Higher And Higher is part of Org Music's re-issue program for classic Brunswick records being re-mastered from the original master tapes at Furnace records and in this case pressed on blue vinyl. This album comes from the golden early age of Stereo as Carl Davis production make sure you can hear what Stereo can do for music, with brilliant Sonny Sanders arrangements.
This classic album opens with the title song the huge hit (Your Love Can Take Me) Higher & Higher a perennial classic that still sounds great, the stereo separation on this tune is brilliant, like you can hear the room with the strings and brass section on one side, Mr Wilson singing in the centre of it all as the drums are deep in the rear, this has such a great sashay to it, soul music of the highest order.
I Don't Need You Around is a slow slightly syrupy break up song, full of emotion for that ex who is being told that they have been replaced, as you let those strings break your heart as Jackie has moved on, leaving you all alone, he no longer needs you, there are few kiss offs that sound as sumptuous as this does.
I've Lost You is full of the regrets that you've been dumped, the string section has moved across the room for this tune as they are on the left speaker now, Jackie spills his feelings out as he realizes he's Lost You as the backing vocals signal that no matter how much he begs and pleads your out the door for good.
Those Heartaches is full of the pain of love lost, yet another partner has walked out the door and all Jackie is left with is the string section, the brass accentuating those blue feelings as he hopes he can find love again. This sounds so magnificently lush with the full production.
Soulville moves the brass section to the right once more as the sweet guitar and vocals on the left take us all off to Soulville to get down and funky to get your groove on too.
The B-side opens with Open The Door To Your Heart a deep heartfelt brass led plea for you to just let Jackie be your man, well how can you resist this super sweet supplication.
I'm The One To Do It as the strings make you go weak giving in to Jackie and his plan to make you his woman, how can you resist this sweet as can be song, he'll be yours at least until the next song comes along.
You Can Count On Me to do everything Jackie can to make you his, the full on strings telling you how much he will be there and give you his company.
I Need Your Loving sees the songs title repeated endlessly by the backing singers as Jackie wails away like he's in ecstasy at what that loving does to him, whowee he's having a fine time, so much so that the sax player has to strut his funky stuff and bring the strings back in.
Somebody Up There is the gospel-tinged song to remind us all to give praise to the lord above, never forget he's watching over you, grooving with you to bring that brighter day, those backing vocals really help to seal the message.
The album closes with When Will Our Day Come that is another gospel soul classic to get you into that church of Jackie Wilson to allow him to preach the message of love to you once more. If you don't already own this classic soul album this new pressing is well worth getting.
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