The Very Best [Blue Note]

by Lou Rawls

Overview

Lou Rawls: The Very Best is a mistitled, misleading release that presents a very minute slice of the great singer's long and varied career. The first two tracks are from Rawls' late-'60s stay with Capitol: the monologue "Southside Blues" and his stunning take on "Tobacco Road" from his legendary live album from 1966, and a funky take on Mable John's Southern soul classic "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)." The rest are from the late '80s and early '90s. That misses a whole bunch of his career; in fact, it focuses on perhaps the least interesting part of it. His voice is still in fine shape, but the music he is surrounded with is overly slick and perfunctory, especially the Billy Vera-penned tunes. Nothing for Rawls to be ashamed of but also nothing that needs to be collected and packaged as Rawls' best. There are many collections of Rawls' work that do a much better job of capturing his greatness. Seek them out instead. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	05/24/2005
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0724347740329

Tracks

1. Southside Blues/Tobacco Road
2. Your Good Thing (Is About to End)
3. You Can't Go Home No More
4. At Last
5. Room With a View
6. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
7. All Around the World
8. This Bitter Earth
9. Good Morning Blues
10. A Lover's Question
11. I Just Want to Make Love to You
12. Sweet Slumber

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lou Rawls   Primary Artist
Junior Wells   Primary Artist,Harmonica
Dianne Reeves   Primary Artist,Vocals
Phoebe Snow   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Cornell Dupree   Guest Artist,Guitar
Steve Khan   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Richard Tee   Guest Artist,Organ,Piano,Piano (Electric)
George Benson   Guest Artist,Guitar,Voices,Soloist
Earl Palmer   Drums
Dick Oatts   Flute (Alto)
Jimmy Bond   Bass
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Eluriel Tinker Barfield   Bass
Bobby Ray Watson   Sax (Alto)
Stanley Turrentine   Sax (Tenor)
Chris Parker   Drums
Joe Lovano   Flute
Jack Walrath   Trumpet
Tommy Strode   Piano
Tom Pomposello   Slide Guitar
Hank Crawford   Sax (Alto)
Herb Ellis   Guitar

Technical Credits

Donald Elfman   Liner Notes
Mack Gordon   Composer
David Porter   Composer
Peter Darmi   Engineer
Titus Turner   Composer
Maurice Ravel   Composer
Gloria Caldwell   Composer
Henri Woode   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Harry Warren   Composer
Bobby Ray Watson   Horn Arrangements
Bobby Scott   String Arrangements
Karen Thomas   Package Design
Gordon H. Jee   Creative Director
Sol Marcus   Composer
Bob Belden   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Billy Vera   Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Jimmy Rushing   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Composer
Kurt Lundvall   Mastering
Count Basie   Composer
Clyde Otis   Composer
Benny Golson   Horn Arrangements
Eddie Durham   Composer
Bennie Benjamin   Composer
Francis Wolff   Photography
John D. Loudermilk   Composer
Lou Rawls   Composer
Lowell Fulson   Composer
Lucky Millinder   Composer
Phil Wright   Arranger
Richard Tee   Horn Arrangements
Michael Cuscuna   Producer,Reissue Producer
Al Neiberg   Composer
Brook Benton   Composer
Al J. Neiburg   Composer
David Axelrod   Producer
Darrell Leonard   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Jimmy Williams   Composer