CD-Charts Position 1
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Like A Fire

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date June 23, 2008
Solomon Burke's latest CD is a personal and understated if not sparse affair. For most of his career the man from Philadelphia has been switching between country and soul, often choosing songs from the (white) country tradition but singing them with (black) preacher type phrasing. Until recently Burke's accompaniment also stuck to traditional soul patterns. Nothing wrong with that! Now, once again, there is not a sax or trumpet in sight. If anything this CD is even more introspective than its predecessor. Is it good? Yes, but I'm beginning to believe it's not as good as the three preceding ones, Don't give up on Me, Make do with what you've got and Nashville. My ideal verdict would be three and a half stars but that is not possible.
The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Don't Give Up on Me

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date July 22, 2002
Nicknamed "The Deacon" and "The King of Rock & Soul", Solomon Burke was one of the important early soul pioneers of the 60s before vanishing from the charts. He still played hundreds of concerts, though, his strengths largely intact, and in February 2002 he stepped into the studio to record this fascinating album.

"Don't Give Up On Me" features original songwriting contributions from several very well-known artists including Van Morrison (two songs) Bob Dylan, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Tom Waits, and producer Joe Henry himself. It's not really soul, or R&B, rather it's a hybrid of sorts, blending folk, blues, soul, R&B, rock n' roll and a touch of gospel. Burke delivers everything with panache and a voice full of soul, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Home in Your Heart: the Best of Solomon Burke

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date July 26, 1993
i bought this CD, and was most impressed by the standard of solomons music, he sings straight from the heart, and would recommemend it to those who love the deep southern soul sound as i do, as that is what you get from this CD, happy listening folks luv liz x

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Very Best of Solomon Burke

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date May 04, 1998
As a "child of the sixties" I was slightly aware of Solomon Burke via two early Rolling Stone covers and a hideous version of Dylan's Maggie's Farm (regularly voted one of the worst Dylan covers ever made I understand and thankfully not on this collection!).

As a Mojo magazine reader I was aware that his latest CD "Don't give up on me" was Mojo's Album of the Year in 2002, so when I saw he was coming to London to appear at the Mojo Festival at the RFH in January I took a chance.

Suffice to say the show was so great (closest to a 60s Soul Review since I saw Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the early 1970s)that I wanted to rehear many of the early songs he performed that night in their original form and so immediately bought this Rhino ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Proud Mary: the Bell Sessions

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date July 17, 2000
Recorded in Alabama after his stint at Atlantic Records and co produced by Burke and his (then) partner Tamiko Jones. The opening (& title ) track is Creedence Clearwaters' "Proud Mary" .... The sound of the opener pretty much sets the scene for the whole album.
Solomon Burke = very sweet voice for such a big man
He knows how deliver a song. Other highlights include the spine chilling "Uptight Good Woman", the up beat "How Big a Fool (Can a Fool Be)" and covers of Otis Reddings' "These Arms of Mine" & Marvin Gayes' "I'll be Doggone". Nice!

CD-Charts Position 6
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The Platinum Collection

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date March 19, 2007
Well, I am not one to knock the Mersey Boom, like punk it washed away some very manufactured music, but like all storms it took some good with the bad. The New York Soul scene in '62, '63 was producing some of the finest music ever made, not least in the combination of the Reverend Solomon Burke and the irreverent Bert Berns - who saw the Beatles produce the definitive version of his classic 'Twist and Out'.

So here it is, the best of a great combination, plenty of it, very reasonably priced. There are many many compilations calling themselves the greatest hits of Solomon, he did fine music after leaving Atlantic, and continues to record with commercial success and critical acclaim to this day. Yet this is the business, he has never overcome ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Make Do With What You Got

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date February 28, 2005
This is a really hard one. On the one hand it doesn't come anywhere near as close to 2002's Don't Give Up On Me, but on the other hand, how can you expect to?

It is extremely well produced and engineered, with wonderful musicianship, great vocals and good material, but something is definitely missing. It doesn't grab me at all. A few of the tracks stick out and shine, but is that just by comparison to the rest?

I just got the feeling that Sony (was it?) saw the sucess of the previous CD, dragged him into a top studio, with top musicians and a top producer and threw the baby out with the bath water. Corporate creativity at its mediocre best.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Nashville

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date October 02, 2006
As a previous reviewer already pointed out, at least in terms of artistic depth if not style, Nashville is a worthy successor to the wonderful "Don't Give Up On Me."

Although--if you read recent interviews--his love for Country is well known and nurtured over many years, it is stunning to see how such an accomplished Soul and R&B artist can be so at home with these Country & Western ballads and Honky-Tonk rousers.

Particularly in songs like his duets with Parton and Patty Griffin--both quite gorgeous--or That's How I Got To Memphis, Valley of Tears with Gillian Welch, Atta Way To Go and 'Til I Get It Right--this album's equivalent to "The Other Side Of The Coin"--Burke pours his heart and elevates these songs to the level of hymns. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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This Is It: Origins of Soul

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date May 26, 2008
As a previous reviewer already pointed out, at least in terms of artistic depth if not style, Nashville is a worthy successor to the wonderful "Don't Give Up On Me."

Although--if you read recent interviews--his love for Country is well known and nurtured over many years, it is stunning to see how such an accomplished Soul and R&B artist can be so at home with these Country & Western ballads and Honky-Tonk rousers.

Particularly in songs like his duets with Parton and Patty Griffin--both quite gorgeous--or That's How I Got To Memphis, Valley of Tears with Gillian Welch, Atta Way To Go and 'Til I Get It Right--this album's equivalent to "The Other Side Of The Coin"--Burke pours his heart and elevates these songs to the level of hymns. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Proud Mary

by: Solomon Burke

Release Date December 04, 2006

An early, important and influent soul pioneer, Solomon Burke enjoyed many R&B hit singles for Atlantic in the sixties. His brand of soul included country influences and featured sophisticated arrangements. The Rolling Stones, i.e., acknowledged his stature by covering two of his greatest hits.

This CD is a straight reissue (plus detailed liner notes) of the first LP Burke completed after leaving Atlantic. Issued on Bell Records in 1969, it was recorded at Fame Studios with the Muscle Shoals house band (and help from Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn.)

The interplay between the front man and the other musicians is masterful. The sparer, southern musical backing confers more of a bluesy feel to the songs than on Burke's earlier Atlantic ... Read More: