Customer Reviews

Soul of a Man

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read a review about this new CD in BLUES REVIEW and promptly picked it up and placed it in my car stereo. A couple of blocks from the local CD store, I pulled over to the curb and sat there mesmerized, I kid you not! Its all here, the simmering heat, growling Newcastle swagger, familiar blues hollar of ERIC BURDON. I'll admit at having lost touch with this artist over the past decades, viewing him as a former great artist who had descended into the "oldies circuit". Heck, I even decided not to check him out when he played a local venue. However, this CD is a return to his rightful place as a blues singer second to none. It seeps with New Orleans soul. Some of the cuts are reminiscent of the Neville Brothers, others of '70s era War. Under it all there is that primitive Chicago blues feel. Gone are the shredder guitars and synth effects which marred other recent performances. Here we have the sound of telecasters, horns, hammond organ, real percussion and sassy background vocals. Standout tracks are Wolf's 44, Muddy's 40 Days and 40 Nights, the title track and the hilariously rude second number (about a big %@#$). Put this album alongside the best he has ever recorded. Come to thing of it, the anumals version of Hooker's "I'm Mad Again" would have comfortably fit on this release. That's how good it is!! This album makes you realize that, out of all so-called brit invasion singers, Eric Burdon was the "MAN WITH A SOUL". INDEED!!! BUY THIS SUCKER NOW!!

Listening to this album, you can't help but wonder what kind of magic potion Eric took to rejuvenate himself. This is easily Eric's best studio album in many years. Tony Braunagel's production is superb and the musicians really cook. This recording has so many highlights that it's hard just to pick out a few. Starting out with Soul of a Man, you are immediately pulled into the mix with conga and some snaky slide guitar as Eric hearkens back to his blues roots. Kingsize Jones uses a combination of funky guitar, sax, and double entendres to hit us where it counts - this should be a great one for concerts. Red Cross Store features a primitive sounding guitar and rocking drums while Como Se Llama Mama returns to the Latin influence of Eric's Spill the Wine days. GTO begins with Eric's vocals joined later by some very sophisticated piano blues. Eric breathes life into the old Blues chestnut Forty Four with a version accompanied by some hot harmonica. Eric really hits the mark with Slow Moving Train and I'm telling you that, as Mark Anthony says in Julius Caesar, "if you have tears, prepare to shed them now." This is one of Eric's most moving vocals, ever. Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down combines the earthy sounds of brushes, acoustic guitar, and organ while I Don't Mind is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing. The album ends with a bang with Eric and company rocking out to a boogie number entitled Circuit Rider that's very much in the spirit of John Lee Hooker. Eric Burdon has obviously found his muse once again and this album is the result. If you have ever loved the music of Eric Burdon, do yourself a favor and buy Soul of a Man. In my honest opinion, this is the Blues album of the year!

Absolutely perfect. If you have ever heard an Eric Burdon song and thought-this is great-well this is better than that. The "voice" is a bit jagged but that's why we like it. This is his soul. Buy this now.

The average rock fan probably thinks of the Animals as one of the British invasion groups of the 60's. Mixed in with their pop sounds, Eric Burdon and the Animals cut some excellent raw blues numbers like Gin House Blues and Dimples. Eric Burdon returns to that gritty sound on "Soul of a Man". The tracks represent some of the best blues I have heard in years. The combination of Eric's unique craggy voice and the blistering attack of his latest band makes this a disc I recommend to all rock and blues fans. Folks, it don't get no better than this...

Is there only 5 stars to give? This is an outstanding piece of work. The production is great, the band is great, more fine guitar work than Eric's had on his last 15 albums combined. The title cut is drop dead fantastic, I can't stop playing or singing it. This is the kind of album he's been trying to make since 1964. He did it. It's bluesy, it's political, it's social, it's sexy and all delivered by an all star band with Eric's potent voice and unique inflections. I was waiting for a pizza to get delivered when I heard House of the Rising Sun on my transistor radio in 1964. I've been a fan ever since. I've seen him twice live and have everything he's ever recorded. I have the pedigree to proclaim this a landmark recording. Some of the other reviewers got most of it right, some had thumb tacks in their oatmeal before they heard the CD. You can find fault with a few tracks if you want but there's 14 cuts here; that's almost 2 discs worth of music. Break it down to ten of your favorites and call the rest "Bonus Tracks" if that makes you feel better. I take off my hat to Mr. Burdon. Age ain't nothing but a number.

Good songs, good band, and great vocals. The best album of his solo career, and right up there with the best of the Animal's recording's.

I am only familiar with Eric Burdon thru The Animals and his connection to Jimi Hendrix;but this the Best Blues-Rock CD I have heard in years!! Sounds like the Stones crossed with Howling Wolf and Muddy Waters! Five Stars!!!

If you are an Eric Burdon fan from the 60's you might not like this at first however you will soon discover that the more you hear each song the more additive they become. My rating of 4 stars may turn into 5 stars in the future as each time you hear the cd the better it gets. The majority of those fans who have rediscovered Eric over the last few years will all rate this high,even if not at first, because they all know that his voice is like no other and ADDICTIVE.
THIS IS THE CD he wanted to do for a long time with a southern type blues style that sounds like it is from the DEPRESSION ERA in the U.S.
Unfortunately not all the songs really showcase his voice to it's full extent. His voice has really matured but what some songs are missing is that little extra that is in his earlier work. You won't find the bass sounds in the music that matched up with his voice like no other singer before or since. Each song however seems to appeal to different people when you read his website from his diehard fans of which I am one of them.
The song that sparkle's and really shows off his fabulous talent is "Feeling Blue". Feeling Blue also brings back some of the feeling of the 60's in the words that still, and ever more so, apply today. The songs before Feeling Blue(40 days..) and after(Never Give Up the Blues) seem to give this cd a spark but the other songs are so blusey that they bring the cd down. There is even a song on the cd "Don't let nobody drag your spirit down" which is reflected in some of the songs by their very nature.
This is still a great cd. You however may have to be in the mood to listen to it. It is a must have. If you haven't heard Eric Burdon in a long time my advice is to start with "My Secret Life"-listen to that 3 times and you will be playing it constantly for the next 6 months to a year everyday. Also get the import cd Athens Traffic which was recorded live plus a bonus song Mercy's Hand and has tremendous live energy that is unbelievable. Also start listening to Mercy's Hand over and over again. Unfortunately the dvd that comes with the import cd only plays on the computer as it is a european dvd.

Eric Burdon continues to reinvent himself. Just when you think all he had left was singing the oldies, he has again become relevent. There are few live performers that can match Eric's stage presence, however for the most part his albums especially anything in the last twenty years have not matched his talent. Soul of Man along with the previously released My secret Life, clearly show Eric still has a lot to contribute.

The More you listen, the more you become hooked. Soul of man delivers on all levels. It well produced, great songs, great band & most importantly great performance from Eric. Enjoy this album, because there are few performers if any that can deliver the way Eric does. Hopefully he may get some credit.

I have had this disc for a while now but it still amazes me how good it is. It starts with five fairly uptempo tracks and then seems to slip into a groove from 6 ( feeling Blue ). Great stuff. Great musicians, great songs, great voice.
Have a listen... you'll be shaking your head and smiling in no time.