Search - Nathaniel Mayer :: Why Don't You Give It to Me

Nathaniel Mayer
Why Don't You Give It to Me
Genres: Pop, R&B

Track Listings (9) - Disc #1
1. Why Don't You Give It To Me?
2. White Dress
3. I'm a Lonely Man
4. Please Don't Drop the Bomb
5. Everywhere I Go
6. What Would You do?
7. Doin' It
8. Why Dontcha Show Me
9. Dancing Mood

CD Details

All Artists: Nathaniel Mayer
Title: Why Don't You Give It to Me
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Alive Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 8/21/2007
Genres: Pop, R&B
Style: Soul
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 095081007925

Synopsis

Album Description

40 years on from his chart-topping hit "Village of Love" and Fortune Records classics "I Had a Dream" and "I Want Love and Affection (Not the House of Correction)", Detroit soul legend NATHANIEL MAYER's new album "Why Don't You Give It to Me?" sounds like the record he should have made in 1970. Following his critically acclaimed comeback album "I Just Want To Be Held" (Fat Possum 2004), Nathaniel accepted an invitation to tour as the opening act for the Black Keys, with a backing band comprised of guitarist Matthew Smith (Outrageous Cherry), bassist Troy Gregory (Dirtbombs), and drummer Dave Shettler (SSM). One evening in New York, on the Black Keys' night off, Nathaniel headlined at the Knitting Factory with guitarist Dan Auerbach joining the group on stage for a wild, memorable performance. After the gig, they all agreed that this lineup needed to play on Nate's next album. Months later, everyone convened in Detroit for several days of relentless non-stop jamming, writing, singing, grooving and howling which were captured on 8-track reel-to-reel tape. Production was the team effort of Matthew Smith, Dan Auerbach, and Dave Shettler, all simultaneously turning knobs, grabbing faders, and switching various boxes on and off. The result is soul music with a psychedelic rock n' roll heart that has as much in common with the Stooges and MC5 as it does with Nathaniel's R&B contemporaries like Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, and the Miracles. "Why Don't You Give It to Me?" ought to flip a few wigs, new and old. It's somehow in the same bag as the Stooges' "Raw Power", early Funkadelic, and the psychedelic Temptations. It is also the sound of the streets of modern-day Detroit, the sound of good vibrations amid the rampant chaos.

CD Reviews

All I can say is go order this now!

Lynda Lippin | Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands | 05/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My husband and I are long time lovers of the blues, especially the raw Juke Joint sounds of what we call the "Fat Possum" gang -- RL Burnside and sons, Nathaniel Mayer, Asie Payton, Paul "Wine" Jones, and Fred McDowell. Always interesting and never safe, these artists define their own musical genres and pull from many different traditions.

Nathaniel Mayer has had an interesting and long career for someone who many folks have just heard of. He recorded for the grittier than Motown Fortune label in the 1960s, singing "Village of Love" (one of his only hits) at the early age of 18. Good raw funky soul music was his calling card.

Since the 60s Mayer has done some studio and back up work, but has built his career on his outrageous raunchy live act. He was rediscovered by Fat Possum in 2003/2004 which saw the release of his highly acclaimed album, I Just Want To Be Held. This was my first introduction to Mayer's howling vocals, raw steaming riffs, and over the top sexuality in such songs as "Stick It or Lick It" and "I Wanna Dance with You".

Now with the Alive Records label, this son of Detroit has recorded what is easily the best album of his career and very possibly one of the best rock/blues/soul/psychedelic albums I've ever heard. Why Don't You Give It To Me? was born after the Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, and Mayer performed together at NYC's Knitting Factory and decided that they should take their scintillating steaming cauldron of music into the recording studio. Recorded in Mayer's hometown of Detroit and produced by Matthew Smith, Dan Auerbach, and Dave Shettler this album is so great, so interesting, and so difficult to categorize.

Mayer opens with the pure funk and his trademark howls in the title song, and then immediately moves the listener out of complacency and into the intense rockabilly inspired "White Dress". He pays homage to his blues roots with the classic sound of "Please Don't Drop the Bomb" and then surprises yet again with the opening jazzy riffs of "Doin' It". The reggae inspired island beat of "Dancing Move" is reminiscent of UB40. It's as though Hendrix, the Stooges, James Brown, RL Burnside, the Stray Cats, and UB40 all came together in a "best of" blend. This is an eclectic mix that works in the hands of this masterful vocalist.

All I can say is go order this now!"

Eclectic Mayer

Mark E. Tippery | Arlington Heights, IL United States | 12/31/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Why Don't You Give It to Me" is an interesting mix of musical styles and genres. I picked this up because I just loved Nathaniel's CD on Fat Possum Records titled "I Just Want to Be Held". This time around the songs don't seem as accessible or catchy, primarily because of the influence of the other players on the recording, most notably Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Mayer's R&B and Soul influences seem a bit lost in the heavier musical company. There are moments of brightness and intrigue to be sure, but Nathaniels voice seems less prevalent than on the "I Just Want to Be Held" recording. Being a big Black Keys fan helps as you can also catch the influences of Auerbach's guitar excellence in this recording. Worth picking up if you are a collector of the unique and unususal."