Search - Charles Walker :: Number by Heart

It Tears Me Up

SoulBluesMusic | Deep South | 01/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Producer Fred James had asked: "How do you feel about making a deep soul album Charles, you know, songs with passion and fire and with a feel of the classic era when the sounds of Memphis and Muscles Shoals ruled". Mr. Charles Walker agreed and that is exactly what they did! This is deep southern soul with organ, horns, gutsy singing- the works; transporting you back to the days of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge and even James Carr in their prime. No that's not hyperbole. Charles had released two other excellent cds in the last five years (2001's "Leavin' This Old Town" & the live disc with Johnny Jones from the Lucerne Blues Festival), but this is his masterpiece! What is most surprising about the sure quality and classic sound of the music is that the majority of the album is original- from the heartbreaking title track, to the chugging blues of "One's Man's Poison" to horn-fueled "Love & Tenderness". There are a few great covers (Elvis Costello's "Allison", Percy Sledge's "It Tears Me Up"), but it's all Charles Walker. Who says they don't make'em like they used to?"