which managed to hit the charts. Some of
the production is certainly dated and sound quality could be better
at times but "Expressions" is 13 strong
Southern Soul/R & B songs by an underrated singer.
13. Willie Clayton "Full Circle"
(Malaco/EndZone)
Interesting year for Clayton. "Full Circle" was first released on
End Zone with a bonus DVD. After Clayton cut a deal with Malaco the
CD was re-released with the extra cut "I'm Going Crazy", which was
topping the chart by the end of the year.
14. Al Lindsey "Caught" (Pulsating
Music)
Michigan's Al Lindsey arrived this past year with this
impressive disc produced by Simuel Overall. The Marvin Gaye-inspired
"Candlelight (A Salute To Marvin)" was a hit with "We're Gonna Party
Tonite", "Caught (In The Wind)" strong contenders. "Hollow Point"
was also added to several key playlists.
15. Rue Davis "For Real" (Studio
Showtime)
The Marvin Gaye influence continues on this sultry collection.
"Tell Me What U Want" & "Between The Sheets" were gems.
16.
Nellie Tiger Travis "Wanna Be With You" (Da
Man)
Floyd Hamberlin produced. Travis goes the Southern Soul
route on this consistent set of bumps and ballads. "Baby Mama Drama" is the first
hit but the song that has gone on to classic status is "If I Back It
Up".
Stunning debut from an instant diva packed with sexy slowies like
"Love Therapy", "Slow & Easy" & "Lollipop" and invitations
to the dancefloor ("Do You Wanna Step With Me?", "Get Up"). The
first hit is "Mr. Do Right".
18.
T.K. Soul "Love Games" (Soulful)
T.K. is an entertainer. His live shows knock 'em out and his
records draw 'em in. "Cheating & Lying" was the lead cut. Word
on the street is that T.K. is just getting warmed up.
19.
Billy Ray Charles "Southern Soul...My Way"
(Waldoxy)
First release from Charles since the death of Jimmy Lewis. One of
his strongest overall records. Rich Cason helped out. Hot cuts are
"Southern Girls Got The Booty", "There's A Rat Loose In My House"
& "Too Pooped To Pop".
20.
Jackie
Neal "Down
In Da Club"
(Jazzy)
Tragically, Jackie Neal was murdered in 2005.
This was her last record and features the touching ode to her
family, "The Way We Roll". The set includes club beaters like the
title cut. Neal has influenced nearly every Southern Soul lady
working today.
Blues Critic's
Top
10 Retro-Soul/Soul Blues Albums Of 2005
1.
Bettye LaVette "I've Got My Own Hell To
Raise" (Anti)
Spare, dusky and traveling on a gravel road Henry's production is
sympathetic and unobtrusive. LaVette's the centerpiece rather than
studio wizardry...a potent stew of sandpaper R & B, folk, soul
& gospelish blues. LaVette was voted by readers as "Best
Female Blues Singer" of 2005.
2.
Maurice Davis
"The Right Way" (Sims)
While the first half consists of stately soul heaven (songs
written by Tim Davis, Ricky Ryan, EW James & Billy Lawson),
Maurice and band kick off their shoes for some sturdy blues shuffles
(written mostly by Maurice) on the second half. "I've Been Had",
"Trouble", I'm No Fool" all give Maurice a chance to do some cutting
with his axe.
3.
Robert Cray
"Twenty"
(Sanctuary)
More of Cray's amalgam of R & B, soul, folk, blues and even a
touch of loungey jazz ("My Last Regret"). Although mostly a laid
back, confident set there's also some upbeat numbers like the
rocking "It Doesn't Really Matter" and guitar spanking soul blues of
"That Ain't Love" & "I'm Walkin'". "Twenty" is one of the best
songs of his career!
4.
Little Milton "Think Of Me" (Telarc)
The great Little Milton Campbell died in '05 but this ranking
is not sympathy. Although it may take a a few spins to warm up to
this altered version of Milton's soul/blues, you'll find it is a
fitting curtain call. The title is now ironic. Milton won two
Blues Critic Awards this past year. "Best
Soul/Blues Album" & "Best Male Blues
Singer"
5.
Earl Gaines "The Different Feelings Of Blues & Soul" (Blue Fye)
Since his mid-90s comeback Gaines has become a bit
of a journeyman amongst Blues labels. Blue Fye suits him up with his
usual horn-laded Blues. "I've Kissed My Last Ass" & "Let's Sit And
Talk This Thing Over" are the standouts. To me Gaines is sounding
increasingly like Albert King as a vocalist
6.
Lou Pride "Keep On Believing"
(Severn)
A 13-song collection of Memphis Soul and blues expertly
produced by David Earl. Pride is a smooth singer, with a rich,
expressive croon. So like the last album you got the right singer
and producer plus all the ingredients for greatness...
7.
Ellis Hooks "Godson Of Soul"
(Evidence)
Great year for producer/songwriter/producer Jon Tiven, Not only
was he the man behind Little Milton's "Think Of Me" but he also
produced this smokin' disc by the underrated Hooks. Aggressive,
raucous Rhythm & Blues. And that voice! Hooks deserves a higher
profile.
8.
Solomon Burke
"Make Do With What You Got" (Shout! Factory 2005)
The album is more lively
than his last disc. The highlight is "Let Somebody Love Me" with a
showstopping vocal by the man. But those who fell in love with his
Fat Possom record will notice "After All These Years" & "At The
Crossroads" sound like they could fit right in on "Don't
Give Up On Me".
9.
Percy
Sledge "Shining
Through The Rain"
(Varese)
Sledge's
soaring tenor is the holy howl of Deep Soul. This is his first set
since the mighty fine 1995 comeback "Blue Night". Keeps his
tradition of Country Soul, Bluesy Soul and aching slowies. Sledge is
simply a treasure for Soul fans.
10.
Carl Weathersby "Hold On"
(Woodcutter)
Last year he nearly stole the show from
Charles Wilson with his guitar virtuosity on Wilson's Delmark
release "If Heartaches Were Nickels". Well, now Carl says "I'm Back
Again" on the opener for the TC Davis and Richard Waters-produced
"Hold On".
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