Mighty Sam McClain – Blues for the Soul (2000/2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 53:51 minutes | 1,69 GB | Genre: Blues
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Telarc
New Telarc signing Mighty Sam McClain is considered by many to be our greatest living soul singer. The story of his rise from years of obscurity to his triumphant return to the top tier of soul blues performers is the stuff of legend. Featuring a powerhouse horn section, Blues for the Soul, is a showcase for the Mighty One’s ever-evolving vocal and songwriting talents, and is sure to be considered one of his most masterful recordings.
Produced by McClain’s longtime producer Joe Harley (whose Telarc resume includes discs with Terry Evans and Ronnie Earl), Blues for the Soul spotlights 12 original compositions. Mighty Sam enjoys solid support from his working band (these days its members include three horn players), plus the ever-dependable keyboardist Bruce Katz and trumpeter Joe Casano.
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Mighty Sam McClain – Soul Survivor (1999) [Reissue 2008]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 68:36 minutes | Scans included | 2,14 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,34 GB
Soul Survivor compiles the best material from Mighty Sam McClain’s four Audioquest releases, all recorded during the 1990s, along with two previously unreleased tracks.
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Mighty Sam McClain – Give It Up To Love (1993) [Reissue 2012]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 54:30 minutes | Scans included | 2,31 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,21 GB
McClain sings soul with incredible power — he knows when to pull the punches and when to cool it down. “Give It Up to Love,” the title track, acknowledges his gospel roots; he performs it as a vocal prayer to God asking for wisdom, love, and strength. Bruce Katz’s contributions on B-3 Hammond organ expands McClain’s sound, particularly on the “Green Onions”-influenced “What You Want Me to Do.” The sparsely effective arrangement on “Here I Go Falling in Love Again” brings McClain up front as he cries of being a soul stripped to the bare bones. Kevin Barry’s funky bass blows while McClain declares himself as a child of God in “Child of the Mighty Mighty”.
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Mighty Sam McClain – Blues For The Soul (2000)
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 53:25 minutes | Scans included | 2,16 GB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,15 GB
All those young up-and-comers who think they know how to sing R&B and soul should really get themselves a dose of Mighty Sam McClain. The man waited years to record any albums (though there were a few singles in the 1960s), but it’s been worth the wait. Blues for the Soul is McClain’s first for Telarc Records, and it’s a near-perfect debut. The slower, lazier songs are ideal for the heat of summer, but one could just as easily imagine listening to McClain in a dark, smoky nightclub in November. His voice is strong, but so smooth that at first you don’t notice, and his backing band knows exactly how to support him; they’re tight and on the money, but never overwhelming. McClain’s perspective is quirky, yet mature, as exemplified by “Jesus Got the Blues” and “Sweet Lady” (in the latter, he sings the praises of smart women–recognizing that beauty’s a transient thing, but brains last a lifetime). While there’s no doubt he’s passionate about his music, McClain’s solid record is all the more appealing for its unassuming presentation.
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