Here is another great record made in 2003 by Nashville
producer/guitarist Fred James for another fine and distinctive Nashville soul singer,
Charles Walker. There
are striking similarities between Charles Walker and Freddie Waters - their
backgrounds, their approach to singing, and the tremendous quality of the "comeback" work
that they did for Fred James a decade ago. Listen in particular to the similarity in delivery of
“It Tears Me Up.” That is no
accident. Charles Walker was
present, and sang background vocals, at Freddie Waters’ One Step Closer to the Blues" session.
Charles Walker worked the Chitlin’ Circuit for a number of years,
and was also based in New York for a while in the 1960s with his band, Little
Charles and the Sidewinders. He recorded as early
as 1959, but only managed to release a handful of singles before essentially
retiring from music in the 1970s. He became active again in the 1980s and early
1990s after relocating to Europe, and resumed recording after his return
to the States in 1993. “I’m
Available,” recorded for Black Magic, and later re-released as "Leavin’ This Town”
on Cannonball Records, announced the presence of a great R&B voice from the shadows.
Since that time, Charles Walker has been primarily fronting
a funk band, the Dynamites, and made several records with this unit. While some of these records are
quite nice, they do not showcase the real talent of Charles Walker, which is Deep Southern Soul.
Enter Fred James. As was the case with Freddie Waters, Fred James set
Charles Walker up with an optimal group of musicians and set of songs for “Number
By Heart” for Zane Records. The result again
was magic, timeless and distinctive Southern Soul served up the right way.
Since the release of Number By Heart, I impatiently awaited the the follow-up. It took seven
years, but Fred James finally brought Charles Walker back in the studio again
in 2010. While the result, Soul
Stirring Thing, may not quite reach the heights of “Number By Heart,” it is
nevertheless a superb release in the same vein.
Those who enjoy “Number By Heart” would be well advised to pick it up.
