Huey Lewis & The News - Soulsville
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CD Details
Artist: Huey Lewis & The NewsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2010-11-02
Music Label: W.O.W. Records
Soundtracks:
- Don't Fight It
- Got to Get You Off My Mind
- Free
- Respect Yourself
- Cry to Me
- Just One More Day
- Never Found a Girl
- Soulsville
- Little Sally Walker
- I Want to Do (Everything for You)
- Just the One (I've Been Looking For)
- Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You
- Never Like This Before
- Grab This Thing
Music reviews of Soulsville
Music Review: A (Mostly) SOULess KaraokeSVILLE
Rating: 3 Stars
What were Huey and the boys thinking?!? On their first album in almost a decade, they've opted to once again go the covers route, releasing a collection of Stax soul classics. Thing is, this is the band's second album of covers over their last three releases, following 1994's FOUR CHORDS & SEVERAL YEARS AGO (Their last studio album being 2001's excellent PLAN B). You would think that, with this kind of gap between releases, the group would want to offer up something that's A) a little more substantial, and B) more representative of their overall sound.
You would also expect something with a little more punch and depth. Sadly, though, that's not the case...instead, what it boils down to is the fact that SOULSVILLE is often nothing more than bad karaoke, frequently showcasing Lewis' vocal limitations. Much like Cyndi Lauper's MEMPHIS BLUES earlier this year, the arrangements and instrumentation are impecable, but the vocals just seem to be playing catch-up at the best of times, phoned in at the worst.
Things start out strong enough with the bopping "Don't Fight It." With horns ablaze and the bassline pounding, Lewis lays down a nice, relaxed lead vocal. The underlaying vibe is one of fun and joy, with Lewis and the band obviously taking the song's words of wisdom to heart: "You gotta feel it!"
"Got To Get You Off Of My Mind" is nice enough, what with those killer horns, tinkling piano and sweet backing vocals, but this is one of the prime examples of Lewis' lead vocal just getting lost in the mix. There's laid back...and then there's comatose!
"Free" is also a major misstep...the arrangement is just O.K., the backing vocals are WAY over the top, while Lewis' lead vocal....where do I begin??? Half the time he's just trying too hard (to be sexy, to be bluesy, to be down and dirty), while the rest of the time it's all just bad acting. A definite miss!
And then there's "Respect Yourself", one of my all-time favorite songs. Only slightly better than, say, Bruce Willis' version, I often find my mind wandering as I listen to the cut, wondering what a cross generational all-female cast of, oh, I don't know, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Beyonce and Katy Perry, could do with this song? O.K......but nothing special.
"Cry To Me" is a prime example of when the album DOES work....more doo-wop than soul, Lewis' voice is much more comfortable and at home here....it never seems forced or faked. Sterling backing vocals only add to the overall perfection. Definitely one of SOULSVILLE's high points!
If he had just dialed down his vocals a notch or two, Lewis would have had another winner with "Just One More Day Now." (Or, if he REALLY wanted to flip things, gone out on a limb and done it a cappella, with just a lone sax backing him!). As it is now, it just seems melodramatic and bloated.
Things rebound strongly with the silky smooth "Never Found A Girl", which just spills out of the speakers like lusty aural lava. Lewis' lead vocal is both charming and cheeky, perfectly cushioned by the spot-on backing vocals. Toss in a crisp, understated arrangement and you have a real gem!
Another one of the weaker cuts has to be the disc's title track....while a lyrical powerhouse, Lewis just seems out of place singing this ode to inner city living...it's almost like he's playing dress-up! Nice arrangement, strong backing vocals, great story...still, a miss.
Things bounce back with the energetic "Little Sally Walker"...what a joy! Lewis isn't trying to live up to the high standards of "classics" here ~ he and the boys are just enjoying themselves, having fun, singing and playing for the sheer love of...well, singing and playing! One of the disc's most infectious cuts!
The album's finest moment, however, is the doo-wop-driven "I Want To (Do Everything For You)"....THIS is where Huey Lewis & the News shine when it comes to re-visiting oldies! A perfect lead vocal, pristine harmonies, swinging, strong instrumentation and an overall swagger laced with equal parts rock, soul and street corner fun, it doesn't get better than this!
Almost as nice is "Just The One (I've Been Looking For)." Lewis' lead vocal is rich and suppple, swooping and soaring around the lyrics, while the arrangement crackles with energy. A definite winner!
The winning streak continues with the finger-poppin' "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You." This rave-up really gets things going, but it's never too much. Special mention has to made about the amazing horn charts, both here and throughout SOULSVILLE....this album really is a horn lover's dream come true!
Things get a little generic once again with the by-the-numbers take on "Never Like This Before"....it's not that it's a bad cut, it's just not...authentic. It's like one of those old paint-by-number kits...everything fills in the correct spot, but does it REALLY look (or sound) right? Not so much.
SOULSVILLE closes with "Grab This Thing", a percolating instrumental. Upon my first listen or three, I kind of thought it was a chintzy way to end things, but now I'm not so sure...I'm kind of thinking it's a nice salute to a sound and style the band obviously loves.
And I hope they keep lovin' it. I just wish that they had mixed some of the stronger tracks here in with a heavy dose of originals...it's clear Huey Lewis & the News are still pretty much at the top of their game, but their true, more varied, inner voices seem to get lost on much of SOULSVILLE. And when we just get one record every decade or so, well, that's just not cool. (As with all my reviews, I'm docking the disc half a star for not including the lyrics).
Description of Soulsville
Grammy-winners Huey Lewis and The News' Soulsville is their first album in nine years. Recorded at historic Ardent Studios in Memphis, the album features 14 classic songs from the vault of Stax Records, including ''Respect Yourself'' and ''Got To Get You Off My Mind.'' Considered to be the preeminent soul music label in America, Stax produced an astounding number of hit records throughout the 1960's & 70's. Ably paying tribute to the rich Stax legacy, Huey Lewis & The News, joined by their long time horn section, capture the energy and excitement of this important era.Soulsville re-unites Huey Lewis & The News with co-producer Jim Gaines (''Sports'',''Fore!'') who worked at the Stax studios (home to artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & The MG's, and Isaac Hayes) as a young man and was involved in many of the label's original recordings.
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