Found! One Soul Singer
Little Village Foundation, 2020
9/10
Listen to Found! One Soul Singer
Although you probably have never heard of Sonny Green, one listen of this debut album and you won’t forget his inimitable craft as the soul singer belts with the best of them across this blues, gospel, and R&B flavored album that hosts Kid Andersen on guitar and production duties.
“I’m So Tired” starts the listen but it certainly doesn’t seem like he’s tired as Green’s soulful growl is met with bright horns on the funk filled fun, and “If Walls Could Talk” follows with frisky rhythm as Green’s pipes illuminate the festive spirit.
As we get towards the middle, “Cupid Must Be Stupid” offers a punchy and dynamic display of timeless R&B nods, while “Blind Man” makes great use of warm guitar lines as a restrained but powerful execution from Green’s pipes is both stirring and inspiring and comes with plenty of blues. “If You Want Me To Keep On Loving You”, a late album highlight, then benefits from organs amid the melodic guitar solos as Green reworks the tune he penned in 1971 with much flair.
At the end, “I Got There” bounces with plenty of grooves to get your body in motion, and the sax solo from Gordon Beadle is nothing to spit at either, and “Be Ever Wonderful” finishes the listen with a more bare approach as Green pulls off an amazing performance with his passionate singing.
Amazingly, Green is 77 years old, but you certainly wouldn’t know it from his sturdy set of pipes. After a lifetime of honing his skills in Los Angeles, and releasing a string of 45’s in the ‘60s and ‘70s, though this first album might be many decades later than he intended, at least he’s finally in a place to show the world his unparalleled talent.
Travels well with: George Benson- Weekend In London; Deltaphonic- The Funk, The Soul & The Holy Groove