Product Description
ALEX HARRIS
Back To Us
Shanachie
Georgia native Alex Harris is a sensational soul singer. He recorded his Shanachie debut in Nashville with multiple musicians. Back To Us contains three covers and eight originals (co-composed by co-producer Harris and members of the production team). It is clear that Harris was greatly influenced by classic Memphis soul (the Stax/Volt-Goldwax-Hi triumvirate) and especially by Al Green to whom he is often compared. However, throughout the album there are hearty vestiges of Motown, Philly soul, and traditional gospel.
Harris’ father was a Pentecostal pastor. At age seven, Harris was the lead singer of the family band the A-Boys (later A-7) with his siblings. According to Harris, “The shared experience of the Gospel Church is part of the ‘secret ingredient’ of authentic soul music.”
Ballads that focus on the vicissitudes of love dominate the set including covers of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember,” Solomon Burke’s “Cry To Me,” and one of the album’s strongest tunes “Millionaire,” a country hit in the early nineties for Kevin Welch (for which Harris was inspired to record after hearing versions by Burke and Chris Stapleton).
Harris possesses the grittiness of Al Green, Otis Redding, and Johnnie Taylor but can effortlessly glide into an ethereal falsetto that made me think of Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations, William “Poogie” Hart of the Delfonics, Buddy King of the Magnificent Men, and, of course, Al Green.
“First Sight” is a country tinged ballad featuring Travis Toy’s willowy slide guitar; not a surprise as there is a long connection between country and soul (e.g., Ray Charles, Joe Tex, Esther Phillips, James Carr, and the aforementioned Burke). My favorite tune “Losing My Religion” features backing by the San Francisco soul band the Monophonics. It reminded me of any number of James Carr’s classic Goldwax ballads. Back To Us is modern soul (or neo-soul if you prefer) in the style of the glorious, timeless soul music that preceded it.
– Thomas J. Cullen III