I didn’t think they made records this soulful anymore. Vocalists Otis Clay and Johnny Rawls take you back to the day when southern red clay ran through the fingers of R&B and labels like Stax, Volt and Motown seared through the airwaves. Dripping with gospel and earthy vigor, Clay and Rawls team up with a foot stomping rhythm section of Johnny McGhee/g, Richy Puga/dr, Bob renchard/b and Dan Ferguson/key as well as a Memphis Stew of a horn section in Andy Roman/ts-as, Nick Flood/bs, Mike Middleton/tp and Robert Claiborne/tb through a sweaty mix of originals and covers.
A humming B3 oozes through the blistering read of “Only You Know and I Know” while funky guitar riffs fill up the low ceilinged juke joint on “Momma Didn’t Raise No Fool” and a steamy “Voodoo Queen.” These two gents sometimes go back and forth trading vocals, or go it alone-either way, you’re gonna get some testifying that sounds like they’re giving it everything they’ve got as they preach on “Hallelujah Lord” and stir the pot on “Turn Back the Hands of Time.” They even take the classic 4 Tops hit “What Becomes of a Broken Hearted” and deliver it with calloused hands; no polish on this Chevy-you get the grit! Background vocals pop in and out of a few songs, and when they mix up with the horns, the sweat is dripping off of the forehead. You’re gonna wonder whatever happened to this kind of music. It’s a long story, my friend, so cherish this one!
Catfood Records