I have learned early on when I started to write Music Reviews, that it wasn't a good idea to prejudge a CD on whether or not you were going to like it, just because of it perhaps being a style you were not quite enthusiastic about. For the rare time that I did think I wasn't going to care for a CD, it always came back to bite me by being one of the better CD's I had heard in a while. Such is the case with with Charles Walker's Dynamic New Release "Soul Stirring Thing".

Charles Walker has been belting out his music for along time now and to this day is still considered to be one of the best soul singers out there. His fabled career started with recording in the late 50's with the Champion Label and then progressed to Chess Records and Motown, where he became very well known for his live performances as he burned through the Blues, Gospel, and Soul, like no other before him. Throughout his career he has opened for many of the greats such as , James Brown, , Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, Etta James, and Sam Cooke, to name just a few. He also played many of the great nightclubs, including the Apollo Theater.

After stints in Las Vegas and Atlantic City Walker did what many early performers did, he headed to Europe to continue his career. Returning to America in 1993, he once again headed to Nashville, which at that time was a Mecca for Blues and R&B. Soon after he hooked up with The Dynamites, becoming their lead singer. It was from that union that both The Dynamites and Charles Walker grew to the N atonal Celebrities they are today.

"Soul Stirring Thing" consists of 14 Tracks of some of the best Soulful Blues Music out there today. "Soul Stirring Thing" clocks in at around 66 minutes making for the best hour and a bit of time you could have possible wasted. Of the 14 Tracks, 4 were co-written by Walker, showing us, even more, how talented Charles Walker is.

"Soul Stirring Thing" starts out with the title track and from that moment on you know you are hooked into listening to the rest of this Album and you are very happy you are. The second Track, "There Is Nothing I Can Do", slows it down a bit and in doing so it allows you to fully appreciate how wonderful Walker's singing is. Most of the songs are slower ones that showcase Walker at his best and that is when he is belting out the Soulful Blues.

Accompanying Walker on "Soul Stirring Thing", are an absolutely stunning lineup featuring, Fred James (Guitar/ Bass/Drums/Background Vocals), Brian Earheart (Organ), and Mary-Ann Brandon (Background Vocals). These artist all work together for the good of Album and in doing so bring their own special brightness to this Release.

"Soul Stirring Thing", for all intensive purposes, is one of the finest Soulful Blues/R&B Albums you will find in todays marketplace. Fans of this type of Music are going to love this release, after all, I did and I am not that big of a fan.

Of note, I must mention the stirring Liner Notes which were written by Fred James as they really do an excellent job of introducing us to the magic that is Charles Walker.

"Soul Stirring Thing" is a Recommended CD Release... Thoroughly Enjoyed It...

Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

Other Info

About Charles Walker

Blue Label/SPV have announced the release of legendary soul singer Charles Walker's new album entitled "Soul Stirring Man" on September 14, 2010.

Charles Walker started his recording career at the legendary Champion Label in 1959 and moved to Chess records in 1962. He signed to Motown as a staff writer and established a reputation as an exciting live performer belting out incendiary Blues, Soul and Gospel at fever pitch!

His first record was released in 1959 for Alan Bubis' legendary Champion label. "Slave To Love" was credited to "Charles Walker & The Daffodils", although there was no such vocal group as The Daffodils. The backup singers on the record were label mates The Kinglets and Larry Birdsong and the musical backing was provided by The Jimmy Beck Orchestra featuring guitarist Johnny Jones.

He signed on as lead singer with the J.C. Davis band, touring the USA as opening act for many of the greats of the era, including Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Little Willie John, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, etc. and recording some real barnstormers like ""Sweet Sweet Love" and "The Chicken Scratch" (Chess Records 1962).

In 1964 Charles formed his own group "Little Charles & The Sidewinders". They became one of the most in demand Soul bands on New York City's nightclub scene performing at the Apollo Theater, Small's Paradise and venturing out to Las Vegas and Atlantic City and their records including "Hello Heartbreaker" and "Please Open The Door" have now become classics amongst aficionados on what became known as "Northen Soul".

During the 1980's Charles relocated to Europe and worked steadily, recorded occasionally and lived comfortably but in 1993 he decided to return to Nashville to seriously get back into recording and he couldn't have picked a better time, Nashville's Blues/R&B scene was booming.

A few years ago Charles was approached by a local Nashville Funk band called The Dynamites about being their lead singer. He began working locally with the group and their popularity grew by leaps and bounds until they were soon breaking out nationally. Their release "Kaboom" was the record that finally broke Charles Walker in the US market. This brings us up to the present.

As successful as The Dynamites are, Charles still wants to continue recording traditional Soul and Blues. So this record is the logical next step in the CHARLES WALKER saga.

CHARLES WALKER is truly one of the last great Soul singers. But as this record really shows, he's not looking back, he's charging full speed ahead.........and that's a soul stirring thing indeed!

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