Also in this Issue
- The Apocalypse? Bring It On! Acid Mothers Temple sing a swan song for the land of the setting sun (Music)
- Are You There, God? It's Us, The Rockers From the 700 Club to the 400 Bar, The Glad Version struggle with their faith (Music)
- Vast Aire: Look Mom...No Hands (CD Review)
- Thelonious Monster: California Clam Chowder (CD Review)
- Brother Ali: Champion EP (CD Review)
- More articles from this issue...
More CD Review Articles
- Brad Mehldau: Anything Goes ; Frank Kimbrough: Lullabluebye (May 19, 2004)
- Lansing-Dreiden: The Incomplete Triangle (May 19, 2004)
- Glenn Branca: Lesson No. 1 (May 19, 2004)
- Ghostface: The Pretty Toney Album (May 19, 2004)
- J-Kwon: Hood Hop (May 12, 2004)
- Judas Priest: Metalogy (May 12, 2004)
- The Vestals: The Vestals (May 12, 2004)
- Felix da Housecat: Devin Dazzle and the Neon Fever (May 12, 2004)
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Willie Walker and the Butanes: Right Where I Belong
Right Where I Belong
One on One Records
The irony of the title is that Willie Walker is barely known here in his adopted hometown. It took a British label to unearth his collectible 1960s Memphis soul recordings, and another British label to release this new full-length, a return to sweet soul style. At a Cabooze show on May 8, Walker crooned for an audience that could well have been mostly family and old friends: Since relocating from Memphis in 1960, he has performed with the Royal Jubileers, the Val-Dons, Willie and the Bees, and Salt, Pepper & Spice. But it wasn't until 2002 that he cut an album of his own, a self-titled set of covers (on Haute), and it wasn't until this follow-up that he released one worthy of his powdery voice.
Right Where I Belong asks you to believe that a great Memphis soul singer has lived among us all along. Even the reissues don't prepare you for the sound. Where Walker's grit-free Sam Cooke impersonations on volumes one and two of The Goldwax Story (Ace Records) are confident and clarion, the older singer is a more vulnerable love man, with a tone that's sure but ravaged, and with hints of a lisp. Written entirely by Butanes guitarist Curtis Obeda, the 14 songs rehearse some clichés ("You picked me up when I was down, placed my feet on solid ground," etc.), and the horns don't have the greased ease of Virgil Nelson's accompanying Hammond. But Obeda's attentive arrangements are the perfect setting for a soul sage who doesn't showboat, and Walker makes every cliché feel true.
About Peter S. Scholtes
From the Archive
- The Origin of Madvillain! (Music - May 19, 2004)
- What's That in Your Shirt Pocket? The Rev. Al Green talks about his spirit and what happened when God found his stash (Music - Mar 24, 2004)
- Built to Last 'My Architect' director Nathaniel Kahn talks about finding his father in the monuments he left behind (Film - Mar 24, 2004)
- Eyedea and Abilities: E&A (CD Review - Mar 17, 2004)
- Doomsday! From the garbage house to the club with P.O.S. and his Doomtree crew (Cover Story - Mar 3, 2004)
- Ode to Joy Looking for an independent station on the FM dial where passionate DJs pick all their own songs? Guess what: It's been around for 82 years. (Arts Feature - Feb 18, 2004)
- Habib Koité and Bamada (CD Review - Feb 18, 2004)
- Mason Jennings: Use Your Voice (CD Review - Feb 11, 2004)
- More articles from the Peter S. Scholtes Archive...
