Lou Rawls, The Les McCann Trio - Stormy Monday

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:18
Size: 100,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:45)  1. (They Call It) Stormy Monday
(4:30)  2. God Bless the Child
(3:11)  3. See See Rider
(5:57)  4. Willow Weep for Me
(4:00)  5. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
(3:28)  6. In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)
(2:46)  7. 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do
(3:12)  8. Lost and Lookin'
(3:55)  9. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
(3:08) 10. Sweet Lover
(2:58) 11. Blues Is a Woman
(2:23) 12. A Little Les of Lou's Blues

Lou Rawls has had a long and commercially successful career mostly singing soul, R&B, and pop music. Originally a gospel singer, Rawls' first album as a leader features him performing soulful standards backed by the Les McCann Trio. Few of the songs have been under-recorded through the years, but they sound fresh and lively when sung by Rawls; highlights include "Stormy Monday," "In the Evening," and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water." Pianist McCann gets a generous amount of solo space, and the reissue has three bonus tracks. This is still Rawls' definitive recording in the jazz idiom, cut before he went on to more lucrative areas. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/stormy-monday-mw0000203592

Personnel: Lou Rawls - vocals; Les McCann - piano; Leroy Vinnegar - bass; Ron Jefferson - drums

Stormy Monday

---

Lou Rawls - Black and Blue,Tobacco Road (Digital Remastered)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:43
Size: 176,6 MB
Art: Front

(1:52)  1. Roll 'Em Pete
(3:35)  2. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
(4:22)  3. How Long, How Long Blues
(2:32)  4. Every Day, I Have The Blues
(4:42)  5. St. James Infirmary
(3:30)  6. (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue
(3:07)  7. Gloomy Sunday
(2:12)  8. Kansas City
(2:53)  9. Goin' To Chicago Blues
(3:52) 10. Trouble In Mind
(3:11) 11. World Of Trouble
(3:02) 12. Six Cold Feet Of Ground
(3:28) 13. Strange Fruit
(4:01) 14. Tobacco Road
(2:10) 15. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)
(1:57) 16. Rockin' Chair
(3:02) 17. Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time)
(3:50) 18. Old Man River
(3:30) 19. Blues For A Four String Guitar
(2:28) 20. St. Louis Blues
(3:19) 21. Georgia On My Mind
(3:20) 22. Sentimental Journey
(3:34) 23. Summertime
(3:05) 24. When It's Sleepy Time Down South

Black and Blue and Tobacco Road were Lou Rawls' third and fourth records for Capitol cut in 1962 and 1963, respectively. The powers that be at the label made the decision to send Rawls into the studio with a swinging big band under the direction of Onzy Matthews and featuring some real heavyweights like saxophonists Curtis Amy, Teddy Edwards, and Sonny Criss; organist Groove Holmes; and bassist Curtis Counce. The choice didn't pan out commercially, but artistically it is a triumph. The band is perfect, the arrangements are tight and interesting, and Rawls sounds completely in his element as he belts out jazz standards like "Summertime" and "Gloomy Sunday." Most of the records are devoted to blues standards like "Trouble in Mind," "Stormy Weather," "St. James Infirmary," and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water," and while on paper they may look like the same old songs everyone does, Rawls brings them to life and even sets a few ablaze with his rich, rough, and powerful vocals. The best moment is his sparse and exhilarating version of "Tobacco Road," a tune that has come to be associated with him, mostly due to his live version cut a couple of years later on Lou Rawls Live! This version is a touch less exciting but just as impressive, and it is a treat to hear. In fact, both albums are a treat. Rawls may just be starting his long career, but he sounds fully formed, relaxed, and at home with the big band behind him. It makes for some of the most enjoyable Lou Rawls you'll hear, and fans of Rawls and great jazz and blues vocals should rejoice that Capitol has finally made the records available on CD. ~ Tim Sendra https://www.allmusic.com/album/black-and-blue-tobacco-road-mw0000442588

Personnel:  Lou Rawls, vocal, accompanied by: Bud Brisbois, Bob Rolfe, James Dalton Smith, Freddie Hill (tp); Horace Tapscott, Lou Blackburn, Dick "Slyde" Hyde, Ron Smith (tb); Joe Maini (as) Curtis Amy (sop,ts) Clifford Solomon (ts); Clifford Scott, Jay Migliori (ts,fl) Sidney Miller (bar); Onzy Matthews (p,arr,ldr) Richard "Groove" Holmes (org) ; Gene Edwards (g) Leroy Johnson (d)

Black and Blue,Tobacco Road

---

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet - In Person (Live)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:55
Size: 105,8 MB
Art: Front

(11:44)  1. Rumplestiltskin
( 3:08)  2. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
( 4:43)  3. Save Your Love For Me
( 2:03)  4. The Scene
( 5:35)  5. Somewhere
( 9:54)  6. The Scavenger
( 5:13)  7. Sweet Emma
( 3:31)  8. Zorba

Almost everything soulful at Capitol Records in the mid 60s packed together in one sweet little place! The set's a winner in a great line of Cannonball Adderley live dates from the time produced by David Axelrod, and done with that great mix of angular, slightly electric groove the combo was virtually pioneering thanks to help from Joe Zawinul on electric piano, and Nat Adderley on cornet! Cannon also plays some great soprano sax an instrument that he was taking off beautifully with at the time and sets fire to a few great tunes with the instrument. But as if that's not enough, Lou Rawls joins in on vocals on a few cuts, and Nancy Wilson comes in on a few more and the album alternates singing with instrumentals in a really great way. Titles include two very nice extended tracks by Joe Zawinul  "Rumplestiltskin" and "The Scavenger", both of which are over 10 minutes long, and which have the group stretching out in a nice live vein and other cuts include "The Scene", "Somewhere", "Sweet Emma", and "Zorba".  © 1996-2019, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/838654/Cannonball-Adderley-with-Nancy-Wilson-Lou-Rawls:In-Person

Personnel:  Cannonball Adderley - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone; Nat Adderley - cornet; Joe Zawinul - piano; Victor Gaskin - bass; Roy McCurdy - drums; Lou Rawls - vocals (track 2); Nancy Wilson - vocals (track 3)

In Person (Live)

---

Lou Rawls - Now Is The Time: Close Company

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:47
Size: 185,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:51)  1. (Will You) Kiss Me One More Time
(4:20)  2. Let Me Show You How
(4:35)  3. Ain't That Love Baby
(5:27)  4. When The Rain Comes Down
(3:41)  5. Now Is The Time For Love
(4:21)  6. Watch Your Back
(4:19)  7. It's Too Late (To Say Goodbye)
(3:26)  8. Back To You
(4:28)  9. This Love
(3:20) 10. All Time Lover
(4:18) 11. In The Middle Of The Night
(4:47) 12. Close Company
(3:57) 13. Pretty Eyes
(3:27) 14. When We Were Young
(3:36) 15. Ready Or Not?
(4:43) 16. Forever I Do (The Wedding Song)
(4:44) 17. The Lady In My Life
(3:15) 18. Say It Again
(4:02) 19. Sunshine (When You Are Coming My Way)

This reissue from Expansion features a pair of LPs by Lou Rawls: Now Is the Time and Close Company, originally issued on Epic in 1982 and 1984. Highlights among the 19 tracks include "All Time Lover," "When We Were Young," and "Ready or Not." Casual listeners should pick up The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another on Capitol before delving into these recordings. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/album/now-is-the-time-close-company-mw0001995173

Now Is The Time: Close Company

---

Lou Rawls - When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:12
Size: 89,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:05)  1. Lady Love
(3:30)  2. I Wish It Were Yesterday
(3:56)  3. One Life To Live
(3:11)  4. Dollar Green
(3:50)  5. Trade Winds
(4:23)  6. There Will Be Love
(3:27)  7. Unforgettable
(3:16)  8. That Would Do It For Me
(4:35)  9. I Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
(3:56) 10. Not The Staying Kind

A smooth, often delightful album that kept Lou Rawls squarely in the love/romantic/mellow circle that he'd been scoring in throughout the late '70s. Gamble and Huff were really trimming the productions and keeping things laid-back and casual, while Rawls' emphatic, smoky vocals carried the day. They weren't getting huge pop hits, but were on the R&B charts steadily, and the album just missed the pop Top 40. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-you-hear-lou-youve-heard-it-all-mw0000653080

Personnel:  Lou Rawls – Vocals;  Barbara Ingram, Carla Benton, Yvette Benson – Backing vocals;  Charles Collins – Drums;  Michael "Sugarbear" Foreman – Bass;  Dennis Harris, Roland Chambers – Guitar;  Edward Green, Leon Huff – Keyboards;  Davis Cruse – Congas, bongos;  Don Renaldo – Strings, horns

When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All

---

Les McCann - On The Soul Side

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:58
Size: 144,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:09)  1. Shabalala
(8:41)  2. Early Riser
(7:16)  3. Back Rub
(8:12)  4. Vu Jade (The Feeling Of Never Having Been There Before)
(8:55)  5. New Blues
(5:15)  6. Lift Every Voice And Sing / God Bless America
(3:52)  7. Ignominy
(4:22)  8. The Children
(4:50)  9. Dippermouth
(6:22) 10. Look To Your Heart

While other Les McCann albums have emphasized R&B or soul-jazz vocals, the singer/pianist does very little singing on this CD. Only on "Look to Your Heart" can McCann's vocals be heard. Except for "God Bless America" (which contains a memorable vocal by Lou Rawls), all of the other tracks are jazz instrumentals. Joined by saxman Keith Anderson, trumpeter Jeff Elliott, bassist Abraham Laboriel, and drummer Tony St. James, a 58-year-old McCann makes jazz pianism his top priority on this album. It's a very lyrical and accessible sort of jazz pianism -- those who have spent a lot of time savoring Gene Harris' playing or getting into Joe Sample's Carmel should appreciate McCann's melodic playing on "Back Rub," "Shabalala," and other originals. Sadly, On the Soul Side is the last studio album that McCann would record as a leader before suffering a major stroke in early 1995 one that weakened his piano playing without depriving him of his ability to sing. ~Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-soul-side-mw0000115110

Personnel: Les McCann (piano, vocals); Lou Rawls (vocals); Eddie Harris, Keith Anderson (saxophone); Jeff Elliott (trumpet, flugelhorn); Abraham Laboriel (bass); Tony St. James (drums).

On The Soul Side

---

Lou Rawls - Portrait Of The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 50:22

Size: 115.3 MB

Styles: R&B, Jazz-blues vocals

Year: 1993

Art: Front

[3:08] 1. I Just Want To Make Love To You (W. Junior Wells)

[3:04] 2. A Lover's Question (W. Phoebe Snow)

[2:41] 3. Person To Person

[2:42] 4. Since I Met You Baby

[4:29] 5. I'm Still In Love With You

[3:10] 6. Snap Your Fingers

[2:45] 7. Baby What You Want Me To Do

[3:14] 8. Suffering With The Blues

[2:56] 9. Hide Nor Hair

[4:22] 10. Chains Of Love

[3:16] 11. My Babe

[3:22] 12. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

[2:34] 13. Save Your Love For Me

[5:01] 14. Saturday Night Fish Fry (W. Joe Williams)

[3:32] 15. Sweet Slumber

Alto Saxophone – Hank Crawford; Drums – Chris Parker; Electric Bass – Tinker Barfield; Electric Piano – Richard Tee; Guitar – Steve Khan; Organ – Richard Tee; Piano – Richard Tee; Trombone – Hank Crawford. This album was recorded analog and mixed to digital. Recorded April - October 1992.

A wholesome blues effort by the native Chicagoan. Though these are bona fide blues numbers, Rawls confronts each song with an elegant touch. His delivery and articulation give the songs an uptown flair. Of the 15 numbers, only four ("Baby What You Want Me to Do," "Hide Nor Hair," "My Babe," and "Saturday Night Fish Fry") have that up-tempo, boogie-woogie fever. The latter, a classic Louis Jordan jump, is the most notable. It features Lionel Hampton on vibes and Rawls shares vocal duties with Joe Williams. The other selections have that cozy café ambience. Rawls also does a duet with Phoebe Snow on the calypso-seasoned "A Lover's Question." This is an all-star cast from the penmanship of greats like Duke Ellington, Ivory Joe Hunter, and others to the creative musicianship of Hank Crawford, Houston Person, Junior Wells, and company. ~Craig Lytle

Portrait Of The Blues               

---

Various - Capitol Sings Duke Ellington

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:57

Size: 164.7 MB

Styles: Easy Listening

Year: 1994

Art: Front

[ 5:04] 1. Duke Ellington - Duke's Place

[ 2:20] 2. Nancy Wilson - Satin Doll

[ 3:49] 3. Sarah Vaughan - Solitude

[ 3:20] 4. Nat King Cole - Mood Indigo

[ 2:53] 5. June Christy - Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'

[ 4:46] 6. Annie Ross - I'm Just A Lucky So And So

[ 2:44] 7. Lou Rawls - Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)

[ 3:06] 8. Dinah Washington - I Didn't Know About You

[ 3:49] 9. Dinah Shore - I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

[ 3:08] 10. Nat King Cole - Don't Get Around Much Anymore

[ 2:54] 11. Hank Jones - In A Sentimental Mood

[ 3:04] 12. Harry James & His Orchestra - I'm Beginning To See The Light

[ 5:31] 13. Duke Ellington - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

[ 2:10] 14. Peggy Lee - Jump For Joy

[ 2:15] 15. Dinah Washington - Do Nothing 'til You Hear From Me

[ 2:43] 16. June Christy - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

[ 2:42] 17. Nat King Cole - Caravan

[ 2:29] 18. Nancy Wilson - Sophisticated Lady

[ 2:42] 19. The King Sisters - Take The A Train

[10:17] 20. Duke Ellington - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

If you like Duke Ellington's music, you will love this collection. The disc includes some very well known versions of Ellington's big hits. As expected from the title, all the versions are from the Capitol Records' vault. I miss Ella Fitzgerald. A few cuts from her would have made this album perfect. But that's a minor point as the overall collection of artists represented here is outstanding. The artists range from Duke's own orchestra to Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Lou Rawls and the King Sisters. The title track, "Mood Indigo" is performed by Nat King Cole - simply the best.

The songs have been digitally remastered and the sound is as close to perfect as modern technology can make it. The music is as clean and bright on this album as it was when it was originally recorded. Great songs; great artists; excellent sound -- so, turn up the volume and swing the house! Highly recommended! ~Penumbra

Capitol Sings Duke Ellington

---

Various - Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:17
Size: 144.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Crossover jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[2:32] 1. Stanley Turrentine - This Guy's In Love With You
[1:57] 2. Nancy Wilson - Wives And Lovers
[8:10] 3. Reuben Wilson - I Say A Little Prayer
[2:30] 4. The 3 Sounds - The Look Of Love
[6:39] 5. Stanley Turrentine - What The World Needs Now
[2:08] 6. Lou Rawls - They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)
[6:43] 7. Grant Green - I'll Never Fall In Love Again
[3:56] 8. Richard Groove Holmes - Do You Know The Way To San Jose
[5:51] 9. Stanley Turrentine - Walk On By
[5:16] 10. The Jazz Crusaders - Promises, Promises
[2:46] 11. Ernie Watts Quintet - Knowing When To Leave
[2:42] 12. Stanley Turrentine - Always Something There To Remind Me
[8:58] 13. Grant Green - Wives And Lovers
[3:02] 14. Nancy Wilson - Alfie

Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker features Blue Note interpreting Bacharach standards like "Always Something There to Remind Me," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "This Guy's in Love With You." Nancy Wilson's "Alfie," Grant Green's "Wives & Lovers," Stanley Turrentine's "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," and the Ernie Watts Quintet's "Knowing When to Leave" help make this album an interesting and entertaining combination of classic songwriting and sophisticated jazz. ~Heather Phares

Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker

---

Various Artists - Blue Note Plays Burt Bacharach

Styles:  Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:37
Size: 121,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. The Jazz Crusaders - Promises, Promises
(5:57)  2. Stanley Turrentine - Walk On By
(3:41)  3. Lou Rawls - Any Day Now
(3:57)  4. Richard "Groove" Holmes - Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
(6:46)  5. Grant Green - I'll Never Fall in Love Again
(2:01)  6. Nancy Wilson - Wives And Lovers
(2:31)  7. Three Sounds - The Look Of Love
(4:29)  8. Stanley Jordan - One Less Bell To Answer
(6:43)  9. Stanley Turrentine - What the World Needs Now Is Love
(3:44) 10. Earl Klugh - The April Fools
(3:04) 11. Nancy Wilson - Alfie
(4:23) 12. Ernie Watts - Knowing When to Leave

Unfortunately, the 2004 issue of Blue Note Plays Bacharach falls short of the similar (now deleted) compilation from 1999, Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker, also on Blue Note. Usually when a compilation disc is reissued, songs are added to the original program rather than omitted, which isn't the case in this instance. While Blue Bacharach originally had 14 tracks, this version has been whittled down to 12 tracks, nine of which are repeats. The three newly added songs, "The April Fools" by Earl Klugh, "One Less Bell to Answer" by Stanley Jordan, and "Any Day Now" by Lou Rawls, were recorded in 1976, 1986, and 1990, respectively, undermining the overall continuity of the '60s-based arrangements. Still, it's nice to have Bacharach standards played in a lively soul-jazz groove by Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Reuben Wilson, along with Nancy Wilson's outstanding vocals on "Wives and Lovers" and "Alfie." Blue Note Plays Bacharach is a passable compilation, but keep your eyes open for a used copy of the superior Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker. ~ Al Campbell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-note-plays-burt-bacharach-mw0000697637

Personnel: Nancy Jo Wilson , Lou Rawls (vocals); Cornell Dupree, Dennis Budimir, Grant Green, John Michael Gray (guitar); Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar); Ernie Watts (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Bobby Ray Watson, Frank Strozier, James Spaulding, Anthony Ortega (alto saxophone); Wilton Felder (tenor saxophone, electric bass); Eddie Harris, Plas Johnson , Rick Margitza, Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Bill Green , Howard Johnson , Richard Aplanalp, Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone); Larry McGuire, Herbert Anderson, Freddie Hill, Jack Walrath, Jerry Rusch, Blue Mitchell, Buddy Childers (trumpet); William Peterson (electric trumpet); Peter Myers, Lou Blackburn, Steve Turre, Wayne Henderson , Billy Byers, Frank Strong (trombone); Michael Wimberly, Ernie Tack (bass trombone); Richard Tee (piano, organ); Gene Harris, Clarence MacDonald, Joe Sample, Lou Levy, McCoy Tyner (piano); Richard "Groove" Holmes, Emanuel Riggins (organ); Eluriel Tinker Barfield, Jimmy Lewis (electric bass); Chris Parker , Donald Bailey , Idris Muhammad, Mickey Roker, Paul Humphrey & the Cool Aid Chemists , Roberto Marín, Stix Hooper, Kenny Dennis (drums); Ken Watson, Candido Camero (congas); Richard Landrum (bongos); Milt Holland (percussion).

VA - Blue Note Plays Burt Bacharach

---

Lou Rawls - Super Love

Size: 178,0 MB
Time: 76:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues/Jazz/R&B Vocals
Art: Front

01. How Long Blues (4:20)
02. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do (2:41)
03. Black And Blue (3:27)
04. Willow Weep For Me (5:54)
05. Stormy Weather (3:00)
06. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:56)
07. Summertime (3:31)
08. Trouble In Mind (3:50)
09. In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down (3:25)
10. St. James Infirmary (4:40)
11. Every Day I Have The Blues (2:29)
12. Gloomy Sunday (3:04)
13. See See Rider (3:08)
14. Sentimental Journey (3:17)
15. God Bless The Child (4:26)
16. Georgia On My Mind (3:17)
17. Ol' Man River (3:47)
18. Lost And Lookin' (3:07)
19. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (3:04)
20. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (3:52)
21. Tobacco Road (3:59)

Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American recording artist, voice actor, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his singing ability: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game". Rawls released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records, and had numerous charting singles, most notably his song "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". He worked as a television, motion picture, and voice actor. He was also a three-time Grammy-winner, all for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Super Love

---

Lou Rawls - The Very Best Of Lou Rawls

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:18
Size: 170.1 MB
Styles: Urban, R&B, Smooth soul
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Dead End Street
[2:13] 2. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
[2:17] 3. Trouble Down Here Below
[4:24] 4. Your Good Thing (Is About To End)
[7:25] 5. World Of Trouble
[2:59] 6. I Can't Make It Alone
[2:33] 7. You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches
[2:58] 8. You've Made Me So Very Happy
[2:24] 9. On Broadway
[4:23] 10. Righteous Woman I Wanna Little Girl
[2:21] 11. Breaking My Back (Instead Of Using My Mind)
[4:43] 12. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[2:57] 13. Bring It Home
[3:28] 14. Show Business
[3:35] 15. Down Here On The Ground
[3:58] 16. Lady Love
[4:25] 17. See You When I Git There
[3:17] 18. Groovy People
[5:25] 19. Let Me Be Good To You
[4:24] 20. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

Since the passing of Lou Rawls in early 2006, Capitol has been working overtime to document the singer's career. First was a collection of early jazz and blues recordings, then a two-fer containing two of Rawls' best mid-'60s recordings, and now something that Rawls fans have never had before: a best-of collection that contains the man's hits from the '60s with Capitol and his '70s hits with Philadelphia International. It isn't the definitive collection that listeners deserve, as it skips over his early jazz and blues sides, his late-'60s big-band sessions with Benny Carter, and his '80s recordings on Blue Note -- but it is a start. All the big hits are here, like "Dead End Street," "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing," "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)," and his biggest, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." Also included is a wide range of tracks that show just how impressive Rawls' gift truly was. Whether he is singing funky gospel ("Trouble Here Below"), smooth soul with a message ("Natural Man"), uptown soul ("You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches"), disco ("Lady Love"), or lush pop ("Down Here on the Ground"), he sounds definitive and natural, like he could have sung just about anything and made it all his. The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another is a very fine introduction to the casual fan and a reminder to everyone that Lou Rawls was a true vocal giant. ~Tim Sendra

The Very Best Of Lou Rawls

---

Lou Rawls - Rawls Sings Sinatra

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 33:37

Size: 77.0 MB

Label: Paradise Music Works

Styles: Vocal jazz, Easy Listening

Year: 2003

Art: Front

[3:04] 1. Come Fly With Me

[2:54] 2. Nice 'n' Easy

[3:52] 3. All The Way

[3:29] 4. Learnin' The Blues

[3:35] 5. That's Life

[4:11] 6. The Lady Is A Tramp

[2:43] 7. Summer Wind

[3:22] 8. The Second Time Around

[3:21] 9. My Kind Of Town Chicago

[3:01] 10. They Can't Take That Away From Me

Tackling the Sinatra songbook seems like a dicey proposition. Who wants to be compared to one of the greatest singers of all time? Most likely you are going to come up short in comparison. Lou Rawls decided to take on the challenge on his 2003 release Rawls Sings Sinatra, which features Rawls wrapping his distinctive baritone around 12 songs associated with Sinatra. It is produced very cleanly by Billy Vera, arranged swingingly by Benny Golson, and split between up-tempo songs like "Come Fly With Me," "That's Life," and "My Kind of Town/Chicago" and ballads like "All the Way," "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road"), and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning." Vera and Rawls make a few interesting choices song-wise, picking a few lesser-known songs like "Summer Wind," "The Second Time Around," and "Learnin' the Blues." All the pieces are in place to make this a pleasant exercise in Sinatra-worshipping nostalgia. The only problem is the less-than-perfect state of Rawls' vocals. He definitely shows his age as he occasionally scrapes his way through the trickier passages and growls his way through the swinging tunes. If you can handle him not sounding exactly as he did in his prime, Rawls actually sounds pretty good on most of the disc. In fact on some of the songs, and especially on the ballads like "All the Way" and "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road"), his newfound vocal unsteadiness adds a new shade of vulnerability that is quite interesting. Fans of Rawls who want to live in the past should avoid this disc for certain, but those who are willing to hear the real Rawls of 2003 will find themselves in possession of a pleasant and swinging disc. (Oh yeah, the Sinatra comparison. Does it stack up well against Sinatra in his prime? Not even close. How about against Sinatra when he was 68 as Rawls is in 2003? Well, Sinatra was still better, but not by much.)

Rawls Sings Sinatra               

---