Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 09/19/1995
This typically generous collection from
Rhino focuses on a lesser-known but worthwhile proponent of
Southern soul. The songs collected here represent '70s
R&B music at its most laid-back and thoughtful: The definitive track on
Straighten It Out: The Best of Latimore is the title cut, a gorgeous midtempo
ballad that features
Benny Latimore pouring out his heart in a
gospel-tinged style over a simmering midtempo beat dominated by his fluid electric piano work. Most of the material here follows the same style, highlights including a jazzy, finger-popping take on the old
standard "Stormy Monday Blues" and
"Somethin' 'Bout Cha," a mellow groover reminiscent of
Al Green's mid-'70s work. This consistency is both a blessing and a curse: Despite the overall solid nature of the material here, the lack of stylistic variation makes the songs repetitive after a while (especially during the second half of the collection). That said,
Straighten It Out: The Best of Latimore does include all of
Latimore's chart hits from his '70s era and allows the listener a convenient way to pick this material up in one fell swoop. As a result, it is worth a spin for hardcore '70s
soul fans.
~Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide
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