I’d never heard Albert White until this CD, and I’m regretful I haven’t. I grew up in the sixties and this disc brings back a lot of what was just getting to be popular then: soul, blues, and a blend of the two. And that’s exactly what Soul of the Blues is.
The first track, “Hold On To Your Hiney,” is a rocking soul number reminiscent of James Brown, Otis Redding, and a slew of other big name soul musicians. “A Rose For My Lady,” the second cut is a nice and easy soul blues, about a guy who’s head over heels in love and isn’t ashamed to let everybody know it. “Bring It On Home To Me” moves us into an up-tempo toe-tapper, which clicks just right between cut two and four.
Several tracks from this disc, including the title track, Track 4, could have been lifted directly from a Robert Cray disc. The voice and the overall sound could easily pass for him, as could the tight group surrounding White. Cray is known to be a stickler for his backup musicians, and this backup band would satisfy him. That was when I checked the liner notes. Well, duh! Of course they’re great. Steve Cropper and Elvin Bishop backing you up? Well … Talk about gilding the lily. This disc drips talent and the three play as if they’d been doing it for twenty years.
Although the voice is different, track 5, “Stranded in St Louis,” could have been lifted directly from a Texas Alexander disc. But that’s what blues is all about, isn’t it? I hear a lick you play, I like it, I “borrow” it. I play a lick you like, likewise, you incorporate it into your next number. Track 6, “Don’t Make Your Move Too Soon,” and we’re right back into the Robert Cray groove.
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