Lee Moses: Time And Place (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP

Raw, electrifying Southern soul from Lee Moses, the howlin’ Atlanta singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Although Moses played on and contributed to countless funk/soul/r&b albums (he even worked w/ pre-fame Jimi Hendrix), his own output was limited to a series of well received 45s and this 1971 album, a certified deep-soul treasure that’s heavily coveted by fans and/or collectors of the genre. Time and Place was recorded with a band that consisted of members of The Ohio Players as well as musicians from Moses’ own backing group, and the “heady mix of funk, soul, and R&B” that permeates the 9-tracker begins from the opening/title track, followed by “Got That Will,” on which he name check many of his contemporaries (Jimi Hendrix, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Sly and the Family Stone, and more) while belting out about his own desire to succeed in the music business. In addition to the excellent songs of his own, Moses has three covers on Time and Place: “California Dreaming” by The Mamas and the Papas, which he turns into an intense, dark, and lament-filled stunner; “Hey Joe,” which puts his funky, scratchy guitar licks on full display; and the closer “Adorable One” by Joe Simon, which he turns into a “throat-ripping,” sizzling groover. Recommended.

• red + yellow swirl colored vinyl
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Future Days Recordings 2020

reviewed by donut savage 09/2016