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The title pretty much sums up the approach Johnny Nash takes to this 1969 LP. Lightly stepping in territory that Bill Withers would explore further in just a few years time, he takes in some standard folk covers and dresses them up in his typically smooth, restrained soulful vocals. The standout track is the one that closes and opens the album, "You Got Soul." The light string accompaniment, the laid-back cool of the lyrics, and the easy shuffling rhythm make the track work best, and it also happens to be the only track actually penned by Johnny Nash. This works as a testament to the songwriting craft he would find his successes with a few years down the line. The album also throws in versions of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender," Harry Belafonte's "Island in the Sun," and country and folk staples like "500 Miles" and "Country Boy." His mellow, bongo-laden version of Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind" is one of the few points where he allows his vocals to do their work unrestrained. A final highlight of the record is his take on Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" where the recording sounds positively ghostly and his soft croon finds a perfect place to nest. Worth the price of the LP surely just for the holographic cover alone, the album presents Johnny Nash, not at his creative peak, but just on the verge of total freedom of expression. On it's own, it is a fine collection of soul music's softer sensibilities.
 

LISTEN “Chain Gang”

 

 

 

 

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