Don't Give Up On Me
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Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Nick Lowe, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson are not musicians who would normally be associated with Soul music, but in this case they are the scribes of new material for Solomon Burke. It is no accident that Solomon acquired these songs because they were written especially for him. It doesn't actually matter that these composers may not be experienced in the soul genre because it is Solomon Burke who is interpreting the lyrics, and he has the ability to transform a nursery rhyme into a soul classic should he choose to do so. On the whole I don't tend to get too enthusiastic about 'new' recordings, but this has been cut very much in the traditional style. It is a subtle blend of earthy Blues and Soul with just a hint of Country and Western giving a very Southern feel to the album. Where it deviates from tradition is that sixties soul tended to be very literal, whilst this is full of allegory and symbolism. It contains a psychological sophistication not normally present in a traditional soul ballad. If I have any criticism it is the minimal use of instrumentation. Guitars and drums are present, but they are heavily programmed and without a trace of a horn anywhere on the CD. "On the other side of the coin" however, the programming has been sympathetically managed. In all honesty there is not a duff track on the album, but for me the pick of the bunch are the pleading "Don't Give Up On Me", the philosophical "Other Side Of The Coin" and the rather anachronistic sounding "None Of Us Are Free". This latter track is a real throwback to the civil rights era, but given a contemporary flavour by applying the message to the discrimination in other countries. This album is clearly not beyond criticism, but in my view it is still the best soul album to have been produced over the last ten years. Track Listing Don't Give Up On Me Fast Train Diamond In Your Mind Flesh & Blood Soul Searchin' Only A Dream The Judgement Stepchild The Other Side Of The Coin None Of Us Are Free Sit This One Out |
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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