Don Bryant – You Make Me Feel

Soul veteran Don Bryant has returned to his roots, both figuratively and literally on his newest record, 'You Make Me Feel'....
Don Bryant : You Make Me Feel
8.9 Fat Possum
2020 

Don Bryant : You Make Me FeelSoul veteran Don Bryant has returned to his roots, both figuratively and literally on his newest record, You Make Me Feel.

Featuring tracks that might easily be based on life experiences the album has all the trappings of classic Don Bryant soul. There are gushing backup singers, a towering horn section, tender melody, and heartache.

The triumphant track has to be “99 Pounds”, a song Bryant penned for his wife Ann Peebles back in 1972 that has since been covered by everyone from Humble Pie to The Black Crowes. Bryant snatches the song back and reclaims what is rightfully his. He does so with a heart full of soul, showing the others how it is supposed to be done.

Bryant also does his share of covering when he reimagines “I Die a Little Each Day”, originally an Otis Clay standout. Here the tune becomes a heartfelt plea to a lost woman, complete with begging on bended knees.

You Make Me Feel is a triumphant return for Don Bryant, a return to the sixties and seventies in his post-gospel heyday. This is a stellar record that needs to be listened to and appreciated, preferably over and over by fans of DB and everyone else.

This review is based on listening of the red vinyl pressing as well as the streaming version. The vinyl elevates the album to new heights with crisp horns and solid lows without any muddied middles. For that this album gets a score of 8.9. Seek out and buy the gorgeous red vinyl pressing from Fat Possum if you can find it.

Categories
Album Reviews
Album of the Week