Released to ride "Shotgun"'s back
Soul Session is uncut, polyunsaturated
Junior Walker & the All-Stars waxed prior to Motown on
Harvey Fuqua's
Harvey label. The original line up consisted of
Jr. Walker,
Willie Woods (bass), Vic Thomas (organ), and Billy Nix (drums). Motown session players' don't play behind Jr. on these tracks like they do on his Motown recordings.
Motown rarely used
the All-Stars in the studio. And no vocals. Sorry!
Junior didn't display his vocal prowess until "Shotgun."
"Brainwasher" the groups' second
Harvey single is an upbeat groove driven by
Walker's tenor and Thomas' impressive organ,
Junior excitedly shouts "wind it up" near the end. Jock's flipped it, however, for the seductive "Cleo's Mood." "Good Rockin'" their third and final
Harvey single is aggressive, roadhouse R&B. Motown omitted their
Harvey debut "Twist Lackawanna" but stuck it on another album.
Soul Session's loaded with tight grooves composed mostly by
Walker, with some collaboration with
Willie Woods. Vic Thomas contributed "Hewbie Steps Out" and
Fuqua provides "Three Four Three," and "Decidedly." ~ Andrew Hamilton