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Without a doubt, I missed Sam in his best days. Janell commented about his voice that some people make singing sound too easy. I must completely agree -- particularly Sam. Even when he was just “taking it easy,” he was a fabulous signer. And this is an easy-to-enjoy release of his best stuff.
I'm certainly no music critic so I won't try to comment on that aspect of this album. That said, the choice of songs, the remastering and the content of the booklet that accompanied the album all seem perfectly appropriate. My favorite tracks are, in no particular order: “Sugar Dumpling,” a song Sam really seemed to like, his Latin-driven “Cha Cha Cha” and the well know “Twist'n the night the Night Away.” There are also cuts from Sam's days with his days with the Soul Stirrers. Talk about variety!
If you like good, old-fashion rock and roll, this is likely to be one album you'd never get tired of.
Saturday night we went to our favorite Lincoln Old Chicago. Not much was going on there, so we shook ourselves down the street a bit to Fireworks. They now have a new Belgium Red Ale on tap named “Phoenix: Belgium Resolution.”
The first thing you notice about this offering is the characteristic just-fully-under-ripe strawberry color. Nice, lacey white head that quickly disapated. Like most other Belgium-style offerings, there was no hint of hops in the nose or taste. This ale is also characteristically opaque for the style. Tasted good, this isn't something where you'r looking for the balance of hops and malt. Rather, this is more like a big, chewy, cloudy wine. Definite diactyle, but not unpleasent. I suspect that this would make a good Flanders Red Ale (BJCP style 20E), if you're looking for that sort of thing.
Thanks to Janell for pointing this one out.