Joe Tex

While he was one of the leading lights of the Southern soul scene of the 1960's, Joe Tex never made a secret of his fondness for country music, and on his 1966 set The New Boss, Tex allowed his C&W influences to shine more brightly than usual, covering Roger Miller's "King Of The Road" and Bobby Bare's "Detroit City" in a style that was faithful to the sound and feel of the originals while adding a soulful edge all his own to the tunes. And while that was the end of the C&W covers on The New Boss, they also fit right in alongside the very Southern preachments of "A Woman (Can Change A Man)" and "Don't Make Your Children Pay", though "C.C. Rider", "Stop, Look and Listen" and "What In The World" are also on hand for those looking for more dance friendly fare. As usual, Tex's warm and incisive vocals cut to the emotional core of these songs in a way that's honest, human and thoroughly compelling, and the production, subtle and supportive without being intrusive, is just what the material called for. At eleven tracks, The New Boss is a bit light in the value-for-money department, but Joe Tex's performances insure that what's here is choice. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide