Otis Clay & Johnny Rawls Soul Brothers Album Review

Blues in the South (UK)
December 2014
by Darren Weale

Johnny Rawls album Remembering O.V was a masterpiece of Soul and so when this collaboration came in, expectations were high. They were met from the opening of the first song, Only You Know And I Know. A few gentle organ notes lead, then in come the horns and higher tempo organ and it’s time to skip around the room (as people do) and celebrate this music.
Other highlights include Momma Didn’t Raise No Fool, a solid, pumping number, reminiscent of that great song by The Temptations, Papa Was A Rolling Stone. This album contains track after track of good-time, get up and go music, and the odd mellow moment of genius, such as Waiting For Dreams.

With some of the best vocals you’ll hear anywhere, and effervescent songs like Turn Back The Hands Of Time, this album is a Soul Sledgehammer. The cover of What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted does justice to the original while being its own take on the classic.

This is the first Clay-Rawls collaboration. Another would be very welcome.

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