Description
Nowadays, Bobby Lance is best remembered for having penned (along with writing partner Fran Robins) Aretha Franklin's "The House That Jack Built" among a number of hits for doo wop and girl group acts, but by the early '70s, when these two cult classic albums were recorded, he was another in the seemingly endless supply of excellent soul singers recording for the Atlantic family of labels.
His first album, 1971's First Peace on the Cotillion imprint, had just about all the legendary Muscle Shoals sessioneers (Roger Hawkins, Eddie Hinton, Barry beckett, David Hood) on it, plus King Curtis on horns, the Sweet Inspirations on background vocals and-allegedly-Duane Allman on guitar. More importantly, lance's fine songwriting and impassioned vocals give his elite supporting cast plenty to work with.
A real lost gem. 1972's Rollin' Man, meanwhile, came out on the Atlantic label and was recorded and mixed by Geoff Haslam (Cactus, Velvet Underground, Bette Midler); it features guitarist Kenny Mims (on his first professional gig) and is more of a rock 'n' roll record, somewhere in that early '70s Stones/Faces vein. Both albums appear here on CD for the first time, with liner notes by Bill Kopp that feature quotes from Kenny Mims. Another Real Gone resurrection from the vaults!
