Soulman

AMG Review of Soulman

Steve Leggett
All Music Guide

Although he never came close to having a Top 20 pop hit, soul pioneer Solomon Burke has had a steady and pervasive influence on every subsequent soul singer one can think of, from Otis Redding to Al Green and beyond. In the late '70s Burke recorded eight tracks with cult soul producer Swamp Dogg, including the impressive "The More," and those eight tracks have been released several times under different titles and sequences, including as King of Rock 'n' Soul from Black Top in 1981, as From the Heart from Charly in 1980, as Let Your Love Flow from Shanachie in 1993, as King of Soul, again from Charly, in 1995, and in this configuration as Soulman from Fruit Tree. Truthfully, it's a rather minor set, but "The More," which shows clearly where Green learned a thing or two, is definitely worth seeking out for a listen.