…The ascent, descent, and resurgence of Uncle Charlie is the stuff of dreams: most musicians who first hit the charts decades ago are no longer breathing, much less in-demand enough to keep performing. Yet despite the crippling obstacles in his path—-poor management, subsequent poverty, substance abuse addictions and prostate cancer, to name a few—–Charles Kent Wilson rebounded personally and professionally. Faith in The Lord, joy in his heart and his unwavering belief in his own purpose is what In It….details, from his “take-em’-to-church” numbers (the conventional “Amazing God” and the sparkling “I’m Blessed,” featuring T.I.), “c’mon-get-happy” grooves (“Smile For Me,” an unexpectedly nimble duet with Robin Thicke) and odes about “together forever,” starting with the harmony-filled “Chills.”
The hand-clapping, rollicking, horn-injected “New Addition” is about love-fueled dopamine, not the bad stuff, and fans will certainly enjoy “Made For Love,” an overdue and sublime pairing of Uncle Charlie and the First Daughter of Soul, Lalah Hathaway: “My heart, was made to hold you close forever/ my arms won’t let you go, come what may/We, we were made just for us/cuz’ you and me, we were made for love.”
Gap-Band-recalling up-tempos (“Dance Tonight”), rapper cameos…..(please click here for the full review at soultracks.com)
Really liked your blog comments about Charlie Wilson. Very well written. You rock!!!!