Solomon Burke may not make "hard music," but there's no denying he's heavy. Even in his '60s days of r&b hitmaking, Burke's vocal phrasing bore as much weight as his girthsome stature. He has since followed Al Green's lead of becoming a clergyman still using his musical gift in a secular context. This is reason enough to ride Burke's soul train, but this mag's readers have another reason or three. Don't Give Up On Me is the latest in the recent series of artistic restorations of aesthetically profound old black guys by hip rockers, and this one has spiritual gravitas beyond Burke's bishop status. Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits and Brian Wilson number among the songwriters contributing pieces appropos to Burke's faith and gut deep-angel pure interpretive skill. Producer Joe Henry's "Flesh and Blood" recasts Romans 7 as an existential dirge, and Costello's work with wife and ex-Pogue Cait O'Riordan, "The Judgement," summons Armageddon on a personal level, while a collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama, "None Of Us Are Free," lights a compassionate indignation not heard in r&b nor gospel since The Staple Singers' pop chart prime. Lighter moments from Dylan, Wilson and the loopy Waits offer balance. Arrangements, made rich by Burke's own church organist throughout, make for a sometimes dubby, minimalist bustle at which Burke is the undisputed center. Simply wondrous.
Editors' ratings — Doug 3/5, Lonny 5/5
