Cadillac James – The Message in the Music

Cadillac James
The Message in the Music
(private press) 2010
(478) 228-3714

For The Message in the Music, “Cadillac James” Cotton from the famed Cotton Brothers gospel family of Macon, Georgia raids the smooth soul sounds of the 1960s and 1970s, and a portion of the funky 1980s, to clothe his church-based messages in vintage garb.

James even borrows some memorable melodies from the past, as well. You’ll hear Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” as the basis for James’ “Draw Back Your Bow” and the soul classic “Sideshow” for “When Praises Go Up.” Meanwhile, the timeless folksong “Kumbaya” governs “Stay Right Here Lord.”

Vocally, James reminds me of 1950s R&B singer Johnny Morisette (aka “Johnny Two-Voice”) because he sings with a rootsy blues nasality but can soar into falsetto (think the Spinners’ Philippe Wynne) at a moment’s notice.

In varying the musical styles on The Message in the Music, James does make two wrong turns. The twangy country sound of “Angels in a Heaven” and an uptempo, dare I say disco, version of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” simply do not fit.

Otherwise, the album ranks among Cadillac James’ best output, with his version of “When Was Jesus Born” reminiscent of the Patterson Singers’ pulse-racer from the 1960s. The album’s opener, “Uh-Oh, Something Good is Gonna Happen 2 U” is another high point, which comes complete with a line dance called the “Cadillac Slide.”

Three of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “When Was Jesus Born.”