The Very Best of Solomon Burke

• Artist: Solomon Burke
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 03, 1998
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

The Very Best of Solomon Burke is an excellent 16-track collection that features his biggest hits from 1961-1968, including "Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)," "Cry to Me," "Down in the Valley," "I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You," "If You Need Me," "You're Good for Me," "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)," and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love." All of his best-known songs in their hit versions are available on this concise, affordable disc, not always in strict release order but still an education in and of themselves -- the tracks all come from the first generation original single masters, many of which were remixed or even shunted aside in favor of re-recorded versions for his albums during the 1960s, including his greatest-hits and best-of collections. The producers spent the time to track down those long-unused and forgotten originals for this, their first authentic representation on CD. Additionally, the 16th song is a true diamond among the R&B treasures here -- the June 1968 single "Soul Meeting" cut by the Soul Clan, which consisted of Burke, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, Ben E. King, and Joe Tex, the super-session product of a short-lived experiment in raising money for the black community. This is the only appearance of this Don Covay-authored track on CD, and makes this release essential even for those who already own the 1992 double-CD set Home In Your Heart. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)	Virgil Stewart	Solomon Burke	(2:50)
Cry to Me	Bert Russell	Solomon Burke	(2:35)
Down in the Valley	Solomon Burke, Bert Berns	Solomon Burke	(2:34)
I'm Hanging up My Heart for You	Don Covay, John Berry	Solomon Burke	(3:05)
If You Need Me	Wilson Pickett, Sonny Sanders, Robert Bateman	Solomon Burke	(2:35)
Can't Nobody Love You	James Mitchell	Solomon Burke	(2:34)
You're Good for Me	Don Covay, Horace Ott	Solomon Burke	(3:05)
Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)	Wes Farrell, Bert Russell	Solomon Burke	(3:16)
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love	Solomon Burke, Jerry Wexler, Bert Russell	Solomon Burke	(2:46)
The Price	Solomon Burke, J.B. Moore	Solomon Burke	(2:48)
Got to Get You off My Mind	Solomon Burke, J.B. Moore, Dolores Burke	Solomon Burke	(2:34)
Tonight's the Night	Solomon Burke, Don Covay	Solomon Burke	(2:40)
Someone Is Watching	Solomon Burke, Eddie Floyd, Alvertis Isbell	Solomon Burke	(3:00)
Take Me (Just as I Am)	Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham	Solomon Burke	(3:06)
I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)	Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas	Solomon Burke	(3:01)
Soul Meeting	Don Covay	The Soul Clan	(3:33)

Credits

Solomon Burke (Main Performer), Don Covay (Producer), Greg Allen (Design), Bert Berns (Producer), Hugh Brown (Art Direction), Tom Dowd (Producer), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Bill Inglot (Producer), Bill Inglot (Liner Notes), Chips Moman (Producer), Jerry Wexler (Producer), David Gorman (Liner Notes), David Gorman (Compilation), David Gorman (Compilation Producer), The Soul Clan (Performer)