Hold On Tight

One of the greatest soul singers of the 1960s, Solomon Burke was known as The King of Rock & Soul because his artistry and his voice knew no compromise. It caused his commercial fortunes to suffer, but the man remained true to his first love of deep, naturalistic soul. This is the last album he recorded and it pairs him up with a veteran Dutch R&B band that keep apace with the elder statesman. “What A Woman” is a full-blown attack where the band challenges Burke for every note, encouraging him to sing at his toughest. The group provided Burke with the material from their back catalog; he translated it into English and took it over. He adds a husky defiance to “More Beauty.” He surprises everyone with “Text Me,” where he keeps the music old-school, with an organ that overwhelms but a subject matter that’s pure 21st-century soul. He pulls out a sorrow for “My Rose Saved From The Street,” where the band restrains itself beautifully, playing in the pocket while Burke caresses the notes with that commanding voice that will be greatly missed.

Of the great soul singers of the 1960s, Solomon Burke was one of the few whose talent and power to compelled an audience never dimmed with the passage of time; if the larger audience overlooked his music through much of the '70s and '80s, and he wasn't always paired with songwriters or producers who knew what to do with his instrument, Burke himself remained The King of Rock & Soul, an artist whose music spoke powerfully with heart and soul whenever he raised his voice.

Burke doesn’t do much to explore his new rumbly, teddy bear-style delivery, but the deep tones of his voice still make it an interesting instrument.