Attempting to build on the success of the two critically acclaimed volumes of "Country Got Soul," Casual Records have released "Testifying" by The Country Soul Revue. Closer inspection shows that the Revue includes many of the finest white southern soul musicians around, including Dan Penn who also occupied the producer's seat.
Tony Joe White bookends the album, opening with "Who You Gonna Hoo-Doo Now" which demonstrates his vocal and guitar prowess. He also wrote "Jaguar Man" which George Soule delivers in a more classical soul voice, with excellent support from the Nashville Strings. Soule also reappears for the excellent "It's Over," supported by a fine horn section, and "I'm Only Human" using only a basic band but with great backing vocals from Cindy Walker and Billy Swann.
Although not all of the singers may be considered soul singers in the strictest sense of the term, they are certainly all soulful. Larry Jon Wilson is a classic case in point, on both "Sapelo" and "Friday Night Fight At Al's," his vocals are half spoken, half sung, in a style that bears some comparison with Johnny Cash.
Elsewhere, Bonnie Bramlett chips delivers a fine rendition of "Where's Eddie," a ballad which builds to a great horn-supported chorus. Donnie Fritts (who co-wrote the tune with the late, great Eddie Hinton) weighs in with two more of his own songs, "Adios Amigo" where Spooner Oldham's Wurlitzer is to the fore, and the (naturally) more funky "Sumpin' Funky Going On." The band get an instrumental of their own, "Super Soul Beat," which has shades of Booker T. about it, although it is led by James Hunter on harp. Producer Dan Penn also takes his share of the spotlight with two excellent songs: "Chicago Afterwhile" which has a perfect balance between guitar and horns and Penn's sweet soul voice, and a version of Merle Haggard's "Rest Of My Life" which is guaranteed to get you right there. Tony Joe White then rounds things off with the easy-going "Drifter."
Anyone with a love of southern soul music (especially the variety with a Muscle Shoals flavor) will find plenty to admire on "Testifying." It demonstrates the close links between country and soul which Ray Charles knew was there. Every track has something to recommend it. The Country Soul Revue have been doing some live dates, so catch them if you can, because on the evidence of "Testifying" it should be a great evening's entertainment.
www.casuallondon.com
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