I Believe to My Soul
Even though he has released nine albums of his own in more than two decades in the music business,Joe Henrymay best be known as the producer of soul man Solomon Burke's 2002 comeback record,Don't Give Up on Me.Now Henry hopes to do for soul what Ry Cooder'sBuena Vista Social Clubdid for Cuban music, convening R&B; legends Allen Toussaint, Billy Preston Irma Thomas, Mavis Staples and Ann Peebles for one week at Hollywood's Capitol Studios. But rather than rehashing the past in individual sessions, Henry assembled a house band (led by Toussaint) and demanded newly written or freshly interpreted songs. While her most recent solo releaseHave A Little Faithmakes Staples appearance here less critical, her duet with Preston (whose organ playing is splendid) on "That's Enough"is a highlight. But the real stars are Thomas and the piano-driven rendition of Tom Jans' "Loving Arms,"and the underrated Peebles, who reinvents Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" from Nashville crooning to Beale Street believable.--Scott Holter