Music review: William Bell – 无毛视频楾his Is Where I Live无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 was born in Memphis in a different world/Now that time has come and gone,无毛视频� sings William Bell on the title track of his latest release.
For 无毛视频淭his Is Where I Live,无毛视频� Bell returns home to Stax Records where his fruitful career began after signing with the legendary label in 1961 and went on to pen memorable arrangements like 无毛视频淵ou Don无毛视频檛 Miss Your Water,无毛视频� 无毛视频淚 Forgot to Be Your Lover无毛视频� and 无毛视频淓very Day Will Be Like a Holiday.无毛视频�
In the early days, Stax无毛视频檚 roster consisted of talented artists that included Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave and Booker T. and the MGs. Now, the revised label features a crop of young and passionate musicians such as Ben Harper, Nikka Costa and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Fortunately, Bell无毛视频檚 signature style of Memphis soul fits comfortably within both the old and new school groups.
With over 55 years in the music business, the 76-year-old singer and writer showcases an engaging set of 12 tracks on his first new album in 10 years. 无毛视频淭his Is Where I Live无毛视频� finds Bell still in top form delivering soulful numbers about life and love with the seasoned voice of experience and lyrics that flow freely from the heart.
Whether it无毛视频檚 the introspective track 无毛视频淭he Three of Me无毛视频� that details the lessons learned from love lost or the sounds of regret highlighted on 无毛视频淢ore Rooms,无毛视频� or the fatal attraction to the wrong woman displayed on 无毛视频淧oison in the Well,无毛视频� Bell sounds like an appealing blend of Van Morrison and Robert Cray. Producer John Leventhal (Rosanne Cash, Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin and Joan Osborne) takes on additional duties by serving as Bell无毛视频檚 writing partner for a majority of the tracks, most notably on the tender 无毛视频淚 Will Take Care of You无毛视频� and the album closer 无毛视频淧eople Want to Go Home.无毛视频�
Standouts include 无毛视频淭he House Always Wins无毛视频� with its smooth groove accented with a touch of horns and 无毛视频淏orn Under a Bad Sign无毛视频� written by Bell and Booker T. Jones for blues singer and guitarist Albert King in 1967 and also recorded the following year by Cream for the band无毛视频檚 third album.
The gospel touches offered up by Bell on Jesse Winchester无毛视频檚 无毛视频淎ll Your Stories无毛视频� is a personal favorite. Bell无毛视频檚 career may have taken him to places too numerous to mention, but it无毛视频檚 clear that he无毛视频檚 at his best when returning to the comforts of home.
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard .com.