Original Released on LP Atlantic ATCO 33276
(February 1969)
Arthur Conley's last album, to me, always has been his greatest. 'More Sweet Soul' is a coherent slab of unpolluted, unpolished hard driving, gritty Soul, partially recorded in Memphis and Muscle Shoals. Conley's rendition of the Beatles' "Ob La Di Ob La Da" kicks things off in high gear; a frenzy little beater dipped in the 'rock steady/reggae' groove emanating from Jamaica. Great opener. Things get even better with the unbelievably funky original "Shing-a-Ling", hardly another 'novelty' tune espousing the pleasures of the latest dance fad. The melodic hooks are amazing, as is the ferocious backbeat. Arthur cranks out a pure, earthy vocal here that makes this track one of the highlights of the entire LP. Equally on-the-one and deep-in-the-pocket is the swamp-funk of "One Night Is All I Need", with a sizzling bass loop and crunchy guitar chords. Deep backing vocals too, from those lovely soul-voiced females at Chip Moman's studio in Memphis. The heavy groove continues with the struttin' "I Got a Feeling", another slice of horn-heavy, fatback Southern Soul at its sweatiest, while the deliciously stompin' and well-titled "Aunt Dora's Love Soul Shack" - with its hard, pulsating tambourine - has Conley belting out another gruffy, testifyin' vocal. And wew... "Stuff You Gotta Watch" surely is the hardest socking piece of unadulterated funk that Conley ever cut. This romper is in the same league as James Brown's seminal funk sides, and features that razor sharp, slightly distorted Duane Allman-like lead guitar. Side B provides some ballads, and while "Speak Her Name" doesn't quite match Walter Jackson's peerless interpretation, Conley is in his element on the sweet, sensitive "Take a Step". Also, his singing on the low-key, down-tempo and sparsely arranged "Is That You Love", with its howling harmonica, is beautifully haunting. The uptempo cuts are in the same swinging vein that was prevalent on the flip; a rousing, rocking cover of Chris Kenner's "Something You Got", the stuttering, heavily percussive "Run On" and a spin on O.B. McClinton's country-soul floorshaker "That Can't Be My Baby" round up one brilliantly soulful album...
(in RateYourMusic)
