Soul Survivor: The Best of Mighty Sam McClain
Artist: Mighty Sam McClain
URL: http://www.mightysam.com
Label: Audioquest
Length: 13 songs / 68:46
The key is in the title: Soul Survivor. Back in the sixties
Sam McClain left a troubled past to began a career singing soul music.
After performing with the Dothan Sextet, he scored solo hits with songs
like an R&B cover of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams," and toured with
Solomon Burke and Gladys Knight at venues like Harlem's Apollo Theater.
Lamentably, his grand rise to fame was cut too short--the ever-fickle
music business abandoned McClain as fast as it had scooped him up.
The seventies found McClain mopping floors for a greasy restaurant
and eating out of garbage cans. It was a familiar but divine story--when
McClain hit bottom, God was there to set him back on his feet. With restored
faith and new enthusiasm in the eighties, McClain caught a break in New
Orleans from Carlo Ditta and Art Neville, and before long he was in Japan
on a blues and soul music revival tour. But the best was yet to come. After
relocating to Boston, McClain quit drinking, remarried for the last time,
and released a series of four critically acclaimed albums on AudioQuest
Music. Including cuts from all four of these inspiring albums, Soul
Survivor tells the exciting tale of a soul legend's return to stature.
As the song says, "There's a new man in town, and he's not foolin' around."
Mighty Sam McClain has seen more hurt and disappointment than a
convention hall of earnest AA members. Yet as a recording artist he is
living to give God glory through his gifted talents. His faith and life
experiences converge seamlessly in songs which run an impressive emotionally-charged
range. Whether you are looking for expressions of a broken heart or a healed
spirit, you'll find them here in droves. You want sad, you get stone-cold
somber songs like "Who Made You Cry?" But if you want happy, you get the
unbridled, utter joy of songs such as "Here I Go Falling in Love Again."
Sometimes these two extremes complete a compelling tale, as they do with
the pairing of "What You Want Me to Do?" (the sordid tale of an ex-wife's
deplorable revenge tactics) and "Where You Been So Long?," which gleefully
celebrates a new bride! At times both sad or happy, McClain's honest delivery
of simple sentiments grips you completely.
Backed up by an impressive trio of horns, a tight rhythm section,
and compelling organ, piano and guitar chops, Mighty Sam McClain's band
is as topnotch as it gets. Although some of the players have come and gone
over the years, the sound has remained the same: a catchy mixture of real
down home blues and smooth soul. This particular collection includes two
previously unreleased tracks, two dizzy declarations of love called "Honey
Chile" and "I'm Gonna Love You," and many highlights that have made McClain's
albums and concerts such vivid experiences over the years. In pure gospel
moments, McClain offers "Hanging on the Cross," which is a full-throttle
lamentation in the worst of times, "New Man in Town," heralding Christ's
return with electrifying fanfare, and a cover of Al Green's "Lord Will
Make a Way" that comforts with the promise of God's presence and features
a brilliant performance by the entire ensemble.
The production is perfectly crisp and clear. The performances are
flawless. The packaging is packed with photos, song notes, and an insightful
essay by Andy Grigg of Real Blues Magazine. The only downside of
this compilation is the number of songs that didn't make the cut ("Pray,"
"Other Side of the Tracks," and "Forgive and Forget" to name only a few),
but Soul Survivor
still serves as a worthy introduction to the four albums that have
chronicled McClain's resurgence on the soul scene. There is no more fitting
tribute for one of the few living legends of genuine soul music.
Steven Stuart Baldwin 8/11/99
McClain's AudioQuest catalog:
