Soulsville

While Huey Lewis & The News became known in the ‘80s as a slick pop-rock machine with albums such as Sports and Fore!, at its heart the group loved classic soul music and mastered a groove far more funky than their hits suggested. This collection of mostly obscure R&B tunes shows the group hanging out and having fun. Stax Records was the pre-eminent soul label in Memphis and “Soulsville” was the neighborhood where the legendary studio resided. Years later, all that’s left are the memories and Lewis sounds determined to bring those memories to life for people who might otherwise not learn about them. (Lewis also covers a good deal of Atlantic Records sides as well). Lewis will never top Solomon Burke with “Got to Get You Off My Mind” or “Cry to Me,” but the band do an admirable job keeping a tough interpretation together. “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You” lays back more than expected. “Respect Yourself” lets the News show off just how behind the groove they can get. It’s an unexpected move and one that will hopefully inspire people to rediscover classic R&B.