Junior Parker “Love Ain’t Nothin’ But A Business Goin’ On” 1971 US Soul Funk Blues
full vk
https://vk.com/wall-53831823_14949full spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/7GfXQoLmiNnKCe9twujVim
full deezer
https://www.deezer.com/fr/album/13666990
One of the funkiest albums ever from Junior Parker – a great little set that shows he had a lot more to offer than just the average bluesman! The album’s got a nice little soul sound in the backings – tight rhythms from Horace Ott, who nicely avoids a lot of the cliches that the blues business was hitting at the time – in order to keep Junior in hip territory that’s filled with breaking drums and heavy basslines! There’s a few key crossover tracks here, plus some surprisingly sweeter numbers – and the album’s a gem through and through – well-appreciated by new generations over the years, thanks to its diversity of tracks!….~
Junior Parker does not appear to play any harmonica on LOVE AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A BUSINESS GOIN’ ON but it is his vocals that take center stage.
It did not take long for me to remember upon hearing “Darling Depend On Me” that Junior Parker wrote and performed “Stand By Me” in 1960 (Ben E. King’s eventual smash hit). Although Parker is credited with writing only one song (“The Outside Man”) it appears this album was produced to give Junior that big hit he deserved. There are two others songs that also have that ‘hit’ love, broken heart song potential “I Wonder Where our Love has Gone” and “You Know I Love You” complete with pretty or aching 'orchestra of strings’ and/or the wail of the 'in-love’ saxophone.
It’s too bad there are no band credits for these respectable session players although there, apparently, is more than a rumor the electric guitarist is O'donnel Levy(?)
But, this 1971 recording delivers a funky bass when needed and three new versions of songs written by three ex-Beatles that are all given a R & B feel, especially the slowed down dialogue beat of “Taxman”. Quite unique.
I’ve also heard “The River’s Invitation” before and this also has a fine modern R & B feel to what had basically been a blues song.
All and all, I have never been a big fan of the R & B sound but This “Business” is just difficult not to listen to – again.
As far as I know LOVE AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A BUSINESS GOIN’ ON was not a successful 70’s album hit. Difficult to understand why it was not (a 70’s hit).
After listening to Junior’s “can you dig it vocals” I don’t recalling ever feeling so retro-hip in my life.
I had some reservations about 10 songs covering 34 minutes for 17 bucks. But, not after listening — again and again — to Junior Parker’s everyman, honeyed, heartfelt vocals … 'Sweet’, smooth and groovin’…..by… a walther…~
Tracklist
A1 Love Ain’t Nothin’ But A Business Goin’ On (Written-By: Bobby Adams (2)) 3:20
A2 The Outside Man (Written-By: Parker Written-By: Van Leer Written-By: Moore) 3:12
A3 Darling Depend On Me (Written-By: D. Robey Written-By: F. Washington) 3:43
A4 Taxman (Written-By: George Harrison) 3:42
A5 Rivers Invitation (Written-By: Percy Mayfield) 2:45
B1 I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone (Written-By: Buddy Johnson) 3:38
B2 Just To Hold My Hand (Written-By: Don Robey) 3:51
B3 You Know I Love You (Written-By: R. King Written-By: J. Taub) 3:33
B4 Lady Madonna (Written-By: J. Lennon-P. McCartney) 2:12
B5 Tomorrow Never Knows (Written-By: J. Lennon-P. McCartney) 3:25
