OK, I know this is a reissue of songs from 1977 by an artist that few will have ever heard of but that’s not the point. Despite the marketing opportunities created by that Internet thing, it is a fact of life that many of today’s independent bands will also fall into the pit of obscurity and few will be lucky enough to have their musical gifts resurrected as Willie Wright has been with this album “Telling The Truth”.
Willie Wright – as the sleeve notes seem at pain to point out – was something of a misfit, an anachronism who flitted between musical styles and trends throughout his career with this album being his only one to feature entirely his own compositions. There is no doubting, however, that Willie Wright had a fine set of pipes and he brings much in the way of urbane, civilised warmth to these songs and it is also true that he never positioned himself as a late night love machine like Barry White more the sensitive soul who could still steal the heart of many a woman.
“Telling The Truth” is therefore an album for relaxed listening and is indeed something to savour. There’s a vaguely calypso feel to “Nantucket Island” that shows he was always going to be more sophistication than funk. In that way, he brings to mind Curtis Mayfield (whose “Right On For The Darkness” he covered on a single included in this album package) even if he appears – outside of the soul searching “Indian Reservation” anyway – to be resolutely apolitical.
The name of his game was relaxation but that did not stop him from making an emotional impact with his music. Take, for example, the subtle melodrama of “In The Beauty Of The Night”. Now here’s a song that just oozes an understated elegance all the way from the flute intro to the closing fade of “…we’re listening to our love song”. On side two – this is vinyl, after all – are the two star tracks of this album. No man could fail to be moved by the fatherly lament “Son, Don’t Let Life Pass You By” or the resolute regret shown in “Dressing For The Occasion”.
To quote the inner sleeve, “Telling The Truth” was designed for adults of the world and, as that, it still holds value for the ears of today. Hearing this album now, it is hard to believe that Willie Wright was consigned to the footnotes of musical history. It is also fair to say that more should also have been heard of Harry Jensen whose guitar adds much in the way of distinctiveness to Willie Wright’s sound here.
Sound quality is fine despite the liner notes stating the master tapes were long since lost so these discs must have been remastered from a vinyl source. The 150gm pressing was of fine quality too.
Beautifully packaged by Numero Records in a heavy card gatefold sleeve with copious liner notes (by Ari Leitchman and Ken Shipley), this release also includes a replica of Willie Wright’s first 45rpm single on Hotel Records and – and here’s attention to detail for you – a copy of the actual recording studio’s rate card. $100 for a reel of 2” Ampex Grand Master? Those were the days…
Respect has duly been paid.