The Lost Man

AMG Review of The Lost Man

Brandon Burke
All Music Guide

In the strict sense of the word, The Lost Man was not a laxploitation film, but its soundtrack (arranged by Quincy Jones) might lead you to think otherwise. That said, there are no radio-ready soul jams here, like, say, "Freddy's Dead" or "Theme From Shaft." Instead, Jones takes the sparse, groove-oriented route heard on the J.J. Johnson scores for Cleopatra Jones and Across 110th Street. This is most evident on down-tempo numbers like the sultry "Sweet Soul Sister" (featuring Nate Turner & the Mirettes) and the opening theme. "Main Squeeze," however, is a funk bomb if ever there was one and, thankfully, its bass-driven motif runs throughout the LP. Certain cuts have made their way onto CD in one form or another, but, unfortunately, the album in its entirety has not. Recommended if you can find it.