I'm In Love - Wilson Pickett

 

I've Come A Long Way Baby

I'm In Love

Wilson Pickett

Produced by Tom Dowd & Tommy Cowbell

Cover Photo: Count Jackson

Cover Design: Loring Eutemey

Recording Engineer: Tom Dowd

Atlantic SD 8175

1968

From the back cover: Stars of the stature of Wilson Pickett are not made overnight. Although it is true that in the pop music field there are many people who attain a certain amount of "instant" success, such successes are usually very short lived. Unless an artist has paid his dues, it is unlikely that the music he creates will have much depth to it, or for that matter, much lasting appeal. That is why yesterday's over-night successes are so often today's unemployed performers.

Wilson Pickett payed his dues a long time ago, and I am happy to say that his time has come. His music betrays all too readily the long years he has had to spend perfecting it. When one listens to Mr. Pickett sing today you know on first hearing that you are listening to the voice of a mature artist.

The range of Wilson' professional experience is impressive. He started performing professionally in his mid-teens as a gospel singer in the Detroit area, during the fifties. In 1959 he was discovered by Willie Schofield, a member of the popular Detroit vocal group, the Falcons. Shortly after joining the group Wilson became the lead vocalist and he put in several years with them before becoming a solo artist. The years with the Falcons were obviously important in Wilson's development as an artist because it was with the Falcons that he first achieved his marvelous synthesis of rhythm and blues and gospel. It was also with the Falcons that he developed his excellent song writing ability. He wrote one of the group's biggest hits during the years he was with them, I Found A Love. (The original recording of that song is available on Atlantic's "The Best Of Wilson Pickett," 8151).

In 1964 Wilson made what was to be his single biggest step towards success, both artistically and financially. He signed as a solo artist with Atlantic records. Since coming to Atlantic Wilson has covered a wide range of territory. During his early years on the label he did a series of fine recordings in Memphis with musicians from the Stax-Volt group. It was there that he recorded some of his biggest hits including 634-5789; Don't Fight It, and the classic In The Midnight Hour, the latter two being songs that Wilson co-authored.

On this new album, "I'm In Love," we find Wilson expanding on the recent groove he has been in. There are three things about the new album that make it exceptional, even for Wilson; the brilliant sidemen, the excellent choice of material, and Wilson's own performance.

Instrumentally the two spark plugs of this album are veteran sidemen Tom Cogbill, bass, and Gene Christian, drums. Anyone experienced in the performing of soul knows that the rhythm section is crucial in determining the quality of the instrumental sound. No matter how good the horns and lead instruments may be, if there isn't a steady underpinning stemming from the bass and drums, then the overall sound will fail to measure up. Cogbill and Christian sustain the necessary intensive rhythmic drive for the duration of this album.

Particularly dig them on Hello Sunshine, Stagger Lee and especially Christian on the recent hit "I'm In Love," which Cogbill co-produced with Tom Dowd.

Also of interest, instrumentally, is Bobby Womack's lead guitar on "I'm In Love," the large horn section on Stagger Lee (nine pieces on that cut) and thoroughly inspired rhythm guitar of Reggie Young throughout the album. This is not to ignore the other fine musicians who perform on this album, all of whom turn in first rate performances. – Jon Landau, Rolling Stone/Crawdaddy!

Jealous Love

Stagger Lee

That Kind Of Love

I'm In Love

Hello Sunshine

Don't Cry No More

We've Got To Have Love

Bring It On Home To Me

She's Lookin' Good

I've Come A Long Way