Search - Paul Kelly :: The Best Of Paul Kelly

Down to earth, honest soul.

11/14/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being somewhat of a soul afficianado I was intrigued when I saw this on the shelves and decided I'd make an impulse purchase. Probably the best impulse purchase i'll ever make. Most of these songs date from the seventies and manage to avoid the disco boom - what we have here is good honest, and quite beautiful soul. Paul's voice is deep but like honey and he can hit those top notes with ease and the songs range from tender ballads such as 'I want to get next to you', 'Come with Me' through finger poppin' grooves such as 'I'd be Satisfied' to hot blooded tracks such as 'Come lay some Lovin' on Me' - the type that oughta be on a jeans commercial. Through and through this album is the type to be with you through the good and the bad times and Paul is there to sing away the troubles much like an Al Green, or Marvin Gaye - make yourself happy buy this, and her one of souls great voices and writers."

Essential Classic Soul Recording

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 09/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was amazed by the disc, amazed that for being as good as it is, I had never heard of it. I picked up a single of "Stealin' in the Name of the Lord" at a garage sale. It is an uptempo indictment of preachers who get rich at the expense of the faithful. Then I read about Kelly and found this disc. It is INCREDIBLE! He brings to mind many classic soul artists without being derivative. Any of you who loved Motown, Atlantic & Stax-Volt soul, MUST get this CD! "Poor But Proud" is a slow mournful # about overcoming tribulation. "Dirt" is a soul march that brings to mind Edwin's Starr's "25 Miles." "Come By Here" is a steller track; Kelly is revved as he sings, "I'll be with you till the end." Kelly croons a soulful invitation in "Come With Me." A slow gospel choir backs "I Wanna Get Next to You." Paul builds a slow burn in "Come Lay Some Lovin' On Me." One of the classic tracks you'll wonder how radio missed is the midtempo anthem "Don't Burn Me." "I'll be a fool for you, but don't burn me." "I'm Into Something I Can't Shake Loose" is traditional soul funk. Kelly hits a Joe Tex-like groove on "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared." "Take It Away from Him & Put It On Me" bounces. Another great classic radio missed is "Let Your Love Come Down (Let It Fall On Me)." This is one the Spinners might have done so sweetly; and Kelly milks it with emotion. He caresses the slow love song "You Make Me Tremble." "Till I Get My Baby's Love" is another hidden classic, a fast soul-pop that could rank with the best of the Temptations. "Play Me A Love Song" is buoyed with strong supporting vocals. "Get Sexy" is a soft James Brown workout. Paul goes for a sultry blues feeling on "Love for Sale." "Stealin' Love on the Side" is a smooth track in "Me & Mrs. Jones" territory. The CD ends with what could be a Billy Preston track, "God Can." "He can take an empty space and make a universe." This CD is all the more incredible when you realize that Kelly wrote or cowrote almost all of the songs here. This CD is the soul diamond in the rough. You snooze, you lose! Don't miss it!"

Perfect gift for the soul fan who THINKS they have it all

Mark Mauer | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about the perfect impulse buy. I bought it from the great title, and reading the plug on the back of the disc (and b/c Warners Archives series have seldom steered me too wrong): "It's almost pointless to write that Paul Kelly's is one of soul's greatest voices, you know it when you hear it - this is the very real deal." -Bob Merlis. hearing this disc is like experienceing what Motown's CD of "lost" Marvin Gaye music promised: These are songs that SHOULD have been hits, but didn't end up being hits. So hearing them now allows you the joy of learning the songs for the first time, without having had oldies radio pound them into the ground. Fine smooth soul. And if you already have this and like it, then may I please suggest checking out Blues Got Soul by King Ernest, another lost soul who never got heard anywhere as much as he should have."