Customer Reviews

The Soul of O.V. Wright

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ask someone to name the greatest soul singer, the one who could really testify on any subject, and you'll hear Sam Cooke's name, and those of Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, or Marvin Gaye. Less frequently, the names of James Carr and O.V. Wright pop up. The reason O.V. Wright belongs in this select circle lies in the effect he had on his audience; the feeling he brought across. O.V. hurt like no one ever hurt! He really could make you feel what it's like to be a deeply religious man too often tempted by worldly desires. Do you want to know pain? Just listen to "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" or "Eight Men, Four Women." Want to feel what it's like for a man to be deperate and just heartbeats from going over the edge? Check out "A Nickel And A Nail." And O.V. could move your feet, too, as on "Blind, Crippled and Crazy" and "I Don't Want To Sit Down." A couple of real gems here are the supremely hurtful, "He's My Son, Just The Same" and the eerily prohetic, "I'm Going Home To Live With God." (James Carr's "You've Got My Mind Messed Up" is about the only more ironic cut you'll find!) These songs were recorded by Wright for Back Beat records. O.V.'s post-Back Beat career, while uneven, has been well-documented in re-issues by Hi Records. The only other essential cut you won't find here is his classic, "That's How Strong My Love Is," which was issued by Goldwax, before the owner of Back Beat Records filed a lawsuit. This track can be found on the Ripete Records release, "Soul Patrol." O.V. Wright was truly, as he loved to boast on record, the "Ace Of Spades." If you are unfamiliar with O.V. Wright, but love soul music, you owe it to yourself to check this out. But be forewarned: the emotion here is deep, and the tension is real and almost unbearable. That's really, after all, what soul music is supposed to be all about.

I don't know why I've never herd of O.V. until recently. I honestly first picked up on him after looking through the credits of a rap album. The sample listed was O.V.'s "Motherless Child" and based on that song and the reviews here I got the album. I really didn't think `The Soul of...' would be as good as it ended up being. A lot of the music sounds similar to an Al Green song ("I've Been Searching", "I'm Going Home" etc.), but his voice has a much deeper Sam Cooke sound to it. I'll admit that I skip over a couple of the songs on the album, but the good songs are so strong it practically blows you away. I got four other soul albums at the same time as O.V. and this one surprisingly was the best of them.

If you love soul music and you've never even herd of O.V. Wright, I would highly recommend adding this album to your collection. Do Not Hesitate!

Favorite tracks: "When You Took Your Love From Me", "Born All Over", "Ace of Spades", "A Nickel and a Nail", "Drowning on Dry Land", "I've Been Searching", "Motherless Child", "I'm Going Home".

O.V.Wright is one of the best "Southern Soul" singers to ever live and he also recorded two songs that represent "Southern Soul" more than any others-1965's Top 10 "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" and 1967's Top 10 "Eight Men And Four Women". These two songs were O.V.'s only Top 10's on the R&B charts although 1970's "Ace Of Spade" was just shy peaking at #11 in the late part of 1970. I can't rate him better than Sam Cooke or Jackie Wilson or Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett or Sam Moore or Joe Tex, but what I can do is rate him equal to those singers- and that's a darn good class to be in.This is the deep "Southern Soul" sound at it's best.

I have been an O.V. Wright fan since my high school days back in the '60's.

He performed at my Senior Prom After Party, singing his hit (at the time), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry," and he brought the house down!

All of us girls were pressed up against that stage simply mesmerized by
his moving performance, while all of our prom dates stood around in the back with attitudes!

He made each girl feel as if she were the only one in the room, singing just to her!

Oh, and what a performance! Down on his knees, holding each one of our hands and giving us sugar while not missing a note or a beat!
Needless to say, we were just speechless (except for all the screaming we did)!

If you want a combination of blues, gospel and straight from the heart
singing, all delivered by an unforgettable classic soulful and gifted voice, GET THIS ONE; you won't be disappointed.

My absolute favorite track is "Motherless Child."

This track was recently used in the urban hit movie "ATL", during one of it's most important scenes. Great choice for inclusion on the soundtrack, and an inventive way to introduce young audiences to talented artists, such as O.V. Wright, from another era, whose songs are relevant to our society today.

gravelly and tormented... though all this stuff released on backbeat, much of it is the hi band in the hi studio, and you know what that sound like. A nickel and A nail, oh yes yes yes. It's fine southern soul music, you would not likely be disappointed...

O.V. was one of the greatest soul singers ever and his Goldwax recording of Thats How Strong My Love Is stands as an all time classic single (in ANY genre) . Its simply magnificent but its not on here ......
Which is why there's only 4 stars .
This compilation is dated and what we need is a new version with more tracks , in chronological order and upgraded sound with decent notes etc.Only then can the legacy of
the great man be truly served in the appropriate manner . Still , like i say , 4 stars for what's on here because it's superb stuff.

OV Wright was a great, great soul singer who should have been as popular as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Al Green, but sadly never was. His material is occasionally weird and incoherent ("Eight men, four women, Lord that's the jury of love"--why?), but that's part of what makes it great. Only the smaller measure, though; the greater part is his wonderful singing and the great Willie Mitchell arrangements backing him up.

If you are a fan of soul (or not), and do not already have anything by O.V. Wright, you should purchase this cd immediately. 'The Soul of O.V. Wright' is a great primer on the stirring music of one of America's most soulful voices. After listening to it, you will clearly notice the influence he has had on a strong majority of R&B and Soul singers since.

Buy this album!

The Soul of O. V. Wright is great listening. The kind of music that tells a story with taste, unlike the music of today.

Not many people mention O.V. Wright in the same breath as Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson or Solomon Burke but maybe they should.

I'll grant you that he hasn't got the body of work to rival Marvin, the sweetness of Sam or the falsetto of Smokey and there are times when the lyrics aren't quite up to snuff but that's trifling (not to mention unfair as anyone who sings about a "Monkeydog" is a'ight in my book) but what Wright does have is a stranglehold on the Memphis soul formula and the talent to elevate above the formulaic.

This is highly recommended to anyone who likes the aforementioned people as well as Irma Thomas, James Brown, Percy Sledge, James Carr, Mary Wells, Martha Reeves, Ben E. King, Wilson Pickett and you know...other good music ;)

Caveat Emptor - This CD doesn't contain "Gone For Good" but that's ok - you got 18 other jewels to marvel at.

P.S. - I know this is an O.V. Wright review but I can't help myself - if you like this stuff pick up the last two Solomon Burke CDs. You'll thank me later.