Like A Fire - Solomon Burke Album Review

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Album Review

With a title like 'Like A Fire' you expect some sparks. This couldn't be further from it. Perhaps it's a wind up. The veteran Blues-Soul shouter is going to disappoint many of his early fans with this release. His stunning set at this year's Glastonbury showed the old master still has the tubes, but on first listen you begin to think Like A Fire is a sign he's being put out to graze. Not so. After many rotations, it's quite a neat and often understated package. Boasting a stellar line-up of writing contributors and musicians including Eric Clapton, Norah Jones' fave writer Jesse Harris, Keb' Mo' and somewhere in there, Dean Park and Toto's David Paich, it's hard to see anybody else other than Burke pulling of this type of album.

We're all accustomed, especially older fans, to Burke's rasping vocals on songs such as Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, written and recorded in 1964; covered by The Rolling Stones, The Blues Brothers and Wilson Pickett. Despite his popularity, he only managed one UK single entry with Junkie XL's Catch Up To My Step in 2003. Since 1962 he's never stopped recording, (he needed to with 21 children and 88 grandchildren!) with 2006's Nashville being one of his better latter releases. Liker A Fire is a very pleasant album, no doubt, showing he's not prepared to stand still. Ok, the power and fire is absent, nevertheless its still a very, very enjoyable album. Like genre stablemate (Reverend) Al Green, Burke is experiencing a bit of a renaissance so he keeps the faith in getting others (like 2002's Don't Give Up On Me) in recruiting stellar writers / musicians Eric Clapton who gives two songs - the gorgeous acoustic treated title track and country inflected Thank You, co-written with Slow Hand. Ben Harper's low hung groove on A Minute To Rest...finds 'King' Solomon enjoying the soulful template and steel guitar licks, whereas the country tinged ballad We Don't Need It finds him in a much huskier mode, perfectly fused with the steady ballad, once again with splashes of steel guitar giving the track just enough texture.

Steven Jordan's ain't That Something is thee jewel in the King's crown.

There's an old school Staple Singers soul-gospel thing going on. Burke gently shuffles off (literally - check the drum brushes!) on the Jacobs-Crane-Brewster 1950's loungy standard If I Give My Heart To You, which doesn't quite make any sense with its inclusion - a peculiar choice indeed.

From all the studio performances, Burke has delivered a genuinely warm, relaxed and sincere collection of mid-tempo songs, which might just bring on board a new generation of fans.

File under: Power to his 68, or is it 72 year old elbow?

Elly Roberts