The Best Of Lou Rawls: The Capitol Jazz & Blues Sessions

Performer: Lou Rawls
Producer: Nik Venet
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Lou Rawls (vocals); Cliff White, Herb Ellis, Rene Hall (guitar); Eddie Beal (piano); Richard "Groove" Holmes (organ); Jimmy Bond (bass instrument); Earl Palmer (drums); Pilgrim Travelers (background vocals). Though the late Lou Rawls's career was launched on the gospel circuit, he never exuded the churchy grit that marked the vocal stylings of many of his 1960s R&B contemporaries. Rather, his strong, smooth baritone lent itself perfectly to interpreting a wide variety of styles and songs. At no point in his career was this more apparent than during his near decade-long run with Capitol Records, the majority of which was spent in collaboration with famed producer David Axelrod. Twelve of the 20 tracks on THE BEST OF THE CAPITOL JAZZ & BLUES SESSIONS contain Axelrod's studio signature and illustrate just how well he and Rawls jibed. Standouts include the robust, swingin' blues of "So Hard to Laugh, So Easy to Cry," the slinky, shuffling, vibes-laden "Street Dreams," and the sultry, slow-burning "Let's Burn Down the Cornfield." Rawls is one of soul music's finest vocalists, and the work he did with Axelrod not only proves that, but shows the degree to which his success was due in large part to his originality and versatility. CAPITOL JAZZ & BLUES SESSIONS is a perfect introduction to this wonderful, pleasingly enigmatic singer.

Living Blues (p.77) - "Lou Rawls could have sung the phone book and made it sound good....We're fortunate, however, that he applied his distinctive baritone to blues and jazz material of such quality." Mojo (Publisher) (p.122) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "From the start of his storied career, Rawls loved to swing and he loved it gritty..."

Chicago-born soulster Lou Rawls was one of the most popular and versatile singers in pop music during the 1960s and '70s. His distinctive baritone, as well-suited to pop and jazz as it was to straight soul, formed a seductive blend of silk and gravel, and made a fan out of, among others, Frank Sinatra. Rawls lent his unique style to some of the biggest names in the music business, including David Axelrod and Gamble & Huff. His later career was marked by occasional acting gigs as well his work with the United Negro College Fund. When Rawls died of lung cancer in early 2006, the music world lost a genuine treasure.

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