Thank you for your precious time....

A great song is a great song is a great song.

Whether the version is by songwriter Tom T. Hall or Bobby Bare or Buddy Miller, “That’s How I Got to Memphis" is one stellar song.

But this emotion-drenched and minimalist effort by soul man extraordinaire Solomon Burke may be the most stellar of them all. Burke taps into the rawness and longing combined with a sense of bewilderment of someone who will do anything for love.

And yes, who will also do THAT.

Rat traps filled with soul crusaders

Speaking of pompadours...

I’ve always been a sucker for an r&b or soul raveup, the sort that was prevalent in the '60s through the mid-'70s. And, of course, I thought those days were mostly long gone.

So what to make of this? Passionate, great sound, good song. I hear echoes of Tyrone Davis, Howard Tate and others.

But a better example of his talents may be this stripped-down version of the same song.

I’ve heard very little by Eli “Paperboy” Reed, so I will remain guarded until we see what else he delivers.

Get it? Delivers? Paperboy?

Of course, my love of this music began and was fostered by my brother’s transistor and record collection. The Top-40 chart of the 60s was populated by the likes of Otis Redding, Sam and Dave and Wilson Pickett. And he seemed to be bringing home albums on what seemed like a weekly basis from Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner and the latest from Stax/Volt.

While the Beatles were drawing my attention, he obviously favored the more-bluesy and rougher Rolling Stones. I still remember heading with my mom and dad to Wayne Department Store in Edwardsville, PA, in search of the Stones’ 12x5 for a Christmas present.

Still, none of this sunk in for 10-15 years.

I wasn’t listening back then, but later on I realized that I heard it all.

Johnnie Taylor -- Soul Heaven