This album, which was repackaged and retitled
Soul Serenade
a year after its original release, catches
Willie Mitchell
in superb form, not only as an arranger but as a leader fronting a first-rate ensemble. Apart from a somewhat predictable chorus on
"Soulfinger,"
everything here has some subtlety in its presentation -- details in the arrangements that surprise on repeated listening, and a crispness in the recording (this is some of the best-sounding stereo
soul
music of its period) that makes the repeated listening fun. The material ranges from new
Mitchell
-authored instrumentals to covers of
standards
such as
"Slippin' and Slidin'"
and
"Sunny"
(which could've been considered for a double-A-sided single, and the latter might've just placed
onto the
easy listening
charts without compromising his sound; it's that good). The playing by guitarist
Teenie Hodges
is worth the price of admission and gets put in the spotlight surprisingly often, considering the abundance of first-rate reed and horn talent on hand. ~ Bruce Eder