Stormy Monday

Description

When Lou Rawls (1933 - 2006) entered a Los Angeles studio in February 1962 to record his debut album, "Stormy Monday," with Les McCann's combo, no one could have predicted the success and popularity the Black singer, songwriter, producer, and actor would achieve in the coming decades. In 1966, he had his breakthrough with "Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" and topped the R&B charts. Four years earlier, the situation was different. Rawls had grown up on Chicago's South Side, familiarizing himself early on with gospel music, meeting Curtis Mayfield, and later replacing Sam Cooke in the Highway QC's. At eighteen, he moved to the West Coast, released his first recordings, and created a masterpiece with jazz pianist Les McCann, a prototype of the jazz/blues mélange so characteristic of the Los Angeles music scene. His deep, silky baritone voice carries reinterpretations of blues classics such as "(They Call It) Stormy Monday," "See See See Rider," "I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town," or "In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down." Lou Rawls simply possesses that voice! But in addition to the song selection and Lou Rawls' goosebump-inducing voice, Les McCann's small combo – also known as the Ltd. – deserves credit for the incredible consistency of the production. Part of the recordings was made during a late-night session, which must be considered one of the smoothest and most relaxed recording sessions in history. With "Stormy Monday," Rawls and McCann turned away from the then-popular "Neo-Gospel" or "Soul-Jazz." Their wonderful arrangements recall the Rhythm and Blues of the early 50s. The result: pure electricity! In other words: one of the superb Jazz/Blues albums of its time!