Recorded in Memphis and Muscle Shoals with the Hi Records rhythm section and the likes of David Hood and Spooner Oldham respectively, it would be difficult not to recommend this CD. Let’s mention too that Scott was Greg Allman’s musical director for nearly ten years, and note that of the first three tracks, the opening ‘High Cost Of Loving You’ has that Albert King Stax sound, ‘Faith To Arise’ has a fine country tinge, and ‘Saving Grace’ leans towards that impassioned FAME Studios soul sound.- and then we’re into ‘Everything A Good Man Needs’, Gregg Allman’s last known original composition, a fine modern blues sung beautifully by Taj Mahal and also with the legendary session drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie; plenty of slide guitar work by Scott to top things off too.
Not that the standard goes down after this: ‘Angeline’ is an old-fashioned R’B ballad with hints of Louisiana swamp-pop, whilst ‘Words Can’t Say’ is smooth 70s soul, and ‘She Can’t Wait’ is sweet with hints of Curtis Mayfield and The Isley Brothers, before it is back to the blues with the shuffling ‘Sweet Compromise’, whilst ‘Tell The Truth’ treads the line between soul and blues with consummate ease. This rather nice set closes with the country flavoured ballad of ‘Keep Me In Your Heart’ and the bluesy soul of ‘Sentimental Fool’.
Norman Darwen