Wilson Pickett - Dont Knock My Love '1971

Tracks list

Wilson Picketts 11th and final album for the Atlantic label is yet another
example of why the ultimate pop-soul singer was not only a consistent hitmaker
time after time, but was able to adapt and change with the times, covering tunes
a lesser singer wouldnt dare try. By the occasion of this 1971 date, disco was
starting to rear its head, and Pickett picked up on the trend while still
retaining his native Alabama and longtime Detroit roots. After many years
working with bands from the Motor City or Memphis, the singer had just
collaborated with the Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff team in Philadelphia, then
returned here to record at the legendary Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama,
bringing string arranger Wade Marcus, background vocal arranger Dave Crawford,
Detroit session guitarist nonpareil Dennis Coffey (misspelled Coffee on the
credits), and the Memphis Horns. As he was not much of a songwriter in this
latter period of his career, Pickett was fond of covering tunes done by British
or American rockers and friends from the Southern soul scene, hoping a couple of
them would stick on the charts, which they usually did. Picketts two-part title
track is half funky rock & roll, half weird synth-drizzled disco instrumental,
all with an out-of-tune electric bass guitar from David Hood, though qualified
with the lyric if you dont like it, dont knock it. The slow-burning Hot Love
showcases the most action from the potent horn section over amorous lyric
references, Marcus and Crawford exploit the strings and female vocal backup on
the ballad Pledging My Love, while the anti-climactic Woman Let Me Be Down Home
is listless lyrically and musically. The highlights include a version of Fire &
Water originally done by Paul Rodgers (and co-composer Andy Fraser) of Free
before the singer headed up Bad Company. Pickett jumps headfirst into this
classic rock tune-turned-soulful song loaded up with clavinet sounds — it
would have been a kick to hear the wicked one cover Frees other big hit, The
Stealer. Randy Newmans Mama Told Me Not to Come from the book of Three Dog
Night, is so much better in the soul senders hands, almost campy and somewhat
humorous. Stevie Wonders minor hit, You Cant Judge a Book by Its Cover, is done
in Picketts comfort zone similar to his big Philly-based hit Engine Engine #9,
OK in this instance, but not spectacular, instead more watered down. The
hardest-driving numbers are A Mighty Long Way featuring Picketts harmonica
playing, and the straight pop-funk of Call My Name, Ill Be There with a somewhat
cliché lyric post-Damita Jo or the Jackson Five, with Coffeys thorny guitar
as a focal point. Covering the Same Old Ground is the downhearted blues Pickett
was always capable of doing, but is marred by the syrupy strings. A high point
on every track is the spot-on drumming of Roger Hawkins and keyboardist Barry
Beckett, nuclei of the true Muscle Shoals sound. This is a recording yielding
mixed results, and considering this is the end of his initial prime period as a
top drawer R&B icon, understandable that its not his best, even though there are
many redeeming moments for his still great vocal talent. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Tracklist:
 01. Wilson Pickett - Fire and Water (03:38)
 02. Wilson Pickett - A Mighty Long Way (02:51)
 03. Wilson Pickett - Covering the Same Old Ground (03:27)
 04. Wilson Pickett - Dont Knock My Love, Pt. 1 (02:15)
 05. Wilson Pickett - Dont Knock My Love, Pt. 2 (2012 Remaster; Single Version)
(04:05)
 06. Wilson Pickett - Call My Name, Ill Be There (02:23)
 07. Wilson Pickett - Hot Love (03:02)
 08. Wilson Pickett - Not Enough Love to Satisfy (03:05)
 09. Wilson Pickett - You Cant Judge a Book by Its Cover (02:48)
 10. Wilson Pickett - Pledging My Love (03:21)
 11. Wilson Pickett - Mama Told Me Not to Come (02:47)
 12. Wilson Pickett - Woman Let Me Down Home (03:01)

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