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| by larry hoffman |
Date Added: Monday 23 June, 2014 |
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Percy Mayfield will be forever known as "the poet laureate of the blues." He was a star singer/songwriter in his own right, with his first 1950 hit, "Please Send Me Someone To Love," before becoming a major songwriter for the great Ray Charles, who plays keyboards on this record. Mayfield's unique lyrics are supported and framed by the arrangements of the iconic composer/arranger/bandleader/ trumpeter Gerald Wilson, whose orchestra does a perfect (P E R F E C T) execution of the arranger's flawless and brilliant conception. At the heart of this music, of course, is the depth of Mr. Mayfield's lyrics, and his expressive, unique vocals. Instrumentally, what sticks with me personally is the superlative guitar solo following the second verse of "My Jug And I," and the soulful keyboard solos of Mr. Charles both on organ and piano, throughout this collection. I would compare this album to Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" as showcasing a great artist's finest work buoyed by a flawless setting, both expressive in its own right, and empathetic to the music and artist at hand. This is a must-have collection, especially since the Rhino limited edition of the artist's "complete works" of Mayfield on the Tangerine and Atlantic labels has gone out-of-print, and now selling for over $100!
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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