JennJoy's Full Review: Don't Give up on Me by Solomon Burke
As my second entry into Carletta and madtheory's Black History Month writeoff, I thought I'd focus on another musician who has made a great contribution to the music industry, but has largely gone unnoticed throughout his long career. Check out the list of other participants at the end of this review.
Solomon Burke, the "King of Rock & Soul," had his heyday in the 60's as one of soul music's velvet voiced crooners. By the 70's Burke began to fade from the limelight and today he is not nearly as much of a household name as similar artists, like Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett, who "made it big." In the decades since, Solomon Burke has continued to make music, played some shows, and focused on other aspects of his life - including his more than 20 children, even more grandchildren, and his ministry. In all that time, Burke has never stopped making music, but his releases (both gospel and secular) didn't receive much attention. Though I'm sure there were other things that contributed to this, it was largely because much of the material was just a rehash of work he'd already done and not too many people were interested in hearing another "best of" type album.
In 2001, Burke was finally given his due (well, a little part of it) when he was inducted in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Enter Fat Possum Records, the blues offshoot of Epitaph Records. They approached Solomon Burke and asked if he would want to record a secular album for them. That album, the July 2002 release "Don't Give Up on Me," just garnered Mr. Burke a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Clearly, the public took notice this time.
There were a few key things that went into this album that made it so worthy of recognition. First, there is Solomon's voice, which has only gotten better with time. Second, Fat Possum put out a call to the music industry for songs and some music heavyweights (all fans of Solomon) eagerly responded. And finally, the record label didn't try to update Burke's sound or make a cheesy retro soul album – they kept it simple and let Solomon do his own thing. The album was recorded live in the studio in four days with sparse instruments. The result is a blues masterpiece.
The album is a wonderful mix of subtle styles. Not just blues, but country, R&B, gospel, and more. You'll find it all here and Solomon's voice is so rich and beautiful you will shed at least a few tears while listening. Highlights include Van Morrison's first of two songs, the soul meets folk work of art "Fast Train," and the gravelly "Diamond in my Mind" written by Tom Waits to which Solomon adds a brilliant earthy quality. You'll also find other equally astounding tracks on "Don't Give Up on Me" written by Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and even the album's producer Joe Henry.
Despite the all-star songwriting credits, this album is all about Solomon Burke. The live recording style lends an organic quality to the album so rarely found in the music industry today. It's raw and real and everything that music should be. Burke just has one of those voices that can captivate any song. The unembellished production truly allows his vocals to be the focal point here. The good songwriting just lets that shine through with ease.
Fans of blues and soul will be absolutely delighted by "Don't Give Up on Me." As one of the only 60's singers still recording today, Solomon Burke is still a force to be reckoned with and he deserves every bit of attention he receives and then some. This is one of the must-have albums of 2002 and you are missing out if you don't at least give this one a chance. Thanks to Fat Possum Records for continuing to bring great blues artists into the public eye.
Track Listing:
Don't Give Up on Me
Fast Train
Diamon in Your Mind
Flesh and Blood
Soul Searchin
Only a Dream
The Judgement
Stepchild
The Other Side of the Coin
None of Us Are Free
Sit This One Out
Hailed as one of the most spectacular comebacks in years, Solomon Burke s new album, Don t Give Up On Me, is both a major artistic tour de force for t...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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