Product Description:
Personnel includes: Benny Latimore (vocals, melodica, piano, organ, electric piano, Clavinet, keyboards, synthesizer); Joey Murcia, Willie "Little Beaver" Hale, Ron Peterson, Larry Byrom, Jimmy Johnson (guitar); Mike Lewis, Whit Sidener (flute, horns); George McCrae (flute, background vocals); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Ken Faulk, Jeff Kivitt, Jamie Marshall (horns); Al Kooper (piano, organ); Barry Beckett (keyboards); Ron Bogdon, George "Chocolate" Perry, David Hood (bass); Ivan Olander, Bobby Radeloff, Freddie Scott, Robert Furgeson, Glen "Zeke" Holmes, Ron "Tubby" Zeigler, Scott Kirkpatrick (drums); Roger Hawkins (drums, percussion); Oliver Brown (congas); Richie Puente, Joe Lala (percussion); Gwen McCrae, Betty Wright, Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Sandra Rhodes (background vocals).
Producers: Steve Alaimo, Al Kooper, Joe Galdo, Marsha Radcliffe, Latimore.
Compilation producer: Bob Fisher.
Recorded between 1973 & 1979. Includes liner notes by Rickey Vincent.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Latimore (vocals, keyboards); Larry Byrom, Joey Murcia (guitar); Whit Sidener (flute, horns); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Al Kooper (piano, organ); Roger Hawkins (drums, percussion); Freddie Scott, Bobby Radeloff, Scott Kirkpatrick (drums); Richie Puente, Joe Lala (percussion); Donna Rhodes, Gwen McCrae, Cynthia Douglas, Donna Davis, Sandra Rhodes, Betty Wright, Charles Chalmers (background vocals).
Audio Remasterers: Rae DiLeo; Bob Fisher .
Liner Note Author: Rickey Vincent.
Arranger: Al Kooper.
This typically generous collection from Rhino focuses on a lesser-known but worthwhile proponent of Southern soul. The songs collected here represent '70s R&B music at its most laid-back and thoughtful: The definitive track on Straighten It Out: The Best of Latimore is the title cut, a gorgeous midtempo ballad that features Benny Latimore pouring out his heart in a gospel-tinged style over a simmering midtempo beat dominated by his fluid electric piano work. Most of the material here follows the same style, highlights including a jazzy, finger-popping take on the old standard "Stormy Monday Blues" and "Somethin' 'Bout Cha," a mellow groover reminiscent of Al Green's mid-'70s work. This consistency is both a blessing and a curse: Despite the overall solid nature of the material here, the lack of stylistic variation makes the songs repetitive after a while (especially during the second half of the collection). That said, Straighten It Out: The Best of Latimore does include all of Latimore's chart hits from his '70s era and allows the listener a convenient way to pick this material up in one fell swoop. As a result, it is worth a spin for hardcore '70s soul fans. ~ Donald A. Guarisco
