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C Rich first hit the music scene with “Country Boy” about 10 years ago. It is one of the best
R&B albums of the last decade. It met with critical acclaim because of the incredible soulfulness and rich delivery from
a young man yet untainted by an ugly music industry. (Yeah, I said that!) Find the CD today and enjoy its heartfelt, often
profound, lyrics and the smoothness of C Rich’s voice.
There have been several albums since, one that wasn’t
released in the U.S. but gained fame overseas with a marvelous version of “There Goes My Baby.” No, that’s
not Charlie Wilson’s song, although undoubtedly Calvin is appreciative of Wilson recently making it a hit again!
Back to “Country Boy” – one of the many wonderful songs on that album was a remake of a Bobby Womack
classic – “I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much.” Wow. It’s actually worth the price of that CD
to hear C Rich’s version. Yeah, it’s that good. So now, a few years and good CDs later, he's back with a spankin’
new all-
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Bobby Womack songs album. And it is probably one of his best. I love you C Rich, and I love all your work,
but this one is something special!
So many things make this CD, which will be available August 25, incredible. First
of all, it was recorded with a live band. That makes it so real… the music is so rich with southern flavor (it was
recorded in Atlanta), you can taste the macaroni & cheese, ribs and well, you get the idea.
And it’s obvious
Calvin studied Womack’s style and his life at the time… he’s not trying to copy Womack. No one can do that.
He is in there adding his own elements, perhaps his own southern upbringing, to rekindle that special connection Womack always
had with his audience and music. Man oh man. Do we need that in music today!
“Bobby Womack to me is a pioneer who
is very important to the type of music that I do,” Calvin reflects. “He’s a great artist who I have great
respect for, who I built my sound around and as a result I feel I have a direct connection with hi. He sang about
Richardson not only studied Womack's musical flavor for this CD, he took on his persona and style for
the photo shoot.
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things I want to sing about. I feel like he is definitely less appreciated that he should be, although he is
a Rock ‘N Roll of Fame inductee. It was an honor to pay tribute to him… I’ve stood on Bobby’s shoulders
my whole career.”
This is a drop-the-needle anywhere CD. Yeah, I know that hardly anyone uses turntables anymore.
But hit “play” on any of the 11 tracks and it will be difficult to stop listening.
Highlights include “A
Woman’s Gotta Have It.” Oh yes she does! And the classic cut “That’s The Way I Feel About ‘Cha”
is just as sensible as it was back in the day. Calvin’s vocals are especially smooth and sexy on this one!
Remember
the track Patti LaBelle did with Womack? How about Calvin and the great Ann Nesby kicking it on that one – “Love
Has Finally Come At Last.” Other standouts include “Across 110th Street (I love the horns), “American Dream”
and “I’m Through Trying To Prove My Love To You.”
“The Soul of Bobby Womack, on Numo Records/Shanachie,
hits stores and will be available online on August 25.
Here's C Rich's There Goes My Baby
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