Search - The Ovations :: Goldwax Recordings

It grows on you

Ron Heck | 09/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I first got this album in the mail, I had no idea why I ordered it. Why would I want some lame Sam Cooke imitation when I can just listen to the real thing? Months later, I gave the CD a second chance. Thank God I did. Not every song is a complete winner, but when this album gets a piece of the ball, it hits it out of the park. "Don't Cry," "You Had Your Choice," and "Rockin' Chair" are outstanding. "I've Gotta Go" will stick in your head whenever you leave somewhere. Louis Williams' voice is similar to Cooke's, but not the same. And although there are some songs that are clearly trying to work as pure imitation, the best ones are nothing like Cooke's tunes. According to the album's lengthy liner notes, The Ovations came around the same time as O.V. Wright and James Carr, but their sound is clearly lighter, more upbeat, and geared toward pop. Not as essential, but at times, very good."