Customer Reviews

Still Wanna Be Black

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In 1974, Jimmy Lewis, until then best known as songwriter to such stars as Ray Charles and Little Richard, released his Totally Involved LP. The album didn't sky-rocket to the top of the charts - why? You may ask yourself. Well, listening to Still Wanna Be Black - which features the complete Totally Involved LP plus 11 previously unreleased tracks - is not going to answer that question. Here is a sample of hot, steaming, southern Mississippi delta soul such as you may never have heard before. Check out for example the opener, Message to the Ladies, warning all the married women out there to stay attractive for their man. Sexist? I beg to differ! Lewis takes a firm stand against the good-looks preoccupation in It Ain't What's on the Woman, telling us how he got hooked up with one 'Plain Jane'. Further on, How Long is a Heartache Supposed to Last? fills your heart with sweet melancholy. Well, you may say, that's all very well, but what about those previously unreleased tracks, are they any good? I'm telling you: some of them are even better! That is, if like me you're into that greasy '60 soul sound. Some of the songs are in mono, but it doesn't make them any less pleasurable to listen to. I Intend to Take Your Place is one example where the lyrics are so bold and the music so sweet that you feel like saying to the imaginary friend Jimmy is talking to: "Be glad to have a friend like that, even if he does steal your girlfriend." The final track, Still Wanna be Black, is not a militant fighting anthem, but it is a powerful message to black and white alike that no-one is going to stop this man from being proud to be black. Well, if it really does take a black skin to have this much soul, then I wanna be black too.

"Help me Understand You" is beautiful. There are other high points. Overall, this Jimmy Lewis collection has the skunky feel of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, good songs, good playing by the band. Take Bobby Womack down a notch, mix it with Oscar Brown Jr., and you have Jimmy Lewis. Oh, and add a sufficient dose of Ketamine, alcohol and valium.