Search - Lou Rawls :: The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another

Well deserved tribute of Lou Rawls' music

Preston | nc | 06/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this CD recently in stores and went, If this album doesn't have Let Me Be Good To You, I'm passing on it! Finally, they got it right--it is on here! Every other Lou Rawls compilation failed to include this song. While most of us remembers Lou's late 70s era of hits like You'll Never Find, this album heavily focuses on his earlier hits from the '60s and early 70s like Love Is A Hurtin' Thing, Dead End Street, A Natural Man, Bring it On Home and Show Business. As much as I like Lady Love, I can't BELIEVE that it peaked at #21 R&B and #24 pop in 1977-1978! Maybe their minds were too much onto Donna Summer, the Bee Gees,Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor and others that year than on this wonderful, lush classic by Rawls. It should have been No. 1 just like You'll Never did. You'll Never Find from 1976 is still a classic to many people, but I have to give the upper hand to 1979's Let Me Good to You. Track 20 of this CD is a fine representation of Lou's classic style, his familiar raps in his songs as he invites a woman to his place for a night together. And his smooth baritone style sounds so good over the rattling percussion going through the song. See You When I Get There sounds too much like a faster bridge of Teddy Pendergrass' Come Go With Me and some of the O'Jays '70s songs--maybe Gamble and Huff had too many identical songs in the studio at the time. But Rawls' stamp on it avoids all derivative comparisons. Lou Rawls passed away in January, but his music will live on for many eras and generations to come. He was a wonderful performer, philanthropist, commercial pitchman and singer in the 5 decades that he entertained audiences."

A Much Needed Anthology

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like his friend and contemporary Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls began his musical career in gospel but was just as comfortable with R&B, pop and even jazz. His first solo hit was with Capitol Records when "Love is a Hurtin' Thing" (#13, pop; #1, R&B) in 1966. He continued to have hits through the mid-Seventies when he switched labels to Philadelphia International where he scored a No. 2 hit hit with the million-selling "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" in 1976 under the guidance of producer/songwriters Gamble & Huff.



Rawls was a multiple Grammy winner and all of his Top 40 hits are here, including R&B hits like "Groovy People" and "See You When I Get There." Also included is a funky arrangement of Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home." [Note: Rawls sang backup on Cooke's original hit version.] This 21-track collection is a thoroughly satsifying look at a performer who needs to be remembered by a wider audience. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

Spendid anthology of one of the finest singers of his genera

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 01/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As his good friend Billy Vera points out in the liner notes, Lou Rawls never ever sang silly love songs. No sir! From the very beginning Lou Rawls sang about serious, adult subjects. And you could feel the emotion and the personal experience dripping in just about every tune the man ever sang. Finally, Capitol records has seen fit to release a single disc anthology befitting of this marvelous talent. "The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another" offers the listener a compehensive compilation of practically all of Lou's single hit recordings from his debut single "Love's A Hurtin' Thing" back in 1966 right on thru to his fabulous recording of "Let Me Be Good To You" in 1979. It is a disc that really was long overdue.

"The Very Best of Lou Rawls" features 21 splendid recordings and I can honestly report that there is not a weak track among them. It was certainly terrific to hear the remastered version of Lou's classic 1967 tune "Dead End Street" as well as his memorable 1972 smash "A Natural Man". And I had forgotten just how great his 1969 hit "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" really was. In the late 60's, while still at Capitol records, Lou also covered a couple of old favorites. While his renditions of "On Broadway" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" were not huge sellers they are highly entertaining nonetheless. Both are included here. I was also extremely pleased to see that the 1967 single "Show Business" was included as well. I had not heard that outstanding tune in nearly 40 years.

"The Very Best of Lou Rawls" concludes with a half dozen tunes from his highly successful days at Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble's Philadelphia International records. His very first recording for that label would prove to be his biggest hit ever, 1976's "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". And who can ever forget "Lady Love" or "See You When I Git There" from 1977. Also included in this anthology is an incredible "live" recording of "The Shadow of Your Smile" from his 1966 "LIVE!" LP. Great stuff!

"The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another" comes with a well thought out 12 page booket that includes information on each of the tracks as well as liner notes lovingly written by the aforementioned Billy Vera. I am also pleased to report that the 24 bit remastering job is superb. We only see the likes of Lou Rawls about once per generation. Lou Rawls carried on in the tradition of great male vocalists like Billy Ecksine, Al Hibbler, Jimmy Ricks and Nat King Cole. His untimely death in January 2006 leaves a major void on the American music scene. "The Very Best of Lou Rawls" is a great way to keep his music alive. Very highly recommended!"