By the time “Memphis Unlimited” was released in 1973, O. V. Wright had been a star in the ghetto for almost a decade. His searing, uncompromising vocals had featured on 10 R&B hits and his Back Beat label had issued four previous LPs – an excellent run of both artistic and commercial success. But this new album was different from its predecessors. It was the first time that Wright had recorded an LP as an entity, rather than had one released as a collection of tracks already in the can – and the difference is marked. “Memphis Unlimited” has a coherence that his other LPs lack and has no fillers to detract from the quality.
Wright’s long time producer Willie Mitchell was currently the hottest studio man in the South, fresh from multi million sellers on Al Green, and the fabled Hi Sound he developed was now a mature and fully acknowledged musical achievement. Wright himself was at the height of his formidable vocal powers, scorching on the ballads that were his trademark, swinging on the dance cuts. That combination makes this album the most accessible and commercial of all of Wright’s Back Beat sets without any compromises at all to his traditional strengths. It remains one of the key Southern Soul albums and its re-release here is long overdue. O. V. Wright – the Boss of Southern Soul at his very best. (John Ridley - www.sirshambling.com)
1. I’VE BEEN SEARCHING 2. NOTHING COMES TO A SLEEPER 3. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME 4. HE’S MY SON (JUST THE SAME) 5. YOU MUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF 6. LOST IN THE SHUFFLE 7. I’D RATHER BE (BLIND CRIPPLE AND CRAZY) 8. PLEASE FORGIVE ME 9. ARE YOU GOING WHERE I’M COMING FROM 10. GHETTO CHILD 11. MEMORY BLUES 12. I’M GOING HOME (TO LIVE WITH GOD)
PRODUCED & ENGINEERED BY WILLIE MITCHELL
Vocal Background: Rhodes, Chalmers & Rhodes
Horn Section:
Wayne Jackson – Trumpet
Andrew Love – Tenor
Ed Logan – Tenor
James Mitchell – Baritone Sax
Jack Haler – Trombone
Rhythm Section:
Howard Grimes – Drums
Leroy Hodges – Bass
Charles Hodges – Organ & piano
Teenie Hodges – Guitar
Archie Turner – Piano
Michael Allen – Piano
