With the impending cinematic re-release of ‘Back to the Future’ (featuring the band’s huge hit single, ‘The Power of Love’) Huey Lewis and the News are well and truly going back to the past with their first album in nearly a decade. ‘Soulsville’, as the name implies, is a collection of 14 classic tracks from the Stax label, all given the instantly recognisable Huey Lewis and the News blue eyed soul polish. Purists may raise their hands in horror but there’s plenty to like about this easy on the ear collection, especially in some of Huey’s vocal performances. He’s particularly strong on the title track, an impassioned cover of Isaac Hayes’ ‘Soulsville’, the themes of which - poverty, debt and drugs - are sadly every bit as relevant today as they were 40 years ago. Add some authentic sounding Memphis horns and some oh sooooo soulful backing vocals and you’ve got a lovingly put together album that succeeds in capturing the classic Stax spirit.
‘Soulsville’ Tracklisting
Don’t Fight It / Got To Get You Off My Mind / Free / Respect Yourself / Cry To Me / Just One More Day / Never Found a Girl / Soulsville / Little Sally Walker / I Want To (Do Everything For You) / Just The One (I’ve Been Looking For) / Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You / Never Like This Before / Grab This Thing
Soulsville is out on Monday, October 18th on the Proper Records label. Remember kids...it’s 'Hip To Be Square’.
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