Solomon Burke
❱ Nothing’s Impossible (E1 Music/The One World)
This album could’ve, perhaps should’ve, been attributed to Solomon Burke and Willie Mitchell, the producer behind Al Green, in particular. Mitchell passed away in January (his sons and proteges Boo and Archie completed the project). Green’s voice stood tall with Mitchell’s steady 4/4 drums, clarion horns and romantic, often sensual, strings, which joined guitar, bass, piano/organ. Unfortunately Burke often sounds as though he’s sitting down, even sitting out, for a particular song. His take on, yes, Anne Murray’s “You Needed Me” falls flat. In fairness, Burke is now an elder statesman of soul. As such, he still exhibits power on a few songs, including “Say You Love Me Too.”
This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.