Snatching it Back: The Best of Clarence Carter
Journeyman Clarence Carter is seldom cited among the solid circle of soul men who--like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Solomon Burke--are considered the architects of the rhythm & blues of the '60s. Nevertheless, as witnessed by this 21-track set, Carter did more than his share to forward the art of testifyin' musical truth-tellin'. Here Carter emerges as a tried-and-tested Southern soul brother who had crafted his own, distinctive vocal style. Known for a hearty laugh that he often dropped into tunes like the 1968 hit "Looking for a Fox" and the riotous "Back Door Santa," he routinely addressed the theme of infidelity that provided the backdrop to singles like "Slip Away" and this disc's title track. These cuts were all made at the famed Muscle Shoals studio in Carter's native Alabama, using many of the same musicians who graced hit records by Aretha Franklin and other legends in the late '60s. While he could turn a weeper like "Patches" (originally recorded by Detroit's Chairmen of the Board) into a major pop and R&B; hit in 1970, Carter's real talent as a storyteller is clearly evident on his reworking of the Etta James classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" and the standout reading of James Carr's "Making Love (At the Dark End of the Street)" complete with typical Carter rap.--David Nathan