Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Wilson Pickett's 11th and final album for the Atlantic label is yet another example of why the ultimate pop-soul singer was not only a consistent hitmaker time after time, but was able to adapt and change with the times, covering tunes a lesser singer wouldn't dare try. By the occasion of this 1971 date, disco was starting to rear its head, and Pickett picked up on the trend while still retaining his native Alabama and longtime Detroit roots. After many years working with bands from the Motor City or Memphis, the singer had just collaborated with the Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff team in Philadelphia, then returned here to record at the legendary Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama, bringing string arranger Wade Marcus, background vocal arranger Dave Crawford, Detroit session guitarist nonpareil Dennis Coffey (misspelled Coffee on the credits), and the Memphis Horns. As he was not much of a songwriter in this latter period of his career, Pickett was fond of covering tunes done by British or American rockers and friends from the Southern soul scene, hoping a couple of them would stick on the charts, which they usually did. Pickett's two-part title track is half funky rock & roll, half weird synth-drizzled disco instrumental, all with an out-of-tune electric bass guitar from David Hood, though qualified with the lyric "if you don't like it, don't knock it." The slow-burning "Hot Love" showcases the most action from the potent horn section over amorous lyric references, Marcus and Crawford exploit the strings and female vocal backup on the ballad "Pledging My Love," while the anti-climactic "Woman Let Me Be Down Home" is listless lyrically and musically. The highlights include a version of "Fire & Water" originally done by Paul Rodgers (and co-composer Andy Fraser) of Free before the singer headed up Bad Company. Pickett jumps headfirst into this classic rock tune-turned-soulful song loaded up with clavinet sounds -- it would have been a kick to hear the wicked one cover Free's other big hit, "The Stealer." Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me Not to Come" from the book of Three Dog Night, is so much better in the soul sender's hands, almost campy and somewhat humorous. Stevie Wonder's minor hit, "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover," is done in Pickett's comfort zone similar to his big Philly-based hit "Engine Engine #9," OK in this instance, but not spectacular, instead more watered down. The hardest-driving numbers are "A Mighty Long Way" featuring Pickett's harmonica playing, and the straight pop-funk of "Call My Name, I'll Be There" with a somewhat cliché lyric post-Damita Jo or the Jackson Five, with Coffey's thorny guitar as a focal point. "Covering the Same Old Ground" is the downhearted blues Pickett was always capable of doing, but is marred by the syrupy strings. A high point on every track is the spot-on drumming of Roger Hawkins and keyboardist Barry Beckett, nuclei of the true Muscle Shoals sound. This is a recording yielding mixed results, and considering this is the end of his initial prime period as a top drawer R&B icon, understandable that it's not his best, even though there are many redeeming moments for his still great vocal talent.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 13,50€/month
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Rodgers Paul, Writer - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - ANDY FRASER, Writer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - George Jackson, Writer - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Raymond Moore, Writer - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - James Dotson, Writer - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer, Writer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer, Writer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Writer - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer, Writer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Willie Martin, Writer - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Willie Clarke, Writer - Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Clarence Reid, Writer - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer, Writer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
RONALD DUNBAR, Writer - Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Clyde Wilson, Writer - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Henry Cosby, Writer - Sylvia Moy, Writer - Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Stevie Wonder, Writer - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - DON ROBEY, Writer - FATS WASHINGTON, Writer - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Randy Newman, Writer - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Wayne Jackson, Horn - Jack Ashford, Percussion - Andrew Love, Horn - Wilson Pickett, Vocals, Writer, Harmonica, MainArtist - Jimmy Johnson, Engineer - Roger Hawkins, Drums - TOM DOWD, Engineer - David Hood, Bass Guitar - CLYDE OTIS, Writer - Dave Crawford, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards - BARRY BECKETT, Keyboards - Brad Shapiro, Producer, Engineer - Tippy Armstrong, Guitar - Eddie Brown, Congas - Dennis Coffey, Guitar - Wade Marcu, Arranger
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records
Albumbeschreibung
Wilson Pickett's 11th and final album for the Atlantic label is yet another example of why the ultimate pop-soul singer was not only a consistent hitmaker time after time, but was able to adapt and change with the times, covering tunes a lesser singer wouldn't dare try. By the occasion of this 1971 date, disco was starting to rear its head, and Pickett picked up on the trend while still retaining his native Alabama and longtime Detroit roots. After many years working with bands from the Motor City or Memphis, the singer had just collaborated with the Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff team in Philadelphia, then returned here to record at the legendary Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama, bringing string arranger Wade Marcus, background vocal arranger Dave Crawford, Detroit session guitarist nonpareil Dennis Coffey (misspelled Coffee on the credits), and the Memphis Horns. As he was not much of a songwriter in this latter period of his career, Pickett was fond of covering tunes done by British or American rockers and friends from the Southern soul scene, hoping a couple of them would stick on the charts, which they usually did. Pickett's two-part title track is half funky rock & roll, half weird synth-drizzled disco instrumental, all with an out-of-tune electric bass guitar from David Hood, though qualified with the lyric "if you don't like it, don't knock it." The slow-burning "Hot Love" showcases the most action from the potent horn section over amorous lyric references, Marcus and Crawford exploit the strings and female vocal backup on the ballad "Pledging My Love," while the anti-climactic "Woman Let Me Be Down Home" is listless lyrically and musically. The highlights include a version of "Fire & Water" originally done by Paul Rodgers (and co-composer Andy Fraser) of Free before the singer headed up Bad Company. Pickett jumps headfirst into this classic rock tune-turned-soulful song loaded up with clavinet sounds -- it would have been a kick to hear the wicked one cover Free's other big hit, "The Stealer." Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me Not to Come" from the book of Three Dog Night, is so much better in the soul sender's hands, almost campy and somewhat humorous. Stevie Wonder's minor hit, "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover," is done in Pickett's comfort zone similar to his big Philly-based hit "Engine Engine #9," OK in this instance, but not spectacular, instead more watered down. The hardest-driving numbers are "A Mighty Long Way" featuring Pickett's harmonica playing, and the straight pop-funk of "Call My Name, I'll Be There" with a somewhat cliché lyric post-Damita Jo or the Jackson Five, with Coffey's thorny guitar as a focal point. "Covering the Same Old Ground" is the downhearted blues Pickett was always capable of doing, but is marred by the syrupy strings. A high point on every track is the spot-on drumming of Roger Hawkins and keyboardist Barry Beckett, nuclei of the true Muscle Shoals sound. This is a recording yielding mixed results, and considering this is the end of his initial prime period as a top drawer R&B icon, understandable that it's not his best, even though there are many redeeming moments for his still great vocal talent.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:36:43
- Main artists: Wilson Pickett
- Label: Rhino Atlantic
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 1971 Atlantic Records ℗ 1971 Atlantic Records. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.