Eddie Floyd has always a more than adequate soul singer without reaching the heights of some of his ‘60s colleagues at Stax. Without the intensity of an Otis Redding or the bluesy style of Johnnie Taylor, the Alabama-born Floyd will always be remembered for his ‘66 classic “Knock On Wood” although his Stax catalog does include a number of other fine sides such as “Big Bird” (written when he was trying to get to Redding’s funeral but was delayed en route),” “Got To Make A Comeback” and “Raise Your Hand.”

Eddie’s now back on Stax with his first album in six years: “Eddie Loves You So” (produced by the Boston-based team of Michael Dinallo and Ducky Carlisle) is particularly interesting since it includes his first-ever recordings of songs he wrote that were popularized by others. Most notable:”‘Til My Back Ain’t Got No Bone” (cut by both William Bell and Esther Phillips), given a stark, almost chilling reading, the uptempo “You Don’t Know What You Mean To Me” (a Top 20 R&B hit for Sam & Dave) and “I Will Always Have Faith In You,” a mid-sized R&B ‘60s for ‘Queen Of Stax,’ Carla Thomas, given an almost Caribbean-like touch by Floyd on his latest album.

Eddie delves back into his own history for new versions of “You’re So Fine,” a 1959 hit for the Detroit-based Falcons (whose ranks also included Wilson Pickett and Joe Stubbs, later a member of The Contours) and “Since You’ve Been Gone,” a Falcons song that was never released as well as “Never Get Enough Of Your Love” (a song Eddie recorded after leaving The Falcons just prior to his arrival at Stax).

The album also includes the lilting “I Don’t Want To Be With Anybody But You,” a Floyd composition recorded in 1976 by Dorothy Moore (of “Misty Blue” fame); plus new versions of “You’re So Fine” (the Falcons ’59 hit single), but the album’s standout is a new reading of “Consider Me,” a stone ballad co-written with Booker T. Jones and originally included as a track on one of Eddie’s Stax albums (1969’s “Rare Stamps”). Eddie’s performance on the song is probably the finest on the record, showcasing his ability to get ‘deep’ vocally when needed. On many of the other cuts - in particular “Til My Back Ain’t Got No Bone” - there are hints of the late Brook Benton and indeed Eddie is closer to Benton than Redding, Pickett or Solomon Burke in his more laidback vocal approach. “Eddie Loves You So” is also a reminder that beyond his singing, Eddie Floyd is one helluva songwriter with pages of credits for songs he’s had recorded by all manner of artists.

At a time when the number of traditional soul men is diminishing year by year, it’s simply good to hear one of the original R&B artists of the ’60s back with some new music.

David Nathan
A/k/a the British Ambassador Of Soul
Secretary, The Rhythm & Blues Foundation (www.rhythmblues.org)
Owner,
www.soulmusic.com,
www.soulmusicstore.com,
www.soulmusicglobal.com