Music review: William Bell – 鈥楾his Is Where I Live鈥�
鈥淚 was born in Memphis in a different world/Now that time has come and gone,鈥� sings William Bell on the title track of his latest release.
For 鈥淭his Is Where I Live,鈥� Bell returns home to Stax Records where his fruitful career began after signing with the legendary label in 1961 and went on to pen memorable arrangements like 鈥淵ou Don鈥檛 Miss Your Water,鈥� 鈥淚 Forgot to Be Your Lover鈥� and 鈥淓very Day Will Be Like a Holiday.鈥�
In the early days, Stax鈥檚 roster consisted of talented artists that included Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave and Booker T. and the MGs. Now, the revised label features a crop of young and passionate musicians such as Ben Harper, Nikka Costa and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Fortunately, Bell鈥檚 signature style of Memphis soul fits comfortably within both the old and new school groups.
With over 55 years in the music business, the 76-year-old singer and writer showcases an engaging set of 12 tracks on his first new album in 10 years. 鈥淭his Is Where I Live鈥� finds Bell still in top form delivering soulful numbers about life and love with the seasoned voice of experience and lyrics that flow freely from the heart.
Whether it鈥檚 the introspective track 鈥淭he Three of Me鈥� that details the lessons learned from love lost or the sounds of regret highlighted on 鈥淢ore Rooms,鈥� or the fatal attraction to the wrong woman displayed on 鈥淧oison in the Well,鈥� Bell sounds like an appealing blend of Van Morrison and Robert Cray. Producer John Leventhal (Rosanne Cash, Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin and Joan Osborne) takes on additional duties by serving as Bell鈥檚 writing partner for a majority of the tracks, most notably on the tender 鈥淚 Will Take Care of You鈥� and the album closer 鈥淧eople Want to Go Home.鈥�
Standouts include 鈥淭he House Always Wins鈥� with its smooth groove accented with a touch of horns and 鈥淏orn Under a Bad Sign鈥� written by Bell and Booker T. Jones for blues singer and guitarist Albert King in 1967 and also recorded the following year by Cream for the band鈥檚 third album.
The gospel touches offered up by Bell on Jesse Winchester鈥檚 鈥淎ll Your Stories鈥� is a personal favorite. Bell鈥檚 career may have taken him to places too numerous to mention, but it鈥檚 clear that he鈥檚 at his best when returning to the comforts of home.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard .com.