Wilson Pickett
like
Aretha Franklin
, is a Hall-of-Fame member from Detroit who
Berry Gordy
had the opportunity to record in the early 60's before they achieved fame with other companies but didn't.
Gordy
's refusal to record
Franklin
may be confusing, but it's no mystery why he didn't want to deal with the explosive, quick- tempered, sucker-punching
Pickett
.
"If You Need Me,"
written by
and
Robert Bateman
&
Sonny Sanders
(
Satintones
), is not quite as dynamic as
"I Found a Love"
recorded as a member of
the Falcons
, but it's close. It entered the Pop 100 at #64 Pop, and would have done better if
Atlantic
hadn't released a cover by
Solomon Burke
Burke
's rendition made the Pop Top 40, and went to #2 R&B in 1962, despite its inferiority to
's electric performance. His blood curdling on-key scream is alive and well on
"It's Too Late"
the second reason either to seek this out-of-print album, or to locate these songs on CD.
's tent revival delivery touches every nerve on the histrionic ballad. The upbeat
"I Can't Stop"
sounds
Motown
ish, the backing vocals remind you of
the Vandellas
, former
Falcon
buddy
Willie Schofield
wrote the number. The third single release from this LP
"I'm Down to My Last Heartbreak"
died a swift certain death toward the end of 1963.
"R. B. Special,"
a.k.a.
"Robert's Monkey"
is an instrumental inspired by
who produced the bulk of this LP. Three labels released this album:
Double LL
,
Trip
, and
Wand
as
Great Wilson Pickett Hits
. ~ Andrew Hamilton