****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
"A Road Leading Home" is a stunning collection of songs written by classic soul songwriter Dan Penn. From the liner notes to the technology that makes these songs sound fresh, the entire CD is a class act. Of the many wonderful tracks, four reach out & grab me. Billy Young's "You Left the Water Running" pounds & pumps, "You locked the door & left me outside and then you threw the key away, but honey, you'll regret it; You'll be upset when you get your water bill to pay." It's such an addictive track! The Sweet Inspirations' "Oh! What a Fool I've Been" snakes its way a lovely melody with an amazing punchy arrangement for the Inspirations' powerful vocals, "Your arms no longer reach out for me, now here I sit in solitude, a victim of the blues." Brenda Lee totally moves into "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" with such abandon that it rivets me to the speakers, "Take me for granted, leaving love unsure, makes willpower weak & it makes my temptation strong." I loved Chicago singer Steve Goodman who did a wonderful version of "Rainbow Road." Here, Percy Sledge's take on the track cries and weeps, "Then one night a man with a knife caused me to take his life; Though I plead with him so desperately, the judge showed no mercy when he passed sentence on me." The rest of the set is consistently strong. Enjoy!
