Can't think of a the last time I reviewed a track that wasn't hip-hop. Funny enough, I discovered this track thanks to just that very art, right off Common's "Be". That album is just damn good, but I'll get to that some other day. From the original to Common's "Faithful", it only makes sense you hear those similarities. Last time I did a soul post was probably the Whatnauts, and man since my instrumental dig I just love soul more and more every time. What can I say, it just gives you that ultimate feeling, appropriately-titled genre I suppose. DJ Rogers is a nice addition to my small collection. His voice is a bit more powerful than some of the singers in the Whatnauts, but they get me goin' either way.
Of course the topic is quite clear. A man needs his woman, he'll do anything he can to keep her and show his love to her. Another good thing about soul, it just sorta lifts your spirits with the heart that holds a positive message always. This one holds a very smooth groovy rhythm, nothing too corny however. Of course today if I am listening to soul you get weird looks, especially in my age, but the music is too good I don't care. With that said, the singing on this is absolutely killer, you can really feel how much the man gets lost in this music, losing all control definitely shows how deep the artist's passion runs into his music. And knowing how sincere and truthful it is just adds that much more power to every word.
Other elements to look forward to are in the very middle and end of the song. Their is a sick solo, which you will probably hear on several hip-hop records, especially Common's "Faithful". This adds that funk I was talking about, which gives you time away from the vocals, before you are sucked back in. One particular note I'd like to make is how loose the song becomes. When I say this I speak of the shattering of the song's pattern; that being the song's structure of verse and chorus. When Mr. Rogers here goes out at the end with soul-shaking cries. That quality is just so liberating when taken out of the song's structure, I just get lost in it. Damn how I love soul.
So yeah, if you think you like soul, go for it. Some might not be my taste, but that is what exploration is for. After all, why am I writing this? Ha I won't even try to answer that, I'll keep this short.
Album is It's Good To Be Alive, released in '76. I can't find the thing anywhere, but once I take a trip to the record store, maybe I'll get some success.
