Solomon Burke
Don't Give Up on Me

Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joe Henry, Brian Wilson, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dan Penn, Carson Whitsett are some of the authors who have written the songs of this CD for the voice of Solomon Burke; it also features Daniel Lanois, Blind Boys of Alabama… All produced by Joe Henry. On Debaser, there is a lack of writing on Don’t give up on me year 2002, a gap that I hope to fill worthily. For me, the review could also end here. Buy the record, period.

The limousine is arriving! I tell the forklift driver. It's up to me to welcome him with a bunch of red roses, I look for the mayor and Graziano, repeating to myself the phrase to say to Solomon. The car is coming from Bologna, about an hour's journey to reach the Apennines, where there will be the concert that evening.

One of his countless daughters (he has 21 and 90 grandchildren) opens the door; Solomon does not get out, so the forklift driver approaches, lifts the red satin chair with gilded wood in which Solomon is sitting in the limousine, to let him and the chair out of the car. Thus, from a considerable height from the ground, Solomon looks at me, says something of which I understand only "baby", I approach, raising my arms, offering him the roses and say welcome to Porretta Terme Mr. Burke. He laughs his head off, I didn't understand a thing… Later I will be explained that Solomon had made a very explicit sexual appreciation and request towards me.

Solomon and I, known as the bishop, did not start well, in my opinion. For this, I decrease the rating by one star. I don’t know where this nickname comes from, but I assure you that the character has nothing, absolutely nothing, religious about him. The king of rock’n soul doesn’t walk, weighs at least 180 kg (by eye) and has to be carried around with a forklift, I’ll add nothing more as it’s better that way. During the concert, I stay in the back rows irritated, but I have to admit that he is truly talented, with his baritone voice he unravels his classics, also inserting many tracks from this CD.

There is no doubt that gospel, soul, and R&B flow through his veins, after a faded period, mystical wanderings, and disco music, with this work he reclaims the crown of the king of soul. “Don’t give up on me” at the opening oozes soul, with a fluid organ that supports a mellifluous and enveloping ballad. “Flesh and blood” a gritty blues by Joe Henry in which organ and voice play with the sax, or “None of us are free” with the Blind Boys in the choruses in great shape, “Fast train” by Van Morrison surpasses the original, adding choruses, soul, and the soul, to the track, earning its immortality. The album is a timeless classic, on par with Otis Blue, Soul Man, or What’s going on. But no, I won’t give it 5 stars.

As Elwood Blues said: … it doesn’t matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive, and survive, there are still some things that make us all the same. You, me, them, everybody, Everybody needs somebody to love … Is someone up there (or down there) now smiling reading the above?