Lou Rawls has had a long and commercially successful career mostly singing soul, R&B, and pop music. Originally a gospel singer,
Rawls' first album as a leader features him performing soulful standards backed by
the Les McCann Trio. Few of the songs have been under-recorded through the years, but they sound fresh and lively when sung by
Rawls; highlights include "Stormy Monday," "In the Evening," and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water." Pianist
McCann gets a generous amount of solo space, and the reissue has three bonus tracks. This is still
Rawls' definitive recording in the jazz idiom, cut before he went on to more lucrative areas. ~ Scott Yanow