Customer Reviews

Better to Have It

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Bobby Purify -the name alone already should announce what's possible- returning from oblivion and putting together his first album in many years.
I understand, he's gone through some very hard times which, unfortunately, is not an isolated case. He's not the only great musician who's lack of recognition seems to be inversely proportional to his tremendous talent, yet this album -if it receives the proper attention it deserves- should change all that.
Exquisitely produced by Dan Penn and backed by some of Muscle Shoals greats like Spooner Oldham and Jimmie Johnson, this album is an absolute gem of Southern Soul. When Jerry Wexler, in the liner notes, mentions Purify's name next to Arthur Alexander or Otis Redding, I don't believe he's exagerating.
Bobby Purify, after almost forty years of singing, still has one of the most beautiful Soul voices I've ever heard. His tone, phrasing and capacity to bring out the heart out of every word is stunning, this is a master lesson on how to bare one's deepest feelings without ever losing sight of the song nor indulging in vocal acrobatic. Revealing everything without ever showing off.
It's hard not to mention every song included here, each a gorgeous example of great singing, thoughtful arrangements and dead-on atmosphere, but if pushed to it I've got to say that the ballads are the biggest gift. "Things Happen," "Forever Changed," "Testimony Of A Fool," and "Hate To See You Go" can be enough to justify a singer's career, let alone be found in one album.
The rest of the album does not stay behind and, again, the production and arrangements -the horns, guitar and piano are wonderful throughout- offer Purify the perfect backdrop to let it all come out and touch your heart like the sweetest breeze, or a longed-for blessing.

The history of "Bobby Purify" is surprisingly complicated. The original singer to use this name was half of the duo James & Bobby Purify. Confusingly, the two were not brothers, but cousins, and Bobby Purify was actually named Robert Lee Dickey. The duo waxed several soul hits, including Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's 1966 Muscle Shoals' classic, "I'm Your Puppet." A half-decade later, Bobby split the duo, and after a short time as a solo artist, James adopted a new "Bobby Purify," in the voice and person of Ben Moore. It's this latter Bobby Purify who's returned to the studio to wax this CD.

Moore had a career under his own name before teaming up as a Purify, and recorded as both Bobby Purify and Ben Moore over the subsequent years. As a Purify he re-recorded the duo's signature hit and re-charted in the U.K. Under his given name he recorded several albums, including a grammy nominated gospel disc. He toured into the late '90s, retired for a few years after going blind in 1998, and only recently returned to active duty. That complicated path has now brought him back to his native '60s soul sound, backed by a who's who of R&B legends, including Penn (who co-wrote a dozen new songs for the album), Oldham, David Hood and Jimmie Johnson. The result is a stunningly authentic '60s soul album, recorded in Nashville in the 21st century!

Moore's voice shows light signs of aging, but his soulfulness is unaffected, and the production, arrangements (particularly the laid-back punctuations of the horn section) and analog recordings create the sort of warmth that's completely missing from today's R&B. Penn's songs are often outstanding, with the emotional social ballad "Nobody's Home" providing the album's centerpiece. With such perfect backing on purpose-written material, it's clear that Moore is a singer who deserves to be mentioned with the likes of Solomon Burke and Tyrone Davis, and that his continuing vitality marks him as a whole lot more than a legacy-styled oldies act. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

I won't even attempt to write as eloquently as the first 6 reviewers, I can't do it. But if this recording doesn't move you, then you're probaly dead and don't know it yet; or perhaps you simply have a "hole in your soul." I can't stop playing this CD. If you're looking for the kind of music that will put goose bumps and your flesh, make the hairs on your neck tingle, and bring a tear to your eye, then search no more, this is it. If this CD doesn't get you "where you live," then you haven't lived enough life i.e., haven't known personal affliction, or devastating loss, becoming one with a woman, or rebounding from a bad situation to have the last laugh. In addition, folks who may fancy themselves songwriters can get a master class from the compositions of Dan Penn on this CD. I could go on and on, but this recording is a must for soul music lovers.

I recently had the chance to listen to the new Bobby Purify album and was compelled to buy 4 copies for gifts! Listening to the still moving and powerful voice of such a soul legend was like stepping back into a time when real music truly mattered. The songs on the album are a terrific blend of traditional soul and blues influenced rock...written by some of the greatest song writers of our time, Dan Penn, Bucky Lindsey and others. The production is old school with real musicians and great background vocals. I would recommend this to any music lover, and especially to anyone who loves good old fashioned soul music. Buy it, play it, and enjoy!

Legendary Atlantic Records man Jerry Wexler's comparison of Bobby Purify to Otis Redding may be stretching it a bit. Redding was a flat out star, which is something that separated him from 99% of other artists. Purify is just a great singer, which also separates him from others, especially those wrongly labeled as Soul artists these days.

This album also can't be compared with Southern Soul albums of the '60s, even though it features players who supported such heavyweights as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Redding himself. The difference is not in the musicians' playing. See, this isn't a 25-year-old Otis running in place screaming, "Gotta, gotta, gotta". This is an elder statesman. Blind, broke, and without an ounce of bitterness. So this isn't as exciting as, say a Stax recording, but that's not a bad thing. Because not only has the Soul artist, his producers, songwriters, and musicians aged, so has the market for this type of music.

This album succeeds with a great and relaxed feel and songs that are interesting and memorable. Producer Dan Penn's typically entertaining and thoughtful lyrics and Carson Whitsett's unique and delightful melodies are a perfect template for Purify's warm and assuring voice.

Whitsett's trademark soulful and ever so tasteful B-3 organ adds to the atmosphere, as does his beautiful string arrangements. The album has enough variations in style to keep it interesting, but without losing any focus. There's the Whitsett funk of "Somebody's Gotta Do It" (which features a guest spot by Spooner Oldham playing a "Mustang Sally" like organ and Muscle Shoals vet Jimmie Johnson's classic rhythmic guitar chops), the great down home tale of "The Pond" (featuring somehow simultaneously beautiful and funky work from Whitsett on piano), and potential cross over Pop classics like "Forever Changed", a song that Penn, Whitsett, and Hoy Lindsey wrote with Solomon Burke (who scored big with their "Don't Give Up On Me") in mind.

Add to all this the contributions of greats Reggie Young on guitar (Pickett, Elvis Presley, Travis Tritt) and trumpeter Wayne Jackson (Otis, Al Green), and 30 second downloads just won't do. It's truly Better to Have It.

Look, Jerry Wexler and Dan Penn generally know what they're talking about, but this album is boring and lame. "Purify"-- not even the same person who sang "I'm Your Puppet" but an impostor named Ben Moore -- has so much less emotional commitment than the singers Wexler compares him to like James Carr or Otis. Compared to their passion, this guy might as well be sleepwalking through these vocals. He even sings flat at some points on this album. I'm sure he's a great guy and Wex and Penn wanted to help him out, but don't buy this expecting a neo-soul gem like Solomon Burke or Al Green's comeback discs. I think it's "better not to have it".