Solomon Burke

Now this is how compilations should be done. This double-disc set from Rhino compiles 30 cuts ranging form 1961 ("Just out of Reach (Of My Open Arms),") to 1974 ("You and Your Baby Blues"), and spans no less than four labels: Atlantic, Bell, ABC Dunhill, and Chess. It's true that the lion's share of these tracks -- all of them singles -- are from Solomon Burke's most productive and creative period with Atlantic, but the inclusion of "Proud Mary," issued by Bell in 1969, the originals "Midnight and You," from 1974 for ABC, and the aforementioned Chess title round out the singles view of an always underappreciated artist of major import. While it's true that after Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, Burke was arguably the most original stylist of the Atlantic stable, he was also, like Redding, a fine songwriter, as displayed here in cuts like "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," "Tonight's the Night" (written with Don Covay), "Keep Looking," "Someone Is Watching" (with Eddie Floyd), and "Got to Get You off My Mind," to name a few. Also included here is Don Covay's "Soul Meeting," with Burke singing alongside Joe Tex, Arthur Conley, and Ben E. King. John Tottenham's long biographical liner essay is excellent to boot. With decent sound quality, a plethora of hits and misses, and great notes, this is the Solomon Burke compilation to beat, and it's affordable as well, making it a necessary purchase. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide